The short answer
The Onix Graphite Z5 Mod V2 is the Nomex-core wide-face paddle whose face Onix calls graphite and that two testers reviewed in its plain Z5 form (they disagree on whether it favors control or power), the SLK Latitude Max is the 13 mm polymer paddle with Selkirk’s Graphi-Flex graphite face, and the Bison The Mountain is the wide-face polymer paddle whose maker names a textured graphite face.
Our verdict
Our Top Picks
Pickleheads writes that “Carbon paddles might be all the rage right now but you’re not alone if you still prefer graphite paddles—especially if you’re a control-focused player.” This guide gathers six paddles stocked on Amazon whose makers’ own pages name the face as graphite, quotes each maker’s wording, and keeps every remark about feel with the tester who made it, the date and the build that tester played. Listings on Amazon and the makers do not always use the same word (Amazon’s title for the Onix Z5 says “Carbon Fiber” and its title for the Bison says “Carbon Graphite”), so the face wording below is always the maker’s.
Only six paddles passed that test, fewer than we would like, and the “How we picked these graphite paddles” section says why others did not. For the overall list across every face material, see our guide to the best pickleball paddles; for paddles chosen for price, see the best budget pickleball paddles; for newer players, the best beginner pickleball paddles.
Paddle finder
Find the graphite paddle for how you play
Pick how you play and the maker's price tier. The suggestion is our editorial starting point, drawn from the {n} {products} below, not a test result.
Tiers are relative to the makers' list prices (Gamma: 2023 MSRP) for the paddles in this guide; live prices are in the comparison table below.
Compare the picks
Compare the 6 graphite paddles
Every row is the exact variant we link. Core and weight lead the table; the figures are the makers’ own unless a source is named, and the Face column quotes the maker’s own words. “USA Pickleball” is what the approved-paddle list showed for that model on 2026-10-22, with the date the list gives for the entry. The list does not name every build, and the Onix Z5 Mod V2, the Latitude Max and the Gamma entries are explained in their reviews, so check your exact model before a sanctioned event.
Onix Graphite Z5 Mod V2, GreenNomex Widebody GraphiteNomex, wide faceNomex7.5-8.2 oz$63.00 Prime
Evidence: Pickleheads and Pickleball Kitchen, plain Z5 Graphite, not the Mod V2
Onix Stryker 4 Graphite, PurpleLightweight GraphiteLightweight, 12-14 mmPolymer per the table7.0-7.4 oz$57.53 Prime
USA Pickleball: Listed (Stryker 4 Graphite, 2017-09-15; a separate Stryker 4 Composite entry is dated 2017-06-01)
Evidence: maker specs only, no independent test
SLK Latitude Max, Electric SunsetGraphi-Flex Max ShapeTextured, 12-14 mm13 mm SX4 polymer honeycomb7.6-8.0 oz$67.84
Evidence: Pickleheads, earlier widebody SLK Latitude, not the Max
Bison The Mountain, BlackTextured Graphite WideTextured, wide facePolymer honeycomb composite8.0 oz$29.99
Core: Polymer honeycomb composite; 10 mm per Bison's chart on its Amazon listing (not on Bison's own page)
Evidence: Pickleheads, The Bison (7.75 in wide), not The Mountain
GAMMA Voltage 5.014 mm Microbead Graphite (sibling of #6)Textured, wide face, 12-14 mm14 mm honeycomb7.8 oz$37.99
Evidence: maker specs only, no independent test
GAMMA Neutron 5.012 mm Microbead Graphite (sibling of #5)Textured, wide face, 12-14 mm12 mm honeycomb7.8 oz$39.60
Evidence: maker specs only, no independent test
What testers and makers say about graphite faces
Four things stand out when the makers’ pages and the testers’ reviews are read side by side. Each is described where the paddle is reviewed; here they are in one place.
- Sources do not agree on how far graphite and carbon fiber differ. Pickleheads writes: “Graphite paddles are generally known for being lighter and softer than carbon paddles. For that reason, they’re seen more as control paddles than power paddles.” The retailer Pickleball Central writes: “Graphite and carbon fiber are substantially similar materials, usually offering a rough texture for spin and a controllable feel.” Neither is a test of the paddles here.
