Best Pickleball Paddles for Women in 2024

Best-Pickleball-Paddles-for-Women

Choosing a pickleball paddle can be overwhelming with so many options available and everyone hyping different ones.

The reality is that many pickleball paddles are more about marketing than substance. While there are plenty of great paddles, many of the highly promoted ones might not fit your needs and play style.

As a full-time paddle reviewer, I have tested and recommended dozens of paddles to women, paying close attention to their feedback. Today, I’ll help you pick a reliable paddle tailored just for you.

In this article, I’ve curated a list of my top five paddles to help you feel and play your best as a female player.

5 Best Pickleball Paddles for Women in 2024

Obviously, not all women play the same way or have the same physical attributes. However, there are common features that female players often look for when choosing the right paddle for them.

1. Grip circumference

The shape and thickness of a paddle’s handle tend to be the most important considerations for the women I play with and recommend paddles to. I recommend paddles with a 4″, 4.125″, or 4.25″ grip size for most women. The larger, chunkier, and boxy handles rarely appeal to men, much less women. Fortunately, those big boxy handles are largely going out of style.

2. Grip length

This consideration is more subjective than grip circumference. While most women prefer a smaller grip circumference, the length of the grip depends more on their style of play. Women who come from a tennis background usually prefer a longer grip length of 5.3″ or more, which allows room for two-handed backhands and provides more whip and power on strokes. Shorter handles around 5″ are better suited for women who want a quicker-moving handle that doesn’t feel large.

3. Weight

Paddle weights vary significantly, typically ranging from 6oz to 12oz. Most female players prefer paddles in the 7.6oz to 8.4oz range.

Lightweight paddles (7.5oz and under) move fast but lack stability and are not great at absorbing vibration.

Mid-weight paddles (7.6oz to 8.4oz) offer the best balance of power, control, and maneuverability for most women.

Heavyweight paddles (8.5oz and above) provide extra power but can be unwieldy and slow to swing, reducing controllability.

4. Controllability

This is, of course, subjective, but many women prefer to play a control-focused game. Having a paddle that supports this style of play is important. For this reason, many women tend to favor soft and plush paddles over hard and stiff paddles with a lot of pop.

5. Power/Pop

While control is important, many female pickleball players prefer a paddle that provides good amounts of pop and power to give their shots extra punch. It can feel satisfying to have the paddle do a lot of the work for you. Some of the paddles on this list offer that extra power edge without being too advanced or unnecessarily sacrificing control.

Best Pickleball Paddles for Women

Alright, let’s move on to the paddles. Note that these might not be the ones you see most often on your local courts, such as the popular Engage and Paddletek models.

Those aren’t bad paddles by any means, but they tend to be overly expensive and do not perform as well as the ones on this list. Their popularity is often due to long-standing brand ambassadorships and sponsorships (for example, many women buy Paddletek paddles because of Anna Leigh Waters).

1. Vatic Pro Prism

Vatic-Pro-Prism-Flash-1

Choosing the top spot on this list was easy. The Prism line of paddles from Vatic Pro has been a game-changer since its release. Both the hybrid-shaped Flash and the elongated V7 models have been extremely popular and are flying off the shelves.

The Prism is comparable to another excellent paddle in the $100 price range, the Ronbus R1.16. However, the Vatic Prism is $10 cheaper and features superior edge-foam technology compared to the Ronbus.

  • Grip circumference. The Prism has a grip size of 4.25 inches. It’s slim, though not the slimmest option available. It feels great in small hands as is, but adding an overgrip might make it too thick for some women.
  • Grip length. The Prism’s grip length is 5.3 inches, making it ideal for most female players. It’s well-suited for two-handed backhands without feeling cumbersome.
  • Weight.
  • The Prism Flash weighs between 7.9 and 8.2 ounces, while the Prism V7 weighs between 8.2 and 8.5 ounces. Both fall within the ideal weight range, but the V7 is at the higher end. The Flash feels lighter and may be more comfortable for most women.
  • Controllability. The Prism line offers a soft and plush feel, making it an excellent paddle for enhancing control and improving one’s soft game. It is very similar to the Hyperion CFS, which was the top control paddle of 2022.
  • Power/pop. The Prisms are not primarily power paddles, but they still provide enough power and pop to keep your game fast. This allows you to apply pressure and push your opponents back.

2. Ronbus R1 Nova

Ronbus R1.16 Pickleball
  • Price: $180 BUY
  • Shape: Hybrid
  • Core thickness: 16mm
  • Read the full R1 Nova Review

Ronbus produces some of my favorite paddles on the market. The Nova, the latest in Ronbus’s thermoformed line, offers an excellent balance of power and control.

The Nova incorporates new proprietary technology, making it the most durable thermoformed paddle available. Ronbus has successfully addressed issues like core-crushing, disbonding, and delamination that have plagued previous thermoformed paddles.

As a thermoformed paddle, the Nova provides more pop and power than traditional control paddles. While it may require a brief adjustment period, I believe many female players will come to love this paddle. Several women in my local community are currently testing the Nova, and the feedback has been very positive so far.

