5 Best Pickleball Paddles for Spin

The best pickleball paddles for spin feature a gritty textured surface, a large sweet spot, and are mid-weight for easy maneuverability. The best spin-generating facing materials on a pickleball paddle are raw carbon fiber and graphite.

Pickleball players who have mastered the basics and want to improve their game should learn how to create and control spin. Being able to add spin to a ball can give a player a competitive edge over opponents who haven’t developed this critical skill.

It’s important to have a paddle that is versatile enough to work with the more difficult mechanics of the game, yet comfortable to play with.

The 5 Best Pickleball Paddles for Spin

These paddles are proven and have consistently high ratings for paddle construction and design that enhance spin ability.

1. Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta

With its elongated shape and a 20mm “Thikset” Honeycomb core wrapped in Flex Foam, this paddle delivers a sweet spot that stretches almost edge to edge, ensuring consistent strikes and a comfy, controlled feel.

What really sets it apart is its 360-degree Proto Molding technology that integrates a highly textured Florek Carbon Fiber surface for enhanced spin and precision. The 11.1″ by 7.5″ face, paired with a 5.35″ handle, gives you the leverage you need for those powerful topspin drives and decisive overheads. Plus, the ProSpin+ NextGen Texturing keeps your spins sharp and enduring.

The LUXX Control Air Invikta is designed to feel plush yet crisp, connecting you smoothly with every shot and absorbing pace to keep your returns low and controlled. It’s edgeless for a sleek look and enhanced maneuverability, but you might want to grab some edge protection tape for durability.

2. CRBN-3X Power Series 16mm

Just got my hands on the CRBN-3X Power Series Pickleball Paddle, and I think I’ve found my new favorite. This bad boy continues the legacy of the Power Series but with a twist—a shorter handle and a bigger face for better control and a massive sweet spot.

What’s cool about the 3X is that it maintains the elongated shape of the 1X but trims the handle to 5.25 inches, adding more surface area for play. This subtle change significantly enhances maneuverability without sacrificing the paddle’s solid, all-court performance. With its T700 Toray Carbon Fiber hitting surface, the paddle delivers not just control but also impressive “dwell time,” making your spins and dinks devilishly precise.

The blend of a polypropylene honeycomb core and foam-injected edges offers stellar feedback and saves your game on those not-so-perfect hits, making it forgiving yet firm. Whether you’re looking for power or control, its 14mm and 16mm thickness options cater to all styles, weighing just right at 8.0 ounces for that perfect swing.

3. Engage Pursuit MX 6.0

This paddle is a serious game-changer, especially for players who love that extra reach and demand control over their spins.

First off, the Pursuit Pro MX 6.0 is designed with an elongated 5.75″ handle that’s perfect for two-handed strokes, offering Variable Flex Technology that adjusts flex to boost power on your overheads while maintaining rigidity for softer shots. The real star here is the 10.75″ x 7.5″ Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber hitting surface that combines grit for superior spin and a soft touch for a forgiving feel.

But that’s not all—this paddle also comes with Uniform Guard Technology to protect the hitting surface and dampen vibrations, enhancing the feel and response. The 16mm thick Control Pro “Black” Polymer honeycomb core, enhanced with Vortex Barrier injected-foam edge technology, not only expands the sweet spot but also ensures the paddle feels solid and consistent in your hand, shot after shot.

Engage didn’t stop there. They’ve equipped this model with Counter Balance Technology, optimizing the balance point to reduce fatigue and make the paddle feel quicker at the net. It’s quiet, comfortable, and built to handle everything from powerful drives to intricate dinks near the kitchen.

4. Volair mach 2 Forza 16mm

Just swung the Volair Mach 2 Forza 16mm and wow, it feels like commanding the court with precision! This widebody control paddle builds on its predecessor with a beefed-up 16mm polypropylene honeycomb core and injected foam edge walls, offering stellar control and a massive sweet spot.

What stands out is the paddle’s enhanced sweet spot thanks to its Thermoformed unibody construction which provides a sturdy, consistent feel across the entire face. This, combined with a Raw Toray T700 carbon fiber surface, gives you impressive control and excellent spin to keep your opponents guessing. The rough surface grips the ball well, making it easy to layer on top-spin or slice.

Despite its control-oriented design, the Forza 16mm doesn’t skimp on power. The widebody shape naturally hits softer but the thicker core and longer handle compensate, providing a nice punch when you need to drive the ball.

The only real trade-off is the slightly shorter reach compared to other models, which might affect your game around the kitchen line. But if control and finesse are your game, the Volair Mach 2 Forza 16mm is a top contender.

5. JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16

This paddle is all about enhancing your game with its top-notch materials and design. The 16mm thick polymer core is surrounded by JOOLA’s unique “Hyperfoam Edge Wall,” which enhances the sweet spot and ensures consistent performance across the paddle. The textured Carbon Friction Surface (CFS) on the exterior significantly boosts your spin potential, allowing you to effortlessly curve and control your shots.

