14 mm vs 16 mm pickleball paddles
16 mm is the better default for most players: thicker cores feel softer and steadier, and brands recommend them for newer players (Onix, Paddletek). 14 mm is the traditional choice for more pop, but Pickleball Effect's 2026 analysis finds modern 16 mm paddles have lost little of it, leaving little reason for most players to choose 14 mm (Pickleball Effect).
Of the 957 paddles in the catalogue, 539 have a published core of 15 mm or more and 357 of 14.5 mm or less.
16 mm, ranked for control
530 of the 957 paddles fit; here are the top 10, one row per product page. Try these answers in the finder →
| # | Photo | Paddle | Shape | Core | Weight | Swingweight | Twistweight | Handle | Price | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Selkirk · ElongatedSelkirk OMNI Pickleball PaddleA quick, low-to-medium swingweight | Elongatedbrand | 16 mm | 7.9–8.2 oz | 118medium | 6.9very high | 5.8 in | US$300 | USAP | |
| 2 | Selkirk · WidebodySLK ERA PowerA quick, low-to-medium swingweight | Widebodybrand | 16 mm | 8–8.3 oz | 109medium | 7.3high | 5.6 in | US$200 | USAP | |
| 3 | Selkirk · ElongatedSelkirk LABS Project Boomstik®A quick, low-to-medium swingweight | Elongatedbrand | 16 mm | 8–8.3 oz | 118medium | 7.2very high | 5.8 in | US$333 | USAP | |
| 4 | Selkirk · WidebodySLK DauntlessA quick, low-to-medium swingweight | Widebodybrand | 16 mm | 7.7–8.1 oz | 109medium | 7.4high | 5.6 in | US$150 | USAP | |
| 5 | SelkirkSelkirk x Parkinson's Foundation AMPED Pro Air - Invikta - Pickleball PaddleA quick, low-to-medium swingweight | Elongatedbrand | 16 mm | not published | 119medium | 5.91medium | 5.25 in | US$100 | USAP | |
| 6 | SelkirkSelkirk x Holderness Family AMPED Pro Air - Invikta - Pickleball PaddleA quick, low-to-medium swingweight | Elongatedbrand | 16 mm | not published | 119medium | 5.91medium | 5.25 in | US$100 | USAP | |
| 7 | SelkirkSelkirk x Holderness Family AMPED Pro Air - Epic - Pickleball PaddleA quick, low-to-medium swingweight | Elongatedbrand | 16 mm | not published | 111low | 6.57high | 5.25 in | US$100 | USAP | |
| 8 | SelkirkSelkirk AMPED Control - Invikta - Pickleball PaddleA quick, low-to-medium swingweight | Elongatedbrand | 16 mm | not published | 114low | 5.79low | 5.25 in | US$100 | USAP | |
| 9 | SelkirkSelkirk AMPED Pro Air - Invikta - Pickleball PaddleA quick, low-to-medium swingweight | Elongatedbrand | 16 mm | not published | 119medium | 5.91medium | 5.25 in | US$100 | USAP | |
| 10 | SelkirkSelkirk AMPED Pro Air - Epic - Pickleball PaddleA quick, low-to-medium swingweight | Elongatedbrand | 16 mm | not published | 111low | 6.57high | 5.25 in | US$100 | USAP |
14 mm, ranked for power
349 of the 957 paddles fit; here are the top 10, one row per product page. Try these answers in the finder →
| # | Photo | Paddle | Shape | Core | Weight | Swingweight | Twistweight | Handle | Price | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RonbusRipple V2 R5.14A high swingweight for drives | Widebodybrand | 14 mm | 8 oz | 112high | 6.11low | 5.5 in | US$140 | USAP | |
| 2 | RonbusRipple V2 R4.14A high swingweight for drives | Hybridbrand | 14 mm | 8 oz | 117high | 5.87low | 5.5 in | US$140 | USAP | |
| 3 | RonbusRipple V2 R1.14A high swingweight for drives | Elongatedbrand | 14 mm | 8.2 oz | 124high | 5.89low | 5.5 in | US$140 | USAP | |
| 4 | RonbusBeta Ripple.R2.14A high swingweight for drives | Widebodybrand | 14 mm | 8.1 oz | 113high | 6.19low | 5.5 in | US$69.99 | Unconfirmed | |
| 5 | VolairSHIFT EL Pickleball Paddle 14mm – Spider-ManA high swingweight for drives | Elongatedbrand | 14 mm | 8.2 oz | 120high | 6.31high | 5.6 in | US$89.99 | USAP | |
| 6 | VolairSHIFT EL Pickleball Paddle 14mmA high swingweight for drives | Elongatedbrand | 14 mm | 8.2 oz | 120high | 6.31high | 5.6 in | US$99.99 | USAP | |
| 7 | CRBNCRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage (Hybrid, AeroCurve)A high swingweight for drives | Hybridbrand | 14 mm | 7.9 oz | 117–119high | 5.88low | 5.75 in | US$229.99 | Unconfirmed | |
| 8 | AireoTitan Hawk-L14 Gen 3 Titanium Pickleball Paddle for ProsA high swingweight for drives | Elongatedbrand | 14 mm | 7.9 oz | 121high | 6.11medium | 5.7 in | US$219 | USAP | |
| 9 | AireoHarpy Eagle-L13A high swingweight for drives | Elongatedbrand | 13 mm | 7.9 oz | 122high | 5.9low | 5.38 in | US$103.20 | USAP | |
| 10 | PaddletekBantam TKO-CXA high swingweight for drives | Elongatedbrand | 12.7 mm | 7.7–8.1 oz | 119–126high | 6.6–7.2very high | 5.75 in | US$199.99 | USAP |
How we ranked this
The finder's core question hides paddles thicker than 14.5 mm for “14 mm” and thinner than 15 mm for “16 mm”. The 16 mm table uses the finder's control scoring (a low-to-medium swingweight for the shape), the 14 mm table its power scoring (a high swingweight), the way most players pair them. Only paddles with a published core thickness are listed.
Every figure is the brand's own published spec; “not published” means the brand doesn't give it, and we never fill it in. Swingweight and twistweight bands are judged against the paddle's shape, using Pickleball.com's bands (Pickleball.com). The full scoring is on How we rank.
Sources
- Pickleball Effect: 14 mm vs 16 mm pickleball paddles in 2026
- Onix: 14 mm vs 16 mm pickleball paddles
- Paddletek: paddle buyer's guide
- Pickleball.com: swing weight and twist weight by paddle shape
More guides
- Best pickleball paddles for tennis elbow and arm comfortThe paddles gentlest on the arm, ranked by published specs: high twistweight, widebody, moderate swingweight, midweight.
- Best pickleball paddles for beginnersWhat a first paddle should have, by the published guidance, and the paddles that fit it best: 16 mm core, midweight, forgiving shape.
- Best pickleball paddles for a two-handed backhandHow long a handle a two-handed backhand needs, and the paddles with room for both hands, from brands' published handle lengths.
- Widebody vs elongated vs hybrid pickleball paddlesHow paddle shape changes forgiveness, reach and comfort, and the top paddles of each shape by published specs.