Best Pickleball Paddles For Spin

If you are looking for the best pickleball paddles for spin you have landed at the right place. We have analyzed lots of paddles for spin capabilities extensively and compiled the best list of paddles that can give you a great jumpstart.

The game of pickleball is constantly evolving as it continues to gain in popularity. From a slow relaxed game, it is becoming a fast aggressive sport as more and more young people are playing it and participating in tournaments.

For a pickleball player, making the ball spin is an important skill to learn. As you make progress with your pickleball game, you would like to have the ability to do more you’re your shots.

Simply serving or returning the ball in a straight line to the opponent is just the beginning of your skills. As you advance, you would like to have more scoring shots.

You can make it difficult for your opponent to return the ball if you can put some spin into it. By adding spin, the trajectory of the ball will become difficult to predict. It confuses the opponent and makes him miss or mistimed his shots. This will give your game an edge and help you win games.

About Pickleball Paddles for Spin, Why Important and How it Helps

Although a professional pickleball player can make a ball spin with any type of paddle, it helps to have a paddle optimized for spin play. The ability to control the trajectory of the ball makes it harder for your opponents to respond. Some paddles make it easy to impart spin and also to return such shots. It is imperative to choose the right paddle which helps the ball spin.

Besides practicing to spin the ball, you will also need the right pickleball paddle. The material of the paddle and especially the surface texture that provides more grip to the ball makes all the difference. With a paddle having a sweet spot for a spin, it becomes easier to place and control the spin.

Best Pickleball Paddles for Spin 2021

There is a wide range of pickleball paddles in the market, ranging from the ordinary to the specialized ones made from expensive materials. These pickleball paddles come with their specific advantages. However, not all of them are built for spin plays. To make things easy for you, here is a list of the best pickleball paddles for spin.

1.Engage Encore Pro Pickleball Paddle

The Engage Encore Pro is the first choice of many professional pickleball players. The paddle has all the advanced features for a spin. No wonder, it is one of the most premia of paddles.

The paddle is 15.5 inches long and has a width of 8.13 inches. It comes in several shades like Red Fade, Black Fade, Green Fade, Purple Fade, etc. which are just a patch of a stripe on the top-right edge of the paddle.

One of its premium features is the core, which is made out of a blend of specialized polypropylene polymer honeycomb. It has a large sweet spot. Another exceptional feature is the specialized fiberglass skin with surface roughness helps grip the ball longer to help to impart the spin. The liquid graphite surface is also optimized to give less noise.

The ControlPro spin technology of fiberglass surface with the textured roughness and the comfortable grip makes the paddle easily spin the ball in the desired way. The grip size is 4.25 inches which provides good gripping options while making shots. The 7.8 to 8.3 ounces weight makes the paddle heavier, but not much and makes it excellent for a power play. Its 15.5” long and 8.13” width helps reach out to difficult shots.

The outstanding feature of the honeycomb core inside the paddle also gives more control and power. Also, It has a spongy soft feel when the ball hits the paddle face. While the rough skin makes it easier to spin the ball, the liquid graphite surface makes a softer pop sound. This is paddle especially made for spin and is suitable for all levels of players, especially those looking out to put more spin in their shots.

2.Prolite Crush Powerspin with SPINtac Pickleball Paddle

The Prolite Crush Powerspin paddle is made of composite materials and specially crafted for spin aficionados who also need more power in their shots. There are several outstanding features and technologies built into this paddle.

The first is the core, which is made of QuadCore polymer honeycomb cell technology. This helps give it a larger sweet spot. The second is the SPINtac hitting surface which delivers enhanced spin control. This fiberglass surface is textured to grip the ball for imparting more spin.

There is also the exclusive ProLite MicroEdge guard which protects the edges from wear and tear and helps the paddle last longer than others. It is a USAPA approved paddle that is recommended for quiet zones and noise restricted communities

The paddle is broad enough, 7.5 to 8”, to give you ample scope for effective slicing to spin the ball. The paddle length is good 15.5” so that you avoid missing those difficult to reach shots. The 5 1/2″ long handle is Comfort-Contoured and the grip circumference of 4.12” make is very comfortable for longer playing sessions.

