Best Pickleball Paddles For Spin

Ronbus was established in 2022, by a former Motorola engineer who has a tennis background. This company aims to push innovation in the pickleball industry, while keeping prices reasonable. Their generation 2 models are called Pulsar, which utilizes an EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) core; A closed-cell copolymer foam. The process is called thermoforming. This is not a me too technology; Most use heat, Ronbus uses cold molding. Their manufacturer, TopCarbon, has been working with Ronbus to take thermoforming to the next level. Many paddles that use this technology have a hard/stiff feel to them, but the RP3 does not. You will find this paddle has a plush and somewhat soft feel. It provides superb spin, stellar power and overall control. The spin is next level. This paddle offers precision shots without sacrificing anything. Consider the R1 is you desire slightly less power and more maneuverability in the kitchen for more control with hand battles. Ronbus’s innovation is paying off. There is no break in period or delimitation issues to date, as some other thermoforming brands have had.

Outside of Ronbus, Volair has some of the highest spin rates you can get from a pickleball paddle. Volair is co-founded by professional pickleball player Julian Arnold who designed this paddle for pro-level play. The Volair is priced well for what you get in terms of spin and control.

The Vatic Pro 7 offers a thermoformed one piece heat compressed T700 raw carbon fiber paddle with edge foam injection. This unibody technology provides plenty of spin, pop and power. The surface provides a long-lasting grit due to the heat-press technology. The handle consists of two polyurethane inserts that absorb vibration. It has an elongated shape with a swing weight of 119. If you prefer a standard shape, give the Vatic Pro Flash 14mm paddle a try. If you’re used to playing with a Gen. 1 carbon paddle, you’ll notice a lot more pop. Due to the foam injection, this paddle provides balanced control. Again, keep in mind, you will need to learn control if you’re coming from a Gen 1 paddle. This paddle offers a terrific blend of power, spin and control for the price point.

Six Zero is an Australian company that developed the innovative Black Diamond Series using a multi-stage cold and hot mold technology. The new unibody thermoformed technology is a hot innovation for 2023. The slightly flared shape optimizes the sweet spot. The paddle’s surface uses a newly developed premium Japanese Toray nano-engineered 700K carbon textured surface that provides a permanent textured surface, producing an amazing spin. Foam injection followed by a light-weight carbon seam fuses the top and bottom faces of the paddle resulting in a tighter feel and an increased sweet spot that radiates around the paddle perimeter. You have the option of purchasing a 14mm or 16mm core. There are subtle differences between the two; The 14mm DBD will add more pop and power, while the 16mm DBD will have more control. The 14mm DBD will also provide faster hand speed through the air. Six Zero engineers have designed a 3D carbon forged handle to reduce vibration and increase responsiveness. The main difference between the Black Diamond Power and the Double Black Diamond Control Paddles is the face material. The Black Diamond Power uses a Toray Raw Fibreglass face, that provides incredible power and pop. It also is more forgiving in the throat area. This paddle may take some adjustment if you are coming from a traditional soft paddle.

Overview: The CX14H with Gearbox is loaded with technology. It’s built out of pure carbon fiber giving it an extremely strong frame, hence why the edge guard is not needed on a paddle like this. The face feels very smooth, but don’t let that make you think it doesn’t produce spin. With its revolutionary SST core rib structure it can make over 1,800 RPM of spin.

Performance: The CX14H has a very unique feel to it. Given it’s made from a solid carbon fiber core it almost feels like a wood paddle. You will need to get used to a paddle like this as they are some of the softest paddles on the market. The CX14H is definitely more of a control paddle preferred by those who play a softer and more controlled game with a lot of dinks.

Gearbox makes a ton of elongated paddles but we've found the CX14E is arguably the best. It truly is a work of art and looks as such. The paddle is elongated coming in at 16-5/8" by 7-3/8" and comes with Gearbox’s #1 SST ribbed core technology that allows for improved stability and overall performance. The reach is very good and not overbearing. The long handle length is definitely a plus as well. This does not have an edge guard which gives it a sleek design but can be a con for newer players. If your looking for another gearbox elongated paddle with an edge guard check out the GBX series. 

Bread and Butter Pickleball Co is an up and coming pickleball paddle company based out of Florida that makes exceptional paddles. Their Filth line consists of elongated paddles offering elite power and lots of spin. The paddle is made from T700 Carbon fiber with injected foam walls adding stability and a large sweet spot with minimal vibration. No expense was spared on this paddle.

Overview: The Elite model of the Model E delivers a significant improvement, building on the success of the original model. Its 16mm thermoformed core gives it an extended shape. It has great reach and a great mix of spin, power, and control. The Electrum paddle is foam injected marginalizing any dead spots. Edge to edge is an amazing paddle.

Performance: One of the most notable features of the Electrum model E Elite is the blend of graphene and carbon fiber in the face. This face material grit is going to make it much more durable and allow spin of up to 1,800 RPM. The paddle does have a noticeably large sweet spot. Overall this paddle has a softer feel for a thermoformed paddle without the ball jumping off it. This is likely due to the high twist weight. It's a very sturdy paddle built with solid materials. The handle is carbon forged, but I wasn’t a fan of the oval handle shape compared to the traditional octagon.

Overview: The Joola Perseus is a joint venture with pro pickleball player Ben Johns. The thermoformed unibody paddle uses the new charged carbon surface technology coupled with a fully encased carbon fiber for power and stability. The unibody design is very sturdy and provides a great pop. This is Joola’s best paddle in our opinion.

Performance: The handle offers a tacky yet soft grip that absorbs sweat. Handle breakage seen in the Hyperion CFS, should not occur with the Perseus due to the unibody construction. Although, you may want to consider an overgrip. The 14 mm paddle has a swing weight of 112 and the 16mm paddle is 116. While the spin is good, it is not quite on par with other thermoform paddles. In the past, Joola has had an issue with grit wearing off or having inconsistent placement; It seems this has changed with this paddle. You will find the 14 mm offers more power and therefore better if you’re a singles player. If you prefer the 16mm and want added power, consider adding lead tape.