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The Best Pickleball Paddles for Advanced Players
The top rung of the ladder — what separates an advanced paddle from a good one, and which to buy for someone whose game has outgrown the paddle they started with.
By Stephen V. · Updated September 2026 · How we pick
This site already has a page for beginners and a page for intermediate players. This is the third rung, and it is the one where the gift buyer's job changes. A beginner paddle is chosen for forgiveness and price, an intermediate paddle for a noticeable step up in feel, but an advanced paddle is chosen for a specific way of playing — and the person you are buying for already knows what that is. So the first honest thing to say is this: if you are buying an advanced paddle as a surprise, read the last paragraph of this introduction before you read anything else.
What actually makes a paddle "advanced"? Three things, and they are all construction rather than marketing. The first is the face. Advanced paddles use raw carbon fiber — carbon left unpainted so its gritty weave is the hitting surface — because that texture holds the ball a fraction longer and generates spin. The second is how the paddle is assembled. The premium builds are thermoformed, meaning the face and edge are fused under heat and pressure into a single piece rather than glued around a frame, which players describe as a stiffer, more connected feel; some go a step further and fill the perimeter with foam, or replace the honeycomb core entirely with a foam one. The third is the shape: elongated faces and longer handles that trade a little sweet-spot size for reach and leverage. None of these words appear on a starter paddle, and all of them appear on the picks below.
The single spec you will see on every one of these listings is core thickness, and it is worth understanding because it is the main fork in the road. JOOLA's own paddle guide puts it plainly: a 16mm core "offers control, precision, and stability, catering to a more balanced style of play," while 14mm is "ideal for players who prioritize power and faster gameplay." Most of this page is 16mm, because control is what most advanced players are chasing once their power is already there. The 14mm pick is on the page for the player who wants the opposite. We have a full plain-English explainer on this in our paddle thickness guide if you want more than one paragraph.
A word on the rules, because the products here push against them. USA Pickleball caps a paddle's combined length and width at 24 inches and its length at 17 inches, and places no restriction at all on thickness or weight. That is why so many advanced paddles are elongated — the makers spend the length allowance on reach — and why the thickness figures vary. Every paddle below is sold as USA Pickleball approved on its listing or by its manufacturer, which matters if the person you are buying for plays in sanctioned tournaments, where an unapproved paddle is not allowed.
Here is how the picks were chosen, in order. First, construction that genuinely belongs at this level — a raw carbon face, a thermoformed or foam build, or a specification the manufacturer publishes rather than implies. Second, a spread of playing styles rather than seven versions of the same paddle, so the page covers the control player, the power player, the two-handed-backhand player and the value hunter. Third, a mix of names — the brand every player recognizes, the direct-to-consumer brands players recommend to each other, and one that undercuts them all on specification. Fourth, each product had to be a live, in-stock listing with a real price before it earned a slot; the price you see beside each pick is pulled from Amazon with the date it was checked, never typed into this page.
Now the paragraph for surprise buyers. An advanced player has firm opinions about weight, shape, handle length and grip circumference, in exactly the way a keen golfer does about clubs. If you know what they play now, buy the same paddle in the other thickness, or the model they have mentioned wanting, and you will land it. If you do not, the safest routes are to buy a paddle they can exchange, to buy the paddle cover, bag or overgrips that go around the paddle they already love, or to ask outright — advanced players are usually delighted to be asked. What this page is not: a testing lab. Nobody here hit with these paddles for a season, there is not one invented star rating on this site, and every construction claim below is either quoted from the listing or from a source cited at the bottom.
Disclosure: Popaddle earns a commission on qualifying purchases made through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Prices are pulled live and can change. How this works.
| # | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control 16mm A thermoformed Toray T700 raw carbon control paddle from the direct-to-consumer brand that made the format famous. | The advanced player who wants the paddle other advanced players talk about | |
| 2 |  JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CAS 16 JOOLA's Ben Johns signature paddle, with a high-grit carbon surface, elongated handle and 16mm honeycomb core. | A gift that arrives with instant credibility | |
| 3 |  JOOLA Perseus Double Vision 16mm A 16mm paddle with an aramid face for a softer touch and a vibration-reducing film in the build. | The dinker, the reset specialist, the player who wins at the kitchen line | |
| 4 |  CRBN X Series Power 14mm Carbon Fiber A 14mm carbon fiber paddle sold explicitly as the Power model in CRBN's X Series. | The banger — the player whose game is drives, speed-ups and put-aways | $149.99 · View on Amazon $229.99 save 35% |
| 5 |  Engage Pursuit Pro1 Elongated 15.2mm Engage's elongated raw-carbon paddle, listed for extreme spin with a MachPro core and a stated 7.8 to 8.2 ounce standard weight. | The player who hits a two-handed backhand and wants reach and spin | |
| 6 |  Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 16mm Foam Core A 16mm foam-core paddle from Vatic Pro, the direct-to-consumer brand players quietly recommend to each other. | The player curious about the newest construction, or one with a sensitive arm | |
| 7 |  Ronbus R3.16 Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber 16mm A raw Toray T700 carbon face over a 16mm polypropylene honeycomb core, without the sponsorship budget in the price. | Advanced-paddle construction at the lowest price on this page |
The picks in detail
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control 16mm
Best for: The advanced player who wants the paddle other advanced players talk about
Six Zero publishes exactly what this paddle is: a 16mm honeycomb polymer core under a Toray T700 raw carbon face, thermoformed so the face and the edge technology run the full length of the handle as one fused piece, with an elongated, tapered handle. That is the complete list of ingredients an advanced control paddle is supposed to have, from a brand players recommend to each other rather than one they see in advertising. The listing's own title adds the word "Lightweight," which points at the quick-hands player who lives at the kitchen line. If the person you are buying for has been playing seriously for a year or more and has never owned a thermoformed paddle, this is the one that will feel like a genuine step up rather than a sideways move. We have a full specification-led write-up of it in our Six Zero Double Black Diamond review.
