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Our Top Pick
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Our "Desert Chic" Pick
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Our "Simple and Clean" Pick
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5.0
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4.5
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4.0
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Of course, improving your skills as a player while on the pickleball court is important, but what’s the point if you don’t look stylish while playing? Pickleball and fashion now go hand in hand, so it’s important to find a paddle for open play that exceeds in both form and function.
The following five paddles represent a variety of personalities and colorways, so hopefully, you find something that fits your personal style! While we prioritized the overall aesthetics of each paddle, we also made sure to pick paddles that will actually perform when you hit the court.
1. Our Top Pick: Nettie Pendleton Classic
The Nettie Pendleton Classic Pickleball Paddle is an excellent option for players looking for a high-quality paddle with exciting aesthetic designs. Plus, it is USAP-Approved, making it legal at most tournaments.
Leading the pack for “designer” paddles has to be the Nettie Pendleton Classic. Most Nettie paddles have clean, geometric patterns that are nice to look at without being overly distracting.
- The geometric patterns of the Pendleton Nettie paddle are clean and don’t impair ball visibility while playing.
- Unlike many designer paddles that prioritize form over function, Nettie paddles are USAP-Approved, making them tournament legal.
- The carbon fiber construction makes them perfect for control players, and the face paint doesn’t seem to hinder the ability to put spin on the ball.
- The paddle’s 13 mm thickness makes it excellent for power, and when paired with the 5″ long grip makes it excellent for powerful two-handed swings.
2. Our “Simple and Clean” Pick: Single Double Montford
If you’re looking for a paddle with beautiful form and practical function, the Single Double Montford is for you. It’s a paddle that has all of the technology found in many midweight fiberglass-surfaced paddles while also having the added bonus of style points.
We got to spend some quality time with the Single Double Montford and even put out a full review for it. Through the time we spent playing with the Montford, we found it to be a high-quality paddle that leans into its simplicity.
- It is a slim, midweight paddle at 7.7 oz, making it a well-balanced paddle for a wide variety of players. Control players will appreciate the wide sweet spot, while power players will like the fiberglass finish for faster drives.
- It utilizes the industry-standard polypropylene honeycomb core, which optimizes durability and pop.
- Again, fiberglass surfaces cut down on dwell time, which is great for sending a drive down the line at full speed, but it does come at the cost of some shot control. Fortunately, the 7.8″ width tends to keep that lack of grip in check.
- The stock grip is one of the comfiest we’ve held in a long time and remained sweatproof throughout long play sessions.
3. Our “Desert Chic” Pick: OutWest Sport – Sunrise
The OutWest Sport Sunrise paddle allows you to express your inner Wild West spirit while on the pickleball court! Its funky Southwestern design is backed up by a graphite carbon face and the classic polypropylene honeycomb core.
The OutWest Sport Pickleball Paddle feels like a solid intro paddle with beautiful, silhouetted landscapes that fit the summer-fun vibe perfectly! The paddle comes in a few colorways, including Sunrise, which depicts a beautiful desert scene straight out of the Sonoran Desert.
- The paddle features a graphite carbon face, which is often prized for its lightweight characteristics while also adding a significant amount of grip for shot control
- It’s got the standard polypropylene honeycomb core, giving you excellent touch and power to your shots.
- At 15.7″ x 8.1″, the OutWest Sport paddle has a massive sweet spot, making it a great all-around paddle for both dinks and drives.
- The construction of this paddle feels top-notch. It feels light in hand but also very sturdy, giving you added confidence behind your swing.
4. Recess x J. Crew
What is more stylsih than using a paddle that is branded with one of the biggest names in the fashion industry? Recess Pickleball has teamed up with J. Crew to create a line of paddles that feature 15 different colorways!
- Out of all of the designer paddles we’ve looked at, the wide selection of designs offered by Recess is incredibly impressive. You can nearly have a different paddle design for every day of the month!
- While the beautiful, intricate floral patterns are the centerpiece, all of the other details in these paddles are what make them stand out. The well-constructed edgeguard, “Let’s Play” grip band, and J. Crew branded paddle cover are all classy touches.
- These paddles feature a durable fiberglass surface over a high-quality polymer core. So, not only do they look extremely good, but they also play just as well.
- These J. Crew crossover paddles aren’t currently USA-Approved, but appear to be based on a Recess model that has been approved. Check out their website to see which stylish offerings are currently approved for tournament play.
5. LUXE Ace
LUXE is a paddle brand that was founded by a family who wanted to bring high-performing paddles to the market that are brought to life by unique modern face designs. Their ACE model is their intermediate-level paddle that perfectly balances good looks with high-performing construction.
- The Ace currently comes in over a dozen patterns and colorways, giving you lots of aesthetic options to choose from.
- The Ace features out favorite 1-2 combo: Polypropylene honeycomb core with a carbon fiber face. This maximizes both pop and spin, two words that pickleballers and designers are keen on.
- From top to bottom, these paddles were made to stand out. Each colorway was expertly crafted to show off all the little details of this paddle, from the edgeguard down to the clever “Kiss My Ace” grip band.
Other Pretty Paddles
We have tested several other paddles that, while not in our top 5, will also make you look fantastic at open play! If the paddles above weren’t quite your style, maybe these options have the flair you’re looking for.
- House Pickleball Paddles – House have been on the rise in the paddle market, and their simple, modern design is at the core of why they’ve become so eye-catching. They even offer a custom design printing option on paddle orders of 50 or more!
- Picklish – What’s not to love about having a small pickle silhouette in the middle of your pickleball paddle? Clean, simple, and high quality builds.
- Amazin’ Aces – This is one of our go-to budget options for pickleball players, since you’re getting two USAP-Approved paddles for the price of one average beginner paddle! Plus, they come in tons of funky patterns, from city maps to outer space.
- Play Paddles – Who doesn’t like eggs and bacon? Play Paddles are USAP-Approved and come in some wild patterns such as eggs and bacon, waffles, and cheetah print.
The Nettie Pendleton Classic Pickleball Paddle is an excellent option for players looking for a high-quality paddle with exciting aesthetic designs. Plus, it is USAP-Approved, making it legal at most tournaments.
