Best Graphite Pickleball Paddles: Top Picks & Reviews

Ask any pickleball expert and they’d suggest you start your pickleball career with a composite or a graphite paddle. In recent years, graphite paddles have become a mainstay at all levels in the sport of pickleball. From beginners to professionals, everyone seems to have a graphite pickleball paddle in their hand.

These paddles are a huge upgrade from the wooden and composite paddles which are cheaper but poor-quality alternatives.

Graphite paddles, on the other hand, are ideal for both power and control. Every paddle is different and so is its story. Many of my friends, assuming I’m the only pickleball geek around them, want to learn everything about the sport. And I seem to get a lot of questions from them, none more so often than ‘Which Graphite Paddle Should I Buy? Their question usually ends up with them specifying their budget say $50-75, $75-100 $100-150.

Thus, here I am to put everything in perspective and provide you a clear picture of the best graphite pickleball paddle for you, in the market.

Anatomy of a Graphite Pickleball Paddle

Graphite paddles are the lightest paddles in pickleball. A graphite paddle usually falls into light weight to midweight categories as per the USAPA guidelines. These paddles are designed to offer you great control over your touches and provide you a good amount of power and shot spin.

However, the thick core technology of a paddle, design, and materials differs from brand to brand and based upon that, the dynamism of a graphite paddle can differ.

For instance, if we consider the size, an Elongated Graphite Paddle is perfect to maximize your reach whereas an Oversized Paddle is for hitting power shots with the help of a large sweet spot. As a player, you can either choose to be balanced or the one who heavily relies on either power or execution.

Graphite paddles’ power is closely related to its weight. These are on the heavier range and are totally power-packed. You’d see the paddles often accompanied by the names such as aluminum, Nomex, Polymer, these are nothing but core of the paddle which usually is some variant of honeycomb core.

Graphite Paddles vs Carbon Fiber Paddles

In the premium category, there’s often a debate between most Graphite paddles and Carbon Fiber paddles. The latter is rare in the market and are thought to be more durable. Both of these products are often grouped together.

Graphite Pickleball Paddles: Advantages & Disadvantages

Similar to every other piece of equipment, graphite pickleball rackets to have their pros and cons. Be it a wood paddles, composite paddles, fiberglass paddles or graphite paddles, each of these have numerous advantages and certain drawbacks. In case of graphite paddles, with it being the premium paddle line, the pros outweigh the cons.

Let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of Graphite Paddles.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Lightweight	Considerably less power
Excellent control	Harder to generate spin because of the material
Extremely durable	Can be expensive
Adds dynamic control to your game
Affordable
Technologically advanced

If you’re interested to learn more about fiberglass pickleball paddles or any other material, visit our pickleball paddle buying guide!

Graphite Pickleball Paddle Buying Guide

Before you even go out and spend your hard-earned money, it’s important that you assess your requirements beforehand. Similar to tennis, you can use specification elements such as quality, weight, durability, grip, overall feel and price to distinguish between two options.

Quality

When I say quality, I’m referring to the paddle core. Based upon the variant, the paddle core might differ however, the surface contains a thin layer of graphite, and that’s constant throughout all the graphite paddles.

Weight

The weight of graphite paddles varies between 7.3oz to 8.05oz. Some paddles might even be lighter or heavier than the weight limit mentioned above. All-in-all, heavier paddles help generate power whereas lighter paddles help achieve great spin.

Grip

All classic graphite paddles come with a standard 3.5”-4” grip size. However, based upon their overall size, the grip size may vary. For instance, some paddles have shorter grips on purpose to help achieve more spin and vice-versa. Additionally, you can add grips to many of these paddles based upon your preferences.

Overall Feel

Your paddle won’t choose you. You’ll have to choose it. Paddle manufacturers design every range for general pickleball players and not anything particularly specific. Each graphite paddle can differ based on the core, grip, weight, width, height among other factors.