Measuring 16-1/2 inches with a 5-1/2 inch handle, the Hyperion CFS 16 makes it easy to reach those tough shots and execute powerful two-handed swings. It’s available in two weights—8.4 ounces for standard heft and 7.9 ounces for a swifter feel, both designed to provide excellent swing-weight without a hefty windup.

The paddle is slightly head-heavy, which might affect backhand speed for some, but its stability and spin-friendly response are unmatched. It’s ideal for players who love a powerful, two-handed backhand and want a paddle that brings pro-level quality to every game. If you’re in the market for a paddle that offers precision, power, and a professional edge, the JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16 is definitely worth a swing.

What’s Different About Pickleball Paddles Designed for Spin?

Paddles designed for spin tend to have a textured surface. 

• A textured surface on the paddle face allows the most spin. The excess friction upon contact allows the ball to spin better. 
• A key component is whether grit has been added to the paddle. Grit maximizes paddle surface texture.

It should be noted that USA Pickleball has rules that limit how much grit a paddle can have and still be approved for tournament use.

Let’s delve into the common paddle surface materials used in pickleball and how they influence the spin and overall performance:

Fiberglass: Fiberglass paddles offer a lively game pace with powerful shot execution. However, they typically provide a smaller sweet spot and generate less spin due to their smoother surface.

Carbon Fiber: Carbon fiber is a favorite in the pickleball industry, especially for players who favor softer shots. It features a larger sweet spot and excellent spin potential. A specific type known as “raw” carbon fiber is gaining traction for its high-spin capabilities, with brands like Joola, Engage, and CRBN leading the way. More manufacturers are expected to adopt this material soon.

Graphite: Graphite paddles are versatile, offering solid control that appeals to both beginners and advanced players. These paddles may come with a fine texture or additional grit to enhance spin. It’s crucial to examine each paddle’s specific features to understand how it can impact your spin control.

Composite: Composite paddles combine various materials and often include a gritty surface to boost spin. The composition varies by brand and model, making them adaptable to many playing styles.

Surface Area and Design Features: Paddles with a wide body design typically have a larger sweet spot, ideal for executing spin-intensive shots like dinks and soft net plays. Designs often feature modifications such as shorter handles or smaller edge guards to maximize the sweet spot.

Understanding these materials and their characteristics can help you choose a paddle that best fits your style of play, particularly if you’re looking to improve your spin techniques.

Tips to Add Spin in Pickleball

Spin is important in advanced games and offers a strategic advantage to players because they can hit unpredictable shots, making returns more challenging.

It can be a great tactic to have in your arsenal. It confuses your opponent’s decision-making process, and can send them in the wrong direction when they go to return your shot.

1. Topspin

Topspin involves the ball rotating forward. To add topspin:

• Stroke the ball in an upward motion with your paddle.
• This technique causes the ball to drop quicker than non-spin shots, adding a challenging dimension to your play.

2. Backspin

Backspin occurs when the ball rotates backward. To execute backspin:

• Position your body sideways.
• Swing the paddle downward at a diagonal angle, hitting the ball just below its centerline.
• Use a gentle touch, as too much force can keep the ball aloft longer than intended.

3. Sidespin

Sidespin makes the ball spin along a vertical axis. To create sidespin:

• Sweep the paddle across the ball in a right-to-left motion for clockwise rotation, causing the ball to curve right.
• Conversely, a left-to-right paddle motion will spin the ball clockwise and curve it left.
• Effective sidespin depends on rapid wrist action and the paddle’s angle, typically moving in a cross-body motion.

4. Corkspin

Corkspin resembles the spiral of a football pass, spinning directly towards your opponent.

• It’s typically combined with another spin type, like sidespin, since it requires forward momentum.
• To deploy corkspin, wait for a wide shot to your dominant forehand side.
• With an extended arm, angle your paddle down towards the net at 45 degrees and strike the ball low on its right side.
• For backhand shots, apply the same technique but strike the ball on the left side.

Check out the video below for a visual demonstration of how to add various types of spin to the ball.

These spin techniques not only add variety to your game but also enhance your tactical play, making each point more dynamic and challenging for your opponents. Practice these spins to effectively control the pace and direction of the game, and watch as your pickleball skills reach new heights.

Mastering Spin Takes Time

Mastering spin can take time. It is important to have basic ball control prior to learning spin techniques because control allows for a good spin and the finesse required to pull off spin shots.

It can take hours of practice to master a spin shot and can take even longer to commit the motion required to muscle memory. But it’s absolutely worth the time investment. Mastering spin allows you to play at a more advanced level, and makes pickleball that much more enjoyable by adding depth and complexity to the game.