The feel of the paddle... as a tennis player: Purchasing a new pickleball paddle.

If you are finding this blog as an experienced tennis player looking to purchase of a new pickleball paddle, then here are a few key points and observations to help guide you with you paddle purchase (hopefully).

1. Don't expect to feel the action of the ball on the paddle as much as you are used to with a tennis racket.

If you come from a tennis background, you know that there are many specifics to the racket and strings that make it feel and play differently. Whether it be the head size and the size of the sweet spot, the weight and balance of the racket, or the string type and its tension.

Pickleball is different. Let me explain. Although there are paddles that have different mm thickness, are slightly different weights, and can add more or less spin depending on texture and construction of the face of the paddle, you just can't feel it as much as a tennis racket.

2. Have a friend or partner give you the insight on how the paddle might be changing your game.

Of course, this is my personal opinion after testing different paddles. Yes, you can tell when the spin is different, but it is significantly more dramatic for whomever you are playing against than it is on your end. It is my opinion and preference to test the paddle with somebody that I play with often and ask them how the ball is bouncing and "playing" against them. Maybe you do notice the ball having more top spin and staying in bounds more or having more side spin off a bound after a slice, but it is a bit harder to notice. Your partner can give you the inside scoop on if the paddle is dramatically changing your game. Part of this is assuming that you are upgrading from a basic paddle to a professional grade paddle, because that is where you will see the biggest difference. If you are moving from top tier paddle to top tier paddle, the differences may be small.

2. Listen to the paddle as you play all types of shots. Try some serves. Have some long ground stroke rallies and then have a cross-court dink battle going for angles.

As you listen to the sound that the ball makes when it hits the paddle (yes, it is annoying), but you may notice a few things. You may find that the paddle (like a wider head scorpeus with a wider sweet spot), may sound better as you make better contact more consistently. Or maybe that benefit of hitting the sweet spot isn't worth the possible clunkiness feel of the wider paddle for you.

3. Go for the thicker mm paddles and the heavier paddles as a tennis player.

The lighter paddles essentially dampen you wonderfully developed groundstrokes that you bring from tennis. Please hit more drives!

4. Choose a durable paddle.

   
   

As a tennis player, you can probably hit the ball pretty hard. I have noticed that people with a tennis background often need more durable paddles. Ensure that the lining of the paddle is a harder plastic. I've seen the lighter rubber edges very quickly crack and start to cause problems. I have personally split a wooden paddle after two sessions of play.

5. Don't buy a $300 paddle just because it should be better for $300.

   
   

I played with a $40 dollar paddle for two years before I decided to try a more expensive paddle. What made me upgrade was the quality of spin and I power I was getting from a $270 paddle. But be warned. I tried a few $270 paddles that gave me a decent amount of spin, but no matter how hard I hit the ball, no matter how much hip rotation I added, the ball fell short or felt like a dink.

Best of luck in purchasing a paddle. At the end of the day, choose something that feels the most comfortable for you and seems to benefit your game the most.