- Selkirk, a maker, describes graphite faces in general this way: on its graphite collection page it says “Graphite faces are favored by players looking for a combination of control and pop.” That is a maker’s description of its own category, not a test.
- Two testers disagree about the Onix Z5. Pickleheads rates the Z5 it played 8/10 for control and 6/10 for power; Pickleball Kitchen says “The Z5 doesn’t absorb much of the force, which is why this paddle is so popular among power players.” See review 1.
- The face is not the whole paddle. Makers give 0.375 in (Onix Mod V2) to 14 mm for core thickness; Bison publishes no figure on its own page (10mm on its Amazon chart). Onix’s own Z5 pages give 12 mm and 0.375 in, and Pickleheads lists 11 mm. The cores are Nomex, polymer and polypropylene honeycomb.
How we picked these graphite paddles
How this guide was built
built from manufacturer spec pages, the USA Pickleball approved-paddle list, and published reviews by Pickleheads and Pickleball Kitchen; we have not tested these paddles ourselves.
What a paddle had to show
- The maker’s own page names a graphite face. Each pick’s Face cell quotes the maker’s words. We did not count paddles whose maker page we could not read or whose maker wording was not graphite: HEAD’s site refused our reader, so we could not quote its Radical Tour face; Pickleball Central’s page for its Rally Flare calls the face “carbon”; Niupipo’s own page for the Explorer Pro says “Graphite Carbon Fiber”, and the Niupipo listings we found on Amazon are sets titled “Carbon Fiber & Fiberglass Hybrid”, so we could not match an Amazon listing to that page; Diadem’s current Icon page says carbon fiber; and we found no Reebok page naming graphite, while the Reebok listing we checked on Amazon says “Composite face”.
- A maker page we could read that names the face. The Pickleball, Inc. Champion Graphite Elite, the Amazin’ Aces graphite paddle and the Pickleball Central Rally PXL had no current maker page we could read, and we found no graphite Pursuit paddle on Engage’s current site. The two GAMMA picks are included because Gamma’s own launch post for the series does name the face: they are not in Gamma’s current paddle listing, and the page we quote is that post for the series, so check stock and the exact model.
- Stocked on Amazon. Each pick is a New offer in stock on Amazon on 2026-10-22, at or below the maker’s regular price for that variant, and the seller is named in the review where it is not Amazon or the maker. The OneShot Aero Infinityshot, a graphite paddle Pickleheads reviews, is sold on the maker’s site and not on Amazon.
- The exact variant. Each link is a single paddle, not a set. Colour and shape match the maker’s page: the Onix Green and Purple listings carry the same model codes as the maker’s Green and Purple variants (KZ1500-GRNV3 and KZ400-PUR), and the Bison listing’s barcode sits inside the maker’s barcode for The Mountain (Black).
- A checkable approval status. We searched the USA Pickleball list by brand and model on 2026-10-22 and quote what it showed.
- Distinct roles. The six picks are four brands: Onix twice (the Z5 and the Stryker 4, two different models), Gamma twice (the 14 mm Voltage and the 12 mm Neutron, siblings in Gamma’s Quantum Series) and Selkirk and Bison once each.
Where the figures come from
Where the figures come from
Weights, dimensions and core thickness are the makers’ own figures; where a maker’s page leaves a figure out, we say so. Where sources disagree we show both. Pickleheads rates paddles out of 10 for power, control, spin and forgiveness after on-court play and states: “If you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.” Its page also shows offer codes next to the Onix Z5 and the SLK Latitude. Pickleball Kitchen’s page marks a price link as an “affiliate link”. Pickleheads’ graphite guide is dated March 24, 2024, so its remarks about the Z5, Latitude and Bison are more than two years old and about the builds named in each review.
Detailed Reviews
Onix Graphite Z5 Mod V2, Nomex Widebody Graphite
Onix Graphite Z5 Mod V2, Green
Players who want a wide-face Nomex paddle with a face the maker calls graphite and who will weigh two testers who disagree about its feel.
