Paddle weight & grip
The two "fit" specs that decide whether a paddle feels right in your hand.
Material and core get all the attention, but weight and grip are what your arm actually feels for two hours on court. Get these wrong and even a great paddle fights you. Here's how to dial them in.
Weight: power vs your arm
Heavier paddles plow through the ball with more power and stability; lighter paddles move faster at the net and are kinder to your elbow. Rough bands:
- Lightweight (under ~7.8 oz), fast hands, easy on the arm; less put-away power.
- Midweight (~7.8–8.4 oz), the all-round sweet spot most players land on.
- Heavy (~8.4 oz+), most power and stability, but more strain.
There's also swing weight, how heavy the paddle feels when you swing it (a function of how the mass is distributed, not just the static number). A balanced swing weight gives power without feeling sluggish. Tennis elbow is the most common pickleball injury, so if your arm complains, lighten up.
Grip size: when in doubt, size down
Grip size is the handle's circumference. Too big and you'll grip too hard (hello, forearm fatigue); too small and the paddle twists on off-centre hits. The classic test: hold the paddle, then slide your other index finger into the gap between fingertips and palm, it should just fit.
Critically, you can always build a grip up with overgrips, but you can't shrink one, so when in doubt, size down.
Handle length: one hand or two?
If you hit a two-handed backhand, you need a longer handle (around 5.5 in) to fit your second hand. Prefer one hand and a bigger sweet spot? A shorter handle gives more face.