Best Beginner Pickleball Paddles: 8 Picks Compared

Our verdict

Our Top Picks

A first paddle does not need to do everything. It needs to keep mishits in play, sit comfortably in your hand and stay manageable while your technique catches up. This guide compares eight beginner paddles on exactly that: forgiveness (shape, sweet spot, twist weight), weight and swing weight, grip and handle fit, and price tier. Every pick is sold on Amazon by Amazon itself or by the maker’s own storefront, and every one is on the USA Pickleball approved list.

If you have played a while and want the full field, power and spin paddles included, our pickleball paddle guide for every level covers that. This page stays with the first paddle.

What a first paddle needs

Pickleheads puts the brief in one sentence: “brand-new pickleball players should look for two key things in a paddle: a forgiving sweet spot, and not too much pop” (Pickleheads’ beginner guide). Everything else follows from that.

Forgiveness. A wider face and a higher twist weight (resistance to twisting on off-centre hits) keep mishits on line. Pickleball Effect’s beginner guide recommends a hybrid shape for most new players, for “enough reach”, “plenty of forgiveness” and “manageable swingweights”; five of the eight picks here are widebodies and one is a hybrid-style shape, because forgiveness is the job.

Core thickness. Pickleball Effect’s view is that players just starting are better off with 16 mm paddles “because they offer bigger sweet spots than thinner 14mm builds”. Four picks here are 16 mm; the Geo (14 mm), the Neo set (13 mm), the JOOLA Essentials (12 mm) and the Z5 (0.375 in, about 9.5 mm, per Onix) are the exceptions, and each review says what that changes.

Weight. Pickleheads sorts paddles into lightweight (7.6 oz and under), midweight (7.6 to 8.2 oz) and heavyweight (8.2 oz and over), and its general guide is that lighter paddles suit beginners. Swing weight, how heavy the paddle feels once it is moving, matters as much: Pickleheads found the Valkyrie “head heavy” despite a midweight spec.

Grip and handle. Pickleheads’ quick test for grip circumference: measure “from the tip of your ring finger straight down to the middle crease” of your palm. Grips here run from 4 to 4.25 inches around. A longer handle (5.5 inches and up) helps a two-handed backhand and tennis players; a shorter one is quicker in the hand.

Not too much power. Pickleball Effect’s advice is to skip the power paddle for now: “It’s much easier to add power later than it is to take it away and try to learn touch shots.” Each pick here is described by its maker or its reviewers as a control or all-court paddle.

For a fuller walk-through of each spec, see our guide to what to look for when buying a pickleball paddle.

Compare the picks

Compare the 8 beginner paddles

The table lists the exact variant each Amazon link opens. Weights are the maker’s stated range unless marked otherwise. “Approved” quotes the entry on the USA Pickleball approved-equipment list as we read it on October 21, 2026.

Detailed Reviews

11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean, Widebody All-Rounder

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Pickleheads: Pegasus Jelly Bean, 16 mm.

Pickleheads’ beginner guide puts the Pegasus Jelly Bean at the top of its list (“My top paddle pick for beginners is the amazing 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean”) and scores it 9.5 for control, 9.5 for forgiveness, 9 for spin and 8 for power. Its reviewer writes that “the extra-large sweet spot makes this one of the most forgiving paddles ever made,” and, in Pickleheads’ cheap-paddle guide, recommends the Pegasus “as a beginner paddle because its extra-wide face gives you an easier and more playable surface,” calling it “the paddle I hand to friends who are just starting out.” 11SIX24 builds it with two layers of raw Toray T700 carbon over a fiberglass layer, a 16 mm core, a 15.82-by-8.04-inch widebody face and a 5.75-inch handle, and lists a 109 to 111 swing weight. Pickleball Studio measured a 108 swing weight and a 7.14 twist weight on the 16 mm.

The trade-offs are honest ones. Pickleheads notes the Pegasus “has an earlier-gen honeycomb polymer core, not foam,” so it will not keep its feel as long as a foam paddle may. Pickleball Studio found the handle “marketed 5.75 but more like 5.5” and the stock 16 mm “a bit too head light” for its own setup, which it fixed with tungsten tape. The Amazon listing lists the weight as 8 oz and the swing weight as 109 to 118; 11SIX24’s own page says 8.0 to 8.3 oz and 109 to 111, which is what we print. 11SIX24 has since launched a foam-core Jelly Bean 2, sold separately; the Pegasus here is the original that Pickleheads ranks. It is sold on Amazon by 11SIX24’s own storefront.

