The short answer
On an edgeless paddle, usually yes. Selkirk “highly recommends” edge tape there because those edges “cannot be repaired or replaced”, and Selkirk and Six Zero exclude edgeless edge chips or damage from their warranties. On a paddle with a factory edge guard, tape is optional scrape protection that adds weight at the rim, which some owners feel.
“Edge guard” means two different things. One is the factory edge guard, the strip a maker fits around the rim. The other is edge guard tape, the adhesive strip owners add over that guard or over the bare rim of an edgeless paddle.
The answer below comes from paddle and tape makers’ own pages, two Pickleheads reviewers, four shops’ guides and five r/Pickleball threads, each named where it is used.
Factory guard, edgeless edge or tape: what each one protects
Two of the makers below sell one kind of edge, so read their claims with that in mind: Quick Shot sells its own “hybrid” edge, and Brick House sells edge-trimmed paddles. Quick Shot’s April 2026 guide describes the factory guard as “A molded plastic strip — usually ABS or polyurethane — wraps the perimeter of the paddle and is glued to the core and face edges.” On an edgeless paddle, Quick Shot says, the face material wraps around the rim instead, with no separate strip.
| Edge | What makers say it protects | Weight, by the maker | When it gets damaged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory edge guard | “Guard protects against chips & cracks” (Brick House); the core “from moisture and dirt” (Quick Shot) | “Adds 5–10 grams to the paddle” (Quick Shot) | “Guard can be repaired or replaced” (Brick House) |
| Edgeless edge | Nothing separate: “Exposed edge, more prone to damage” (Brick House) | “Slightly lighter than traditional edge guards” (Quick Shot) | “No replaceable part — damage is permanent” (Quick Shot) |
| Edge guard tape | Scrapes, scuffs and scratches (Selkirk); “minor scuffs and scratches” (Bodhi) | About 10 g a strip (CRBN); .2-.3 oz, per strip or pack not stated (Bodhi) | You replace the tape |
The maker and product pages quoted below (CRBN, Bodhi, Selkirk, JOOLA and Six Zero) were read on 26 October 2026. Selkirk’s guide to edge tape, published in September 2023, puts the tape’s job this way: “The primary purpose of edge tape is to protect your paddle’s edges from scrapes, scuffs, scratches, and other types of damage that can occur during gameplay.” CRBN’s tape page promises to “Shield against scratches and impacts to extend paddle’s lifespan.”
Both makers also set limits. Selkirk says tape is “not armor and won’t prevent all types of damage”, and that “Edge tape is designed to protect your paddle from minor court-contact accidents that occur during gameplay.” Bodhi, a grip and edge tape maker, says the same on its tape page: “Edge Guard Tape will help prevent minor scuffs and scratches during play. However, it will not fully protect your paddle’s edge guard from damage.”
A factory guard has a job tape does not have. Quick Shot lists that it “Absorbs edge impacts without propagating damage into the face”, and also that it “Can peel off over time, especially at the top edge”. Brick House Paddles, a maker of edge-trimmed paddles, wrote in 2022: “It’s pretty hard to repair a damaged edge, but it’s usually easy to replace edge trim.”
What tape costs in weight and feel
Few makers publish a weight for their tape. CRBN’s tape page gives “Weight: ~10g each” for one strip. Bodhi lists “.2-.3oz” (about 6 to 8.5 g, our conversion) for its 22 mm tape, in the spec list of a three-pack, without saying whether that is per strip. Of the eight tapes in our edge guard tape roundup, CRBN’s is the one with a maker weight; for the other seven the maker publishes none. No named tester page we found weighs edge tape on a paddle. Quick Shot puts a factory plastic guard at 5 to 10 grams.
Match Point Promotions, a company that sells custom edge tape, also calls the weight small. Its August 2026 guide answers whether tape adds weight with “Yes, but a small amount”, and whether it changes how a paddle plays with “Slightly, and mostly through swingweight rather than power.” It says “Edge guard tape is protection, not a tuning tool.” In its words, where the mass sits “matters far more than how much of it there is”. The reason it gives: “So a gram at the top of the paddle changes the swing far more than a gram down by the handle.” Tape wraps the whole rim, so part of its mass sits at the top, and Match Point concludes: “That’s why a light strip of tape can still be felt.” On power, it says the effect is “far smaller than players tend to assume”. The same guide notes: “Some players report a slightly deader, lower-pitched sound after taping.”