Skip it if: Skip it if the recipient has said they want power — this is the Control model, and the 14mm version further down or the CRBN below are the answer for that. Skip it too if they care about resale or brand recognition; Six Zero is known inside the sport and invisible outside it.
Price as of September 17, 2026. #ad · how this works
JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CAS 16
Best for: A gift that arrives with instant credibility
If a surprise gift for an advanced player is ever going to work, it is with a paddle the recipient will recognize on sight, and this is the one. JOOLA is the brand most visible in professional pickleball and the Hyperion carries Ben Johns's name on the listing, which describes a Carbon Abrasion Surface with high grit for spin, a Sure-Grip elongated handle, a 16mm polypropylene honeycomb core and USAPA approval. Those are tour-level specifications in a paddle that needs no explanation when it is unwrapped. The elongated handle matters more than it sounds: it is what makes a two-handed backhand comfortable, and a large share of advanced players hit one.
Skip it if: Skip it if you are optimizing for specification per dollar rather than for the name on the paddle — the direct-to-consumer picks on this page list comparable ingredients for less. And note this is the CAS model; JOOLA sells several Hyperion generations, so if the recipient has named a specific one, match it exactly.
Price as of September 17, 2026. #ad · how this works
JOOLA Perseus Double Vision 16mm
Best for: The dinker, the reset specialist, the player who wins at the kitchen line
Not every advanced player wants grit and pop. The Perseus Double Vision goes the other way: the listing describes an aramid surface for a softer, more responsive touch, JOOLA's signature paddle shape, and SK film for reduced vibration, on a 16mm core. Aramid is the fiber family that includes Kevlar, and its appeal here is feel rather than raw spin — the paddle is built for the player whose points are won with drops, dinks and resets rather than drives. It also carries an NFC chip on the listing, which is a JOOLA authentication feature and a small reassurance when you are buying a premium paddle online. This is the pick for someone who has told you their game is "all touch."
Skip it if: Skip it for a power baseliner or a player who wants the grittiest possible surface for spin — the aramid face is a deliberate choice for softness, and a raw carbon paddle is the better fit for a driver.
Price as of September 17, 2026. #ad · how this works
CRBN X Series Power 14mm Carbon Fiber
Best for: The banger — the player whose game is drives, speed-ups and put-aways
This is the 14mm pick, and it is on the page precisely because most of the others are 16mm. JOOLA's guide describes 14mm as the thickness for players who prioritize power and faster gameplay, and CRBN puts the word Power in the product name so there is no ambiguity about what it is for. CRBN is a brand with real standing among serious players — its overgrips are a common sight on courts — and the X Series is its premium carbon line. Buy this for the advanced player who has said they want more pop from the baseline and more speed in hand battles, and who is happy to trade a little forgiveness on off-center hits to get it.
Skip it if: Skip it for a control player or anyone still tightening up their soft game; a thinner core is less forgiving and gives less dwell time, which is the opposite of what a dink-heavy player wants. If in doubt between 14mm and 16mm, buy 16mm.
Engage Pursuit Pro1 Elongated 15.2mm
Best for: The player who hits a two-handed backhand and wants reach and spin
Engage is one of the longer-established American paddle makers, and the Pursuit Pro1 is the model to buy when the two words that matter are elongated and spin. The listing describes a raw carbon fiber face for extreme spin, a MachPro core for power and control, a 15.2mm thickness, and — unusually and helpfully — a stated weight range of 7.8 to 8.2 ounces, which is the midweight band most advanced players prefer. An elongated face spends the rules' length allowance on reach and leverage, which is exactly what a former tennis player or a two-handed-backhand hitter wants. If the recipient has ever complained that a standard paddle feels short, this is the shape.
Skip it if: Skip it for a player who wants the largest possible sweet spot — an elongated paddle concentrates its sweet spot higher and narrower than a standard one, and a wider paddle is the more forgiving choice. It is also among the pricier picks here.