$63.00 from AmazonAs of Oct 23, 22:11 UTCVerdict
Onix’s wide-face paddle with a graphite face and Nomex core; two testers reviewed the plain Z5 and disagree on whether it favors control or power.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Pickleheads: Onix Z5 Graphite (plain Z5, not the Mod V2).
Onix’s page for the Z5 Mod V2 says: “The graphite face and nomex core give players superior feel of the ball”, and its spec table lists “Face: Graphite” and “Core: Nomex” in a wide-body shape with a tennis-style handle. Onix calls it “the most popular pickleball paddle in the Onix line”; that is the maker’s claim. Pickleheads (March 24, 2024) played the “ONIX Z5 Graphite” and rates it 6/10 for power, 8/10 for control, 5/10 for spin and 7/10 for forgiveness. It writes: “The graphite face is soft and notably not textured, so don’t expect much spin off this one.” and “When it comes to control, I can’t think of a better-performing graphite paddle.” It adds: “There are some dead zones near the edges but, generally, this is a forgiving paddle for newcomers—especially if you hit the ball dead center on this paddle face.”
Pickleball Kitchen (undated) reviews the same Z5 Graphite and reaches a different description: “The Z5 doesn’t absorb much of the force, which is why this paddle is so popular among power players.” It also writes that “The paddle is also very loud.” Both testers played the plain Z5 Graphite rather than the Mod V2 we link, and neither names the Mod V2.
The Z5 is also in our best beginner pickleball paddles guide. Onix’s pages disagree about thickness: the Mod V2 table says 0.375 in and the plain Z5 page says 12mm, while Pickleheads lists 11 mm for the one it played. The Amazon listing is sold by Amazon.com and its title says “Carbon Fiber”, where Onix’s page says only “Graphite”.
Specs (Onix Graphite Z5 Mod V2, Green)
- Core: Nomex; Paddle Thickness 0.375 in (Onix’s Mod V2 table); 12mm on Onix’s plain Z5 page
- Weight: 7.5-8.2 oz (Onix, “approximate”)
- Face: “Face: Graphite” (Onix)
- Size: 15.5 x 8.125 in; handle 5 in; grip circumference 4 in
- Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Graphite Z5”, added 2011-12-05 (read 2026-10-22); the Mod V2 is not named; Onix’s page states “Meets USAPA requirements: Yes”
Pros
- Graphite face and Nomex core named on Onix’s own page for this paddle
- Pickleheads rates its control 8/10 and its forgiveness 7/10
- A USA Pickleball list entry for the Graphite Z5
Cons
- Pickleheads and Pickleball Kitchen describe it differently, control against power
- Pickleheads says spin is limited because the face is not textured
- Pickleball Kitchen calls it very loud, and Pickleheads notes dead zones near the edges
Who should buy it
Players who want a wide-face Nomex paddle with a face the maker calls graphite and who will weigh two testers who disagree about its feel.
Onix Stryker 4 Graphite, Lightweight Graphite
Onix Stryker 4 Graphite, Purple
Purple · Polymer per the table
Players who want a 7.0-7.4 oz graphite-faced paddle and accept that only the maker describes how it plays.
$57.53 from AmazonAs of Oct 23, 22:11 UTCVerdict
A 7.0-7.4 oz paddle (Onix’s figure), under every other maker weight listed here, with a 14 mm polymer core; no independent test of it turned up, and Onix’s own page contradicts itself on the face and the shape.
Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Onix (maker page).
Onix’s page for the Stryker 4 Graphite says: “This graphite pickleball paddle gives its player the advantage by creating the perfect balance of both touch and power.” That is the maker’s claim. It adds: “The polypropylene core provides the Stryker’s incredible touch at the net, while the paddle’s graphite face fuels the power.” The same page’s spec table reads “Face: Composite”, “Paddle Shape: Standard” and “Core: Polymer”, while its text calls the shape oversized. We follow the text for the face, because the page says graphite face in its text and in this paddle’s name, and show the table’s word beside it.
We found no independent test of the Stryker 4, so this pick rests on Onix’s page and the USA Pickleball list. The Amazon listing is sold by Amazon.com and its bullets give 7.8 in of width and 6.9-7.4 oz against Onix’s 7.625 in and 7.0-7.4 oz; its title still reads “Nomex, Paper Honeycomb Core” where the bullets and Onix’s page say polypropylene. For the Z5 from the same maker, see review 1.
