Beginner vs. Intermediate Pickleball Paddles: Which One Do You Need?
Maybe your neighbor dragged you onto the court last weekend. Maybe you watched a few YouTube videos and now you're fully convinced this is your sport. Either way, you're shopping for a pickleball paddle and you've realized there are about a thousand options and zero obvious answers.
Here's the good news: it's simpler than it looks. Most players need one of two things: a beginner fiberglass paddle or an intermediate carbon fiber paddle. Let's break down the difference so you can stop researching and start playing.
What makes a paddle "beginner" vs. "intermediate"?
It mostly comes down to the face material and how forgiving the paddle is on off-center hits.
- A beginner paddle typically has a fiberglass face. Fiberglass is softer, lighter, and more flexible, which means it absorbs some of the impact when you don't hit the sweet spot perfectly. And when you're just starting out, you're not hitting the sweet spot perfectly. That's the whole point of being a beginner. A forgiving paddle makes the learning curve a lot less frustrating.
- An intermediate or recreation paddle usually has a carbon fiber face. Carbon fiber is stiffer, which gives you more control over spin and placement. It rewards players who have developed a bit of technique. The tradeoff is that it's slightly less forgiving if your form is still a work in progress. It's also more durable so it will last you longer.
What about weight?
Both beginner and intermediate paddles tend to fall in the midweight range, around 7.5 to 8.5 oz. This is the sweet spot for most players because it's light enough to react quickly at the net but heavy enough to put some power behind your drives.
The Nettie Starter Paddle comes in at 7.8 to 8.0 oz. The Recreation Paddle is right around 8.0 oz. Neither will wear out your arm during a long game.
Does price actually matter?
Sometimes, but not as much as you'd think at this stage. The jump from a $40 beginner paddle to a $60 recreation paddle really has to do with durability and quality of materials. The jump from $60 to $200 is mostly about brand name and marginal performance gains that most recreational players will never notice.
So which one should you get?
- Get the beginner paddle if you have never played pickleball before, you are buying it as a gift for someone who hasn't played, or you just want something fun and low-commitment to take to open play.
- Get the intermediate paddle if you have played a handful of times and want to improve, you play regularly or plan to, or you want something that will grow with your game over the next year or two.
Both the Nettie Starter Paddle ($39.99) and Recreation Paddle ($59.99) are USA Pickleball Approved, which means they're legal for recreational and tournament play. Both are built to last. The biggest difference is really just where you are in your pickleball journey.
Either way, you're going to have a good time. See you on the court.