Best Pickleball Paddles for Women: 8 Picks Compared

Our verdict

Our Top Picks

A women’s pickleball paddle, in this guide, is a paddle that its maker markets for women, or that a named tester recommends for women, with a reason we can trace to a figure the maker lists (weight, grip circumference, handle length) or to the tester’s own words. We do not say what women need in our own voice; where a source says something about women, we quote it and name who said it. This guide compares eight paddles that are on Amazon, on those listed figures, on whether each has a USA Pickleball approved-list entry, and on who sells the listing.

For the full field at every level, our pickleball paddle guide covers more paddles, and the budget paddle guide is the place to start if cost is the main limit. Here the question is narrower: what each maker or tester says about women, what the numbers are, and where the sources disagree.

What makers and testers say when they write for women

Several of the sources we read say the paddle should follow the player’s own measurements. The paddle brand ARTI writes: “The best pickleball paddle for a woman is the paddle whose spec fits her game — not a paddle defined by a gendered category.” The paddle brand PBPRO writes: “The best pickleball paddle for a woman is not determined by gender—it is determined by comfortable weight, grip size, swing speed, reach, and playing style.” Dylan, who runs the review site bestpicklepad.com, writes: “Shop for your own measurements rather than gender-targeted color schemes.” These are brand blogs and one reviewer’s view, not rules. We use them to frame what follows: each pick below gives its figures so you can compare them with your own measurements, and our grip size guide explains how grip circumference is measured.

Weight. The sources give different ranges. Dylan writes of his women’s guide: “Most paddles in this guide fall between 7.5 and 8.2 oz, and that’s the range I’d shop in.” BePickleballer’s author lists a “Generally lightweight range (7.0 – 7.8 ounces)” among the traits she looks for. PBPRO writes: “There is no single ideal weight.” The makers’ listed weights for the picks here run from 7.5 oz (the low end of Franklin’s Aurelius range) to 8.4 oz (the top of Paddletek’s EX-L range), and one maker, Vatic Pro, publishes no weight for its paddle. For what weight changes in play, see our paddle weight guide.

Grip. Dylan reports that “In my testing group, most women were most comfortable on a grip of 4.0 to 4.25 inches”; BePickleballer’s author lists “Grip sizes between 4” to 4.25” in circumference”. The listed grip or handle circumferences here run from 3.9 inches (Franklin’s Aurelius listing) to 4.25 inches (Selkirk’s Evo Control XL page, and Paddletek’s listing for the EX-L). Where a maker’s page and the Amazon listing, or two parts of one listing, give different grip figures (the Aurelius and the CRBN 3X), we print both.

Approval. We searched USA Pickleball’s approved-paddle list on October 22, 2026 for every pick. Seven have a matching entry, shown with its date in each review. One does not: the Helios Selene (the list has eight Helios entries, none named Selene, although Helios’s page and the Amazon title say it is approved). Check the list again before a sanctioned event, because entries change.

Pro signature paddles. Two picks carry a pro’s name (Anna Leigh Waters and Parris Todd). We cite them only from Franklin’s own listings and from The Kitchen’s page, which was posted June 10, 2025 and shows “Last updated: May 2026”. Both are Franklin signature models, Franklin’s partnerships with Anna Leigh Waters and Parris Todd: Franklin’s Aurelius listing says the paddle “features the official shape of pro pickleball phenom Anna Leigh Waters”, its Parris Todd listing names her in its title (“C45 Parris Todd Pro Pickleball Paddle”) but does not describe the tie, and The Kitchen lists it as the “Franklin C45 Parris Todd Signature” and says the paddles on its page were “designed in conjunction with some of the best women’s pro players”. A pro’s name on a paddle is the maker’s partnership with that player, not an independent review. Franklin’s listings were read on October 22, 2026. We do not say what any pro plays today.

Compare the picks

Compare the 8 women’s paddles

The table lists the exact variant each Amazon link opens. Figures are the maker’s unless marked “listing” (the brand’s own Amazon listing text, used where the maker’s site was closed to our reader or silent). “Approved” shows what we found on the USA Pickleball approved-paddle list on October 22, 2026. “Not published” means neither the maker page nor the listing gives it.

Detailed Reviews

Franklin C45 Aurelius 14mm, Pro-Signature Paddle

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. The Kitchen (Crystal Zamora, posted 2025-06-10, last updated May 2026): Franklin C45 Anna Leigh Waters Aurelius (thickness not stated).