Specs (Onix Stryker 4 Graphite, Purple)
- Core: “Polymer” per the table, polypropylene honeycomb per the text; Paddle Thickness 14mm (Onix)
- Weight: 7.0-7.4 oz (Onix, “approximate”); Amazon’s bullet says 6.9-7.4 oz
- Face: “graphite face” in the text; “Face: Composite” in the table (Onix)
- Size: 15.5 x 7.625 in (Onix); Amazon lists 7.8 in wide; handle 5 in; grip circumference 4.25 in
- Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Stryker 4 Graphite”, added 2017-09-15 (read 2026-10-22); the list also has a separate “Stryker 4 Composite” entry (2017-06-01), which supports reading this paddle as the graphite one
Pros
- A graphite face named in the text of Onix’s page, with a 14 mm polymer core
- A 7.0-7.4 oz weight range (Onix’s figure), under every other maker weight listed in this guide
- A USA Pickleball list entry for the Stryker 4 Graphite
Cons
- No independent test of this paddle found
- Onix’s table says “Composite” for the face and “Standard” for the shape
- Amazon’s width, weight and core wording differ from Onix’s page
Who should buy it
Players who want a 7.0-7.4 oz graphite-faced paddle and accept that only the maker describes how it plays.
SLK Latitude Max, Graphi-Flex Max Shape
SLK Latitude Max, Electric Sunset
Electric Sunset · 13 mm SX4 polymer honeycomb
Players who want a 13 mm polymer paddle with a graphite face the maker names, in a longer and narrower shape than Pickleheads' Latitude.
$67.84 from AmazonAs of Oct 23, 22:11 UTCVerdict
Selkirk’s 13 mm polymer paddle in the Max shape with a Graphi-Flex graphite face; Pickleheads recommends the earlier Latitude to beginners, a different build from this one.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Pickleheads: SLK Latitude (earlier widebody, G4 graphite face, 15.5 x 8.25 in), not the Max shape.
Selkirk’s page says the Max is “Made with a graphite face” and lists “Face: Graphi-Flex Graphite Face”, a “13mm SX4 Polymer Honeycomb” core, a 16 x 7.85 in face and 7.6 – 8.0 oz. It describes a “SpinFlex+ textured surface” and says the Max shape offers “the largest surface area and sweet spot of all paddle shapes” (the maker’s claim). Pickleheads (March 24, 2024) played the “SLK Latitude”, a widebody 15.5 x 8.25 in with a “G4 graphite” face at 8-8.4 oz, and rates it 7/10 for power, 7/10 for control, 5/10 for spin and 7/10 for forgiveness. It writes: “If you’re a beginner who wants a soft graphite paddle, you can’t go wrong with the SLK Latitude.” Of that face it says: “The lack of texture on the face means spin is lacking, but the smooth surface creates a softness that boosts control.”
That remark is about the earlier build. Selkirk’s page for the Max describes a textured surface, so Pickleheads’ note about a smooth face and low spin should not be read as a test of the Max. Pickleheads’ page lists an offer code beside the Latitude. The USA Pickleball list has “Latitude Max” with no date shown, and separate entries for the Latitude Graphite (2020-03-18) and Latitude 2.0 (2022-09-07). The same paddle is in our best budget pickleball paddles guide.
The Amazon listing is sold by the Selkirk Sport storefront and its bullets call the paddle “Latitude 2.0”, with the same graphite face and 13 mm core.
Specs (SLK Latitude Max, Electric Sunset)
- Core: 13mm SX4 Polymer Honeycomb (Selkirk)
- Weight: 7.6 – 8.0 oz (Selkirk)
- Face: “Graphi-Flex Graphite Face” with a “SpinFlex+ textured surface” (Selkirk)
- Size: 16 x 7.85 in; handle 4.85 in; grip circumference 4.25 in
- Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Latitude Max”, no added date shown (read 2026-10-22)
Pros
- A graphite face named by Selkirk on a 13 mm polymer core
- Pickleheads recommends the earlier Latitude to beginners as a soft graphite paddle
- Sold by Selkirk’s own Amazon storefront
Cons
- Pickleheads’ test was of an earlier, wider Latitude, not the Max
- Pickleheads rates the earlier Latitude’s spin 5/10
- The USA Pickleball list shows no added date for the Max
Who should buy it
Players who want a 13 mm polymer paddle with a graphite face the maker names, in a longer and narrower shape than Pickleheads’ Latitude.
