The highest shock absorbent and effective lubricative properties made the graphite a top choice to get pickleball paddles in. Graphite pickleball paddles, indeed, made an enormous hit, providing the players with the best control, power, and finesse. Here again, various sizes, shapes, and playing styles come as a hurdle, so let’s get you through how to choose the best graphite pickleball paddles, considering all, i.e. medical, physical, and mental ins and outs of the game.
In a hurry? Here’s our top pick: Onix Z5 Graphite. That would be your top-notch purchase. It’s the most well-rounded and recognized paddle across the entire US. Niupipo Pro Graphite sits closely with it with a pinch of more power and spin. And finally, the Rally Graphite Power 5.0 comes as the power-house, making itself the overall best in the game.
What makes the best graphite pickleball paddle? Buyer’s guide.
Weight:
You must be familiar with the term “the more the weight, the more the power”. Though there are few changes to the concept because the manufacturers launched the graphite material and there the criteria were totally changed.
Normally, graphite paddles are the most lightweight but they’re the most powerful too, so don’t let the internet fool you.
Even if the paddles are graphite, the weight should not exceed 8.5 ounces. In rare cases, the condition is compromisable, and that’s when you’re opting for an oversized paddle.
Core:
Only the graphite material is not enough to make your paddle the best. The core plays an important part as well and thus it’s necessary to know and consider carefully what the manufacturer offers as the core.
To be exact, the best cores are made up of honeycomb structures with any of the three materials as Nomex, aluminum, or polymer.
Among them, the polymer is the top choice, being the thickest and most silent one having a decent power and swing feature.
Besides, the rest should not be considered as junky. They have quality features as well e.g. if you’re going for Nomex, you’ll have a lot of power and efficiency on the court, however, they’re a bit noisy.
While aluminum is a choice for the soundless and weightless core. But both the latter cores have been stopped manufacturing. Instead, new variations have been introduced. Several brands like Selkirk, Onix, etc. have their own proprietary core that is significantly better than the original polymer core.
Shape and dimensions:
Pickleballs are generally available in elongated, wider, or standard shapes. Each has different features and characteristics and the gameplay thus varies accordingly.
If you want more reach and response on the court, elongated is the one. It has the maximum power to offer with fewer efforts, but that decision should be based on your skill level too, because accuracy could be an issue if you are at your starting level.
If the sweet spot is your concern, then a standard paddle is your choice. It has the largest sweet spot due to its ideal length and width. The control is all here, plus the graphite surface is enough to add power to the ball.
It should be noted that the standard paddle is the one having an 8-inch wide width and 15 longer lengths.
Wider paddles are the ones having a width of over 8 inches. They’re equipped by the players who need more surface area to manage and play the shots smoothly without the mis-hit. Though they’re very rare, we’ve added a few with 8.25 width, which is the max you can get.
Grips:
No matter if your paddles have an ideal shape, quality graphite, and an admirable core; if the grips are uncomfortable, the paddles are of no use.
The grips to be ideal must be of the same size as your hand. That being said, for shorter ones, the small grips, i.e. 4 ¼ are suitable while the taller ones are suggested to look for 4.5 inches.
Price Factor:
Price comes as the most sensitive factor since graphite, being the top-selling paddle, is one of the most expensive paddles in the market. A good quality graphite paddle goes from 100 to 200 dollars. While it’s not surprising if the best graphite pickleball paddle is $200+, it deserves it.
However, with a lot of research, we’ve added some under $100 paddles that go right by your budget, and also you don’t have to compromise on the quality too.
RATING | PRODUCT | IMAGE |
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Onix Z5 Graphite
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Niupipo Pro Graphite
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Rally Graphite Power 5.0
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Paddletek Tempest Reign Pro
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Gonex Pickleball Paddle
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SLK Latitude
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Gamma Neutron 2.0
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Champion Eclipse
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Wolfe XL
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Farcunaly Graphite
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Onix Z5 Graphite – Best Selling Pickleball Paddle Since 2020
The Onix Z5 comes in two versions, i.e., graphite and composite. Keeping the composite aside, the graphite version is the biggest innovation in the world of pickleball paddles. Its wide body shape and lighter weight always keep this in trend and rule the courts–especially the model in blue color.
