There are many reasons to seek out the best cheap pickleball paddles. It might be that you are new to the sport and just getting started. Or, it might be that you trust your innate skill level, and are confident that a more expensive pickleball paddle won’t define whether you win or lose (we like the confidence!). Whatever the reason, there are some great options if you are looking for cheap pickleball paddles that won’t break the bank, while still giving you great touch, control, and power on-court. But, where do you start?
We spend our time here at PickyPickleball.com reviewing hundreds of the best pickleball paddles on the market – and have tested most of them. It’s our view that it’s very possible to get a great pickleball paddle without breaking the bank. Especially if you’re a beginner or recreational player that is happy sacrificing a little bit of performance. The most important things to focus on are, material, size, weight, durability and grip. As a new player, or someone who is not looking for something specific that will come with a large price point, it’s about maximizing your return on these important paddle attributes.
Top 5 Cheap Pickleball Paddles
To get you started, we have compiled a list outlining our top 5 cheap pickleball paddles on the market. And have focused on showing you paddles that offer a great mix of important paddle attributes.
1. Rally Tyro 2 Pro Pickleball Paddle
When we said that it was possible to buy a brilliant pickleball paddle without breaking the bank, we were deadly serious. The Rally Tyro 2 Pro Pickleball Paddle is so good, that at the time of writing it currently sits on our top eight best pickleball paddles list and number one on our cheap pickleball paddle roster.
The first thing to say about the Rally Tyro 2 Pro is that almost every player that we have spoken to about this paddle states that it plays like a paddle costing between $80-100 – showing that it’s possible to combine quality with an affordable price point.
The Rally Tyro 2 pickleball paddle is a middleweight paddle, with great reach around the net. The paddle weighs between 7.6 – 8.0 ounces, with a grip size of 4 1/4″, and grip length of 5″. These specs marry up pretty close to some of the best paddles on the market like the Onix Z5 and the Selkirk S2 X5. What this gives you is excellent maneuverability around the net, and the ability to control the pickleball ball with ease.
Most impressively though is the Rally Tyro 2 Pro’s shock-dampening polymer core. The shock-dampening core makes the paddle a brilliant option for combating power on-court. The paddle is comfortable dampening power shots without sending shockwaves up your arm, thanks to the honeycomb polymer core. The paddle also measures 7-3/4″ across and has an elongated neck. This makes it a brilliant paddle for playing your own controlled shots, spin, and power shots.
With a price point of $59.99, this paddle is epic value for money and comes highly recommended.
Standout Features
- Polymer core with shock-dampening benefits
- Large sweet shot, elongated neck, and comfortable grip length
- Excellent value for money
2. Selkirk Neo Composite Pickleball Paddle
Running in a very close second to the Rally Tyro 2 Pro is Selkirk’s Neo Composite Pickleball Paddle. In fact, we name the Neo Composite as our number one cheap paddle if you’re looking at price alone. Check out why.
The Selkirk Neo Composite Pickleball Paddle contains Selkirk’s famous PowerCore technology and a cost-effective composite paddle face. This impressive combination packs the Neo Composite full of innovative tech, at an affordable price point. The paddle weighs a comfortable 7.6 – 8.4 ounces and measures 7 5/8″ across the face. The grip length is slightly shorter than the Tyro 2 measuring 4 7/8″ but still allows adequate reach around the net.
The Neo Composite paddle grip is 4″ which is smaller than the Tyro 2 Pro. This grip can be beefed up with an additional grip for players who prefer a medium grip size. However, players who are just starting out or prefer a smaller grip will love this paddle.
The Neo Composite’s price point is a fantastic $49.99 – making it almost unbeatable when weighing up price and quality.
Standout Features
- PowerCore Technology combined with composite paddle face ensures excellent playability
- Slim grip length ideal for beginners and players who prefer a small grip
- Unbeatable price point
3. Champion PolyPro Pickleball Paddle
Third on our cheap pickleball paddles list is the Champion PolyPro Pickleball Paddle. The Champion PolyPro is perfect for beginners and intermediate level players looking for a paddle with a highly reactive surface, and large sweet spot.
The Champion PolyPro is a middleweight paddle with a medium grip size. The paddle is constructed with a polymer honeycomb core and a polycarbonate paddle face. It’s this combination that makes the PolyPro extremely durable while providing excellent playing attributes on-court. The paddle has a large sweet spot, which makes playing power and spin shots easy. What’s more, the polymer core gives the paddle brilliant shock-absorbing qualities. This makes the Champion PolyPro a great paddle for combatting power shots and hard-hitting opponents.
