It’s only natural. We’re influenced by the greats in a sport. That’s why you see massive shoe endorsement deals inked by the likes of Steph Curry, Zion Williamson, or James Harden. We want the same shoes they wear because we’ll be able to run faster or jump higher. Or so we dream.
Pickleball is really no different. We want to know which paddle our favorite pro plays with because if we purchase that same paddle, surely the power, touch, and finesse from that paddle will transfer to our own games. We hope that the pickleball paddle that our favorite pro uses will instantly transform us from a 3.5/4.0 player to a 5.0 player who is competing for prize money on the PPA or APP Tour.
So which paddle does your favorite pro pickleball player use? The following lists – while not exhaustive – do provide insight into the paddle preferences for several of the top men and women pros in our sport.
[Updated April 2022]
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Male Pickleball Pro Paddles
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- Andrews, Jonny Pickleball – Engage – ‘Elite Pro’ Maverick
- Bar, Dekel – Engage – ‘Elite Pro’ Maverick
- Cassidy, Rob – Engage [not sure of the model]
- Davis, Frank Anthony – Niupipo Explorer Pickleball Paddle
- Dawson, Callan – ProKennex Kinetic Pro Speed II
- Deakin, Steve – Head Gravity
- Devilliers, Jay – Vulcan V740 Max Jay Devilliers Signature Paddle
- Farias, Joey – Gearbox GX6 Power
- Golden, Scott – Monarch Golden Axe
- Hall, Jay – Players Pickleball Rogue2 Gel-Core “Gizmo Pickleball” Special Edition
- Hewett, Rafa – ProKennex
- Howard, DJ – Gamma Legend
- Johns, Ben – Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm
- Johns, Collin – Electrum
- Johnson, JW – CRBN (16mm)
- Kern, Aspen – Franklin Aspen Kern Centre Pickleball Paddle
- Koller, AJ – Electrum
- Loong, Tyler – Vulcan V730 Max Tyler Loong Signature Paddle
- McGuffin, Tyson – Selkirk Amped Invicta Tyson McGuffin Signature Paddle
- Merchant, Altaf – Onix Evoke Premier
- Navratil, Zane – Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pickleball Paddle
- Newman, Riley – Gamma Riley Newman 206 (Signature Paddle)
- Nunnery, Rob – Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pickleball Paddle
- Seckle, David – Head Gravity
- Smith, Pat – Electrum
- Smith, Spencer – Gamma Compass
- Stone, Adam – Paddletek [not sure of model]
- Warnick, Jeff – Gearbox GX5
- Weinbach, Dave – Paddletek Tempest Wave
- Wilson, Thomas – Electrum
- Willson, Will – Head Gravity
- Wright, Matt – Onix Evoke Premier
- Yates, Kyle – Paddletek Bantam EX-L
- Young, DJ – CRBN (16mm)
Female Pro Pickleball Paddles
- Ansboury, Sarah – Head Extreme Tour
- Bright, Anna – Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm
- Carr, Corrine – Vulcan V520 Control
- David, Vivienne – Niupipo Explorer Pickleball Paddle
- Dawson, Jennifer – ProKennex Ovation
- Esquivel, Michelle – CRBN (13mm)
- Franco, Regina – Head Radical Tour L
- Gehrke, Kasandra – Onix Evoke Premier
- Irvine, Jessie – Engage – ‘Elite Pro’ Maverick
- Jansen, Lea – Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pickleball Paddle
- Jardim, Simone – Prince Response Pro Simone Jardim Signature Paddle
- Kovalova, Lucy – Onix Evoke Premier
- McGrath, Christine – Franklin Christine McGrath Signature Pickleball Paddle
- Newman, Lindsey – Gamma Lindsey Newman Havoc (Signature Paddle)
- Parenteau, Catherine – Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro
- Smith, Callie – Onix Evoke Premier
- Stratman, Lauren – Electrum
- Tereschenko, Irina – Paddletek Bantam EX-L
- Waters, Anna Leigh – Paddletek Bantam TS-5
- Waters, Leigh – Paddletek Phoenix Genesis
There you have it! The men’s and women’s pro pickleball paddles. Which pickleball pro paddles do you like the best? Let us know in the comments below.
It is difficult to get an unbiased opinion on which paddles they think are the best as the are compensated to use the brand shown.
No question they are compensated for using the paddles. However, I would think the pros also methodically vet each paddle first as they, first and foremost, want to win matches.