Why it fits women. Franklin’s Amazon listing is titled “Official Shape of Anna Leigh Waters” and says “the C45 Aurelius features the official shape of pro pickleball phenom Anna Leigh Waters”. The Kitchen’s page (written by its contributor Crystal Zamora, posted June 10, 2025, last updated May 2026) is “The best women’s signature pickleball paddles, from a female perspective”, and says the paddles on it were “designed in conjunction with some of the best women’s pro players”. On the Aurelius she writes: “This paddle is an elite & precise tool that elevates some of the strengths women bring to Pickleball, while filling in the gaps a lot of women ask for: putaway power.” Of the same paddle she also writes: “For the intentional, complete, high-level player (man or woman), this is a great paddle to put in their hand.” She also gives the limit: “The reason this paddle didn’t go up higher on the list is because it doesn’t scale well down the ladder to beginner players, but once a player gains the skills to compete at higher levels, this paddle will elevate their game further.” The Kitchen sells paddles and carries affiliate links, so its page is a retailer’s review, not an independent test, and it does not say which thickness it covered; Franklin sells the Aurelius in 12.7, 14 and 16 mm, and we link the 14 mm. We cite the paddle’s name and The Kitchen’s dated page only; we do not say what any pro plays today.

Where the sources disagree. Franklin’s listing bullets give a 3.9 inch handle circumference while the same listing’s grip field says 4 1/8 inches. We print both. Franklin’s own page could not be read (Cloudflare 403), so we have no maker page to settle it.

Approval: the USA Pickleball list has “C45 Aurelius 14MM”, added 03/05/2026 (the 12.7 and 16 mm versions share that date). Seller: Amazon.com. No maker list price is recorded for the 14 mm: Franklin’s series page, read through Google’s copy because franklinsports.com is closed to our reader, gives only a “Starting at” price for the three thicknesses.

Specs (linked variant: C45 Aurelius, 14 mm, ALW Black/White)

• Core: 14 mm PowerFlex polymer with an inner foam layer (Franklin’s listing)
• Weight: 7.5 – 8.0 oz (Franklin’s listing)
• Face: T700 carbon fiber, double thermoformed (Franklin’s listing)
• Shape and size: traditional shape, 15.7 x 7.9 in (Franklin’s listing)
• Handle and grip: handle 5.1 in; circumference 3.9 in (listing bullet), 4 1/8 in (listing grip field)
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “C45 Aurelius 14MM”, added 03/05/2026

Franklin C45 Parris Todd 13.25mm, Elongated Signature

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. The Kitchen (Crystal Zamora, posted 2025-06-10, last updated May 2026): Franklin C45 Parris Todd Signature (thickness not stated).

Why it fits women. This is a sibling of pick 1 (same C45 line, different shape and thickness), listed because The Kitchen’s page, posted June 10, 2025 and last updated May 2026, includes the “Franklin C45 Parris Todd Signature”. The tester writes: “However, out of the box the paddle is much lighter than any other paddle I’ve tried and didn’t reach its full potential until I added weight to it.” She continues: “Once I weighted this paddle exactly as I wanted, I could really see myself using this paddle, especially for playing women’s doubles on the left, taking up more court & needing to put the ball away.” And she gives the limit: “If your game leans more defensive & relies on resets, that’s where this paddle fell flat for me.” That is one named tester’s report from a retailer’s page; the tester added weight to her paddle, which the listing does not offer. Franklin’s listing gives a 7.6 – 7.9 oz weight range.

Where the sources disagree. The listing title and its specs bullet say “13.25mm”, while one bullet says “PowerFlex 14mm polymer core”; we show both. The listing’s grip-size field reads 5.7 inches, which is the handle length in the specs bullet (circumference 4.15 inches), so we use the bullet.

Approval: the USA Pickleball list has “C45 Parris Todd 13.25MM”, added 07/01/2025. Seller: Amazon.com. No maker list price is recorded because franklinsports.com is closed to our reader.

Specs (linked variant: C45 Parris Todd, 13.25 mm, Hot Pink/Surf Blue)

• Core: 13.25 mm (listing title and specs bullet); a core bullet says PowerFlex 14 mm polymer
• Weight: 7.6 – 7.9 oz (Franklin’s listing)
• Face: T700 carbon fiber, double thermoformed (Franklin’s listing)
• Shape and size: elongated, 16.3 x 7.5 in (Franklin’s listing)
• Handle and grip: handle 5.7 in; circumference 4.15 in (Franklin’s listing)
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “C45 Parris Todd 13.25MM”, added 07/01/2025

CRBN 3X 16mm, 16 mm Elongated Carbon

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. bestpicklepad.com (Dylan, posted 2026-10-17; affiliate links disclosed): CRBN X Series 16mm (1X/2X/3X not stated).

