The Foam Era Has Changed Pickleball—Here Are the Top 2 Pickleball Paddles Right Now
Pickleball paddle technology has shifted toward foam-core construction, which offers better durability and a larger sweet spot compared to traditional honeycomb cores. The article recommends specific paddles for different skill levels.
Why it matters
As pickleball continues to grow in popularity, understanding the technological evolution of equipment helps consumers make informed purchasing decisions.
On one hand, the flagship offerings from mainstream paddle brands have never been more alike. That's because most pickleball paddle makers have adopted foam cores that have a more uniform feel than the carbon fiber honeycomb cores. While there are holdouts who prefer the old open cores, and will always be, I think it's safe to proclaim the foam cores are superior technology and are here to stay. Paddle shapes are likewise growing more similar—when I first started testing pickleball paddles for WIRED in 2023, many brands still had a few oval offerings, which have gone the way of the buffalo. Elongated paddles are now preferred by almost everyone I play with.
The article is a consumer-focused product review and does not contain political or social bias.
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