Bison The Mountain, Textured Graphite Wide
Black · Polymer honeycomb composite
Players who want a wide-face paddle whose maker names a textured graphite face and who accept that the review we cite covers the narrower Bison.
$29.99 from AmazonAs of Oct 23, 22:11 UTCVerdict
Bison’s wide-face polymer paddle with a textured graphite face; Pickleheads reviewed its narrower sibling, The Bison.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Pickleheads: Bison Graphite (The Bison, the narrower original: 15.75 x 7.75 in), not The Mountain.
Bison’s page says: “All Bison paddles come equipped with a textured graphite face. This rough surface provides enhanced ball spin and extra pop.” That is the maker’s claim. It lists a “POLYMER HONEYCOMB COMPOSITE CORE”, a 15.75 x 8.125 in face and 8.0 oz, and its own page does not publish a core thickness; the comparison chart Bison shows on its Amazon listing gives 10mm for this size. Pickleheads (March 24, 2024) reviewed “Bison Graphite”, which is Bison’s original The Bison at 15.75 x 7.75 in and 7.8 oz with a 10 mm core, and rates it 6/10 for power, 7/10 for control, 7/10 for spin and 7/10 for forgiveness. It writes: “This plays like a graphite paddle in that it’s soft and easy on your touch game.” and “Power is lacking, though.” The Mountain is the wider sibling, so those figures belong to The Bison and not to this paddle.
The Amazon listing is sold by “Bison Paddles”, a seller with the maker’s name; Bison’s own about, contact and warranty pages do not mention an Amazon store, so we cannot confirm the relationship from the maker’s side. The listing is a single paddle (its main image also shows a gray case, which the listing’s text does not list, so we do not say one is included). Amazon’s overview field says “Material: Carbon Fiber”, its title says “Carbon Graphite” and Bison’s chart on the listing says “Carbon Graphite”, where Bison’s own page says “graphite”. Bison’s own store showed The Mountain (Black) as sold out on 2026-10-22.
Specs (Bison The Mountain, Black)
- Core: polymer honeycomb composite (Bison); thickness not published on Bison’s page, 10mm in Bison’s chart on its Amazon listing
- Weight: 8.0 oz (Bison)
- Face: “textured graphite face” (Bison)
- Size: 15.75 x 8.125 in; handle 4.75 in; grip circumference 4.25 in
- Approval: USA Pickleball list, “The Mountain”, added 2021-09-23 (read 2026-10-22); Bison’s page states “USA PICKLEBALL APPROVED”
Pros
- A textured graphite face named by the maker on a wide 8.125 in face
- Pickleheads rates its sibling The Bison 7/10 for spin and control
- A USA Pickleball list entry for The Mountain
Cons
- Pickleheads says power is lacking on The Bison
- Bison’s own page does not publish a core thickness
- The Amazon seller shares the maker’s name but is not confirmed by Bison’s pages
Who should buy it
Players who want a wide-face paddle whose maker names a textured graphite face and who accept that the review we cite covers the narrower Bison.
GAMMA Voltage 5.0, 14 mm Microbead Graphite (sibling of #6)
Players who want a 14 mm graphite-faced paddle and accept that only Gamma's launch post describes it.
$37.99 from AmazonAs of Oct 23, 22:11 UTCVerdict
A 14 mm Gamma Quantum Series paddle, sibling of #6 (the Neutron 5.0, same series), with a graphite hitting surface; no independent test turned up, and Gamma’s own store no longer lists it.
Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Gamma (maker launch post).
