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A Guide to Pickleball Paddles for Every Skill Level

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Franklin PIckleball

Does this sound like you or someone you know? You act like you’re not interested when everyone from your grandparents to your Gen-Z coworkers talk about their weekends playing pickleball, but you're starting to get more curious about the hype.

Or perhaps this is you: While you’re sitting in back-to-back meetings, you can't help but find yourself daydreaming about ways to improve your backhand or visualizing the kitchen as you’re falling asleep at night. 


No matter where you’re at in your pickleball discovery, Franklin Sports has the perfect paddle for you. In order to support you on this journey, we’ve narrowed down all the tried-and-true paddles courtesy of Franklin Pickleball that will have you ready to challenge even the most experienced players. Take a look.

The Best Paddle for Beginners

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Franklin Pickleball

MaxGrit™ Pilot Pickleball Paddle

The MaxGrit™ Pilot is good enough for the pros, without the pro-level price tag. This affordable paddle is sleek and performance-driven. Its surface is complete with MaxGrit™ technology and supported by a polypropylene core to minimize the vibration and maximize the spin rate when the paddle makes contact with the ball.

This paddle is perfect for beginners who are getting used to the feeling of swinging the paddle. They’ll also love it because of its non-slip comfort grip.

Plus, the MaxGrit™ Pilot paddle is USAPA-approved, so you can train all year long with it in preparation for your first competition (if you’re into that sort of thing).

BUY IT ($70)

The Best Paddle for Pickleball Enthusiasts

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Franklin Pickleball

Centre Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle with MaxGrit™

Congrats! You’ve graduated from your beginner paddle and are ready for the next level. Luckily, the Centre Carbon Fiber paddle by Franklin is just as affordable as the Pilot, but its added features give it a little bit of flair that makes it the ideal model for pickleball enthusiasts. 

Like the Pilot, the Centre Carbon Fiber paddle comes equipped with MaxGrit™ technology for optimal control over the ball. The carbon fiber surface makes this one of the most durable paddles with an enlarged sweet spot for peak performance. The long handle helps players reach balls that other paddles can’t, making it the best paddle for covering the most ground.

And we know that once you’ve caught the pickleball bug, you’ll be itching to enter those tournaments; the good news is that this paddle is also USAPA-approved.

BUY IT ($100)

The Best Paddle for Pros

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Franklin Pickleball

Signature Series Fiberglass Pickleball Paddle with MaxGrit

The fiberglass paddle with MaxGrit is meticulously designed for peak performance in every way. The polypropylene core and fiberglass surface layer give the paddle a strong, durable base that the highest level players can rely on.

With this paddle, you’re paying for top-of-the-line quality. It’s built to last, even for the pros who are out getting reps day after day. The pros who’ve played with this paddle rave about its comfort grip that’s elongated to provide maximum reach.

There is no sacrificing with this paddle, as it performs just as consistently in the kitchen as it does in the backcourt when you need power. This paddle will take your game to the next level.

BUY IT ($100)

Follow Franklin Pickleball and check out Franklin Sports for even more must-have pickleball products.