10+ Best Pickleball Paddles For Tennis Players

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! This applies to most things in life, including the transition from playing tennis to playing pickleball. Stick with what works for you and don’t change your game. Tennis players often find a familiar home in pickleball, but the learning curve can be steeper than expected. For those transitioning to the smaller court, we have put a list together of pickleball paddles to consider as you work to become the best pickleball player from 0-0-Start!  Below is a list of great paddles for for current and former tennis players and information on why certain pickleball paddles will suit that style of play.

Most tennis players making the transition to smaller pickleball courts want a similar feel in their pickleball paddle as their stringed counterparts. Below, you will find some options that will have a similar shape, handle, and feel to a stringed racquet and will help former tennis athletes transition their skills to a new sport. Let's dive in. 

CRBN¹ 16MM Middleweight Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle

Diadem Warrior Heavyweight Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle

Engage Poach Infinity MX Middleweight Composite Pickleball Paddle

Franklin Ben Johns Signature Heavyweight Composite Pickleball Paddle

GAMMA Lindsey Newman Havoc Middleweight Composite Pickleball Paddle

Electrum Model E Middleweight Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle

Gearbox CX14E Middleweight Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle

Oneshot Aero Powershot Heavyweight Graphite Pickleball Paddle

Paddletek Tempest Reign Pro Graphite Middleweight Pickleball Paddle

Prince Quantum Pro Middleweight Composite Pickleball Paddle

ROKNE Curve Classic Middleweight Composite Pickleball Paddle

Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Hybrid Mach6 Lightweight Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle

TMPR Ascend LX Middleweight Composite Pickleball Paddle

Vulcan V740 Max Heavyweight Composite Pickleball Paddle

Paddle shape and handle length aren’t the only features that you can adapt from tennis to pickleball. Stick with what you know and take the transition in stride by using a heavyweight pickleball paddle. Coming from tennis, most players are accustomed to swinging a racquet that is heavier than pickleball paddles. With that in mind, tennis players can typically start with a heavier pickleball paddle to give them a similar feel to that of their stringed racquet. Because of the heavier paddle, tennis players making the move to the pickleball court are able to use less effort and provide more power on each shot. 

The transition to pickleball isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, as tennis is a very different sport. Oftentimes, tennis players try to overpower their competition with hard-hitting shots from the kitchen line to the backline. This can get you past some opponents but as your competition advances, the hard, “banger”-style play will not give you continuous win results. As players move up the ranks, games are won at the net, with finesse and touch. Use a pickleball paddle that will improve the nuances of your game. By using a touch pickleball paddle, you can dink at the kitchen line and with the power brought from a background in tennis, you will never miss out on a put away slam! 

Stick with a pickleball paddle that will be similar to your first court sport racquet. The pickleball paddles above can improve your last serve on ‘’40-Love’ to your newfound paddle sport at “0-0-Start”. 

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Just because your court has gotten smaller doesn’t mean your game has to suffer. Shop at JustPaddles and find the best pickleball paddles for tennis players. If you have any additional questions, please contact our Paddle Experts. They’re available via phone at 866-382-3465, email at experts@justpaddles.com, or live chat on the website. We're JustPaddles and we are here for you from Click To Court!