Gamma’s launch post for the Quantum Series says: “The Voltage 5.0 is for discriminating players who want a responsive paddle that produces intense spin” (the maker’s claim) and lists “Core Material: 14mm Honeycomb Core” and “Paddle Surface: Graphite Hitting Surface” at 7.8 ounces, 16 inches long and 8 inches wide. The Voltage 5.0 is not in Gamma’s current paddle listing, which is why we say this page is a launch post rather than a product page. We found no independent test, so the pick rests on Gamma’s post and the USA Pickleball list.
The Voltage and the Neutron in review 6 are siblings in the same series: the Voltage is the 14 mm paddle and the Neutron the 12 mm one. The Amazon listing is sold by Xcess Limited, a third-party seller whose relationship to Gamma we could not confirm; its bullets repeat the 14 mm core, 7.8 oz and 4 1/4 in grip, and call the surface a “graphite hitting surface”.
Specs (GAMMA Voltage 5.0)
- Core: 14mm honeycomb (Gamma)
- Weight: 7.8 ounces (Gamma)
- Face: “Graphite Hitting Surface” (Gamma)
- Size: 16 x 8 in; grip length 5 in; grip size 4-1/4 in
- Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Voltage 5.0”, added 2022-11-28 (read 2026-10-22)
Pros
- A graphite hitting surface on a 14 mm honeycomb core, named in Gamma’s own post
- A USA Pickleball list entry for the Voltage 5.0
- Gamma describes a specialized micro bead surface texture
Cons
- No independent test of this paddle found
- Gamma’s own paddle listing no longer includes it
- The Amazon seller is a third party we could not link to Gamma
Who should buy it
Players who want a 14 mm graphite-faced paddle and accept that only Gamma’s launch post describes it.
GAMMA Neutron 5.0, 12 mm Microbead Graphite (sibling of #5)
Players who want a 12 mm graphite-faced paddle and accept that only Gamma's launch post describes how it plays.
$39.60 from AmazonAs of Oct 23, 22:11 UTCVerdict
The 12 mm sibling of the Voltage in Gamma’s Quantum Series, also with a graphite hitting surface; no independent test turned up.
Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Gamma (maker launch post).
Gamma’s launch post says: “The Neutron 5.0 is all about control! The graphite hitting surface spreads out the sweet spot and delivers a consistent feel throughout, and the specialized micro bead surface treatment enhances spin for consistent shot placement.” That is the maker’s claim. It lists “Core Material: 12mm Honeycomb Core” and “Paddle Surface: Graphite Hitting Surface” at 7.8 ounces, with a 4-1/8 in grip. The Neutron 5.0 is also not in Gamma’s current paddle listing. Amazon’s bullet gives 7.6 ounces for the Neutron where Gamma’s post says 7.8 ounces; we show both. The Neutron is the thinner sibling of the Voltage in review 5.
The Amazon listing’s buy box moved between third-party sellers on 2026-10-22: Two Trade on the API read and Xcess Limited on the page read, both New, in stock and priced at or below Gamma’s 2023 MSRP for the model. We could not link either seller to Gamma.
Specs (GAMMA Neutron 5.0)
- Core: 12mm honeycomb (Gamma)
- Weight: 7.8 ounces (Gamma); Amazon’s bullet says 7.6 ounces
- Face: “Graphite Hitting Surface” (Gamma)
- Size: 16 x 8 in; grip length 5 in; grip size 4-1/8 in
- Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Neutron 5.0”, added 2022-11-28 (read 2026-10-22)
Pros
- A graphite hitting surface on a 12 mm honeycomb core, named in Gamma’s own post
- A USA Pickleball list entry for the Neutron 5.0
- The thinner core of the two Gamma picks
Cons
- No independent test of this paddle found
- Gamma and Amazon give different weights, 7.8 and 7.6 ounces
- Gamma’s own paddle listing no longer includes it
Who should buy it
Players who want a 12 mm graphite-faced paddle and accept that only Gamma’s launch post describes how it plays.
Choosing among graphite-faced paddles
Core and thickness figures
Makers give 0.375 in (Onix Mod V2) to 14 mm, and the Z5’s three thickness figures (0.375 in, 12mm and Pickleheads’ 11 mm) show that even one maker’s pages can disagree. Bison’s own page does not publish a thickness (its Amazon chart gives 10mm). For how thickness changes a paddle in general, see our guide to 14 mm vs 16 mm pickleball paddles.
