6 Best Cheap Pickleball Paddles

As a sport rapidly growing in popularity, it’s only natural for you to want to dip your toes into pickleball to see if it’s for you. The issue is that this means buying a bunch of equipment which hurts your wallet.

But fear not! We understand your dilemma (I face this issue with many new sports I try), which is why today you’ll learn about the best cheap pickleball paddles.

Which pickleball paddle is right for you? This way you can dive into the sport without worrying about investing hundreds of dollars.

Where some guides advise the best pickleball paddles under $50, we are taking it a step further! Every paddle on this list costs no more than $35.

If you’re new to buying pickleball paddles, there’s a buying guide below the reviews.

Featured Products

• Niupipo Pickleball Paddle — Best Overall
• Pickleball Central Kanga Pickleball Paddle Bundle — Cheapest
• DG-Direct Pickleball Paddles — Best Extras

Why Should You Trust Us?

As ping pong and paddle sports experts, we’ve spent thousands of hours with paddles in our hands. Then hundreds more hours reviewing them.

The paddles below were judged on:

• Price
• Materials used
• Shape
• Weight
• Design

Read Next: The Best Pickleball Paddles for Beginners

Best Cheap Pickleball Paddles

Franklin Sports Jet Paddle

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Specifications

Face material: Aluminum

Core material: Aluminum

Shape: Wide-body

Paddle dimensions: 22” L x 7.75” W

Weight: 10.7-11oz

Pros

• Top pickleball brand
• USAPA approved
• Multiple color options
• 90-day warranty

Cons

• Not very fast
• Heavy

Our first budget choice for the best cheap pickleball paddle is the Jet paddle by Franklin Sports. As a big name in the pickleball industry, they are a great brand to go with when buying a paddle. This particular model uses a dual plated aluminum surface which is pretty rare.

While aluminum cores often cause paddles to be quite fast, this paddle is not particularly quick. Therefore it’s best suited to players that can generate sufficient power without relying on their racket. It’s also pretty heavy, so arm strength and endurance are pretty key here.

As for the overall look of the paddle, we are rather fond of it. It’s not overly flashy as some paddles are. It has a nice turquoise and grey design on the racket face, with a matching turquoise seam on the non-slip grip handle.  

Pickleball Central Kanga Pickleball Paddle Bundle — Cheapest

 

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Specifications

Face material: Wood

Core material: Wood

Shape: Wide-body

Paddle dimensions: 17.1” L x 9.7” W

Weight: 9.5-10.5oz

Pros

• Top pickleball brand
• Very cheap
• 100% satisfaction guaranteed
• 1-year warranty

Cons

• No edge guard
• Heavy

If you’re on a tight budget and need at least two rackets, the Kanga paddle bundle may be your best option. They are not the best performing, as they are made from white maple rather than something more resilient, yet they are the cheapest per paddle.

I think they are a superb option if you just want to test out if pickleball is for you. You’ll struggle to find a better option anywhere else. They are made by the top brand Pickleball Central, not some unknown company, so that you can buy confidently.

This is further ensured with their 100% satisfaction guarantee policy and 1-year warranty. I’m pretty shocked their warranty period is so long, given how cheap they are selling these paddles for—definitely one of the best inexpensive pickleball paddles, in my opinion.

Amazon’ Aces Classic Graphite Paddle

 

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Specifications

Face material: Graphite

Core material: Polypropylene

Shape: Wide-body

Paddle dimensions: 16.4” L x 8.7” W

Weight: 7.8-8.2oz

Pros

• Quality materials
• 1-year warranty

Cons

• One of the more expensive cheap options
• Not USAPA approved

As Amazin’ Aces is a newer brand in the Pickleball industry, they do not have the same credibility as companies such as Franklin Sports or Pickleball Central. However, they have consistently been putting out quality products and have become quite popular.

This rather plain-looking paddle might not look like much, but it is one of the cheapest paddles you can get, which uses quality materials. Its graphite face and polypropylene honeycomb core are significant steps over wooden paddles.

Graphite pickleball paddles have the face material the pros use because it’s lightweight yet fast. And polypropylene honeycomb cores are a new technology that is rather soft. This makes them quieter to use, which is great if you plan on playing pickleball in residential areas.

Of course, you’ll have to pay more for this paddle than the wooden models, but we feel it is worth the price jump as it is still inexpensive. Amazon’ Aces also offers a 1-year warranty period which is much appreciated. The main drawback to this paddle is that it is not USAPA-approved, but we don’t see this as much of an issue as we doubt you are planning to compete.

Win SPORTS Wooden Pickleball Paddle Set

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Specifications

Face material: Wood

Core material: Wood

Shape: Wide-body

Paddle dimensions: 15.5” L x 7” W

Weight: 9-10.6oz

Pros

• Very cheap
• Includes extras

Cons

• Not a reputable pickleball brand
• No edge guard
• Not USAPA approved
• Heavy

Next up, we have enough wooden paddle bundles. You, unfortunately, can’t buy the Win SPORTS wooden paddle as a single, which might put you off if you are after just one racket. However, this 2-set is remarkably cheap, costing less than the other non-wooden paddles on this list.