Why it fits women. Dylan, who runs bestpicklepad.com and discloses that some of his links are affiliate links, writes that the paddles in his women’s guide were “evaluated with women players from 3.0 to 4.5”. Of the CRBN X Series 16mm he writes: “At 7.8 oz on the light end of its range, this is among the lightest thermoformed builds in this guide. For lighter-framed women who win points through quick hands at the kitchen line rather than raw force from the baseline, that’s a real asset.” And: “The compact grip, 4.0 to 4.25 inches depending on the version, seats comfortably in smaller palms.” CRBN’s page lists the 3X at 7.8 – 8.1 oz and a handle circumference of 4.125 inches, so the maker’s figures sit inside his.

Where the sources disagree. Dylan names “CRBN X Series 16mm” without saying which of CRBN’s 1X, 2X or 3X he tested, and his table lists a “Standard” shape and a 5.25-inch handle. CRBN lists the 3X as elongated, 16.5 x 7.5 in, with a 5.25-inch handle and a 4.125-inch handle circumference. The Amazon listing’s grip field says 4 inches. CRBN notes that its figures “are averages and approximations and may vary from paddle to paddle”. We link the 3X, so his test is a same-series test, not of this paddle.

Approval: the USA Pickleball list has “3X 16MM” under Crbn, added 02/08/2023. Seller: CRBN Pickleball, the brand’s own Amazon storefront. CRBN’s page shows a regular price and a lower sale price; the listing is at or below the regular price.

Specs (linked variant: CRBN 3X, 16 mm)

• Core: 16 mm (CRBN); the page does not name the core material
• Weight: 7.8 – 8.1 oz (CRBN)
• Face: T700 Toray carbon fiber, foam-reinforced perimeter, unibody (CRBN)
• Shape and size: elongated, 16.5 x 7.5 in (CRBN)
• Handle and grip: handle 5.25 in; circumference 4.125 in (CRBN); 4 in (Amazon grip field)
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “3X 16MM”, added 02/08/2023

Vatic Pro Prism Flash 16mm, Small-Grip Carbon Paddle

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. bestpicklepad.com (Dylan, posted 2026-10-17; affiliate links disclosed): Vatic Pro Prism Flash 16mm.

Why it fits women. Dylan’s spec table for the Prism Flash 16mm gives “Best For” as “3.5–4.0 Women / Kitchen-Dominant Players”, and he writes: “The 4.125-inch grip is sized well for smaller hands right out of the box.” That is his own judgment; Vatic Pro’s page agrees on the number: “Grip Circumference – 4.125 Inches”. He adds a caveat: “The factory grip also wore down faster than I’d like, so plan on adding a fresh overgrip before your first session.” Our grip size guide covers building a grip up with an overgrip. His review is of the Prism Flash 16mm, the variant we link.

Where the sources disagree. Dylan lists the weight as 8.0 – 8.2 oz, but Vatic Pro’s page publishes no weight and says “exact weights are not guaranteed” for custom weight requests, so we show weight as not published. The page gives the Flash as 16.2 x 7.7 inches, while the Amazon listing says 16.3 x 7.7. The page offers a 5.3-inch standard handle or a 5.75-inch long handle; the Amazon listing’s grip field of 5.3 is the standard handle length.

Approval: the USA Pickleball list has “Prism Flash 16mm” under Vatic Pro, added 05/20/2023. Seller: Vatic Pro, the brand’s own Amazon storefront. Vatic Pro’s page shows one price with no higher compare-at price, and the listing is at that price.

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

• Core: 16 mm C7 polymer honeycomb (Vatic Pro)
• Weight: not published
• Face: raw Toray T700 carbon fiber with heat-compressed texturing; unibody with foam-injected walls (Vatic Pro)
• Shape and size: Flash, 16.2 x 7.7 in (Vatic Pro)
• Handle and grip: circumference 4.125 in; handle 5.3 in standard or 5.75 in long (Vatic Pro)
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Prism Flash 16mm”, added 05/20/2023

Selkirk SLK Evo Control XL, Elongated Control Paddle

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. BePickleballer (Marissa, ‘6 Best Pickleball Paddles For Women’, posted 2025-01-02; links help support the site): SLK EVO Control XL, Magenta Mirage.

