Shape of Pickleball Paddle
Pickleball paddles also comes in all shapes and sizes. The pickleball paddle size – the length and the width – is regulated by the rules of pickleball, as the combined length and width of the pickleball paddle (including the edge guard and cap on the handle) may not exceed 24 inches, while the length of a pickleball paddle may not exceed 17 inches. Choosing a pickleball paddle shape is a novel reminder of the sport’s philosophy.
Below are the Top 4 Pickleball Paddle Shapes
Standard Paddle Shape: 15 3/4″ x 7 7/8″
It’s my understanding that this was the original pickleball size and shape. Rumor has it a version was sold from one of the inventor’s garages in the sport’s early days. Today it’s still the most common shape you’ll see on the court. This shape offers a great balance of reach, power, and control for pickleball paddles.
A popular top end Standard Shape paddle is the Head Radical Tour Co that offers a midweight option at an affordable price. An entry level version paddle is the Wilson Echo Team.
Wide Body Shape: 16″ x 8″
Widebody paddles are a good choice for beginner players, they offer more area for ball contact which is always a good thing when you’re starting out! The wider surface area provide a larger sweet spot and makes off centre shots more forgiving.
The Engage Encore Pro is a popular widebody paddle that comes in at 8 1/8" wide and has one of the largest sweet spots on the market.
Elongated Body Shape: 16 1/2″ x 7 1/4″
A narrow longer body allows for a longer paddle. Pros claim that the “sweet spot” for a well-placed hit is typically toward the top of the paddle. Meaning that extra length can make all the difference especially when you are playing singles. The extra length will give you more power (because the ball is hit further away from your body), the downside is that it is harder to control shots with an elongated paddle when compared to a standard paddle.
Typically the handle will be shorter to allow for the longer paddle face, therefore these paddles are popular with players using a single hand. A popular elongated paddle is the Selkirk Amped Omni, this paddle is used by US Open Champion Glen Peterson.
Tennis Shape: 16 1/2″ x 7 1/4″
Many Pickleball players have transitioned to the sport from tennis. As a tennis player you enjoy seeing the round head shape and even balance generally found in tennis racquets. TMPR is a company that leads the way in designing paddles that replicate the look and feel of a traditional tennis racquet. Their TMPR Ascend LX is a terrific example of such a paddle and is very popular with past tennis players.
