Expensive High-End Pickleball Paddles: 8 Picks Compared

Our verdict

Our Top Picks

If you searched for the most expensive pickleball paddle, there are two different answers. One is the Ben Johns 100 Gold Perseus, a limited run of 100 that Pickleball Nation says reportedly retailed for $999.95 (FAQ below). The other is the group of flagship paddles that makers list at the top of their regular range, and that is what this guide covers: eight paddles stocked on Amazon whose makers’ own regular price sits in the top price tier that named, dated sources describe. Every maker price below was read from the maker’s own page on 2026-10-22 and can change.

Sources draw the top tier in different places, so we did not pick a line of our own. Pickleball Effect’s top band starts at $250 (October 6, 2026), Pickleheads’ pro-level tier starts at $300 (August 13, 2026), and the paddle maker ARTI puts its flagship tier at $230 and up (June 26, 2026). We used the lowest tester line, Pickleball Effect’s, and no paddle in this guide lists at $300 or more: the one Pickleheads names as its pro-level example, the Selkirk Boomstik, is not a pick here, for a reason given in the FAQ. Pickleball Effect says the biggest mistake is “assuming that the price tag tells you what you’re getting”, so the reviews report where Pickleball Effect and Pickleball Studio question the cost as well as where they praise the paddle.

For the overall list at every price, see our guide to the best pickleball paddles; for a lower budget, the best budget pickleball paddles. Our explainers on how much a pickleball paddle costs and why pickleball paddles are expensive cover the price tiers and the reasons behind them.

Compare the picks

Compare the 8 high-end paddles

Every row is the exact variant we link. Core and weight lead because they change how a paddle swings most; the figures are the makers’ own unless a source is named. “USA Pickleball” is what the approved-paddle list showed for that model on 2026-10-22, with the date the entry was added. Where the list names a model differently from the maker, the cell says so.

How the top price tier is drawn, by source

These are the tier lines behind the picks, each with its author, type and date. They disagree, and none is ours.

• Pickleball Effect (paddle testing site, Matt Reny, October 6, 2026): its top band starts at $250 and it headlines that band as the premium paddle market. Its “picks to consider” in that band are the Gearbox Pressure X 8E, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V and the Selkirk Boomstik. The site carries affiliate links and discount codes.
• Pickleheads (player community and paddle review site, Brandon Mackie, August 13, 2026): its premium tier runs from $180 to $300, with the JOOLA Pro V as an example, and its pro-level tier starts at $300, with the Selkirk LABS Project Boomstik as the example. Pickleheads earns commissions on links.
• ARTI (paddle maker, June 26, 2026): its flagship and pro-tier paddles start at $230. ARTI sells paddles and recommends its own band, so treat this as a maker’s view.
• Pickleball Nation (online paddle retailer, Joseph Soucy, April 20, 2026): says most premium performance paddles list below $300, with limited editions costing much more. It sells the paddles it writes about.

How we chose these high-end paddles

What a paddle had to show

• A maker’s regular price in the top tier, read from the maker. The paddle’s regular price on the maker’s own page for that product had to be at or above the lowest tester line above, $250, on 2026-10-22. Three makers (CRBN, Selkirk and Engage) also showed a sale price below the regular price when we read their pages; we judged those paddles on the regular price and say so in each review. The only prices we state for the picks are makers’ regular prices; other figures are named sources’ tier lines or non-pick prices. Live Amazon prices are in the table and review boxes.
• Stocked on Amazon, at or below the maker’s regular price. Each pick is a New offer in stock on Amazon with a buy box, at or below that regular price. Two sellers are not Amazon or the paddle’s maker, and the reviews name them.
• The exact variant. The linked thickness and shape match the one the source names wherever possible. Where they do not, the review says what differs.
• A checkable approval status. We searched the USA Pickleball list by brand and model on 2026-10-22 and quote what it showed and when each entry was added.
• Distinct roles. Three JOOLA picks are three shapes of one line and two CRBN picks are two shapes of one line, each with a different role; Selkirk, Dunlop and Engage have one pick each.

Where the figures come from and what we left out, and why

Where the figures come from

Weights, dimensions and core thickness are the makers’ own figures; a tester’s measurement is labelled with its source and is from that tester’s unit. Pickleball Effect measures spin with a radar gun, so its RPM figures do not transfer to other testers. Pickleball Studio and Pickleheads describe on-court play. Some of these outlets earn affiliate commissions or received paddles from makers, and the reviews say so where we know. Pickleball Effect’s pages carry its discount codes; we do not repeat them.