Why it fits women. BePickleballer’s author, Marissa, writes in “6 Best Pickleball Paddles For Women” (posted January 2, 2025, with links that “help support this website”) that when she looks for a paddle for women she is “looking for the following characteristics”, among them “Generally lightweight range (7.0 – 7.8 ounces)” and “Grip sizes between 4” to 4.25” in circumference”. Of the “SLK EVO Control, XL, Magenta Mirage” she writes: “The spin between the two paddles more or less stays the same; however, I think the improved sweet spot and the focus on control make it a great choice for women who prefer a more precise, controlled style of play.” Selkirk’s page lists a 4.25-inch grip circumference and a 7.6 – 8.1 oz weight range, so the grip sits inside her range and the top of the weight range sits above her 7.8 oz ceiling. She wrote about the Magenta Mirage colour; we link the Oasis colour of the same XL control model.

Where the sources disagree. She writes that it is “only 7.6 ounces”, which is the bottom of Selkirk’s 7.6 – 8.1 oz range. Selkirk’s page shows a different colour from the Oasis we link; the specs are the model’s.

Approval: the USA Pickleball list has “Evo Control XL” under SLK By Selkirk, added 03/24/2024. Seller: Selkirk Sport, the brand’s own Amazon storefront. Selkirk’s page lists the paddle with a regular price and a lower current price; the listing is at or below the regular price.

Specs (linked variant: SLK Evo Control XL, Oasis)

• Core: 16 mm Rev-Control polymer honeycomb (Selkirk)
• Weight: 7.6 – 8.1 oz (Selkirk)
• Face: T700 CarbonFusion carbon fiber (Selkirk)
• Shape and size: XL elongated, 16.4 x 7.4 in (Selkirk)
• Handle and grip: handle 5.75 in; circumference 4.25 in, SLK Comfort Contour grip (Selkirk)
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Evo Control XL”, added 03/24/2024

Paddletek Bantam EX-L, Textured Polycarbonate

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. bestpicklepad.com (Dylan, posted 2026-10-17; affiliate links disclosed): Paddletek Bantam EX-L.

Why it fits women. Dylan writes of the Paddletek Bantam EX-L: “The 4.25-inch grip sat comfortably for most of the women in my group, and the contact pop is quiet.” He lists it as a widebody, 7.7 – 8.4 oz, 4.25-inch grip and 5.125-inch handle. His review names the Bantam EX-L, the paddle we link. Paddletek’s page does not publish a grip circumference; its Amazon listing’s grip field says 4.25 inches.

Where the sources disagree. Paddletek’s page lists a standard shape of 16 x 8 inches, a 5-inch handle and a 7.8 – 8.4 oz weight; Dylan lists a widebody 15.625 inches long, a 5.125-inch handle and 7.7 – 8.4 oz. His limit: “The velvet-textured polycarbonate face tops out at a lower spin tier, noticeably below the friction ceiling of the raw T700 carbon paddles in my best pickleball paddles for spin guide.”

Approval: the USA Pickleball list has “Bantam EX-L” under Paddletek, added 09/03/2013 (also “Bantam EX-L Pro”, 04/20/2018, and “Bantam EX-L Yates Edition”, 08/24/2020). Seller: Paddletek, the brand’s own Amazon storefront; the Riptide colour showed limited stock when we checked.

Specs (linked variant: Bantam EX-L, Riptide (Blue))

• Core: 12.7 mm Bantam PolyCore (Paddletek)
• Weight: 7.8 – 8.4 oz static (Paddletek)
• Face: velvet-textured polycarbonate (Amazon listing)
• Shape and size: standard, 16 x 8 in (Paddletek)
• Handle and grip: handle 5 in (Paddletek); grip 4.25 in (Amazon grip field); circumference not published on the page
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “Bantam EX-L”, added 09/03/2013

Helios Khione, 8 oz Fiberglass Beginner

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Helios (maker page and women’s collection page).

Why it fits women. Helios’s “Women’s Paddles” collection page says: “Helios pickleball paddles for women pair lightweight construction with bold, standout designs. Built with the same high-performance materials found across our entire lineup, every women’s paddle delivers easy swing speed, comfortable grip sizing, and serious court presence.” The Khione is in that collection. Its own page reads “It is designed for beginners looking to improve their game” and “Weighing just 8 ounces, THE KHIONE ensures swift, smooth swings”. In a March 22, 2025 post, in a section on paddles for women with small hands, Helios writes: “Weighing 8 oz with a standard-sized face, The Khione delivers a perfect balance of playability and comfort for smaller players.” These are the maker’s marketing statements; there is no independent test of the Khione in our sources. For other beginner paddles, see our beginner paddle guide.