Specs (linked variant: Pegasus Jelly Bean, 16 mm)

• Core: 16 mm (maker); polymer honeycomb (Pickleheads; 11SIX24 states thickness only)
• Weight: 8.0 to 8.3 oz; swing weight 109 to 111 (maker); measured swing weight 108, twist weight 7.14 (Pickleball Studio)
• Face: two layers of raw Toray T700 carbon fiber and one of fiberglass
• Shape and size: widebody, 15.82 x 8.04 in
• Handle and grip: 5.75 in handle (maker), 4.125 in circumference
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Pegasus Jelly Bean 16mm”, added 01/27/2025

Vatic Pro Prism Flash, Soft Control Pick

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Pickleball Effect: Prism Flash 16 mm.

Pickleball Effect’s control list names the Prism Flash 16 mm its “Best Pure Control” paddle and describes it as “the softest, most control-first paddle” on its control list, “with an extremely calm response, plenty of margin in the soft game.” It scores control 10 and forgiveness 9, with power and pop at 3 out of 10, and measured 7.91 ounces, a 114 swing weight and a 6.40 twist weight. Vatic Pro builds it with a 16 mm polymer honeycomb core and foam-injected walls under a raw T700 carbon face, in a 16.2-by-7.7-inch shape with a 5.3-inch standard handle and a 4.125-inch grip with two polyurethane inserts that Vatic says are there to “reduce shock”.

On the two r/Pickleball beginner threads that rank for this search, the Prism Flash comes up again and again. One owner started with it: “It’s great and I got a good few months out of it before figuring out my play style and upgrading.” Not everyone agrees; another in the same thread wrote, “Then I bought a prism flash and don’t like it.” The Flash is a 2023 design that Vatic’s Amazon listing describes as cold-molded, not thermoformed, and Amazon’s listing gives 16.3 x 7.5 inches where Vatic’s page says 16.2 x 7.7; we print Vatic’s. It is also the hub guide’s value pick; here it is the control choice for a beginner. Vatic Pro sells it on Amazon through its own storefront.

Specs (linked variant: Prism Flash, 16 mm, standard 5.3 in handle)

• Core: 16 mm polymer honeycomb with foam-injected walls (maker)
• Weight: maker not published; 7.91 oz, swing weight 114, twist weight 6.40 (measured by Pickleball Effect)
• Face: raw Toray T700 carbon fiber, heat-compressed texturing
• Shape and size: hybrid-style, 16.2 x 7.7 in (maker)
• Handle and grip: 5.3 in handle, 4.125 in circumference, two polyurethane inserts
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Prism Flash 16mm”, added 05/20/2023

SLK Valkyrie, Entry-Tier Widebody

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Pickleheads: Valkyrie widebody, 16 mm.

Pickleheads’ review, after more than 10 hours of play, says “The SLK Valkyrie is built for beginners and that’s where it excels,” and scores it 9.5 for control, 9 for forgiveness, 8.5 for spin and 8 for power. “Everyone I let use this paddle appreciates how easy it is to keep the ball in,” its reviewer writes, and the fiberglass face “produces nice pop for a budget control paddle.” Selkirk lists the widebody at 7.9 to 8.1 ounces, 15.95 by 8 inches, with a 16 mm polypropylene honeycomb core, a 5.6-inch handle, a 4.25-inch grip, a 110 swing weight and a 7 twist weight. Selkirk makes it in one shape.

Two cautions from the same review. On weight: “I find it head heavy and not very balanced in the weight department. I’d flag this for players with arm and wrist strains.” On the handle: “Despite the standard 4.25-inch circumference, the grip feels very thick because of its rectangular shape,” which Pickleheads suggests fixing with a thin overgrip; our guide to regripping a pickleball paddle shows how. Pickleheads also calls it “definitely a starter paddle”: past the 3.5 level, it says, you will get more from an intermediate paddle. Selkirk sells it on Amazon through its own storefront.

