Are you a pro pickleball player or new to this fun and competitive world? Or a buyer for your pickleball business? This blog will guide you all about the construction material of pickleball paddles. Most players or buyers don’t know what is inside these paddles and continue playing without much attention. But this also takes away the knowledge of which paddle to pick, and that’s what you don’t want.
Different paddle materials affect how each paddle performs; hence, you should know its building material better if you wish to pick the right paddle. Several pickleball manufacturers have made paddles using carbon fibre, graphite, fiberglass and wood. Many hybrid options are present in the market, too. It can generate more power or control when playing based on which type of materials you pick for your paddle.
Through this guide, you will understand these materials and can choose the one that gives you the most desired results when playing.
- Graphite pickleball paddles
Graphite paddles are one of the most common and popular choices. They are highly durable, lightweight, and give you much more control over the ball. This material mainly comprises different layers of carbon fibres woven tightly, creating a lightweight and strong structure. This ends up in a paddle, which is easier to manoeuver and offers ideal ball control.
One of the greatest benefits of using this paddle is getting a large sweet spot. The spot of the paddle offers you the most control and power on the ball. Utilising a graphite paddle, the sweet spot is much greater than other materials, making it easier to hit accurate strikes.
Given all of these benefits, graphite paddles may also be more expensive than all other materials of pickleball paddles. Pickleball manufacturers also give them a stiffer feel that may take some time to get the hang of.
- Aluminum pickleball paddles
These paddles are also a common choice among pickleball players. They are durable, strong, and come with a softer feel than their graphite counterparts. This material gives a smoother touch and removes the vibration felt in the player’s hand, making it much more comfortable to use over longer periods.
These paddles are scratch and dent-resistant, making them the ideal choice for players playing over harder or rougher surfaces. They are far less pricey than the graphite paddles. However, aluminum may be slightly heavier than other materials, making them hard to use. They come with a smaller sweet spot compared to the graphite pickleball paddles, making them less forgiving when the player has to hit the ball precisely. This is why most players prefer using graphite pickleball paddles if they can afford them. Most pickleball paddle manufacturers have different prices for aluminum pickleball paddles to suit the player’s needs.
- Composite pickleball paddles
These paddles are made using a mix of mostly polymer and fibreglass materials. They give you a strong balance of control and power and are mostly less pricey than graphite paddles. These paddles are known for their strength and durability to dents and scratches. They are the ideal choice for pickleball players who are used to playing over rough surfaces or have used harder equipment earlier.
But, using these paddles may be heavier than the graphite ones, making it hard to maneuver. They have a smaller range of sweet spots than graphite paddles. So, if you have a strong grip on your sport, you can only enjoy using the composite pickleball paddles. These paddles use the very latest aerospace composite material technology. Pickleball paddle manufacturers use variations of composite surfaces throughout the industry to increase playability. These paddles come with a great mix of touch, strength and feel.
- Wooden pickleball paddles
This is the very first material used to create the pickleball paddles by all of the best pickleball paddle manufacturers. It is more of a history lesson rather than something you might want to buy to play with. If you are looking to play using high-caliber pickleball, this isn’t the one for you. But to get to know the roost of this sport, you can get a wooden paddle to feel the history of it.
Pickleball paddle manufacturers have been making innovations in paddle technology, meaning that wood isn’t as popular a building material as it once was but hasn’t been commonly erased from the world of paddles altogether. These are low-quality paddle starter sets that come made of wood. So wooden paddles might not be recommended by any professional player, but it is still suggested that you learn how it plays.
- Carbon fiber pickleball paddles
Just like graphite, carbon fiber comes stiff and light at first, but it gets even more durable than graphite with time. The best way to think of these two is to see how they are constructed by the pickleball factory. Graphite is a set of tightly packed layers of carbon, while carbon is more like a layered one in ribbons and is connected in a way that establishes fibres, such as weaving cloth together. This is how it gives you an ideal strength and more rigidity while also using less material to be light.
These paddles give you good, refined sport. The material is ideal for absorbing the impact of energy when each ball strikes the paddle and then distributing the energy. This is when the stiffness of the carbon fibre weaved together actually shines. The distribution of energy keeps your strikes precise and constant. You will enjoy more control and more ability to spin the ball.
Compared to graphite, the stiffer body of carbon fibre means that your paddle also has much power. You will have to put in more work to have powerful shots.
- Conclusion
It can get overwhelming to find the right paddle, mainly when you are just getting into pickleball. This is why the above content is to help you get to know each type of paddle and make an ideal choice of which one to go with. MU Group is one of the finest pickleball paddle manufacturers that has brought forward the best products for players. These high-quality, ideally-priced products will give you an experience that will last forever.