Price as of September 17, 2026. #ad · how this works
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 16mm Foam Core
Best for: The player curious about the newest construction, or one with a sensitive arm
Most paddles, including most on this page, use a honeycomb polymer core. A foam core replaces that honeycomb with solid foam, and it is the construction the sport has been moving toward at the top end. The V-Sol Pro V7 is Vatic Pro's version, listed as a 16mm foam-core paddle with a cover included. Vatic Pro earned its reputation with the Prism Flash — the paddle that made a lot of players realize a direct-to-consumer brand could match the big names — and this is its more advanced build. It is the pick for a player who follows paddle technology and has not yet owned a foam-core paddle, and it also appears on our tennis-elbow paddle page, because a foam core is often chosen by players managing arm fatigue.
Skip it if: Skip it if the recipient is loyal to the feel of a honeycomb core, which is a real preference among players who have used one for years — a foam core feels different, and different is not what every advanced player wants from a gift.
Price as of September 17, 2026. #ad · how this works
Ronbus R3.16 Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber 16mm
Best for: Advanced-paddle construction at the lowest price on this page
Ronbus is the clearest demonstration of what direct-to-consumer pricing does at this level. The listing states the same headline ingredients as paddles costing considerably more — a raw Toray T700 carbon fiber face over a 16mm polypropylene honeycomb core — and sits at the bottom of this page's price range. Toray T700 is the same carbon fiber grade Six Zero names on the Double Black Diamond. For a gift buyer who wants to give an advanced player a genuinely advanced paddle without spending top-pick money, this is the one, and it has enough of a following among players who research their own gear that a knowledgeable recipient will not read it as a compromise.
Skip it if: Skip it as a surprise for someone who cares about brand recognition; Ronbus is well regarded by players who read paddle forums and unknown to everyone else, so it lands better as a requested purchase than as a wrapped one. The listing also covers several R-series shapes under one title, so confirm the variant before you buy.
Price as of September 17, 2026. #ad · how this works
Frequently asked questions
What makes a pickleball paddle "advanced"?
Construction, not a label. Advanced paddles use a raw carbon fiber face for spin, are usually thermoformed (face and edge fused into one piece) or built around a foam core, and are often elongated for reach. They also tend to be sold in two thicknesses — 14mm for power, 16mm for control — so the buyer chooses a playing style rather than just a paddle. A starter paddle has none of those words on its listing; every pick on this page has several.
Should I buy 14mm or 16mm for an advanced player?
If you do not know, buy 16mm. JOOLA's paddle guide describes 16mm as offering control, precision and stability, and 14mm as the choice for players who prioritize power and faster gameplay. Most advanced players chase control once their power is already there, which is why most of this page is 16mm. Buy 14mm only if the recipient has specifically said they want more pop, and read our paddle thickness guide if you want the longer version.
Is it safe to buy an advanced paddle as a surprise gift?
Riskier than any other gift on this site, honestly. Advanced players have firm preferences about weight, shape, handle length and grip size. The safe routes are: buy the paddle they have mentioned wanting, buy the paddle they already use in the other thickness, buy a listing you know can be exchanged, or gift around the paddle — a bag, a cover, overgrips, balls — and let them choose the paddle themselves. A gift card plus a link to this page is not a cop-out; it is what most advanced players would prefer.
Are these paddles legal for tournaments?
USA Pickleball caps a paddle's combined length and width at 24 inches and its length at 17 inches, and places no restriction on thickness or weight. Every pick on this page is sold as USA Pickleball approved on its listing or by its manufacturer. If the person you are buying for plays sanctioned events, that approval is essential — an unapproved paddle cannot be used in them — and the brands here are all established enough that approval is standard across their lines.
Why are the direct-to-consumer brands cheaper?
Because they skip the retail margin and the sponsorship budget. Six Zero, Vatic Pro and Ronbus list the same headline ingredients as the tour brands — raw carbon faces, thermoformed builds, foam cores — and sell them online for less. What you give up is scale: thinner stock, a smaller warranty operation, weaker resale, and a name the recipient may not recognize as a gift. Our paddle brands tier list goes through that trade-off brand by brand.
What is a foam core, and is it better?
A foam core replaces the honeycomb polymer core most paddles use with solid foam. It is the construction the top end of the sport has been moving toward, and players choose it for feel and, often, for arm comfort. Better is the wrong word — it is different, and some players strongly prefer the honeycomb feel they are used to. It is a great pick for a player who follows paddle technology, and a risky one for a player who has said they love the paddle they have.
Does an advanced player need a new paddle at all?
Sometimes the best gift is the one around the paddle. Advanced players go through overgrips constantly, wear out balls, and often carry more than one paddle, so a bag with real capacity, a paddle cover, a tin of tournament balls or a pack of overgrips is used every week and never wrong. If the paddle itself is the gift, use the picks above; if you are not sure, start with our accessories roundup.
Keep exploring
The rung below this one — the step-up paddle.
Paddle thickness guide14mm vs 16mm in plain English.
Six Zero Double Black Diamond reviewThe top pick, specification by specification.
Best paddles for spinThe raw-carbon roundup.
Paddle brands rankedWhich names are worth the money.
Sources
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