What we left out, and why

• Selkirk Boomstik. Both Pickleheads and Pickleball Effect name it, and Selkirk’s own page lists it at $333. The Amazon listings are titled “Raw Carbon” and do not match the product on Selkirk’s page, so we have no maker price for the exact listing. See the FAQ.
• Gearbox Pressure X 8E. Pickleball Effect’s $250-and-up pick; we did not find it on Amazon.
• Ben Johns 100 Gold Perseus. A limited run; see the FAQ.
• Paddles near the line. Paddles whose regular price is a few dollars under $250, and listings priced above the maker’s own page, were not used.

Detailed Reviews

JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16mm, Elongated Pro V Shape

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Pickleball Studio: Perseus Pro V 16mm.

JOOLA’s page says the Perseus is built for aggressive players and is Ben Johns’s paddle of choice (JOOLA’s wording; JOOLA’s signature-pro listings are sponsorships), and the 16mm Blaze Red edition we link is his. Pickleball Effect’s spend guide lists it among its picks in the top price band, and Pickleheads’ cost guide gives the JOOLA Pro V as an example in its premium tier, one step below its pro-level line.

Pickleball Effect tested the 16mm and says: “Buy the Perseus Pro V if you generate your own power and want JOOLA’s flagship shape with more control and consistency than the Pro IV ever offered.” It measured spin of 2,060 RPM, and describes the face as “a Tier 4 durability surface that wears like standard raw carbon”, adding that you are “paying top of market prices without the durable grit story the 2026 market is moving toward”. Pickleball Studio (April 16, 2026; JOOLA supplied its Perseus and Kosmos units) says: “The Pro V plays well, but is overpriced.” It also says: “This might be the first time that I recommend most people buy the older model over the new one.” The two outlets agree the paddle plays well and disagree on whether the price fits.

Specs (JOOLA Perseus Pro V, 16mm, elongated, Blaze Red)

• Core: 16 mm, polypropylene core with carbon fiber and EVA foam (JOOLA)
• Weight: 8.1 oz for Ben Johns’s 16mm edition (JOOLA’s line range is 7.9 to 8.1 oz); 7.95 oz on Pickleball Effect’s test unit
• Face: textured carbon fiber (JOOLA)
• Size: 16.5 x 7.5 in; handle 5.5 in; grip circumference 4.25 in (JOOLA, “may vary slightly”)
• Swingweight 117, twistweight 6.26 (Pickleball Effect’s test unit)
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Perseus Pro V 16mm”, added 2025-10-01; UPA-A (JOOLA)
• Brand lists it at $299.95 on joola.com (maker’s regular price, read 2026-10-22)

JOOLA Scorpeus Pro V 14mm, Widebody Pro V Shape

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Pickleball Studio: Scorpeus Pro V 14mm, Scorpeus Pro V 16mm.

JOOLA’s Scorpeus page calls it “our widest and most forgiving paddle shape” and names Anna Bright and Collin Johns as its signature pros (sponsorships, in JOOLA’s wording). Anna’s 14mm paddle is 8.0 oz with a 4.125 in grip, per JOOLA. Amazon labels this listing “14mm – Standard Grip” while its own bullet gives a 4.125 in grip, so we describe it as Anna’s 14mm build and note that JOOLA says grip circumference “may vary slightly”.

Pickleball Studio tested the Scorpeus in 16mm and 14mm (the reviewer bought them himself) and says: “The 14mm is quite stiff in comparison.” It adds that “the drop in sweet spot size without weight is pretty noticeable” and that adding weight mitigates some of it. Its advice is to choose the 16mm Pro V “unless you really know you’re someone who prefers 14mm models”. Pickleball Studio’s overall verdict on the Pro V line, “overpriced”, applies here too, as in review 1. We did not find a Pickleball Effect lab page for the Scorpeus 14mm.

Specs (JOOLA Scorpeus Pro V, 14mm, widebody, JOOLA Yellow)

• Core: 14 mm, polypropylene core with carbon fiber and EVA foam (JOOLA)
• Weight: 8.0 oz for Anna Bright’s 14mm (JOOLA); the line is listed at 8.2 oz
• Face: textured carbon fiber (JOOLA)
• Size: 16 x 8 in; handle 5.25 in; grip circumference 4.125 in (JOOLA, Anna Bright’s edition)
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Scorpeus Pro V 14mm”, added 2025-11-11; UPA-A (JOOLA)
• Brand lists it at $299.95 on joola.com (maker’s regular price, read 2026-10-22)

JOOLA Kosmos Pro V 16mm, Hybrid Pro V Shape

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Pickleball Studio: Kosmos Pro V 16mm.