Besides the 8.3” wider body, it’s elongated as well, having an extra 0.5 inches to the typical length. As a result, we experienced the following benefits:
- The larger handle and surface provide excellent reach towards the nets and speedy response for not missing the ball.
- Wider surfaces provided us additional space on paddles for adding variety and style to our game while also contributing to the control factor.
- The size of the sweet spot resultantly increases, which allows better maneuvering of spins and soft feel on the paddles alike.
- Out of 15.5 total length, 5” took the handles, making the paddle mimicking a tennis racket, to add up the control and for better movement.
The Nomex core enables extreme power and pace, along with the highest accuracy. The core with the ideal dimensions produces a perfect blend of power and control altogether. It’s a mid-weight paddle though, weighing only 7.5 oz, that we additionally noted furnishing the finesse of the paddle.
- Large sweet spot
- Control-oriented
- Durable
- Features weight ranges
- Stylish design
- Can be a bit noisy
Niupipo Pro Graphite – Well-Blended With Power And Control
Niupipo Pro Graphite is a heavier and more affordable version of the Onix Z5, tilted towards the power compartments without compromising on the control. Its traditional shape did injustice to this paddle, otherwise, it could’ve ranked as the unbeatable best graphite pickleball paddle.
However, this paddle, in the typical size, still performs miracles on the court. The polymer core gives them an edge over Z5, which not only makes them green community approved but also improves accuracy up to 40%, compared to the Nomex cores when we tested it in the courts.
While the graphite absorbs the traction and vibration, the polymer core helps it send them to the ball, to make it unplayable by your opponents, and thus we could also gain a medical advantage in here. The paddles are covered with a ¼” overlapping paddle surface for an increased durability period and adequate distribution of the weight. Though it’s placed decently, even if we hit the ball with the edge, our ball lands beyond the NVZ.
Niupipo is basically for extended hours of play, especially if you prefer doubles. Its handles are one of the tackiest ones we came across and provide excellent power and control, besides easy handling and switching the grip types.
- Comfortable ergonomic design
- Stress-resistant
- Budget-friendly
- Excellent comfort level
- Not suitable for smaller hands
Rally Graphite Power 5.0 – The Powerhouse of Spin and Pace
The USAPA approval of Rally Graphite Power 5.0 took our attention, as the power was really immense when we played with them during a test. It’s a multi-purpose paddle that’s basically designed to give a phenomenal touch to spins, lobs, and high-power volleys.
Compared to both of the paddles above, it showcases a thicker core with a measurement of 9/16. It increases the bounce and touch of the paddle through a larger sweet spot, while the added cells naturally take up the weight to 7.8 oz, which we think is satisfactory in a high-power graphite paddle.
Well, the pace, bounce, and swing are really ground-breaking here. Its graphite also has a mix of fiber in the inside that boosts up the speed to send our lobs and volleys a little higher than usual.
The extra weight of the paddle additionally increases the power. Plus, we noticed the vibration and jostling being absolutely zero in the paddle, which contributes to the pain-free and strain-free gameplay, full of ignited back-to-back shots. So far, Rally Graphite Power 5.0 is the only paddle 3.5 to 5.0 players love for power boosts along with health benefits.
It also features a slender edge guard–an extremely lightweight shield around the surface of the paddle, that protects the surface material from wearing out or getting any scratches.
- Extra pop effect
- Expended sweet spot
- Tacky grips
- Solid and thick corel
- Amazing design and comfortability
- Not so durable
Paddletek Tempest Reign Pro – Longest Graphite Paddle
Paddletek Tempest Reign Pro is the only paddle in the list with the longest height measuring 16 1/2″. It’s still a mystery to us whether the paddle gives supernormal playability to Catherine Parenteau, or the paddle has spirited some of her skills within!
Technologically, the paddle has Paddletek Smart Response Technology and Tempest SRT Core. Well, it’s one of those control paddles in the Paddletek lineup that the brand uses graphite surface on, instead of their proprietary Velvet texture.
It’s best for the players looking for the extra reach within a good sweet spot to never miss any incoming irregularly placed shots. Dual group options and XL-sized handles further make them tractable to win each of your bets.