The PolyPro’s handle is 5″ long with a grip size of 4 1/4″. This makes the paddle easy to handle on-court and provides adequate reach around the net. The paddle weight is slightly lighter than other paddles on the list, weighing between 7.5 – 7.9 ounces. This makes the paddle perfect if you are someone who relies on speedy reactions around the net. The paddle itself is 7-3/4″ wide, which makes it slimmer than some of our other featured paddles. However, the paddle face is reinforced with fiberglass so what it lacks in size, it makes up for in performance.
The Champion PolyPro Pickleball Paddle is priced at $59.99, providing excellent value for money.
Standout Features
- PolyPro core makes this paddle extremely durable, with shock-absorbing qualities
- Large sweet spot with a fiberglass reinforced paddle face
- Excellent value for money
4. Tornado F5 Edgeless Graphite Paddle
The next paddle up on our list is the Tornado F5 Edgeless Graphite Pickleball Paddle. This paddle scrapes onto our list as the price-point is at the top-end of what we would define as ‘cheap’ or ‘affordable’. The Tornado F5 is definitely worth featuring though, as a 5-star paddle that is priced very competitively against more expensive paddles with similar playability.
The Tornado F5 Edgeless Graphite Paddle is a work of art and perfect for players who rely on their touch around the net. The paddle is made by Mantra Sports and features an edgeless design. This makes it perfect for playing every type of shot, regardless of where the ball connects with the paddle. The F5’s paddle face is constructed from graphite and the paddle’s core is made from polymer. This means that you get excellent pop and control off the paddle face, while also having the ability to defend power shots comfortably. If you are someone who loves to play with finesse and control around the net, then the Tornado F5 is made for you.
The Tornado weighs between 7.5 – 7.8 ounces and measures 7-7/8″ across the face. This makes it a very comfortable paddle to maneuver. Likewise, the handle and grip also sit within the medium range, with a 5″ handle and 4 1/4″ grip. All of this plays into the fact that the Tornado is the perfect paddle for delicate players who like to win through control, rather than power-play. The paddle comes in green and red colorways and is one of the best looking paddles on the market (in our opinion).
The Tornado F5 is not the cheapest paddle on our list, but at $69.99 provides one of the best value for money buys around.
Standout Features
- Edgeless design, featuring graphite paddle face and polymer core provide epic playability
- Perfect paddle for close-net play – built for those who love to control the paddleball ball
- Stylish paddle that looks great
5. Rally Flare Graphite Pickleball Paddle
Looking for a light and responsive paddle at an excellent price point? The last paddle on our cheap pickleball paddles list is the Rally Flare graphite Pickleball Paddle. Built using quality materials that are long-lasting and high-performing, the Rally Flare is a great option.
The Rally Flare Graphite Pickleball Paddle is the lightest paddle on our list and perfect for anyone who likes the feel of a lightweight paddle. The paddle has a graphite face, with a polymer honeycomb core. Like other paddles on our list, this gives the paddle excellent pop and control off the face, while ensuring that the paddle can handle aggressive shots from the other side of the net. Not only this, but the Rally Flare is built to be durable and will stand the test of time if you are looking to make a longer-term investment.
The Rally Flare paddle weighs between 7.3 – 7.8 ounces and features a 7.75″ wide paddle face. This makes the Rally Flare easy to move with and perfect for hitting any type of pickleball shot. The Rally Flare is known to excel when playing dinks around the net, spin shots and even powerful baseline shots (thanks to its elongated sweet spot that runs higher up the paddle face). That means you are getting a versatile paddle in return for your investment that will both last, and perform on-court.
The Rally Flare is available in four different colors and will make you stand out on-court. Priced at $49.99, it’s a great option for anyone looking for a lightweight, versatile paddle at a really attractive price point.
Standout Features
- Lightweight, strong paddle that is easy to move with and performs well across all shot types
- Elongated sweet spot gives players more control
- Ideal for players who love to spin the ball and control the play at the net
Cheap Pickleball Paddles Buying Guide
Now that we’ve run through some of the best cheap pickleball paddles on the market, let’s dive into a bit more detail. When choosing a pickleball paddle at any price point it’s important to know what you’re purchasing. That’s even truer when you’re shopping at the cheaper end of the market, as it’s easy to pick a paddle that looks like brilliant value, but performs poorly when you get on the court. Our cheap pickleball paddles buying guide helps you decipher exactly what good, and bad looks like.