JOOLA’s Kosmos page says of Federico Staksrud’s 16mm: “Its thick core provides the dwell time needed to slow the game down.” The Surge Green 16mm we link is his edition on JOOLA’s page. Pickleball Effect tested the 16mm and calls it “The most balanced option in the Pro V series”, measuring spin of 2,057 RPM on a Tier 4 surface, and says “the Kosmos is the shape I’d point most players toward within the line”. Its bottom line cautions that anyone after built-in pop or durable grit will find the foam-core power market offers more for less than the Kosmos’s price.

Pickleball Studio is more mixed: its reviewer says that in one tournament “I had to put it down and swap it out because I just couldn’t stand using it for the tournament”, and adds “This was the Kosmos 16mm.” He also says the Pro V softens with play. JOOLA supplied that Kosmos unit.

Specs (JOOLA Kosmos Pro V, 16mm, hybrid, Surge Green)

• Core: 16 mm (JOOLA does not describe the construction on this page; Pickleball Effect says the Pro V core is the Pro IV’s)
• Weight: 8.1 oz for Federico Staksrud’s 16mm (JOOLA); 8 oz on Pickleball Effect’s test unit
• Face: textured carbon fiber (JOOLA)
• Size: 16.3 x 7.7 in; handle 5.25 in; grip circumference 4.25 in (JOOLA, Staksrud’s 16mm)
• Swingweight 114, twistweight 6.68 (Pickleball Effect’s test unit)
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Kosmos Pro V 16mm”, added 2025-11-11; UPA-A (JOOLA)
• Brand lists it at $299.95 on joola.com (maker’s regular price, read 2026-10-22)

CRBN TruFoam Barrage 4, Barrage Hybrid, Foam Core

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Pickleball Effect: Barrage 4 (hybrid).

CRBN’s page lists the Barrage 4 as a hybrid with a 100% TruFoam floating core and T700 raw carbon face, engineered at 14mm. Its regular price and a lower sale price were both shown when we read the page; we use the regular price. Pickleball Effect tested this shape and says: “The highest spin of any CRBN I’ve tested”. Its trade-offs include that “the raw carbon face lacks a durable grit texture at a premium price”. Its bottom line reads: “Pass if you want more help on mishits, where the Barrage 2 is the more forgiving of the pair, or if you’re shopping on value, since options with stronger forgiveness per dollar exist.”

Our carbon paddle guide covers how raw carbon faces wear. Here the point is narrower: at this price tier a tester still flags the surface.

Specs (CRBN TruFoam Barrage 4, hybrid, AeroCurve)

• Core: 14 mm, 100% TruFoam floating core (CRBN)
• Weight: 8.0 oz, plus or minus 0.2 (CRBN); 8 oz on Pickleball Effect’s test unit
• Face: T700 raw carbon fiber (CRBN)
• Size: 16.2 x 7.8 in; handle 5.5 in; grip circumference 4.125 in; balance point 241 mm (CRBN)
• Swingweight 112, twistweight 6.66, spin 2,091 RPM (Pickleball Effect’s test unit)
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Trufoam Barrage 4”, added 2026-02-10; USAP and UPA-A approved (CRBN)
• Brand lists it at $279.99 on crbnpickleball.com (maker’s regular price, read 2026-10-22; the page also showed a sale price)

CRBN TruFoam Barrage 2, Barrage Widebody, Foam Core

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Pickleball Effect: Barrage 2 (widebody).

CRBN’s page lists the Barrage 2 as the square shape with the same 100% TruFoam floating core and T700 raw carbon face as the Barrage 4, and the same note that its regular price was shown alongside a lower sale price. Pickleball Effect tested this shape and writes that “The result is the most forgiving and consistent TruFoam yet, a pop-forward All-Court+ paddle with fast hands.” It measured a 110 swing weight and a 6.9 twist weight. Its bottom line says to pass “if you want a big, forgiving sweet spot with real help on mishits, prefer a softer, more plush feel, or you’re shopping for maximum performance per dollar, since this one isn’t trying to win on value”.