The Prolite Magnum shape with its rounded edges, make it look distinctive. The paddle is available in three color graphics combinations called Surf, Skate, Snow, and in different weights varying from 7.5 to 8 ounces. The paddle is reasonably priced despite premium materials and is suitable for beginners to advanced players.

3.Onix Composite Z5 Pickleball Paddle

The Onix Composite Z5 has a Nomex core, which is a heavy dense material with smaller honeycombs. This makes the paddle heavier and built for power. The paddle weighing about 8.5 ounces is one of the heavier paddles available in the market. The weight helps deliver more power.

The fiberglass surface grabs the ball providing more control to let you add spin more easily. This paddle is excellent for beginners as also for the experienced players who have good ball control but are looking for more power and pop.

The wide-body paddle with the dimension of 18 x 8 inches has a large sweet spot and the 4.25″ grip is comfortable and lets you play for long. The paddles are available in several colors like Red, Black, Blue, Green, Orange, Pink, and Yellow, and are priced differently.

This is one paddle that provides power as well as spin. You can play your shots with maximum power and pop from the baseline and at the same time, thanks to the honeycomb core and fiberglass textured surface, you get more spin.  Go for it if you are looking for a versatile paddle that also gives you value for money.

4.Prolite Rebel PowerSpin Pickleball Paddle

The Prolite Rebel PowerSpin paddle, just like its name, is a revolutionary product. From the handle, it takes off in a slim near tear-drop shape and emerges as the paddle with the longest face and offers extra reach to hit those difficult shots.

The extra-long 16” hitting surface and the narrow profile makes the paddle quite distinctive in appearance. Beneath the striking physical appearance, the Rebel has the QuadCore polymer honeycomb core which provides a larger sweet spot.

The PowerSpin fiberglass hitting surface is textured for a good spin on the ball to add more spin. The 5” long contoured handle and the 4.25-inch grip comes with comfort contour grip for more comfort to play longer hours with better control.

This middleweight paddle, with weight ranging from 7.5 to 8.1 ounces, combines power with the best of spin. It comes in several colors like Gold, Blue, Purple, and Red which are just colored graphics on the right side of the paddle face, except the Red-White-and-Blue graphics edition which has a more colorful surface.

5.Onix Graphite Z5 Pickleball Paddle

The ONIX Graphite Z5 is the graphite textured surface version of its Composite Z5 paddles with the same dimension and core materials. The Nomex core provides a large sweet spot to hit the ball with power. The textured graphite surface is lightweight and works better at gripping the ball for an easy spin.

It is a medium weight paddle with weight ranging from 7.5 to 8.2 ounces. The 15.5” long face of the paddle gives ample reach and the 8.3” wide body helps to hit those almost missed shots. The 5” long handle and 4.25” grip size with cushion comfort, provides optimum comfort for long play and making powerful shots with added spin.

This is an excellent touch paddle for superior ball control and is very highly-rated popular paddle among pickleball players. The paddle is suitable for both beginners and advanced players. It is available in several pleasing full-face colored graphics like Green, Blue, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, White, and Yellow.

6.Gamma Sport New 2.0 Pickleball Paddle

The Gamma Sports 2.0 Pickleball Paddle gives great value at a very economical price. The materials used in this paddle are of premium quality. The Aramid Honeycomb polymer core gives a large sweet spot providing power with control. The paddle has a textured graphite face with ControlPro spin technology, which produces great spin.

The long length of 15.8 inches and the narrow width of 7.7 inches make it quite an aggressive paddle despite its traditional shape. It is a medium weight paddle with weight ranging from 7.5 to 7.8 ounces. The flush-fit bumpers around the edges provide added protection and durability.

The 4” honeycomb cushion grip is soft, comfortable, and has perforations to absorb sweat. The shorter grip helps wrist-play to add more spin effortlessly. The medium weight of the paddle, the cushioned grip, and the large face makes it easy to maneuver for spin play. This is the best spin paddle to buy for those with a limited budget.

Why Having the Correct Paddle For Spin Is Important For a Pickleball Player.

To put a spin to your paddleball you need to master the skill. There are two main types of spin used in pickleball. The first is the top-spin where you hit the ball from below and bring the paddle up towards the top. This is like rolling the ball in the air. The second type of spin the back-spin where you move the paddle from the top of the ball to the bottom as if slicing something. You can also spin the ball to the left or right, making it all the more difficult for your opponents to respond.