Where the sources disagree. Helios’s page lists the weight (8 oz), size (15.7 x 7.9 in) and core (13 mm) but no grip circumference; the Amazon listing’s bullet gives a 5.0 inch handle length and a 4.1 inch grip circumference, and its grip field says 4 1/8 inches. The Dusk listing’s age field says “Youth” and Helios’s page gives no age range, so we describe the paddle only as Helios’s page does: “Player Level: Beginner – Intermediate”.

Approval: the USA Pickleball list has “THE KHIONE” under Helios, added 04/26/2024. Seller: Amazon.com; the Dusk colour showed limited stock when we checked. Helios’s page lists a regular price and a lower sale price, and the Amazon price is below both.

Specs (linked variant: Khione, Dusk)

• Core: 13 mm reactive polypropylene honeycomb (Helios)
• Weight: 8 oz average (Helios)
• Face: reinforced fiberglass, G2S triple layer (Helios)
• Shape and size: 15.7 x 7.9 in (Helios)
• Handle and grip: handle 5.0 in and circumference 4.1 in (Amazon listing bullet); circumference not published on Helios’s page
• Approval: USA Pickleball list, “THE KHIONE”, added 04/26/2024

Helios Selene, Light Elongated Carbon

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Helios (maker page and women’s collection page).

Why it fits women. Helios’s women’s collection page says of the Selene: “Built for players who live at the kitchen line. Exceptional touch and control for dinks, drops, and resets that leave opponents guessing.” In its March 22, 2025 post Helios writes: “Women especially appreciate The Selene’s extended handle length, which accommodates two-handed backhand shots.” Helios’s page lists 7.8 oz average weight, a 5.3-inch grip length and a 4.12-inch grip circumference. These are the maker’s statements; there is no independent test in our sources. For how handle length and weight relate to play, see our paddle weight guide.

Where the sources disagree. Helios’s page gives 16.4 x 7.5 inches; the Amazon listing says 15.7 x 7.9 inches. The page says “Approved by the USAPA” and the listing title says “USAP Approved”, but the USA Pickleball list has no Selene entry: Helios has eight entries (Sol, Flare, Blaze, The Athos – K, THE KHIONE, THE APOLLO, The Astraeus, THE HELIOS). Check before a sanctioned event.

Seller: Professional Grade Products, a third-party Amazon seller that is neither Amazon nor Helios; we have not confirmed whether Helios authorises it. Helios’s page lists a regular price and a lower sale price, and the Amazon price is below both.

Specs (linked variant: Selene, Lunar)

• Core: 13 mm reactive polypropylene honeycomb (Helios)
• Weight: 7.8 oz average (Helios)
• Face: Toray T700 carbon fiber; the Lunar surface is textured for control (Helios)
• Shape and size: elongated, 16.4 x 7.5 in (Helios)
• Handle and grip: grip length 5.3 in; circumference 4.12 in (Helios)
• Approval: no entry on the USA Pickleball list (searched October 22, 2026); Helios says approved

Which paddle for which need

These match roles to what the sources state; they are not fit recommendations.

• A paddle a named reviewer wrote about for women’s grips: the Prism Flash and the Bantam EX-L (Dylan), the Evo Control XL (BePickleballer’s author) and, as a series review, the CRBN X Series (Dylan).
• A paddle named for a women’s pro: the Franklin C45 Aurelius and the C45 Parris Todd, both Franklin’s C45 line and both from The Kitchen’s retailer review.
• A paddle its maker markets for women: the Helios Khione and Selene (the maker’s women’s collection).
• A weight published as a single average under 8 oz: the Helios Selene (7.8 oz).
• A paddle for a newer player, in its maker’s words: the Helios Khione (“designed for beginners”).
• No published weight: the Prism Flash.
• Footwear to match: see our women’s pickleball shoes guide.

How we picked these women’s paddles

What we weighed

1. The maker markets the paddle for women (we quote it), or a named tester recommends it for women (we quote the tester).
2. The reason is a figure the maker lists (weight, grip circumference, handle length) or the tester’s own words, not our own claim about what women need.
3. A USA Pickleball approved-list entry with its date, or a plain statement that there is none.
4. The listing is the exact variant (colour, thickness, handle), sold new and in stock, and the seller is named.