Spinwave, a pickleball store, gives the same size of answer in its May 2026 guide: “Standard protective edge tape usually adds very little weight and has minimal impact on performance.” Both sources call the added weight small. Match Point adds that, at the top of the paddle, a light strip can still be felt in the swing. Owners are split on whether they notice it (below).
A tester’s note shows what the factory guard’s weight does. Brandon Mackie of Pickleheads, reviewing the edgeless Six Zero Infinity Double Black Diamond in June 2024, found it less forgiving toward the edges than the guarded original: “This is to be expected since it doesn’t have that extra weight from an edge guard. However, I found myself missing the extra forgiveness in my first few sessions. After a while, I adjusted and was less bothered by this.”
Quick check
Match Point’s advice for a real figure: “If you want a real number for your specific setup, weigh the paddle on a kitchen scale before and after.”
When an edgeless paddle changes the answer
Selkirk’s position on tape changes with the edge. Its guide says “Although it’s not absolutely necessary to use edge tape, it can be particularly beneficial for those who play with edgeless paddles.” It then gives the reason: “Selkirk highly recommends using edge tape on edgeless paddles because their edges cannot be repaired or replaced.”
Two warranties back that up, read on 26 October 2026:
- Selkirk: “Normal wear and tear, damage caused by abuse, negligence/user modification, chips to the top or sides of edgeless paddles, and the natural breakdown or fading of graphics or textures over extended use are not covered.”
- Six Zero: “Protective Six Zero edge guard tape is recommended on edgeless infinity paddles.” And: “Edge damage on edgeless infinity paddles is not covered.”
Pickleheads testers report the same on edgeless paddles. Brandon Mackie wrote of the Six Zero Infinity: “I lost a big chunk of my top-right edge in just the first week of testing.” Their advice: “At a minimum, I’d recommend putting some protective edge tape on it.” Stephen Mijangos, reviewing the Selkirk LABS Project 007 in March 2025, wrote: “The edgeless design is smooth and cool, but it does mean the edges get scratched up without an edge guard.”
Width matters too. Selkirk recommends its 15 mm tape for “10mm-14m edgeless paddles, or paddles with edge guards thinner than 10mm” (Selkirk’s wording).
| # | Preview | Product | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | CRBN Pickleball, Edge Guard Tape, Black 16mm 4 Pack…16 mm, maker-published weight | $16.99 | Check on Amazon |
| 2 |  | Selkirk Sport Pickleball Edge Guard Tape | 15mm x 350mm…15 mm, for thin edgeless paddles | $7.99 | Check on Amazon |
The two tapes above show the facts their makers publish: CRBN’s 16 mm tape carries a maker weight of about 10 g a strip, and Selkirk’s 15 mm tape is the width Selkirk recommends for 10 to 14 mm edgeless paddles. Both are compared in our edge guard tape roundup. If you are still choosing a paddle, our edgeless paddle roundup compares paddles their makers call edgeless.
What owners report
Owners on r/Pickleball disagree.
For tape. In a July 2025 thread, one owner wrote: “The edge guard protects my paddle from accidental scrapes on the court, so I don’t have to baby my new paddles.” In an April 2026 thread, another replied to a skeptic: “It’s not really aesthetics if you are preventing your paddle from getting damaged.” A third owner in that thread skips tape on their main paddles but uses it on ones they rotate and plan to resell, because tape “Keeps resale value higher and the paddle is more desirable.”
Against tape. In the same April 2026 thread, one owner called it “more aesthetics than function”. Another answered the question with “No, you won’t have it long enough to matter.” In a June 2026 thread, one owner wrote “I added it and then took it off. It added too much weight”, and another said “It dampens feel significantly, reduces flex and yes, adds weight.” A 2024 thread on feel has a reply that reads simply “Definitely changes the feel.”
On weight, both ways. In a February 2026 thread, one owner wrote “The effect is negligible.” The reply: “I get used to it after a few days, but it is not negligible for everyone.”