Specs (linked variant: SLK Valkyrie, widebody, Stealth colour)

• Core: 16 mm X5 polypropylene honeycomb (maker)
• Weight: 7.9 to 8.1 oz; swing weight 110; twist weight 7 (maker)
• Face: Fiberflex fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture
• Shape and size: widebody, 15.95 x 8 in
• Handle and grip: 5.6 in handle, 4.25 in circumference, octagonal
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Valkyrie”, added 11/10/2025

SLK Geo, Carbon-Face Widebody

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Pickleball Central: Geo widebody.

Selkirk aims the Geo at beginner-to-intermediate players and gives the widebody a T700 raw carbon face, a 14 mm polypropylene honeycomb core and its MOI Tuning System, which shifts weight to the edges of the face to steady off-centre hits. Selkirk lists the widebody at 7.8 to 8.1 ounces with a 107 swing weight and a 7.5 twist weight, 15.95 by 8 inches, with a 5.6-inch handle and a 4.25-inch grip. Pickleball Central, which sells it, has its gear expert write that “The widebody Geo feels steady and confidence boosting. Blocks stay solid, and mishits do not punish you.” That is a retailer’s view, so weigh it as one; we found no independent test of the Geo.

An owner’s view is cooler. In r/Pickleball’s weekly paddle thread, a player who tried a demo Geo found it “hard and a bit unstable. Not at all terrible, very much a control paddle,” and thought you could do better in the same price range. The 14 mm core also goes against Pickleball Effect’s 16 mm advice for beginners; the Geo leans on its wide face and perimeter weighting for forgiveness instead. The raw carbon face is the difference from the fiberglass Valkyrie. The Amazon title calls it a “T700 Carbon Fiber Core”; Selkirk’s page makes clear the carbon is the face. Selkirk sells it on Amazon through its own storefront.

Specs (linked variant: SLK Geo, widebody, Cyan colour)

• Core: 14 mm Rev-Pro polypropylene honeycomb (maker)
• Weight: 7.8 to 8.1 oz; swing weight 107; twist weight 7.5 (maker)
• Face: T700 raw carbon fiber with Raw Spin Technology surface
• Shape and size: widebody, 15.95 x 8 in
• Handle and grip: 5.6 in handle, 4.25 in circumference
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Geo Widebody”, added 10/29/2025

SLK Neo 2.0 set of 2, Two-Paddle Starter Set

Evidence: Independently reviewed, previous generation. Pickleheads: Neo 2.0 with the SX3 core (2023).

Pickleheads tested the Neo 2.0 for more than two weeks and wrote that “it’s now one of my top recommendations for beginners learning how to play pickleball” (Pickleheads’ Neo 2.0 review). It found the paddle “very forgiving” and that it “actually generated more power and spin than I was expecting,” scoring forgiveness 9, control 7, power 6 and spin 6. That review covers the Neo 2.0 with Selkirk’s SX3 core (2023); the set we link has the “improved Polymer SX4 13mm Core,” according to Selkirk’s Amazon listing, which also gives 7.5 ounces per paddle, a graphite face with SpinFlex texture, a 5.25-inch handle and a 4.25-inch grip. The set includes two paddles, three outdoor balls and a sling bag.

The limits are the ones Pickleheads lists: the paddle “lacks more overall power,” and “New players will likely struggle with 3rd-shot drops, as they need a lot of finesse with this paddle.” Selkirk’s own site no longer lists the graphite set (it sells newer fiberglass and raw-carbon Neo bundles), so the specs here come from Selkirk’s Amazon listing. On r/Pickleball, the top-voted reply in one beginner thread tells new players to start with an inexpensive set, and the SLK Neo set comes up by name in the same thread. If the outdoor balls in the box are new to you, our guide to the types of pickleball balls explains indoor versus outdoor. Selkirk sells the set on Amazon through its own storefront.

Specs (linked variant: SLK Neo 2.0 set of 2, graphite, Green & Purple)

• Core: 13 mm SX4 polymer honeycomb (Selkirk’s Amazon listing)
• Weight: 7.5 oz per paddle (Selkirk’s Amazon listing)
• Face: G4 Control graphite with SpinFlex texture
• Shape and size: 15.65 x 7.8 in (Amazon listing)
• Handle and grip: 5.25 in handle, 4.25 in circumference
• In the box: two paddles, three outdoor balls, sling bag
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Neo Graphite”, entries added 03/18/2020 and 06/01/2023

Six Zero Coral, Fast-Learner Upgrade

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Pickleball Effect: Coral 16 mm in all three shapes, widebody included.