Price
The first and most obvious thing to look out for is the price. When we think of ‘cheap’ paddles, we’re not thinking of paddles that are priced at $10 or other (often wooden) alternatives. We know that you are looking for value, but we still want to show you options that are going to give you a leg up when you play your next pickleball match. If you are looking for a cheap paddle, there are definitely options below $30, but our advice would be to pick up a paddle that sits between $30-70. There are always great deals on offer and sale periods that put $60-100 paddles in the range around the $50 mark. When you see an opportunity like this to pick up a cheap pickleball paddle, take it.
Brand
Some pickleball brands offer more options than others at cheaper price points. The industry heavyweights like Selkirk and Rally have paddles that are priced over $140.00 but they also focus on developing the best technology and putting it in paddles that price around $50.00. We’d always advise you to invest in a paddle that is manufactured by a reputable brand. Choosing an untrusted brand just because they advertise their products at a cheap price point is not a good strategy.
Materials
Materials play a massive part in the performance of a pickleball paddle. You will notice that a lot of more expensive paddles feature new innovative core material which provides a super reactive paddle surface, combined with a shock-absorbing core. With that said, you can find a similar performance at the cheaper end of the market. Opt for graphite paddle faces, combined with polymer honeycomb cores. This combination provides a great mix of power, control, and spin when playing your pickleball shots. On top of this, strong polymer cores are great at taking the power out of hard-hitting opponents shots.
Durability
When you are making an investment in a pickleball paddle (whether it is a cheap pickleball paddle or not), it’s important to consider durability. The last thing you want to do is spend money on a paddle that only lasts for a few months. Our advice is to pick paddles made from strong, durable materials. This is even truer when you play outdoors. Pickleball courts can be rough and hardwearing, meaning you’ll brake the edge of your pickleball paddle if you opt for cheap, non-durable materials. The best materials are fiberglass, composite, and graphite. The majority of cheap pickleball paddle options will be graphite and composite as opposed to fiberglass.
Grip
Like any pickleball paddle, the grip is really important. Choose a paddle that suits your grip type. That means if you like lighter, easy to maneuver paddles with a smaller grip, make sure you invest in this paddle style. Assessing the cheaper end of the market, there are more paddles available with smaller and medium grip types. If you’re someone who wants to pick an affordable paddle with a larger grip then you can always add to grip size by doubling up grip tape.
Edge Guard
Edge guards protect the outside of your pickleball paddle and avoid the paddle deteriorating on hard playing surfaces. Most cheap pickleball paddles come with edge guards, which will improve the lifespan of your paddle. If you want an edgeless pickleball paddle that will give you more control around the net, then you will likely need to invest a bit more in your paddle. With that said, there are some excellent options like the Tornado Edgeless F5 Pickleball Paddle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Cheap Pickleball Paddle?
Cheap pickleball paddles are pickleball paddles that are priced at the more affordable end of the pickleball paddle market. While it’s important to show you paddles that won’t break the bank, we also aim to show you paddles that are valuable and still worth your investment. That means our cheap pickleball paddles list is made up of paddles ranging from $30-70. The average pickleball paddle costs around $100, with pro-level paddles costing anywhere up to $150+.
What are the benefits of a Cheap Pickleball Paddle?
The benefits of cheap pickleball paddles are that they are not expensive and offer a more cost-effective option for beginner and recreational players. While you will sacrifice an aspect of quality in your pickleball paddle, there are still some fantastic cheap pickleball paddles on the market that will give you the benefits of paddles costing over $100.
What is the best Cheap Pickleball Paddle?
It’s difficult to define the best cheap pickleball paddle, as such we show you a range of the best paddles that combine an excellent (cheap) price point, with real quality. All of our paddles will improve your game and help you level-up.
What are Cheap Pickleball Paddles made from?
The cheapest pickleball paddles are made from wood or plastic. However, you will not improve your game with these paddles unless you are specifically looking to play long-term with a wooden paddle. As such, we show you the best cheap pickleball paddles from the same composite and graphite materials as those paddles priced between $100-150.
