No matter your skill level, a well-wrapped pickleball paddle will help you perform at your highest potential. Overgrips may help reduce vibrations felt in the handle of the paddle to reduce pain and fatigue for players with hand, wrist or arm injuries.
Choose the ideal pickleball paddle by striking a balance between power and control - this balance will generally be determined by its core material and face material.
Core Material
Depending on the manufacturer, pickleball paddle core materials could include fiberglass, graphite or carbon fiber - materials known for being strong yet resilient that help reduce force needed to return a ball.
While these materials are more costly than foam, they offer increased stiffness and weight savings that allow manufacturers to craft lightweight yet cost-effective sandwich structures with honeycomb cores, composite skins, and adhesive for pickleball paddle manufacturers that feature different performance characteristics for their customers.
Polypropylene (PP), a thermoplastic polymer honeycomb made up of hexagonal or cylindrical cells arranged regularly six-sided hexagonally or cylindrical cells, is the go-to choice for paddle core material. While not as stiff as aluminum or phenolic-coated Nomex, polypropylene core paddles offer superior shock resistance and vibration damping properties than their competitors; making them particularly suitable for playing in residential communities as they tend to be quieter than their alternatives.
Face Material
Face materials of pickleball paddles refers to two pieces glued onto their polypropylene core that contact with the ball when used for play. Together with its thickness, these materials determine its characteristics.
Graphite surface materials offer great power and control. Fiberglass tends to focus more on creating pop (but lacking the texture provided by graphite).
Paddle manufacturers offer many materials for paddle face material selections; therefore, it is crucial that you choose one suitable to your playing style and playstyle.
Face material can help create the optimal balance of power and control; however, its influence will likely be determined by core material and weight of your paddle.
The core is constructed using various materials, such as polypropylene, Nomex and aluminum. These cores can then be combined with various face materials - most frequently polypropylene but also fiberglass or graphite for extra reinforcement.
Overgrips
Overgrips are an ideal way to enhance the tackiness, sweat absorption, and comfort of your pickleball paddle. They're designed to fit over your original grip without adding bulk or altering its shape - for the optimal experience on court!
Overgrips come in various thicknesses and textures, from synthetic materials like polyurethane to natural ones like cork. Some even contain extra layers of tacky material that help minimize vibrational noise when paddling.
These cushions also help absorb sweat and dampen vibration, reducing shock to your hands and wrists and making longer stretches of pickleball easier - an easy and affordable way to improve your game!
Paddles
Paddles are the cornerstone of a pickleball set and come equipped with different face and core materials that affect power, feel and spin. In order to find your ideal paddle match for playstyle, make sure that it contains several face materials as well as core materials that correspond.
For instance, touch players might benefit from using a graphite or fiberglass paddle because these lightweight materials provide maximum control.
But for added power, if you want a heavier paddle with thicker core should give more heft on shots and provide additional force behind each strike.
Grit your paddle surface for additional spin by spray-on grit or painted grit; these typically last longer and create more spin than spray-on varieties do. Spray-on has a similar feel as sand paper but tends to wear away quickly, while built-in options tend to last longer while creating greater spin.
