Most professional players use paddles connected to the brands that sponsor them. For example, Ben Johns uses the Ben Johns Joola Hyperion CFS 16, while Tyson McGuffin uses his signature Selkirk AMPED Invikta Paddle.
The Pros and Their Paddles
Ben Johns and Collin Johns
The Johns brothers are one of the best-known doubles teams in the world. In 2022 alone, the brothers have won 12 titles in men’s doubles. However, while they’re united on the court, they both use two different brands of paddle.
Ben Johns uses the Ben Johns Joola Hyperion CFS 16 Paddle. At one point, Ben Johns used to have an official signature model paddle with Franklin. In 2022, Joola made its entrance into the world of pickleball with a bang by signing a contract with Johns and releasing his latest signature model: the Ben Johns Joola Hyperion CFS 16 Paddle.
Collin Johns uses his signature Electrum Model E Pickleball Paddle. Collin prefers this model for its “combination of grit, solidity, and pop, at a perfect length is unmatched.” Its polypropylene honeycomb core and large sweet spot give this paddle a love of shot-type versatility and power.
Tyson McGuffin
Tyson McGuffin is one of the world’s top pickleball players. According to the World Pickleball Federation, McGuffin is considered the #1 ranked Singles player in the world, as well as the #4 men’s doubles player. He’s currently focused on playing on the Pro Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour, where he and Ben Johns are duking it out for the top spot.
McGuffin uses his signature Selkirk AMPED Invikta Paddle. This is a heavy paddle built for serious power and control. The AMPED series by Selkirk utilize their X5 polypropylene core, which makes the paddle thicker but also gives it a much larger sweet spot.
Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters
Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters are pickleball’s famous mother-daughter doubles combo that is surprising the world with their success. Anna Leigh is only 15 years old and yet is ranked both #1 in women’s singles and #1 in women’s doubles with her mother, Leigh.
Both Leigh and Anna Leigh are sponsored by Paddletek, and Anna Leigh even has her own signature model: the Paddletek Bantam TS-5 Anna Leigh Waters Paddle. This lightweight paddle features a high-grade polymer composite honeycomb core and an epoxy fiberglass hybrid surface finish. It was constructed for fast-paced swings while allowing you complete control over your game.
Lucy Kovalova and Matt Wright
Lucy Kovalova and Matt Wright are one of the best-mixed doubles pro teams in the world. Not only do they share the court together, but they also share a signature model paddle with Onix: the Onix Evoke Premier Pickleball Paddle.
Onix is one of the top manufacturers in the world of high-performance pickleball paddles, and the Evoke Premier is no exception. Wright and Kovalova worked with Onix to co-develop this paddle with the goal of creating a paddle that would bring both control and power to the court.
Riley Newman and Lindsey Newman
Riley and Lindsey Newman are a brother-sister duo that brings a lot of personality to the pickleball court. They are both ranked among the top pickleball players in the world and have one many tournaments together as a team.
Both of the Newman siblings are sponsored by Gamma, a company that’s been dedicated to producing quality racquet-sports equipment for decades.
Riley’s pro model is the Riley Newman 206 Pickleball Paddle, and Lindsey’s is the Lindsey Newman Havoc Pickleball Paddle.
Catherine Parenteau
Catherine Parenteau is the #2 PPA-ranked women’s singles player in the world. With 6 PPA titles, 5 USAPA medals, and 11 US Open medals, Parenteau is one of pickleball’s most dominant players.
Parenteau is currently sponsored by Paddletek, and uses her own signature model: the Tempest Reign Pro Catherine Parenteau Edition. This is one of Paddletek’s most premium paddles, using the Tempest Smart Response Technology to optimize this paddle’s speed, power, and overall performance.
Jessie Irvine
Jessie Irvine is one of the world’s best women’s doubles and mixed doubles players. She moved from playing professional tennis to playing pickleball in 2018 and has quickly become one of the sport’s leading players.
Irvine is sponsored by Engage Pickleball, and uses her Pursuit Graphite Jessie Irvine Edition signature model when she’s on the court. The Pursuit Graphite is made up of a proprietary polymer composite core with a friction-based graphite skin to maximize friction, ensuring you have as much control over the ball as possible.
What are the most popular pickleball paddles among the pros?
After looking at some of pickleball’s top-performing athletes, it’s difficult to determine which brand is the most popular. Each of the pros that we covered uses a completely different brand than the other, and every brand of paddle brings something a little different to the table.
If you’re considering purchasing one of these pro-favored paddles, take a look at our guide on determining which pickleball paddle is right for you.