Weight is stated more than one way
The makers publish a range (7.5-8.2 oz for the Z5, 7.0-7.4 oz for the Stryker 4, 7.6-8.0 oz for the Latitude Max) or a single figure (8.0 oz for The Mountain, 7.8 oz for the Voltage), and Amazon’s bullets sometimes differ from the maker. Our guide to pickleball paddle weight explains what the figures mean.
Check approval for your events
Each pick has a USA Pickleball list entry under its own model name or a close one, as dated in the table; the Z5 Mod V2 and the Latitude Max are the two where the list does not name the exact build or date it. Search the list for your exact model, thickness and shape before a sanctioned event.
Choosing a brand
Four brands appear here: Onix, Selkirk (through its SLK line), Bison and Gamma. For how the makers compare, see our answer to what pickleball paddle brand is good. For paddles with a 3.0 to 4.5 focus, see the best intermediate pickleball paddles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a graphite pickleball paddle?
In this guide, a paddle whose maker’s own page names the face as graphite, in the maker’s words: “Face: Graphite” (Onix), “Graphi-Flex Graphite Face” (Selkirk), “textured graphite face” (Bison) or “Graphite Hitting Surface” (Gamma). Selkirk’s graphite collection page says: “Graphite paddle faces are often very thin, and some players like the quick response of the ball off the paddle.” That is a maker’s description, not a test.
Q. Is graphite good for a pickleball paddle?
No named tester gives one answer for every paddle here. Pickleheads writes: “Graphite paddles are generally known for being lighter and softer than carbon paddles.” It rates the Z5’s control 8/10 and calls its face not textured; Pickleball Kitchen says the same Z5 is popular with power players; Pickleheads says power is lacking on The Bison. Read each review’s date and the build the tester played.
Q. Which is better, carbon or graphite?
We do not rank the two. Pickleheads writes: “Graphite paddles are generally known for being lighter and softer than carbon paddles. For that reason, they’re seen more as control paddles than power paddles.” The retailer Pickleball Central writes: “Graphite and carbon fiber are substantially similar materials, usually offering a rough texture for spin and a controllable feel.” Those are two named sources that frame the question differently, and neither tested the paddles here. A carbon fiber face is not counted as graphite in this guide unless the maker calls it graphite. For carbon-faced picks, see our best carbon pickleball paddles.
Q. Is there a budget graphite paddle?
This guide is chosen for the graphite face, not price, and does not rank paddles by cost. The tier markers are set by each maker’s list price (Gamma: its 2023 MSRP) within this guide only; Amazon prices differ widely, so see the live price in the table. For paddles chosen for price, see our best budget pickleball paddles, and for what paddles cost in general, how much is a pickleball paddle.
Q. Are these paddles approved for tournaments?
Check the list for your exact model. On 2026-10-22 the USA Pickleball list showed entries as dated in the table; it names the Graphite Z5 but not the Mod V2, and “Latitude Max” without an added date, so confirm those two.
Q. What about a graphite paddle for beginners?
Pickleheads recommends the earlier SLK Latitude to beginners and says of the Z5: “This will suit beginners first and foremost because it’s so soft, control-focused, and easy to use.” Both are different builds from the ones we link, and the Latitude Max is a new shape. For paddles chosen for newer players, see our best beginner pickleball paddles.
The bottom line
Final Verdict
The Onix Graphite Z5 Mod V2 (check price) is the Nomex-core wide-face choice with a graphite face Onix names, and two testers who describe the plain Z5 differently; the SLK Latitude Max (check price) is the 13 mm polymer choice with Selkirk’s Graphi-Flex graphite face; the Bison The Mountain (check price) is the wide-face polymer choice with a textured graphite face the maker names. The Onix Stryker 4 (check price), the GAMMA Voltage 5.0 (check price) and the GAMMA Neutron 5.0 (check price) each rest on the maker’s page alone, and each review says where the maker’s pages disagree with Amazon or with themselves.
Whichever you choose, treat a tester’s remark as a statement about that build and that date, and check the approved list for your exact model before a sanctioned event.
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.