This is the same line as review 4 in a different shape: the Barrage 2 is the wider, lower-swing-weight option, and the Barrage 4 the quicker hybrid with more reach. Pickleball Effect says the 2 is the more forgiving of the pair.

Specs (CRBN TruFoam Barrage 2, square, widebody)

• Core: 14 mm, 100% TruFoam floating core (CRBN)
• Weight: 8.0 oz, plus or minus 0.2 (CRBN); 7.95 oz on Pickleball Effect’s test unit
• Face: T700 raw carbon fiber (CRBN)
• Size: 16 x 7.85 in; handle 5.5 in; grip circumference 4.125 in; balance point 236 mm (CRBN)
• Swingweight 110, twistweight 6.9 (Pickleball Effect’s test unit)
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Trufoam Barrage 2”, added 2026-02-10; USAP and UPA-A approved (CRBN)
• Brand lists it at $279.99 on crbnpickleball.com (maker’s regular price, read 2026-10-22; the page also showed a sale price)

Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta, Thick-Core Control

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Pickleball Effect: LUXX Control Air Invikta InfiniGrit.

Selkirk’s page lists the Invikta (elongated) shape with a 19 mm X7 Thickset honeycomb core, a Florek carbon fiber face with InfiniGrit texture, and a limited lifetime warranty. Selkirk’s page showed a sale price under the regular price when we read it. Pickleball Effect tested this paddle and says it “stays in the control category, but you get more counterpunch and easier power than the original”. Its bottom line praises the plush feel, spin and pop for a control paddle, then says: “While there are plenty of things to like, I don’t think the overall performance justifies the cost.” Pickleball Effect lists the grit as paint grit at Tier 3 for durability.

We include it because its regular price puts it in the top tier and because it is the thick-core control choice here, not because a tester says it is worth the money. Our best control pickleball paddle guide has more control options.

Specs (Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta, elongated, Black)

• Core: X7 Thickset honeycomb, 19 mm (Selkirk)
• Weight: 7.9 to 8.3 oz (Selkirk); 8.05 oz on Pickleball Effect’s test unit
• Face: Florek carbon fiber with InfiniGrit spin texture (Selkirk)
• Size: 16.4 x 7.5 in; handle 5.35 in; grip circumference 4.25 in (Selkirk)
• Swingweight 113 and twistweight 6.0 (Selkirk); 117 and 5.83 on Pickleball Effect’s test unit
• Approval: USA Pickleball list entries “Luxx Control Air Invikta” (added 2023-06-09) and “Luxx Control Air Florek Carbon Invikta” (added 2025-01-22); the list does not name InfiniGrit and Selkirk’s page does not say which entry applies
• Brand lists it at $280 on selkirk.com (maker’s regular price, read 2026-10-22; the page also showed a sale price)

Dunlop AG-Three v1.0, Standard-Shape Power

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs.

Dunlop’s page lists the AG-Three as a Gen 4, thermoformed, standard-shape power paddle with an X3 foam core, 14mm thick, and says it is USA Pickleball approved. Dunlop’s page shows no sale price. We did not find a Pickleball Effect, Pickleball Studio or Pickleheads review of it, and Matt’s Pickleball, which measures paddles, blocked our reader. The commentary we did find is from FORWRD (October 9, 2026), a gear site that earns commissions and says it only reviews products it has “tested or thoroughly researched”; its piece reads as spec-based and does not say it played this paddle. Its verdict on the line is that “Dunlop’s first major pickleball paddle family is a genuine entry, not a cash-in”, and it would hand the CR Three, not the AG Three, to most players.

The Amazon listing we link is sold by third-party retailers, not by Dunlop or Amazon (Tennis Express and PNC Sports both held the offer on 2026-10-22); we could not confirm a dealer relationship from Dunlop’s pages. It is a single-listing ASIN with no variation data, so there is no other shape or colour to confuse.

Specs (Dunlop AG-Three v1.0, standard shape)

• Core: X3 foam core, 14 mm (Dunlop)
• Weight: 7.8 to 8.2 oz (Dunlop)
• Face: raw carbon fiber with a resin-fused surface texture (Dunlop)
• Size: 16 x 7.75 in; handle 5.3 in; grip circumference 4.25 in (Dunlop)
• Swingweight 115 and twistweight 6 (Dunlop)
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “AG-Three V1.0”, added 2025-12-30; USAP approved (Dunlop)
• Brand lists it at $259.99 on us.dunlopsports.com (maker’s regular price, read 2026-10-22)

Engage X2 Widebody 16mm, Widebody Foam All-Court

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Pickleball Effect: X2 Elongated.

