2
Control 73/100 — 16mm core gives it longer dwell on soft shots.
39
Power
73
Control
85
Spin
70
Forgive
Best Pickleball Paddles Under $100
The sub-$100 tier improved dramatically once direct-to-consumer brands started shipping raw carbon faces at budget prices. You still give up some spin durability and sweet-spot size, but the gap is far smaller than it was.
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How this list was built
MSRP under $100, ranked by control index.
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
11Six24 Jelly Bean Pegasus 16mm
11Six24 Jelly Bean Pegasus 16mm. Specifications imported and pending verification.
Control 75/100 — 16mm core gives it longer dwell on soft shots.
No retailer links for this paddle yet.
The rest of the list
3
Control 73/100 — 16mm core gives it longer dwell on soft shots.
38
Power
73
Control
85
Spin
69
Forgive
4
Control 72/100 — 16mm core gives it longer dwell on soft shots.
37
Power
72
Control
85
Spin
69
Forgive
5
Control 72/100 — 16mm core gives it longer dwell on soft shots.
37
Power
72
Control
85
Spin
67
Forgive
6
Control 71/100 — 16mm core gives it longer dwell on soft shots.
37
Power
71
Control
79
Spin
67
Forgive
7
Control 71/100 — 16mm core gives it longer dwell on soft shots.
37
Power
71
Control
79
Spin
67
Forgive
8
Control 70/100 — 16mm core gives it longer dwell on soft shots.
36
Power
70
Control
79
Spin
67
Forgive
Questions worth asking
- What do you actually lose buying a paddle under $100?
- Mostly sweet-spot size, face grit longevity, and build consistency between units. Core construction at this price is rarely thermoformed, so you get less power and less perimeter stability.