Pickleball Paddles the Top Pros Use in 2026
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In the world of professional pickleball, the choice of equipment is paramount, especially when it comes to paddles. Many of the top athletes in the sport are not just users but collaborators in the design of their paddles. From spin and power to touch and feel, the best pro pickleball paddles are born from a blend of high-tech engineering and pro insights.
With that being said, we want to know which paddle our favorite pro plays with because if we purchase that same one, surely the power, touch, and finesse from it will transfer to our games. We hope the 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!
2026 Continues to Bring Change to the Pro Paddle Space
2026 has brought many changes to the paddle landscape. Professional players are signing new sponsorship deals while new paddle brands are coming on the market. Some large announcements for 2026 are Anna Leigh Waters leaving long-time partner Paddletek for Franklin, and Gabe Tardio leaving PIKKL for the new brand Facolos.
Players once very loyal to particular brands moved on in 2026. Matt Wright had been with Onix for years. Not anymore. He’s moved onto Warping Point. In addition to loyalty moves, CRBN lost 2 top professionals on their team due to retirement. Thomas Wilson and Vivian David both retired, leaving CRBN.
What Pickleball Paddles Do the Pros Use?
So which paddle does your favorite pro pickleball player use? The following lists – while not exhaustive – do provide insight into the preferences for several of the top men and women pros in our sport in 2026.
Selkirk
Selkirk, a made-in-the-USA pickleball manufacturer, has had many players wield their paddles over the years. Selkirk is a top brand offering paddles with cutting-edge technology, enlarged sweet spots, and optimal performance technology for control and power. Professionals playing with Selkirk include:
Joola
Back in 2022, the Pickleball G.O.A.T., Ben Johns, switched from Franklin to Joola. As a result, many other pros followed suit and jumped on the Joola bandwagon. Joola continues to lead the way in the pro pickleball space. Boasting Carbon Charged surface technology, their paddles are well-balanced to offer control and deliver pop and power. To make it a more durable paddle, it is enhanced with a Carbon Friction textured surface. Pros who play with Joola include:
Franklin
With the departure of Ben Johns in 2022, the Johnsons’ became the face of Franklin Sports in 2025. In 2026, the #1 Women’s player joined their team. Sponsored pros include:
Adidas
Adidas gained some pro players in 2025. Sponsored pro includes:
PIKKL
PIKKL came on the scene in late 2024. They are beginning to become a more popular brand. Sponsored pro includes:
The Evolution of Pro Paddles
Over the past few years, we have seen a shift in the pro paddle landscape.
In 2025, new testing standards were unveiled, which caused some of the professionals to mix up their paddle preference. A couple of large announcements in 2025 were Federico Staksrud left Joola for Adidas (which was short-lived). Also, Paris Todd moved to Franklin. In addition, PIKKL came on the scene with pros Gabe Tardio and Hurricane Tyra Black.
In 2023 and 2024, several pickleball professionals who used a particular paddle for a few years switched to new brands. For example, Tyson McGuffin switched from Selkirk to Joola, Riley Newman switched from Takea to ProXR, and Christian Alshon switched from Diadem to Paddletek.
Back in 2022, the Pickleball G.O.A.T., Ben Johns, switched from Franklin to Joola. As a result, many other pros followed suit and jumped on the Joola bandwagon. Who can blame them? When you have the top player who also happens to have an engineering degree giving insight into paddle design, it’s bound to be good.
What Will the Future Hold?
There you have it! The men’s and women’s pickleball pro paddles.
What will the future of professional pickleball paddles hold? Only time will tell, but the sport is quickly evolving where precision and power balance on the edge of innovation. As technology continues to advance and player feedback becomes more insightful, pro paddles are set to pass current expectations, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the court.
When shopping for paddles, we recommend purchasing from Pickleball Central (Discount will be applied at time of purchase! (some exclusions apply)). They have been in the industry for many years. They give you time to test drive your paddle and offer free shipping over a certain dollar amount.
Which 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.