Graphite vs Composite Pickleball Paddles

The age-old debate continues. Which pickleball paddle face material is best for your game on the court? Should you play with a graphite paddle or a composite paddle? Or maybe even something else? This is an ongoing debate between the most important player on the court, yourself. When any player crosses the court line, the team at JustPaddles wants to ensure that they are equipped with the best pickleball paddle for success in their game. There are hundreds of options available so how can you know which pickleball paddle face material is best for you? Below, is a breakdown of graphite face pickleball paddles and composite pickleball paddles and how they can benefit your game. 

Before knowing which paddle face material suits your game, take a bit of time to self-reflect on your game. When you are at your best on the court, what are you doing? Smashing missed dinks or precise kitchen dinks? Knowing your game, on the court, will make your paddle decisions off the court much easier. Now, let's break down graphite face pickleball paddles vs composite face pickleball paddles.

Graphite Face Pickleball Paddles

Graphite-faced paddles are light and strong, which provide a player with power and control. Typically graphite pickleball paddles are only a few millimeters thick and most weigh between 6-9 ounces. These designs have a light weight but are stiff which helps spread the energy of a ball strike consistently over a larger area of the paddle. The energy transfer on a graphite face pickleball paddle is great for “dinks” and for driving the ball down the court without too much effort. These features make these models one of the top choices for competitive and professional pickleball players.

To recap, here's what to expect when you add a graphite face paddle to your pickleball backpack:

• Overall more feel on the face of the paddle, due to less thickness in nature
• Automatic feedback on shots once the paddle makes contact with the pickleball
• Power and touch in one paddle

Composite Face Pickleball Paddles

Composite-faced paddles deliver a ‘happy medium’ between power and control. They are easy to use, offer consistency on each swing, and should be considered by every pickleball player shopping for a new paddle. In fact, they are becoming one of the most popular paddles for players of all skill levels. Focused on precision and control, a composite paddle will allow a player to hone in their touch along with having a more gritty-face. Need a little more precision to your game from the backline to the kitchen line?  Choose a composite-faced pickleball paddle. 

To recap, here's what to expect when you add a composite face paddle to your pickleball backpack:

• Accuracy, the light flex in the face of the paddle will give you more accuracy with each shot.
• A slightly gritty paddle surface
• Unique sound, once you hear the exclusive sound of a composite paddle you tend to not  forget it

Before going to a rally in your head on which pickleball paddle face material are you going to take to the court, think to yourself, ‘what do I need to add to my game?’ Both composite and graphite will suit most players' needs, but if you are looking for a little more reactive and powerful feel at contact, composite-faced paddles will have more flex and precise feel while still offering power for put-away shots. Next, what type of thickness are you looking for in a paddle? Traditionally, graphite cores will be thinner and provide ample power while composite cores will be thicker and provide. 

Still rallying back and forth in your head on which paddle face material to go with? We’ve got you covered! Read our Paddle Buying Guide, shop our pickleball paddles that come with a 30-Day Free Trial, or click here to try our Paddle Coach. We'll curate a hand-picked list of paddles that's perfect for you. We know that navigating the pickleball paddle market can seem overwhelming. Let our Paddle Experts help! They are standing by and can be reached at 866-382-3465, email at experts@justpaddles.com, or you can click here to live chat. We are JustPaddles and we're here for you from Click To Court!