Workarounds. In the 2024 thread, one owner covers only the top: “Just do from 11 o’clock to 1 o’clock, which will cover all the areas that you may scrape.” Another uses electrical tape (“I use electrical tape instead. Cheap and light.”). A reply describes trying the same and finding “one scrape and I went all the way through it”. These are owner practices; none of the makers quoted here recommends them.
Is tape worth it on your paddle?
| Your paddle | What the sources say | Where that leaves tape |
|---|---|---|
| Edgeless | Selkirk recommends tape; Selkirk’s warranty excludes edgeless edge chips, Six Zero’s edgeless edge damage | The sources favor tape |
| Factory guard, scraped often | Selkirk: tape is for “minor court-contact accidents”; Spinwave: aggressive players may replace it every few weeks | Useful, with replacements |
| Factory guard, weight-tuned setup | Match Point: “Yes, but a small amount”; “Slightly, and mostly through swingweight rather than power”; owners split | Weigh before and after |
| Kept to resell | One owner: tape “Keeps resale value higher” | One owner’s reason |
| Paddle replaced often | One owner: “you won’t have it long enough to matter” | Optional |
| Factory guard loose or cracked | Paddle Tailor and Six Zero (care steps) | Contact the maker first |
How long you keep a paddle shapes this too; our guide on how long a pickleball paddle lasts covers paddle lifespan.
Looking after edge guards and tape
The steps below hold for paddles with a factory guard and for edgeless paddles. Where makers differ, the step says who says what.
Read your paddle’s warranty before you tape or glue anything
CRBN’s warranty is explicit: “Adding edge guard weights, overgrips, and edge guard tape is completely fine and won’t affect your warranty. However, any modifications to the paddle’s structure or face will void the warranty.” Selkirk excludes “negligence/user modification” without naming tape, so check with your paddle’s maker if the page is silent.
Pick a tape sized for your paddle’s thickness
Selkirk sells 15 mm for thin edgeless paddles, and CRBN sells a 12-14 mm and a 16 mm size. Match Point warns: “Tape that’s too wide for the paddle bunches and wrinkles at the tight curves, and once it wrinkles it starts lifting.”
Apply it the way your pack says
JOOLA tells buyers to “Simply follow the easy instructions on the back of the Edge Guard Tape pack”, and Bodhi says “Check the edge tape packaging before installation.” Makers differ on where to start and how hard to pull; our guide on how to put edge tape on a pickleball paddle sets their steps side by side. If you clean the edge first, Get2Eleven, an online retailer, warns: “Avoid using harsh solvents that can damage the paddle face.”
Keep the taped paddle out of hot cars and direct sun
Bodhi’s tape page says: “Do NOT leave paddle in hot car or in the sun, edge tape adhesive WILL heat up. You will notice residue when you need to remove the tape.”
Check the tape and replace it when it fails, not by date
Get2Eleven lists “Tape lifting at the corners or starting to peel away from the frame” as a sign, and says “Replace based on condition, not the calendar.” The shops’ intervals differ: Get2Eleven says “Most players replace edge guard tape every 2 to 4 months under regular play”, while Spinwave says “Aggressive players may need to replace it every few weeks, while casual players may only need to replace it a few times per year.”
Peel old tape slowly and low
Bodhi’s removal step: “Pull the tape back slowly at a low angle rather than pulling straight away from the paddle.” Clean any residue without harsh solvents near the face, as in step 3.
Take a loose factory guard to the maker before you fix it
Paddle Tailor, a shop that sells paddle wraps and edge tape, advises: “If your paddle’s factory edge guard is coming loose, contact the manufacturer before gluing it or covering the separation with tape.” Warranties differ here: Six Zero says “Minor edge guard lifting, separation, dents, buckling or other wear that develops through normal play, court contact or accidental paddle strikes is considered normal wear and tear and is not covered under warranty.” Our edge tape how-to covers what makers say about repairs.
What not to do
Each of these also sits in the step it belongs to:
- Do not leave a taped paddle in a hot car or in the sun (Bodhi; step 4).
- Do not use harsh solvents near the paddle face when cleaning the edge or removing residue (Get2Eleven; steps 3 and 6).
- Do not glue or tape over a loose factory guard before contacting the maker (Paddle Tailor; step 7).
- Do not modify the paddle’s structure or face; CRBN says that voids its warranty (step 1).
