Lightweight paddles are often misunderstood as control paddles, as they share similar functions. While a control paddle focuses on improving your accuracy with shot placements, a lightweight paddle goes beyond it to cure your tennis elbow and keeps your paddle manageable between difficult transitions. Differentiating them, I got you covered with 5 of the top-rated best lightweight pickleball paddles serving you best in your spin, swing, and overhead shots in as little of an effort as possible.
The basic function of a lightweight pickleball paddle is to provide maximum maneuverability, though. These are designed for injury-prone players who want the exact features as that of weighty paddles, plus for those struggling with paddle movements between the game.
While I’ve narrowed down the best-rated lightweight paddles on the market for you, the only task remaining is to help you decide which one goes the best for your interest and skills.
9.5/10 – Our Score
Specifications:
-
Paddle length:
15 5/8″ -
Paddle width:
7 3/4″
Champion spark is Pickle-Ball Inc. most lightweight pickleball paddle to date. Although it weighs only 6.7 inches; it doesn’t compromise any of its characteristics, whether it’s finesse, control, power, or even matching up the trends.
- Features elongated handles that enable reach, plus the manageability easily allows for changing between continental to western.
- Due to its easy handling and fair price point, it gained quick popularity among improvers.
- Has plenty of surface area and a swampy sweet spot to serve generously in block shots, dinks, and baseline volleys.
- Because of its polycarbonate surface, it helps to win drink rallies easily through the quick transition between pace and strategized shot.
- It remains USAPA approved, even though the reactiveness and speed is maximum.
Final words:
You can’t make a better purchase for a lightweight pickleball paddle other than Champion Spark. Control to power and spin, plus the excellent comfort level, makes it worth having your top consideration.
Paddletek Bantam TS-5 Pickleball Paddle
9.4/10 – Our Score
Specifications:
-
Paddle length:
15.75 inches -
Paddle width:
7.75 inches
If I had to take a lightweight paddle from Paddletek, my pick would be Paddletek Stratus only if it wasn’t discontinued! It could remain a disappointment until TS-5–a more vigorous and lightweight version just launched by Paddletek in 2019 in its Bantam series.
- It features technologies identical to its fellow Bantam models, i.e. textured fiberglass epoxy hybrid, Bantam Poly Core, just in a better shape and lighter weight.
- Both Stratus and TS-5 are 15.75” in length and 7.75” in width, so it kept the sweet spot, reach, and defensive specs the same.
- The handles are a bit longer with tackier thumb and finger placement in the similar circumference.
- Compared to the Stratus, TS-5 ate up the trends with magical growth in helping the players with tennis and pickleball elbow.
- Unlike gamma and Onix, the cushion grips here are tackier and wick away sweat the best.
- Besides being USAPA approved, the power and spin rollings are unmatchable with incredible maneuverability–just the reasons why Anna Leigh Waters couldn’t replace it for years.
Final words:
Paddletek Bantam TS-5 pro is a well-budgeted and quality choice considering an extra thick core with a highly responsive surface material along with the finest contour grips that you simply can’t go wrong with.
Amazin’ Aces Bainbridge
9.6/10 – Our Score
Specifications:
-
Paddle length:
16 inches -
Paddle width:
7 ¾
Amazin Aces previously was a wood paddle company that elevated its manufacturing in 2017, introducing Bainbridge in their lineup. In Bainbridge, they feature an aluminum honey core covered with a surface comprising a mix of graphite and fiber.
- The structure comes coated with aluminum walls that raise up the speed with an extra boost of 5mPh.
- The immense speed is balanced with the contact of fiber, while the graphite contributes to the accuracy.
- Besides elongated, they’re wider, with a surface width of 7.75 inches.
- Rimless design further frees up space for hitting and reduces edges that come between spin.
- The blend of graphite and fiber is wholesome. It gives touch and feel, plus the timings of slow-fast shots are amazing to manage your overall gaming speed.
Final words:
Along with lightweight, control, and comfort; if you want cost-effectiveness, then Amazin’ Aces Bainbridge is indeed the purchase you need to make. They won’t ditch you with their super lovely design and durability.
Rally Tyro 2 – SMALLEST GRIP SIZE
9.3/10 – Our Score
Specifications:
-
Paddle length:
15 3/4″ -
Paddle width:
7 7/8″
Rally Tyro 2 is an elder brother of Rally tyro pro–a more popular version. Tyro 2 basically is a lightweight model with sacrificed power. It basically has served aged players in a greater ratio than any other paddle, besides being a dominant paddle in para pickleball.