You need to have the right paddle which helps in imparting these spin to the ball. It is great to have a paddle that has the right characteristics for a spin. The paddle face must-have textures to grip the ball instead of just letting it slide. This extra grip helps you produce the spin when you hit the ball at the desired angle and with a snappy wrist action. If your paddle is old, has soft spots in the middle or top edges, and lacks the texture on the surface to grip the ball, then you will need to buy a new paddle.

Why you don’t need to put a Spin on every shot

Keeping your opponents unable to anticipate the type of serve you make is important for winning the game. If your opponent keenly follows the movement of your paddle, he can easily predict the kind of spin you are applying. Therefore it is not wise to spin every shot. The best strategy is to use no-spin shots between your top-spin and back-spin shots. This way you can keep your opponent guessing. The surprise element will help you score. Moreover, you also need to master the technique and accuracy of your spin. Without this, spinning every shot may make the ball go out of control and result in a fault.

Things to Look Out While Choosing For Best Pickleball Paddle for Spin

Pickleball paddles are made of different kinds of materials and have their specific properties. When buying a pickleball paddle that is good for spin, there are certain features to look for. Here are a few things that you need to pay attention to.

a. Paddle Material

The pickleball paddles are made of wood, polymer, composite, and graphite materials. Wooden paddles are economical and therefore the most popular choice for beginners. These are also strong and heavier. Polymer plastic paddles are made from a combination of plastics. These are light, affordable and durable. However, they lack the feel and performance of a great paddle.

Composite paddles are made with fiberglass. These are lightweight and responsive, offering power as well as control. Graphite paddles are excellent for experienced players. They have a honeycomb core and a graphite surface. They offer control and power and are great for spin. These have a strong ‘pop’ effect when the ball comes in contact with it. These are more expensive as well.

b. Paddle Weight

The weight of the paddle is more a matter of personal choice and playing style. The weight varies from 6 to 14 ounces. Heavier paddles are preferred by some players for the added force in their shots. Handling a heavier paddle requires more strength.

Lighter paddles, on the other hand, are easier to handle and maneuver. These cause less fatigue and can be used to hit the ball with lightning speed. Heavier paddles go with more power while lighter paddles go with more speed.

c. Paddle Size

The standard-sized paddles have a balanced ratio of hitting area and handle. These are the most common and popular types. Larger sized paddles offer more hitting area but come with a shorter handle. These have their own sets of advantages and disadvantages.

d. Handle Length

Long-handled paddles have handles longer than a standard paddle but a smaller face. These paddles are lighter and offer a lot more room to vary your grip. You can grip the paddle at the base of the face or grip the paddle near the end of the handle. Longer handles keep your gripping hand relaxed during the game and also helps you play shots easily.

e. Paddle Grip Size

The right grip size is important as the wrist plays a crucial part in imparting the spin. It is necessary to choose a grip size that is just right for your fingers. Players with bigger hands prefer thicker grips.

f. Paddle Core and Hitting Surface Material

The paddle cores are made from wood, aluminum, polymer or Nomex. Paddles with aluminum cores have smaller honeycombs, but they are lighter and suitable for beginners. They offer more control while hitting. Polymer cores are made from softer material with large honeycombs. They are more silent and offer more bounce and power.

Nomex cores have smaller honeycombs and are harder. They give a louder pop sound while providing more control. The polymer and Nomex cores are good for spin. The hitting surfaces of good paddles are made of graphite or fiberglass, both of which are good for imparting spin. Now carbon fibers being used for paddle surfaces, which offer superior control.

Conclusion

With spin coming into prominence in the game of pickleball, the characteristics of a good paddle are being defined more and more with its ability to play spin. These days the manufacturers have shown interest in control technology, and are coming up with surface material with textures that grip the ball well for adding spin. This brief guide should be helpful to know more about spin in pickleball and choosing the best paddle for spin. A good paddle that allows you to spin the ball better will raise your game to greater heights. It may need some trial and error to discover the paddle that best suits you and your playing style.

More Reviews: Best Pickleball Paddle