5 Ultimate All-Court Pickleball Paddles, Based on Lab Data

The team at JustPaddles crunched some key metrics to find the sweet-spot in performance across all three zones of the court

All-court is all the rage right now.

The power phase was fun. But more and more, rec players are discovering that feel trumps firepower nine times out of 10. The game is just more fun when you're not blasting every shot 10 feet past the opposing baseline.

But what does all-court even mean, really? It's a fair question.

Performance ultimately comes down to individual player perception – I might think a paddle hits super hard, you mind find it more muted. Plush to me might feel somewhat stiff to you. You get the idea.

But when it comes to a paddle that performs universally across all three zones of the court, a few factors become undeniable.

Thankfully, the team at Kansas City-based JustPaddles built their in-house testing lab (aptly named Paddle Lab) to bring objective, measurable performance data into a space long dominated by opinion and conjecture.

We asked them to crunch the numbers across the 500+ paddles in their database, focusing on a few key metrics:

Swing weight indicates to players how heavy the paddle feels during actual play, with higher values signifying a paddle that requires more effort to swing but may deliver more power
Twist weight reveals how stable the paddle remains during off-center impacts, with higher twist weight values reflecting better resistance to twisting and, therefore, more forgiveness for less-than-perfect ball hits
Exit velocity is a more accurate representation of the paddle's true power potential based on rebound speeds off a ball shot from a cannon at 60 mph combined with a 25 mph swing speed

To find the ultimate all-court paddle, JustPaddles focused on below average swing weights, above average twist weights, and an exit velocity calibrated between 38 and 42 mph.

This is far from an exhaustive list, of course, but these five paddles represent the sweet-spot in performance for anyone looking for the best of all worlds.

Franklin Aurelius
Friday Aura
Honolulu J2CR
Selkirk Omni
Six Zero Coral Pro

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Be sure to use code THEDINK for a discount at checkout on all applicable paddles.

Features a "T700 carbon fiber peel ply texture applied at a 45-degree angle to deliver consistent grit, increased spin potential, and improved shot precision."

Translation: Gritty, light, balanced.

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According to Friday: "Expanded polypropylene foam core designed for durability, consistent power, and a larger sweet spot with responsive feel."

Translation: No flash or gimmicks, it just does everything really well.

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From Honolulu: "This high-grade carbon fiber surface is engineered for long-lasting grit and durability, allowing players to generate massive spin without the texture wearing down prematurely."

Translation: So gritty it could double as a cheese-grater.

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Use code THEDINK for a discount at checkout on all applicable paddles

From the Paddle Lab: "A perfect balance of control and power, featuring the same high spin rate as the Boomstik" — now with more customization thanks to moveable MOI weights.

Translation: The people's Boomstik.

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From Six Zero: The Double Diamond Tough™ Surface boasts "2X diamonds, 2.5X texture, and 8X durability for exceptional bite and long-lasting spin."

Translation: The last paddle you'll need or want for a very long time.

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More from the Paddle Lab:

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