- Having a smaller grip size, they’re in high demand among young players. 43.7% of the elementary schools in the US have stocked these paddles due to its price plus the improvement factor.
- The surface is white and has visible threaded roughness that provides ultimate touch, feel, and control.
- Inside is the polymer honeycomb core–maintaining the accuracy and coming forward to rescue you for short-length shorts through its elongated handle.
Final words:
Rally Tyro 2 is a multipurpose best lightweight pickleball paddle that will benefit you in all your playing styles, whether in dink rallies or slow-paced quick games. It comes with quality construction and an aim to get you better in your strategies at a considerably least weight and price.
Prince Response Pro
9.5/10 – Our Score
Specifications:
-
Paddle length:
15 ¾ inches -
Paddle width:
8.25 inches -
Handle length:
5.25 inches
Prince Response Pro is the finest in class, having a remarkable history of Simone Jardim’ glorifying her career through US championship 2018 Opens mysterious win, getting Triple Crown along with 4 gold medals–all credits to the Prince Response Pro
- While the above paddles give you reach, Prince Response Pro is dedicated to giving you the largest sweet spot through its extra wide 8 ¼ wide surface and rounded shape.
- The paddle’s swinging ability is at its finest. It makes the ball drive like butter in the air, plus place it right on the spot where your eyes are.
- Besides the rounded and generous surface, it has 5’5” handles for max control over it.
- Through its textured UV-coated fiberglass surface, it increases the touch and feel, with the spin rollings smoothly.
- The two grip sizes eliminate the need for the extra hassle in over gripping.
Final words:
So overall, getting Prince Response Pro has technically zero cons in every aspect as they have the best sweet spot, a quality core, and a lovely built-in, so make your career as sparkling as Simone Jardim with the Prince Response Pro.
Things to Consider before making a purchase:
Idea Weight:
Since you are out in the search of the best “lightweight” pickleball paddle, you must know what range actually falls in the lightweight to avoid getting any disappointments.
To be exact, the ideal weight for the lightweight paddle is not less than 6 ounces and not over 8 ounces. Normally, you can easily find paddles falling under the mentioned range, but the point is to clarify the lightweight in comparison with the mid-one because you can most probably find the paddles having a range above 7.5 as the mid-range.
Here to mention, all the paddles reviewed above are between 6.5 to 7.8 being extremely lightweight and comfortable.
Grip size:
After the weight, the next thing to look closely at is the grip size. A wrong grip size won’t fit correctly in your hand. The paddle might slip from your hand or will be too short to hold firmly.
Grip size should be considered in accord with your hand size and height and thus a general formula of “bigger is better” does not apply here.
For a common understanding, here’s a guide that will help you identify the grip size for your hand.
- If you’re under 5’2, go for the 4” grip size.
- If you are between 5’3 to 5’8, the grip size is standard or 4 ¼
- Players above 5’8 should go for the large grip size, e.g. 4.5”.
Face and the Core:
The surface material also plays a vital role in the overall manufacture of pickleball, which affects your experience. Though graphite or carbon composite are highly suggested, as they provide a wide variance of shots to play with while cutting off the weight entirely.
In addition, if you want a spin effect, you can choose the surface to be textured or glossy for the best experience.
Whereas, polymer honeycomb is preferred for the core. They are thick and provide a lot of swing with zero sound and vibration.
However, it must be noted that various pickleball paddles brands have upgraded their core technology as Polypropylene, solid span, etc so for better than the best, consider choosing them on priority.
Price:
Price is an important factor and should not be neglected in the whole run. Though the quality of the paddles varies based on price factor yet the budget-friendly sunglasses are second to none if we are taking quality as a priority.
So, a good range is between $50 to $150 max, for having the best lightweight pickleball paddle.
FAQs:
Conclusion:
Lightweight pickleball paddles are a great choice for players to whom control is a major factor, yet they don’t want to sacrifice the power factor. However, in the above sections, I’ve picked 5 best pickleball paddles for their lightweight having comfortable grip mechanisms. The added pace and spin features blend nicely with the power factor that you literally won’t regret purchasing. Yet, to be precise; for significant features, high-quality manufacturing, and overall power and spin, the best lightweight pickleball paddle would definitely be Champion Spark Pickleball Paddle; for having the best control and the best quality.
Harry is a freak who often argues that O in his name may well stand for “Obsessed with Pickleball.”
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