Price

At entry-level, graphite paddles are available for as low as $40. However, these are beginner paddles and nowhere near the mid-level paddles ranging between $60 to 80. Similar can be said for the flagship paddles which are over $100.

As a beginner, the last thing you want to do is to start with a costly option and a wrong paddle that doesn’t suit your style. Above $60, almost all of these paddles are highly competitive.

What’s Your Playing Style?

1. Do you love hitting power shots?
2. Do you like placing your shots while achieving spin?
3. Do you like control over your shots?

OR

Do you like a mixture of all of these?

Once you have an answer to these questions, you can go ahead and choose the right paddle for yourself. If you love power shots, ideally you should choose a heavier graphite paddle. On the contrary, if you love to spin, opt for a lighter paddle.

Middleweight paddles between 7.8-8.2oz offer the best control over your shots and are preferred by many beginners and professionals alike.

Best Graphite Pickleball Paddles

1. Onix graphite z5

Inarguably, the #1 spot is totally reserved for this exciting pickleball paddle graphite. Onix’s top-selling paddle is extremely popular in the pickleball community. In fact, it’s one of the most popular graphite paddles in the market.

Whether you’re playing at an amateur level or professional, the Onix graphite z5 offers a complete run for your money. Endorsed by National Champion Steve Wong, it’s amongst the most well-rounded paddles available in the market today.

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With a wide-body shape, it has a large sweet spot which is quite favorable for beginners. Weighing between 7.8-8.02oz, it packs plenty of power along with control. The Onix Graphite z5 has a Nomex Honeycomb core and is available in variety of color options: red, blue, purple, yellow, orange, pink green and white.

The only drawback in this paddle is its core and that can be attributed to its lower price. Still, it’s way ahead of its competitors with what it has to offer.

Specifications:

Skill Level	Beginners to Professionals
Weight	7.8-8.02oz
Paddle Length	15 ½”
Width	81/8”
Grip Design	Perforated Cushion
Grip Length	5”
Core	Nomex Honeycomb
Price	$$

Ratings:

Aspects	Performance
Shot Control	9.6
Shot Power	9.6
Shot Spin	9.6
Paddle Grip	9.5
Sweet Spot	9.6
Price Range	9.3

2. Gamma Voltage 2.0

The Gamma Voltage 2.0 is a successor to the original series. With this model, the manufacturer established a firm hold in the graphite paddle segment. Voltage 2.0 has been re-textured and redesigned to meet the latest needs and match the skillset of the current players.

With this paddle you can expect a great amount of spin and consistent pops in every shot capable of scoring handful of points. Thanks to its flush-edge guard, mis-hits can be reduced.

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The paddle is designed beautifully keeping players at all level in mind. Thus, even if you’re starting out with Voltage 2.0, it’s large sweet spot will help you execute shots without any hassle. Weighing between 7.4-7.8oz, it’s in the lighter and middleweight segment and thus allows you to achieve great spin.

As for the core, it comes with a Nomex Honeycomb, similar to the one in Onix z5. The only notable difference between Voltage 2.0 and Onix z5 is, in fact, the weight, grip height, and the paddle length. Rest both of them are quite similar.

Specifications:

Skill Level	Beginners to Professionals
Weight	7.6-7.8oz
Paddle Length	15 3/8”
Width	8 1/8”
Grip Design	Perforated Cushion
Grip Length	5 1/4”
Core	Nomex Honeycomb
Price	$$$

Ratings:

Aspects	Performance
Shot Control	9.6
Shot Power	9.5
Shot Spin	9.6
Paddle Grip	9.5
Sweet Spot	9.6
Price Range	9.3

3. Gamma Phaser 2.0

Though discontinued, this beloved paddle is still available on Amazon. Gamma’s second pickleball paddle graphite on this list and perhaps the most affordable option in this list is Phaser 2. It’s been designed keeping beginners and intermediate players in mind.

With a broad paddle face and a large sweet spot, you can improve your reactions and overall shot control with this paddle. Its size works in favor of slams and also allows you to dink occasionally.