- Incredibly comfy grips
- Highly responsive core
- Excellent length for baseline and NVZ volleys
- Robust core technology
- Slightly expensive
Gonex Pickleball Paddle – Ideal Paddle For Beginners
Gonex is an emerging pickleball brand that started making pickleball gears in 2019. It targeted the local players getting a hang of pickleball by making the loftiest control paddle, with a great build. Besides, the players rated and loved the paddle’s sparkling graphics, as we talked to a few in our neighborhood.
The inside is as phenomenal as the outside. The vibration dampening polypropylene core provides a perfect combo of power and control, besides helping injuries-prone players, and that’s exactly what we think made the paddles ideal for all ages.
The way the graphite surface reacts to the slice shots and handling up the pace is where it becomes the best from the average. It beautifully gets those high-length groundstrokes that we play near the bounds and deals with the balance in between.
The edges of the paddle are covered with a low-profile edge guard that protects the paddle during ground hits. The 7.9 oz weight adds them to continue in the lineup for perfectly blended paddles of power and control.
- Ultra-cushion grip
- Balanced power and control
- Durable
- Budget-friendly
- Slightly expensive
SLK Latitude – Most Lightweight Graphite Paddle
SLK Latitude is an entry level paddle that comes packed with polymer Rev-core on the inside. Besides being the lightest, it’s an oversized paddle that gives advantages of both worlds.
Though we were aware of the description, but the feathery feel on the hand is what made us scream. The 6.9 oz. makes the paddle incredibly maneuverable–even our kids can handle this paddle quite well. Its backhand double-handed shots are the smoothest! The paddle swings nicely paired with a graphite lubricated surface–producing an additional power when our ball contacts the paddle, with splendid acceleration.
Its 8.25 inches blocks shots coming from all the directions of the court, and thus helps in better handling of the spin shots. Not just that, the elongated handles and surface further makes us return the shot even easier and more powerful.
- Highly responsive and reactive
- Cost-effective
- Elongated handles
- High tech core
- Large sweet spot
- The grips are short
Gamma Neutron 2.0 – Best Technologies At A Budget
Gamma Neutron 2.0 is the upgraded version of Gamma Neutron with a textured surface. We’re truly a fan of its tacky grips to add bites and grab to the ball with a firm gripping mechanism.
Internally, the construction is composed of an aramid honeycomb core which we figured out to balance the control and power and produce the elastic effect and swing and limited deflection. Combined with textured graphite makes the surface tacky for adding variations as well as spin shots.
At 7.0 oz, the paddles are extremely lightweight and provide incredible maneuverability. An additional benefit we came across is the zero amount of arm fatigue and strain due to its cushion grips that also absorb the moistures so you can unhesitantly equip them if you are going for elongated gameplay.
Above all, the paddles have an ideal shape being composed of slightly longer length for more reach towards the net, while the width is incredibly wider we measure at 8 ⅛ and offers enough space on the surface for an effective retrieve and speedy delivery.
On the downside, we found them to be a bit noisy, especially when you’re harsh and aggressive. Not that crunchy, though. And sometimes it’s nicer to our ear too. However, the aged players are more into quiet paddles, so it’s a pro and con at once.
- Sweat absorbent grip
- Allows for spin
- Lightweight
- Control-oriented
- Could be a bit noisy
Pickleball Inc. Champion Eclipse – Best Durability
Pickleball Inc. Champion Eclipse was manufactured in 2019, just 3 months before the Graphite X. It’s the basic paddle with the highest durability that goes beyond providing an excellent control mechanism to beginners to meeting the power needs of intermediate and experts alike.
The power of champion eclipse is backed by velvet-textured faces, though they’re naturally built with the graphite–providing smoother serves and returns of shots with optimum playability and control; also we added a mix of different spin and speedy shots via its rough surface and it held them perfectly, though, we were not expecting much responsiveness and smooth ball holding.
The polymer honeycomb core makes them approved by green communities and USAPA simultaneously. Its quick swinging abilities compete with our Amped S2’ classical swings and slice shots, at a relatively lesser price point.
Also, the paddles have longer handles plus they’re lightweight, and range somewhere between 7.3 to 7.5 inches. We weighted ours paddle, and it was 7.36 oz. In addition, they’re really comfortable on hands if you’re concerned about fatigue issues and arm strain.