One of this set’s main drawbacks is the paddle’s wooden composition. They are rather heavy, typically weighing 10oz. This is too heavy for many players, even those that prefer heavier rackets.

That being said, the set also comes with four pickleballs, and a ball carry case, so it has that in its favor. Of course, the balls aren’t the best quality. But they mean you can get playing straight away if you don’t want to invest in some quality pickleball balls.

Niupipo Pickleball Paddle — Best Overall

 

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Specifications

Face material: Fiberglass

Core material: Polypropylene

Shape: Wide-body

Paddle dimensions: 15.1” L x 7.9” W

Weight: 7.7oz

Pros

• Quality materials
• Reputable pickleball brand
• Approved by USAPA
• Lifetime guarantee
• Very popular with buyers
• Racket face cover

Cons

• One of the more expensive cheap options

If you’re set on purchasing an affordable, high-quality pickleball paddle, this model by niupipo is tough to beat. Not only is the company proven in the industry and therefore reliable, but I’m struggling to find anything to critique about this racket. It uses the ever-popular graphite face paired with a honeycomb core and weighs just 7.7oz making it the lightest racket on this list.

It also has proven very popular with buyers on Amazon, leading it to be one of the best-selling rackets. It currently stands as the “Amazon Choice” product in the “pickleball paddles” search and averages 4.7 out of 5 stars.

If this wasn’t enough of a selling point, the racket is also USAPA approved, so you can compete with it if you want to, and niupipo offers a lifetime guarantee. This is crazy, given how cheap the paddle is. That’s why it’s the best pickleball paddle, in our opinion.

DG-Direct Pickleball Paddles — Best Extras

 

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Specifications

Face material: Graphite

Core material: Honeycomb composite

Shape: Wide-body

Paddle dimensions: 15.7” L x 7.9” W

Weight: 7.9oz

Pros

• Quality materials
• Includes multiple extras
• Cheapest paddle with graphite face and honeycomb core

Cons

• Not approved by USAPA
• Not a reputable pickleball brand

The best budget pickleball paddles which feature premium materials is this set by DG-Direct. They use a graphite face with a honeycomb composite core. As the specific materials in the core are not specified, it is difficult to ascertain if its feeling is hard or soft.

However, we can look past this given its advertising price tag and included extras. Besides the two paddles, you also get two indoor pickleballs, two outdoor pickleballs, two cooling towels, and a carry case. As such, it’s easy to argue for this bundle receiving the title of the best value pickleball paddles.

Read More: The Best Pickleball Paddle Sets

Conclusion

So there you have it, those are our favorite cheap pickleball paddles under $35. To recap, we feel the Niupipo pickleball paddle is the best overall due to its high-quality materials and unbeatable lifetime guarantee.

However, there are many other great options. The wooden Kanga pickleball paddle set is a great option if you don’t mind using a more basic paddle. They are the cheapest paddles on this list but still of decent quality and made by a top manufacturer in Pickleball Central.    

For more paddles, read our review of the Best Pickleball Paddles.

Buyer’s Guide

Price

This guide relates to the best affordable pickleball paddles. You are on a budget, so we will keep our recommended paddles to less than $35. However, you shouldn’t buy the cheapest paddle you see.

As pickleball is a rapidly growing sport, many new and unknown manufacturers are entering the space, so exercise caution. Stick to proven brands where possible, and study each paddle to see if it meets your needs.

Material

Due to the strict budget, you are pricing yourself out of the better paddles which use more expensive materials such as graphite. Most of the pickleball paddles for cheap are wooden. However, a select few use higher quality materials, so keep your eye out for those as they are the best value pickleball paddles.

Weight

Weight is a very important factor that you should not overlook. Pickleball paddles vary from around 4-14 ounces which is quite a substantial margin. Make sure you choose a weight that best fits your needs.

Heavy paddles offer increased speed, so you don’t have to put as much force into strokes. Light paddles have less force but are easier to control. Generally, heavier paddles are better for beginners, but this is just a general rule. You should decide.  

Read more: Pickleball gloves can help you better grip your paddle, and these pickleball gloves are worth looking at.

FAQs

Are More Expensive Pickleball Paddles Worth It?

Expensive paddles are certainly worth investing in, provided you pick a good model. While cheap pickleball paddles are made from wood, more expensive paddles use premium materials such as graphite.

Does Your Pickleball Paddle Matter?

If you plan on winning, then it certainly does! By picking a paddle that suits your style, you are more effectively able to play your game.

Are Lightweight Paddles Better Than Heavy Ones?

It depends on what kind of player you are as both have their benefits. Light paddles, for example, offer more control, are easier to maneuver, and aren’t as energy-sapping. This comes at the cost of power.

Heavy paddles, by comparison, offer greater power, but these are more taxing to use and lack precision.