  • Grip circumference.The Nova has a grip thickness of 4.125 inches, which is the ideal handle size I recommend for the majority of female players. It’s perfect for smaller hands and can easily be thickened with an overgrip if desired.
  • Grip length. The Nova has a handle length of 5.5 inches, which is my personal ideal. It’s excellent for two-handed backhands and provides ample reach to handle difficult shots.
  • Weight. The Nova weighs an average of 7.8 ounces, making it the lightest thermoformed paddle currently available. This weight is ideal for many women because the paddle is highly maneuverable and won’t cause strain.
  • Controllability. The Nova is one of the softer and most controllable thermoformed paddles available. It’s an excellent choice for women who prefer a paddle that helps with shot execution and is easy to control.
  • Power/pop. The Nova offers a good amount of power and pop. If you haven’t played with a thermoformed paddle before, it may take a moment to adjust to the stiffer paddle face. However, once you adapt, you’ll truly appreciate the paddle’s potency.

3. Six Zero Double Black Diamond

Six Zero Double Black Diamond

The Six Zero Double Black Diamond (DBD) has been one of the most popular paddles of 2023, and with good reason. It offers ample power, pop, and control to significantly enhance your game. Like the Nova, this is a thermoformed paddle, so it leans more towards power than control. However, recent manufacturing improvements have made the DBD more controllable than ever. Once you adjust to the power and pop that the DBD provides, your game will feel much more effortless, as the paddle helps you execute shots effectively.

  • Grip circumference. The grip size of the DBD is 4.25″, which puts it in the ideal range for most women.
  • Grip length. The grip length of the DBD is 5.5″ which is within the ideal size range for most female players, especially ex-tennis players.
  • Weight. The DBD’s average weight is 8.1oz, which is right in the middle of the ideal weight range. The paddle is also very well-balanced.
  • Controllability. The DBD is a thermoformed power, so it is stiffer and poppier than Gen. 1 raw carbon fiber paddles, but it’s made with control in mind. The newest versions of the DBD are even more controllable than the original releases of the paddle.
  • Power/pop. The DBD is on the lower end of the power spectrum for thermoformed pickleball paddles, especially with recent modifications that have softened it somewhat. However, it remains quite poppy,, so adjusting to the soft game can take some time. Once you adapt, the paddle’s pop and power can significantly enhance your game.

4. ProKennex Black Ace LG Daniel de la Rosa

  • Price: $233.33 BUY
  • Shape: elongated
  • Core thickness: 10mm

This is the most unique paddle on the list. It’s the only one that is 10mm thick, giving it a distinct feel and making it more suitable for intermediate to advanced women. The ProKennex brand is known for its vibration dampening technology, making this paddle an excellent choice for those with tennis elbow issues. While it leans more towards power than control, once you get used to it, this paddle performs exceptionally well. It’s agile, incredibly fun to play with, and looks fantastic.

  • Grip circumference. The Black Ace has the thinnest grip size on this list at 4 inches. A 4″ handle might feel small for some players, but many women I play with love the small grips from ProKennex.
  • Grip length. The length of the Black Ace is 5.8″, which gives it the longest handle of any paddle on this list. Paddles like this are excellent for ex-tennis players and those with two-handed backhands. It’s also a great length getting extra reach and adding extra whip and force to your shots.
  • Weight. The ProKennex Black Ace is 7.95oz, which is a perfect weight for most female players.
  • Controllability. Thin paddles like the ones ProKennex sells are acquired tastes. While the control of the Black Ace might be intuitive for some, it takes others time to dial this paddle in. The paddle’s lightweight feel really helps the process.
  • Power/pop. The Black Ace has a good amount of pop and power. It will make you feel like a powerhouse on the court even if you don’t have a ton of arm strength. This is a more aggressive paddle meant for intermediate to advanced female players.

5. Hudef Apex Pro

  • Price: $90
  • Shape: Standard
  • Core thickness: 14mm & 16mm
  • Read the full Apex Pro Review

The Apex Pro is the most affordable paddle on this list at $80 with the discount code DASHPB. It’s also the best control paddle in its price range. This paddle is excellent for women looking to improve their control game without spending a lot of money.

  • Grip circumference. The Apex Pro’s grip thickness is 4.125″ for the 14mm version and, 4.25″ for the 16mm. Both fall in the ideal range for female players.
  • Grip length. The Apex Pro has the shortest handle on this list at 4.9″. This doesn’t make it well-suited for two-handed backhands, but some women who don’t require a long handle will prefer the Apex Pro’s short handle for the feel and maneuverability.
  • Weight. The average weight of the Apex Pro falls between 7.8″ and 8.3″, which is right in the ideal range for most women.
  • Controllability. This is the second-best control paddle on this list, behind the Vatic Pro Prism. It’s plush and has a very forgiving touch.
  • Power/pop. As a control paddle, the Apex Pro doesn’t boast a ton of power or pop. You won’t surprise yourself with effortless hard-hitting drives when using this paddle, but the power output is just fine for a controlled play style. The thinner 14mm model will have more power than the 16mm.

Conclusion

I hope this post has been helpful for your buying decision. The paddles on this list are some of my favorites currently available in pickleball.

While this post is aimed at helping the average woman choose an excellent paddle, remember to consider your own needs. Although most women prefer lighter paddles, some, like pro player Salmone Devidze, use heavier ones—hers weighs around 11 ounces, one of the heaviest on the pro scene.

Just like male players, it’s beneficial to test multiple paddles to find the one that fits you best. However, chances are you’ll be happy with any paddle you pick from this list.

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