Engage’s page lists the X2 Widebody with a quad-density foam core, 16mm thick, a micro-weave carbon fiber surface, a 16 x 8 in face, a limited lifetime warranty and USAP, UPA-A and PBCoR .43 approval. It says: “A widebody paddle features a broader face designed to provide a larger, more forgiving sweet spot.” Engage’s page showed a sale price under the regular price when we read it, and does not state a weight. The core, perimeter and face technology it lists are the same as on its X2 Elongated page.

Pickleball Effect (March 26, 2026; Engage sent the paddle, and the review says it was not paid for or approved by the brand) writes: “The series is available in both elongated and widebody shapes. I tested the elongated version, which this review is based on.” So its findings are for the X2 in the longer shape, and its measured weight, swing weight and sweet-spot comments do not carry over to this 16 x 8 in widebody. Of the X2 it says: “The Engage X2 is a really solid aggressive all-court paddle that leans into controlled power without getting overly jumpy.” It also says: “The one hang-up for me is the price.” It adds that the X2 lacks a durable grit surface, which some competitors offer at a lower price point, and it rates Engage’s warranty and return policies among the best available. It calls the face raw carbon fiber, where Engage’s page says micro-weave carbon fiber; we show both. Matt’s Pickleball, which measures paddles, has a page for the X2 Widebody 16mm, but it blocked our reader, so we do not use its figures.

The Amazon seller is RacquetGalaxy, a retailer that lists Engage paddles on its own site; the Amazon listing shows the item shipping from Amazon. We did not confirm the relationship from Engage’s pages.

Specs (Engage X2 Widebody, 16mm, Aqua Surge)

• Core: quad-density foam, 16 mm (Engage)
• Weight: not published on Engage’s page
• Face: micro-weave carbon fiber (Engage); raw carbon fiber (Pickleball Effect, on the elongated X2)
• Size: 16 x 8 in; handle 5.3 in; grip circumference 4.25 in (Engage)
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “X2 Widebody 16mm”, added 2026-04-14; USAP, UPA-A and PBCoR .43 approved (Engage)
• Brand lists it at $259.99 on engagepickleball.com (maker’s regular price, read 2026-10-22; the page also showed a sale price)

What the top price tier does and does not buy, per testers

Durable grit is not guaranteed

Five of the eight picks, or the line they belong to, draw a durability comment from Pickleball Effect on the face alone: it rates the Perseus and Kosmos faces Tier 4 for grit durability, says the Barrage 4’s raw carbon face lacks a durable grit texture and the Engage X2 (tested in the elongated shape) lacks a durable grit surface, and lists the LUXX’s paint grit at Tier 3. For how long a surface lasts in general, see our guide to how long a pickleball paddle lasts.

Construction has moved down the price ladder

Pickleball Effect’s spend guide says: “What’s changed is the amount of technology that’s made its way down the price ladder.” Pickleball Studio’s review of the Pro V says it has “no longer lasting grit or full foam core” and lists it as overpriced against Gen 3 competition. CRBN and Dunlop describe their foam-core picks as Gen 4 builds. For the reasons prices run high, see why pickleball paddles are expensive.

Where testers question the cost

Pickleball Effect says of the Perseus that you are paying top-of-market prices without durable grit, of the Barrage 4 that stronger forgiveness per dollar exists, and of the LUXX that performance does not justify the cost; Pickleball Studio calls the Pro V overpriced. Pickleheads takes the other side on the Boomstik, writing in its advanced-player guide: “It should last a long time, making the high price worth it.” Both views are in scope only for the paddle each was written about.

How the picks relate to our other guides

The three JOOLA picks also appear in our best pro pickleball paddle guide, the Perseus and LUXX Invikta in our best pickleball paddles overview, and the Barrage 4 and LUXX Invikta in our carbon paddle guide, where they are chosen for different reasons. If you are choosing by maker instead of by price, see our guide to a good pickleball paddle brand, which also covers the Perseus, Barrage 4 and LUXX Invikta.