Sources, what we left out and independence

Sources

Our published sources are The Kitchen’s women’s signature paddle list (Crystal Zamora; a retailer, with affiliate links), BePickleballer’s women’s guide (Marissa; links that “help support this website”), bestpicklepad.com’s women’s guide (Dylan; some links are affiliate links) and the makers’ own pages and Amazon listings. Dylan writes that he bought the paddles and tested them with women players; we have not verified that. ARTI and PBPRO are paddle brands, and their blog quotes are used only for the point that a paddle should follow the player, not as evidence for any pick.

What we left out

Dylan’s beginner pick, the Franklin Sports PRO, is not a pick: he cites a “4.25-inch grip” as sized “right for most women’s hands”, but Franklin’s Amazon listing for the 16 mm version gives a handle circumference of 4.5 inches and its grip field says 4.3 inches, so the maker figure does not support the reason. We left out the JOOLA Anna Bright Scorpeus 3S, whose Amazon listing was above the maker’s own price when we checked, and paddles that sources name for women but that we could not find on Amazon in the named variant (the Holbrook Mav Pro 2.0, the Vulcan V510 Blade and the Selkirk SLK Halo Control XL among them). Matt’s Pickleball’s women’s guide was closed to our reader.

Independence

No pick has an independent hands-on test by us. Two picks rest on a retailer’s review (The Kitchen), one on a same-series review (CRBN), two on named reviewers’ reviews of the exact model (Vatic Pro, Paddletek), one on a woman reviewer’s review of another colour (Selkirk), and two on maker marketing and specs alone (Helios Khione and Selene). The reviewers earn affiliate commissions, as do we.

Frequently Asked Questions

We do not name one paddle for every woman, and the sources that address the question point to fit. ARTI writes that “The best pickleball paddle for a woman is the paddle whose spec fits her game — not a paddle defined by a gendered category”, and PBPRO that it “is not determined by gender—it is determined by comfortable weight, grip size, swing speed, reach, and playing style.” Use the figures in the comparison table against your own measurements. Our pickleball paddle guide covers the wider field.

The sources split in emphasis. Dylan writes: “No paddle is restricted by gender”, and adds that “handle circumference, core thickness, and balance tend to fit many women differently than men, on average, because of hand size and forearm mass.” PBPRO’s guide says strength, swing speed, balance and personal comfort “matter more than gender”. We do not take a side beyond showing each pick’s figures.

PBPRO writes: “There is no single ideal weight.” Dylan says he shops between 7.5 and 8.2 oz, and BePickleballer’s author lists 7.0 to 7.8 oz among the traits she looks for. Our paddle weight guide explains what weight changes in play.

Dylan reports that most women in his testing group were most comfortable at 4.0 to 4.25 inches; BePickleballer’s author lists 4 to 4.25 inches. These are two reviewers’ figures, not a rule. See our grip size guide for how to measure.

One maker here speaks to beginners: Helios’s Khione page says “It is designed for beginners looking to improve their game”. Dylan names the Franklin Sports PRO for beginners, but Franklin’s listing and his figures disagree on the grip, so it is not a pick here. See our beginner paddle guide.

This guide does not say what any pro plays today. Two dated sources name paddles after women’s pros: The Kitchen’s list (last updated May 2026) reviews the Franklin C45 Anna Leigh Waters Aurelius and Parris Todd Signature, and Franklin’s listings carry both names. For a wider look, see our guide to what paddle pickleball pros use.

Kids’ paddles are a separate category. See our kids’ pickleball paddle guide.

Bags are covered in our pickleball bag guide.

The bottom line

Final Verdict

Choose the Selkirk SLK Evo Control XL (check price) if you want an elongated 16 mm control paddle with a 4.25-inch grip on the maker’s page and a woman tester’s recommendation, knowing her review is of another colour. The Franklin C45 Aurelius (check price) and Parris Todd (check price) are the two paddles named for women’s pros on Franklin’s listings; both rest on a retailer’s review, and the tester says the Aurelius does not scale down to beginners and that the Parris Todd fell flat for her on defense. The CRBN 3X 16mm (check price), Vatic Pro Prism Flash 16mm (check price) and Paddletek Bantam EX-L (check price) have reviewer notes about women’s grips, with figures that differ from the makers’ in places. The Helios Khione (check price) and Selene (check price) are marketed for women by their maker, with no independent test. Check the USA Pickleball list for the Selene, which has no entry, and compare every figure with your own grip and swing before you buy.

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.