Pickleball Effect’s beginner guide sends athletic beginners and racket-sport players to the Coral, because “it grows with you and it can realistically stay in your bag for a long time.” Its pick is the Coral Hybrid, which was not available to buy on Amazon when we checked; we link the Coral Widebody, from the same series. Pickleball Effect’s Coral series review measured all three shapes: the widebody at a 108 swing weight and a 7.33 twist weight, and it writes that “The hybrid and widebody in particular have the kind of lightweight swing weights and solid twist weights that most players find easy to play.” Six Zero builds it with a 16 mm floating foam core (Tectonic Core with ProPulsion foam) under a Diamond Tough raw carbon face, which Six Zero says keeps its texture more than four times longer than traditional raw carbon.

The same series review adds a caution for a first paddle: “The paddle does have enough offense that total beginners or players who frequently hit long may want something with less pop.” This is also a premium-tier paddle that sits above the price range Pickleball Effect calls the sweet spot for most beginners; buy it if you already have some racket-sport control, expect to improve quickly and want to keep it. One listing detail to know: the Amazon page for the widebody quotes a 6.7 twist weight and a 114 swing weight, which are Six Zero’s figures for the hybrid; Six Zero’s own widebody figures are 7.1 and 110, and we print those. The elongated Coral is a pick in our hub guide; the widebody is the shape for a beginner. Six Zero sells it on Amazon through its own storefront, and stock was low when we checked.

Specs (linked variant: Coral 16 mm widebody, Ocean Blue)

• Core: 16 mm Tectonic Core with ProPulsion foam (maker)
• Weight: 8.0 to 8.3 oz; swing weight 110; twist weight 7.1 (maker); measured swing weight 108, twist weight 7.33 (Pickleball Effect)
• Face: Diamond Tough raw carbon fiber
• Shape and size: widebody, 16 x 7.8 to 8 in
• Handle and grip: 5.5 in handle, 4.0 to 4.13 in circumference
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Coral RCD-W 16MM”, added 11/07/2025

Onix Graphite Z5, Long-Running Classic

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/Pickleball owners: Graphite Z5 (first paddle, since upgraded).

Onix calls the Graphite Z5 “the most popular paddle coming from Onix” and builds it with a graphite face over a Nomex honeycomb core in a 15.5-by-8.125-inch widebody, with a 5-inch tennis-style handle, a 4-inch grip and a 7.5 to 8.2 ounce weight. There is no independent test of it in our sources; the evidence is owners. An r/Pickleball thread titled “Upgraded from the Onix Z5” opens with “Started out with the z5 to learn pickleball,” and one reply, after trying a friend’s Z5, says “the control wasn’t there. Very poppy.” Pickleheads, reviewing the Neo 2.0, wrote: “I would even say it plays better than an ONIX Z5 Graphite.” A 2026 reply in r/Pickleball’s weekly paddle thread is blunter: after borrowing a Z5, the player wrote “Striking the ball was very jarring”.

Onix’s Z5 Mod V2 spec list gives the paddle thickness as 0.375 inch (about 9.5 mm), the thinnest core in this guide by Onix’s figure, and a Nomex core is the type Pickleball Kitchen’s beginner list tells new players to avoid. Its 4-inch grip may suit smaller hands. Amazon itself sells the Mod Green colour we link.

Specs (linked variant: Graphite Z5, Mod V2 graphics, Mod Green 2025)

• Core: Nomex honeycomb, 0.375 in (Onix; labelled paddle thickness on its spec list)
• Weight: 7.5 to 8.2 oz (maker, approximate)
• Face: graphite
• Shape and size: widebody, 15.5 x 8.125 in
• Handle and grip: 5 in tennis-style handle, 4 in circumference
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Graphite Z5”, added 12/05/2011

JOOLA Essentials, Textured-Face Budget Pick

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/Pickleball owners: Essentials (colour not stated).

JOOLA describes the Essentials as a recreational paddle, and its Essentials set page lists the paddle’s specs: a fiberglass “abrasion” surface over a 12 mm Response honeycomb polymer core, an 8.2-ounce average weight, a 15.5-by-7.9-inch face, a ridge grip 4.75 inches long and 4 inches around, and USA Pickleball approval. JOOLA’s own site now sells the paddle in that two-paddle set; the single paddle we link is sold on Amazon by Amazon.com itself, and stock was low when we checked.

