2
Power 97/100 — 14mm core with a thermoformed frame.
97
Power
36
Control
97
Spin
38
Forgive
Best Pickleball Paddles for Tennis Players
Coming from tennis, the paddle that feels wrong is usually a widebody with a short handle — your hand runs out of room and the swing path feels truncated. Elongated shapes with long handles bridge the gap.
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How this list was built
Elongated paddles with a handle of 5.4 inches or longer, ranked by power. Long handles leave room for a two-handed backhand; elongated shapes give the reach and leverage a tennis stroke expects.
The ranking comes straight from the database — no editor moved anything up, and no brand paid to appear. Scores are derived estimates from published specs, not measurements.
Top of the list
Ronbus Ripple R1.14 v2
Ronbus Ripple R1.14 v2. Specifications imported and pending verification.
Power 97/100 — 14mm core with a thermoformed frame.
No retailer links for this paddle yet.
The rest of the list
3
Power 96/100 — 14mm core with a thermoformed frame.
96
Power
36
Control
97
Spin
36
Forgive
4
Power 95/100 — 14mm core with a thermoformed frame.
95
Power
37
Control
97
Spin
36
Forgive
5
Power 91/100 — 14mm core with a thermoformed frame.
91
Power
39
Control
97
Spin
32
Forgive
6
Power 90/100 — 16mm core with a thermoformed frame.
90
Power
44
Control
97
Spin
38
Forgive
7
Power 90/100 — 16mm core with a thermoformed frame.
90
Power
45
Control
97
Spin
39
Forgive
8
Power 89/100 — 16mm core with a thermoformed frame.
89
Power
44
Control
97
Spin
36
Forgive
Questions worth asking
- Should tennis players use a heavier pickleball paddle?
- Usually yes, relative to what a shop will recommend. Tennis players are conditioned for a heavier implement and generally adapt better to a higher swing weight, which also adds stability against pace.
- Can you use a two-handed backhand in pickleball?
- Yes, and it's common among converts. You need a handle around 5.5 inches or longer to fit both hands comfortably.