- Spin-friendly
- Zero strain and arm fatigue
- Longer-playability
- Control-oriented
- Performance-oriented
- Small grips
Wolfe XL – Largest Sweet Spot
The Wolfe XL is an upgraded version of X3 with a more stretched hitting area. It’s no exception in the vast world of pickleball paddles, providing a great mix of finesse and pace.
The paddles are extremely strong and robust, just like the wolf on the full moon. Well, exaggeration aside, the paddles have a high-end polypropylene honeycomb core that produces an amazing power without dismissing the accuracy. If you constantly suffer from NVZ errors, this might be just a right choice for you.
The core is combined with a “textured” graphite surface that provides a great bite to the ball whether you play dinks, lob, overheads, or spins. Its shot placement is unique, though. Per our research, 9 out of 10 players who’ve played with this paddle reported having better control on their foot and kitchen faults.
Wolfe XL generates power and acceleration through its 8.0 oz. besides keeping it USAPA approved.
- Excellent gripping mechanism
- Decent built
- Highly responsive
- Wider surface
- A bit weighty
Farcunaly Graphite – Most Consistent Pickleball Paddle
If consistency is where your interest lies, then we guess no other paddle can better escort you than the Farcunaly graphite.
There’s a polymer honeycomb core that will answer all your playability questions. The speed is multiplied by the average, thanks to the high-grade graphite used here. Paired with the excellent swing, all credit to the lightweight and slicker core. What took our attention was the handle-surface construction. Its handles are longer and the joint point has a thicker taping–making the paddle more connected to your strategies through your thumb. The swing is cool, and the touch is super amazing. Plus, the honeycomb cells are closely packed, giving a condensed structure that increases the quality of the shots hit by it.
The manufacturers offer an exchange and return guarantee, and that’s what we love most about them. We ordered three paddles from them 2 months before, and after a month we found one of them defective. Their customer care was quick and replaced the paddles within 2 days–so far, such friendly manufacturers rarely exist.
- Incredible graphics
- Sweat absorbent
- Comfy grips
- Highly responsive
- Durable
- Limited color range
Advantages of Graphite Paddles:
Lightweight:
The biggest perk you’ll get with the graphite paddle is the lesser weight. They’re by far the most lightweight and feathery in comparison, with several other high-end paddles such as carbon fiber, vinyl, etc. You can feel connected via the lightweight and touch when playing.
Ideal Surface:
Graphite paddles are ideal for all skill levels just because of their surface. Graphite naturally is very glossy and has a slippery touch, that allows for smoother gameplay and yes, they’re very easy to maneuver. Plus point, if you need that extra power and spin effect, go for the “textured” graphite. They have a rough surface that adds grab and bite to the ball and overall work is amazing.
Durability:
Graphite paddles are the most durable ones as well. Pickleball paddles have a standard durability period of 1 to 1.5 years or even less. However, a quality graphite paddle like any of the above has excellent durability and can even last for over 1.5 years due to the resilience of graphite matter.
Rigidness and Response:
If you want a highly responsive paddle, then graphite will do the job perfectly. The material is extremely rigid and will enable you to be in a better position to have maximum control and accuracy without losing the pace and shots.
Zero Injuries and Arm Strain:
Graphite paddles, being lightweight and handy, are least prone to give the players any injuries or arm pain. This is also due to them being the best conductor of absorbing shock. Besides, using a wooden paddle for a little time can cause unwanted strains and also adversely affect your passion for playing the game. Hence, this is a small yet thriving benefit that a pure graphite paddle could give you.
FAQs:
Conclusion:
Graphite pickleball paddles are by far the best choice for a splendid power play without losing control. Considering the guide, we’ve listed the fine quality graphite pickleball paddle with detailed reviews and specifications.
Alongside, there’s a FAQs portion too for your queries, and we hope that is enough for you to get the best graphite pickleball paddle.
Although all the paddles reviewed above are up to the mark, yet again, we’ve mentioned our top picks, so you don’t need to scroll up all the way again.
- Onix Z5 Graphite
- Niupipo Pro Graphite
- Rally Graphite Power 5.0
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