We found no independent test of it in our sources; the evidence is owners. In an r/Pickleball thread comparing it with the Onix Z5, one player wrote “Way more control and feel with the Joola. Played with an z5 and did not enjoy it,” and another said “I’d go with the Joola out of these two. I don’t like their 6 month warranty, though.” A third reply, from a player who says they are “not too familiar with the Joola,” describes “one of the grittiest surfaces”; JOOLA calls the face an abrasion surface, and that texture is the trait we name it for. In the beginner thread that ranks for this search, a reply recommending a starter purchase reads “SLK at Costco or Joola Essentials is good place to go.” That is the trade against the Z5: both sit in the entry tier with a 4-inch grip, and the owner comparisons we found favour the Essentials. The limits: the 12 mm core is thinner than Pickleball Effect’s 16 mm advice, the 8.2-ounce average sits at the line Pickleheads draws for heavyweight, and the Amazon listing gives a 180-day limited warranty.

Specs (linked variant: JOOLA Essentials, Blue)

• Core: 12 mm Response honeycomb polymer (maker)
• Weight: 8.2 oz average (maker)
• Face: fiberglass with abrasion texture (maker)
• Shape and size: 15.5 x 7.9 in (maker)
• Handle and grip: 4.75 in grip length, 4 in circumference, Sure-Grip ridge grip
• Warranty: 180-day limited (Amazon listing)
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Essentials”, added 02/02/2022

Which paddle for which beginner

No racket-sport background. Pickleball Effect’s advice for this group is “a modern control paddle in a hybrid shape.” Picks: the Pegasus Jelly Bean for a wide face and long handle, the Valkyrie in the entry tier, the Prism Flash if you already like the soft game. Our guide to learning to play pickleball covers the first sessions.

Tennis or another racket sport. You will likely improve faster, so a paddle with room to grow makes sense. Picks: the Coral widebody if you can spend premium-tier money, the Pegasus Jelly Bean for its 5.75-inch handle and two-handed backhand. If you come from padel, see our pickleball paddle vs padel racket comparison.

Buying for two. Picks: the Neo 2.0 set for two paddles, balls and a bag in one box; or two Valkyries if you want 16 mm paddles.

On a tight budget. Picks: the JOOLA Essentials, the Z5, the Valkyrie and the Neo set are the entry-tier options; the r/Pickleball threads are split between “start cheap” and “spend a little”.

Smaller hands. Pickleheads ties grip size to hand size and preference, so measure your hand rather than shop by label. Picks: the Z5 and the JOOLA Essentials have 4-inch grips; the Coral is 4.0 to 4.13 inches. The Selkirk grips are 4.25 inches, and Pickleheads found the Valkyrie’s feels thick.

Want a softer, lighter feel. Pickleball Effect scores the Prism Flash’s power and pop 3 of 10, and Vatic says its grip inserts reduce shock; the Neo paddles are 7.5 ounces each (Selkirk). Pickleheads found the Valkyrie head heavy, so it is not the one for a light feel. Picks: the Prism Flash, the Neo set.

Beginner to intermediate. Once you play a few times a week and can rate your game (our guide to how to rate your pickleball level explains the scale), the Pegasus (Pickleheads calls it “good enough to be your intermediate paddle”) and the Coral (Pickleball Effect’s pick to grow with, in its hybrid shape) are the two here that their reviewers expect to stay with you; beyond them, our guide to paddles for every level takes over. For players moving up, see our guide to intermediate pickleball paddles.

How we chose these beginner paddles

What we weighed

• Forgiveness: shape, face width and the maker’s or a tester’s twist weight for the exact linked variant.
• Weight and swing weight, from the maker, with independent measurements where they exist.
• Grip circumference and handle length, because they decide comfort for a new player.
• Price tier relative to the other picks, never a typed price; the live Amazon price is in the boxes.
• The USA Pickleball approved-list entry for the exact model, read on October 21, 2026.
• Who sells the Amazon listing, and at what price: every pick is sold by Amazon.com or by the maker’s own storefront, new and in stock, and we name the seller in each review. Several paddles the ranking guides like are not picks for that reason: 11SIX24’s Vapor Jelly Bean (Amazon’s product data refused its listing), Six Zero’s Coral Hybrid and the Franklin Signature (not available to buy on Amazon when we checked), and the Friday Fever (its Amazon offer, from a third-party seller, was priced above Friday’s own list price). We found no Amazon listing for Honolulu’s or FLiK’s paddles. The Holbrook Fuze (sold by Holbrook’s own Amazon storefront) and the Warping Point Neon (sold by Intretech US) were on Amazon when we last checked but were not assessed for this guide; we will look at them in its next update.

