PADDLES
Why did you
choose your
paddle?
45% Play/Demo Test
15% Manufacturer
Brand Name
11% Grip
11% Weight
6% Shape
4% Referral
3% Surface Material
3% Grip Size
2% Player Endorsement
CORES
Three years ago, we ran a paddle guide
article and reported on the major paddle
core materials. At that time, roughly
one-third of the bestselling paddles
had nomex/aramid cores, another
one-third were aluminum, and one-third
were polypropylene (or polymer based),
graphite, wood, or something else.
Since that time, the polymer core has
been proven to be a reliable product and
is now found in 95%+ of all tournament
player paddles. The reason for the rise
of polymer cores would be the light
weight and the durability.
While some paddle cores are solid,
the overwhelming majority are made with
some sort of honeycomb-style material;
but, not all honeycomb-shaped polymer
cores are equal. Have you ever wondered
how a manufacturer could produce two
paddles of identical size, yet one weighs
half an ounce more? The answer is the
thickness and the size of each hexagonal
honeycomb. By placing the holes
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closer together, or by using a thicker
honeycomb, the paddle will become
heavier, and the sweet spot will generally
expand.
While polymer is generally a heavier
material, contributing to its reputation
for power (pop), it has less “natural”
pop than aluminum or nomex/aramid
cores of the same weight. These
cores are combined with a number of
different facing materials, primarily
polypropylene, but also fiberglass (more
pop/power) and more recently graphite
(more control/touch). Like other core
materials, polymer performance will
be most dictated by weight and face
material/surface treatment.
Aramid/nomex core paddles have a
nice combination of power, control and
feel. Nomex is DuPont’s trademark and
is an aramid fiber paper coated with
phenolic resin (think paper honeycomb
coated in liquid fiberglass). This was the
first honeycomb material used to build
pickleball paddles. Depending on surface
face material, these paddles can often
be combined with graphite, creating
good control paddles, or fiberglass face
materials creating great pop.
They feel nice when you hit the ball;
however, by the nature of the material,
they can eventually break down and
develop dead spots.
SURFACE MATERIAL
(SKIN OR FACE)
The surface of the paddle is most
commonly made of a fiberglass (reinforced
plastic polymer) or graphite, although there
are many great paddles using carbon,
kevlar, or some other combinations. Each
will intentionally offer a different feel to
complement the characteristics dictated by
the core material and weight.
Fiberglass surfaces are highly durable
and tend to offer good pop/power.
Graphite surfaces are known for their
lightweight and responsive touch. They can
be combined with almost any core material
to create paddles with good control/
To order any of these products, call 888.308.3720 or go to Paddlesandmore.com