Frequently Asked Questions

No single definition. The sources above put the top tier at $230 and up (ARTI, a maker), $250 and up (Pickleball Effect) or $300 and up (Pickleheads), and Pickleball Nation says most premium performance paddles list below $300. Pickleball Effect says premium pricing “isn’t always just paying for a logo or a marginal spec increase”, and lists testing, quality control, warranty and brand reputation among the things you may be paying for. Our price tier explainer sets the tiers side by side.

bepickleballer’s list of expensive paddles (updated October 18, 2026) says: “The Ben Johns 100 Gold Perseus is the most expensive pickleball paddle in the world.” It describes a limited run of 100 and says its author could not find a retail source. Pickleball Nation (a retailer, April 20, 2026) says the paddle was a limited run of 100 units, that it reportedly retailed for $999.95, and that its price “reflected scarcity and collectibility more than a proportional increase in on-court performance”. For paddles sold in regular lines, Pickleheads’ advanced-player guide (updated May 15, 2026) says the Selkirk Boomstik is the most expensive paddle on that guide, and names the KOBO Thunder AXE as a $400 paddle. Neither the Gold Perseus nor the KOBO is a pick here: we did not find either stocked on Amazon.

Pickleheads and Pickleball Effect both name it and Selkirk’s page lists it at $333. Amazon’s Boomstik listings are titled “Raw Carbon” and describe a “Raw Spin Texture”, while Selkirk’s page describes an InfiniGrit surface and lists different colours, so we cannot match the Amazon listing to a maker price. The USA Pickleball list carries both a “Project Boomstik Elongated 16mm” entry (added 2025-06-03) and a “Project Boomstik Elongated Raw Carbon 16mm” entry (added 2025-09-08). Pickleball Effect’s August 26, 2026 comparison with the MARK UnMarked 2026 says “on most of what I measure the cheaper one is ahead”, and that the Boomstik’s InfiniGrit “landed in Tier 3”; Pickleball Studio’s Boomstik review lists “Most people don’t need to spend this much to get a great paddle” among its cons.

Sources disagree, and each answer is about specific paddles. Pickleheads says that past $300 you are chasing marginal gains, which is fine if you do it on purpose. Pickleball Nation says “technique remains the largest factor in on-court improvement”. Pickleball Effect and Pickleball Studio question the value of the Perseus Pro V, Barrage 4 and LUXX Invikta above; Pickleheads says the high price of the Boomstik is worth it for players who want a durable power build. See why pickleball paddles are expensive for the reasons behind the price.

Pickleball Effect says: “If you’re a newer player who is still figuring out what you like, there’s less reason to start here.” Pickleball Nation says “Beginners and casual players often see minimal benefit from premium models”. Our best budget pickleball paddles guide and the best pickleball paddles overview cover paddles for earlier stages.

Price does not decide approval; the model does. We searched the USA Pickleball list on 2026-10-22 and each pick appears, with the entry name and date in its review and the table. Several are also UPA-A approved per their makers, and Dunlop’s, CRBN’s and Engage’s pages say USAP approved. Check the list for your exact model and thickness before a sanctioned event, because approval differs by model.

Pickleball Effect’s grit-durability tiers are the evidence we cite: Tier 4 for the Perseus and Kosmos faces, Tier 3 for the LUXX’s paint grit, and a flag on the raw carbon faces of the Barrage 4 and the X2 (Pickleball Effect tested the elongated X2). For the general picture, see how long a pickleball paddle lasts.

The Perseus, Scorpeus and Kosmos are in our pro paddle guide and the Barrage 4 and LUXX Invikta are in our carbon paddle guide; here they are chosen because the maker’s regular price sits in the top tier.

The bottom line

Final Verdict

For a player who generates their own pace, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V (check price) is the elongated Pro V shape, with the caveat that Pickleball Studio calls the line overpriced. The Scorpeus (check price) and Kosmos (check price) offer the same line in widebody and hybrid shapes, and Pickleball Studio would steer most Pro V buyers to the 16mm. The CRBN Barrage 4 (check price) and Barrage 2 (check price) are the foam-core options, quick hybrid and wider widebody, each with a raw carbon face that Pickleball Effect flags. The Selkirk LUXX Invikta (check price) is the thick-core control paddle, with Pickleball Effect doubting its value. The Dunlop AG-Three (check price) is a foam-core power paddle with maker specs but no independent test that we could find, and the Engage X2 Widebody (check price) is the foam all-court option in a wide shape, with the durable-grit gap Pickleball Effect found on the elongated X2.

Whichever you choose, read the tier lines as sources’ opinions, check the maker’s price for your exact variant, and confirm USA Pickleball approval 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.