- Do not use tape wider than the size made for your paddle’s thickness (Match Point; step 2).
- Do not count on tape to stop a break: Selkirk calls it “not armor”.
Your maker’s instructions come first
Your paddle maker’s warranty page and your tape maker’s pack instructions decide what is safe for your paddle. They win over this article and over any shop guide, including the ones quoted here. Where they are silent, ask the maker before you glue, cut or reshape anything on the edge.
Ready to buy?
Our edge guard tape roundup compares eight tapes by width, the paddle thickness each is sized for, maker weights where published, and the evidence behind each.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I need edge guard tape on my pickleball paddle?
Selkirk says it is “not absolutely necessary”, but it highly recommends tape on edgeless paddles, whose edges it says cannot be repaired. On a paddle with a factory guard, the sources above treat it as optional.
Q. What is the purpose of the edge guard on a pickleball paddle?
Brick House says a factory guard “protects against chips & cracks”, and Quick Shot says it protects the core “from moisture and dirt”. Brick House adds that a guard can be repaired or replaced; Selkirk says an edgeless edge cannot.
Q. My paddle’s edge guard is loose. How can I fix it?
Contact the paddle’s maker first, as Paddle Tailor advises, before gluing it or taping over the gap. Some warranties, such as Six Zero’s, treat minor lifting as normal wear that is not covered.
Q. Is edge guard tape allowed in sanctioned play?
USA Pickleball’s 2026 Official Rulebook lists, among allowed alterations under rule 3.D.6: “Addition or replacement of edge guard tape (see Rule 3.D.7).” Rule 3.D.7 says: “Decals and Tape. Decals and tape on the paddle face must not extend more than 1.0 inch (2.54 cm) above the top of the grip nor more than 0.5 inch (1.27 cm) inside the outer edge of the paddle or, if an edge guard is in place, 0.5 inch (1.27 cm) inside the edge guard.”
Q. Does edge tape void a paddle warranty?
CRBN says adding edge guard tape won’t affect its warranty. Other makers word it differently, so read your paddle’s warranty page before you tape it.
Q. How much weight does edge guard tape add?
CRBN gives about 10 g a strip and Bodhi lists .2-.3 oz for its tape (per strip or pack not stated); for seven of the eight tapes in our roundup the maker publishes no figure. Weigh your paddle before and after to know for your setup.
Sources (22)
- Selkirk, How to apply edge tape to your pickleball paddles (2023)
- Selkirk, Protective Edge Guard Tape
- Selkirk, paddle warranty
- Six Zero, warranty and return policy
- CRBN, Protective Edge Guard Tape
- CRBN, warranty
- JOOLA, Pro V Protective Edge Guard Tape
- Bodhi, Premium Edge Tape
- Quick Shot Paddles (maker), Pickleball Paddle Edge Guards: Traditional, Hybrid & Edgeless Compared (April 2026)
- Brick House Paddles (maker), Edgeless vs edge trimmed (2022)
- Pickleheads, Brandon Mackie, Six Zero Infinity Double Black Diamond review (June 2024)
- Pickleheads, Stephen Mijangos, Selkirk LABS Project 007 Epic review (March 2025)
- Match Point Promotions (custom tape seller), Does Edge Guard Tape Change How Your Pickleball Paddle Plays? (August 2026)
- Spinwave Pickleball (store), Pickleball Edge Guard Tape Guide (May 2026)
- Get2Eleven (retailer), Pickleball Edge Guard Tape: When to Replace and How to Apply It (May 2026)
- Paddle Tailor (shop), loose edge guard repair (October 2026)
- USA Pickleball, 2026 Official Rulebook (PDF), rules 3.D.6 and 3.D.7
- r/Pickleball, “Edge guards & lead weights on paddles” (owner thread, July 2025)
- r/Pickleball, “Bought my first nicer pickleball paddle should I put edge tape and over grip on it?” (owner thread, April 2026)
- r/Pickleball, “Protective edge tape adding weight to paddles?” (owner thread, February 2026)
- r/Pickleball, “How’s your experience with putting edge guard tape around the full paddle?” (owner thread, June 2026)
- r/Pickleball, “How much does edge tape change the way a paddle feels?” (owner thread, September 2024)
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