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A notable difference between Gamma Phaser 2.0 and the pickleball graphite paddles above is that construction-wise, it’s not the finest paddle in the list. However, when it comes to overall performance, none of the pickleball graphite paddles can compete with the overall value proposition that this paddle has to offer.

At 7.9oz, the Gamma Phaser 2.0 falls in a midweight category, neither relying extensively on power nor relying on the spin. Thus, you can expect a well-rounded performance from this paddle.

Specifications:

Skill Level	Beginners to Intermediate
Weight	7.9oz
Paddle Length	15 3/8”
Width	8 1/8”
Grip Design	Perforated Ribbed Cushion
Grip Length	5 1/8”
Core	Nomex Honeycomb
Price	$

Ratings:

Aspects	Performance
Shot Control	9.3
Shot Power	9.3
Shot Spin	9.3
Paddle Grip	9.3
Sweet Spot	9.3
Price Range	9.7

4. Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro

Perhaps the most technologically advanced paddle in this list is from Paddletek. The brand is synonymous with ground-breaking technology which sets it apart from its competitors. With Tempest Wave pro, Paddletek offers a Smart Response Technology which allows improvising the feel and sensitivity as compared to the original Tempest Wave.

It offers extra power which luckily is not too overwhelming.

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With an 8” paddle face and a 5-1/4’’ handle, you can easily adjust your grips and achieve more control. It has a large sweet spot which helps you hit crispier shots with every connection. Furthermore, its Polymer Honeycomb core dampens the noise which makes it a preferred choice on the court in any locality.

Tempest Wave Pro induced with high-quality materials will ensure to take your slams and shots to a whole new level if you’re put in enough work.

Specifications:

Skill Level	Intermediate to Professionals
Weight	7.2-7.8oz
Paddle Length	15 7/8”
Width	8”
Grip Design	Perforated Ribbed Cushion
Grip Length	5 1/4”
Core	Polymer Honeycomb
Price	$$$

Ratings:

Aspects	Performance
Shot Control	9.6
Shot Power	9.6
Shot Spin	9.7
Paddle Grip	9.6
Sweet Spot	9.6
Price Range	9.1

5. Rally Graphite NX

The final paddle on our best graphite paddles list is Rally Graphite NX. It’s one of the most affordable graphite paddles in the market. With this lightweight paddle, you exercise control over your shots and seize opportunities to hit powerful ones. This paddle is meant for rigorous daily use and its designed keeping that aspect in mind.

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If you’re just started playing pickleball and looking for a durable and versatile paddle, the Rally NX will be a great option. Weighing between 7.4oz-8oz, this underrated paddle enhances quick reactions and allows you to hit dink shots seamlessly.

An elongated sweet spot makes shot execution much easier. The Rally NX has an 8 1/8” wide face and 5” long handles, which allows for quick maneuverability and action.

Specifications:

Skill Level	Beginners to Intermediate
Weight	7.4-8oz
Paddle Length	15 3/4”
Width	8 1/8”
Grip Design	Cushion
Grip Length	5”
Core	Nomex Honeycomb
Price	$

Ratings:

Aspects	Performance
Shot Control	9.3
Shot Power	9.3
Shot Spin	9.4
Paddle Grip	9.5
Sweet Spot	9.4
Price Range	9.6

Conclusion

Pickleball graphite paddles are no doubt the flagship offerings from many of the paddles manufacturing brands. However, they do offer complete value for money. The best part is that they are available in a wide range of sizes and price ranges. Thus, you have numerous options to choose from. Though that’s beneficial, it often leaves the players in dilemma as to which paddle, they should buy.

That’s the reason why I wrote this blog, to minimize your options and help you choose between the best paddles only. As you must have seen, this list has paddles from three different price ranges, and as per my personal experience, these are the best graphite pickleball paddles in the market today.

I hope this piece helped you progress in your buying journey. Feel free to get back to us and write about your favorite graphite paddle or perhaps post a query if you’re looking to buy one in the near future. We’ll make sure, we help you out.