Sources and what r/Pickleball tells new players

Sources

Pickleheads’ beginner guide (April 2026 update), its cheap-paddle guide, Valkyrie review (February 2026) and Neo 2.0 review (2023); Pickleball Effect’s beginner guide (April 2026), control list and Coral series review; Pickleball Studio’s Pegasus review (2024); Pickleball Central’s Geo page (a retailer, labelled as such); Pickleball Kitchen’s beginner list; the r/Pickleball thread comparing the JOOLA Essentials and the Onix Z5 (owners). Maker pages: 11SIX24, Vatic Pro, Selkirk Valkyrie, Selkirk Geo, Six Zero, Onix, JOOLA (the Essentials specs, from its set page); the Neo set’s specs are from Selkirk’s Amazon listing. Approval entries are from the USA Pickleball approved-paddle list. Stock and sellers were read on Amazon on October 21, 2026.

What r/Pickleball tells new players

The two r/Pickleball threads that rank for this search, “Best paddles for beginners?” and “Beginner paddle recommendations?”, split into two camps. One says “Do NOT start with an expensive paddle. Start with a cheap set from Amazon/Walmart/Target, and just play. A lot.” The other answers “Dude. I did that and regretted it. Spend a little.” Between them, the names that recur are the Vatic Pro Prism Flash, a Selkirk SLK set and the JOOLA Essentials. These are owners’ views, quoted as owners’ views, not tests.

Frequently Asked Questions

A forgiving one with not too much pop, in Pickleheads’ words. Pickleball Effect recommends a modern control paddle in a hybrid shape for most beginners; a widebody gives even more face to hit with. Six of the eight picks here are widebodies or hybrid-style shapes.

Pickleball Effect says players just starting are better off with 16 mm, for the bigger sweet spot, and that it rarely recommends a 14 mm paddle at any level. Four picks here are 16 mm. The 14 mm Geo relies on its wide face and perimeter weighting for forgiveness instead.

For most new players, the 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean: it is Pickleheads’ top beginner pick, with a wide face and a long handle. In the entry tier, the SLK Valkyrie; for two people starting together, the SLK Neo 2.0 set. For younger players, see our guide to kids’ pickleball paddles, and for women’s paddles, our guide to pickleball paddles for women.

Enough to get a modern build from a known brand, not more. Pickleball Effect advises spending enough for quality but not paying “to buy status”, and expects most players to replace their first paddle sooner than later ones. Every tier in this guide has a beginner option; the live prices are in the table. If you are keeping costs down, see also our guide to budget pickleball paddles.

A set makes sense for two people starting together and for testing whether you like the game; the Neo 2.0 set includes two paddles, three outdoor balls and a bag. If you already know you will play every week, a single paddle with a 16 mm core is the better buy, in Pickleball Effect’s view.

When you know what you want more of. Pickleball Effect’s list of signs includes wanting more power on drives, more control in the soft game, or more reach. Pickleheads suggests moving on from the Valkyrie past the 3.5 level.

Each pick is on the USA Pickleball approved list; the table quotes each entry with its date. Check the list again before a sanctioned event, because entries change.

The bottom line

Final Verdict

Buy the 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean (check price) if you want one forgiving paddle with a long handle and room to grow. Buy the SLK Valkyrie (check price) if you want a widebody from Selkirk’s SLK line in the entry tier and do not mind a thick grip. Buy the SLK Neo 2.0 set (check price) if two of you are starting together. The Vatic Pro Prism Flash (check price) is the choice for a soft, control-first game, the SLK Geo (check price) for a carbon face on a control widebody, the Six Zero Coral (check price) widebody for the athletic beginner who wants to buy once, the Onix Graphite Z5 (check price) for a spare or a casual paddle in the entry tier, and the JOOLA Essentials (check price) for a gritty fiberglass face on a single entry-tier paddle.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.