As a leading manufacturer of top-tier pickleball paddles, we know that choosing the right equipment can make all the difference in your game. Whether you’re a beginner just stepping onto the court or a seasoned player looking to upgrade, the right paddle can improve your performance, comfort, and overall experience.

We’ve seen firsthand how the right paddle can elevate your play. That’s why we focus on crafting paddles with cutting-edge materials and innovative designs that deliver power, control, and durability. From lightweight designs for quick reactions to power-packed paddles for stronger hits, we understand the needs of every player.

In this guide, we’ll explore the top 10 pickleball brands in 2025, taking a closer look at what sets them apart and which features make them the best choice for your pickleball journey.

Best Pickleball Brands

From My Experience: What to Look for in Pickleball Equipment

Before diving into specific brands, let me share some quick insights I’ve gained from my pickleball journey. These factors have proven crucial when selecting equipment that enhances rather than hinders your game:

  • Paddle Weight and Balance: Lighter paddles (7-8oz) offer better maneuverability for quick reactions at the kitchen line, while heavier paddles (8-9oz) provide more power for drives and serves. The weight distribution (grip-heavy vs. head-heavy) affects your swing control.
  • Paddle Core Material: The interior core affects power and control – polymer cores offer excellent control and soft touch for dinking, while nomex cores provide more pop for power players.
  • Paddle Face Material: Graphite faces deliver excellent touch and finesse, while composite/fiberglass faces generally offer more power and durability, often at a lower price point.
  • Grip Size and Quality: An often overlooked feature, grip size affects wrist action and comfort. The standard circumference is 4¼”, but sizes range from 4″ to 4½”. Comfortable, sweat-absorbent grip material prevents slipping during intense play.
  • Ball Type and Performance: Indoor balls differ from outdoor balls in weight, hole pattern, and durability. Outdoor balls are typically heavier and more durable to withstand wind and rough court surfaces.
  • Brand Reputation and Warranty: Established brands often offer better customer service and warranties, which matter when investing in premium equipment.
  • Your Playing Style: Defensive players might prefer control-oriented equipment, while aggressive players may benefit from power-focused gear.

Now, let’s explore the brands that have consistently impressed pickleball enthusiasts worldwide, including myself!

Best 10 Pickleball Brands

1. Selkirk Sport

  • Founded: 2014
  • Founders: Mike Barnes, Rob Barnes, and Jim Barnes
  • Location: Hayden, Idaho, near the Selkirk Mountains
  • Business: Premium pickleball paddles and equipment, made in the USA
  • Company Ethos: Family-owned, innovation-driven, community-focused
  • Growth: From 10 employees to over 100; leader in paddle technology and sponsorships
  • Website: selkirk.com

Selkirk Sport was founded in 2014 by brothers Mike and Rob Barnes, along with their father, Jim Barnes. The company was established in Hayden, Idaho, near the Selkirk Mountains, from which it takes its name.

The company’s background is rooted in a family-owned business philosophy. The founders began their entrepreneurial journey as teenagers, running a sporting goods business that focused on airsoft parts and tactical gear. In 2010, after discovering pickleball, they saw an opportunity to innovate in a sport that was largely served by small family-run businesses offering wooden paddles.

Selkirk Sport’s mission is to redefine the way the world views pickleball by pushing the boundaries of paddle innovation and technology. They were pioneers in integrating advanced materials such as fiberglass and graphite into paddles, and were the first to offer a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects. The company emphasizes uncompromising quality, USA-made manufacturing, and strong community support. Over the years, Selkirk has grown from a small startup with 10 employees to an industry leader with over 100 team members and sponsorships with more than 100 professional athletes.

2. Paddletek

  • Founded: 2010
  • Founders: Family business (notably Cody Smith involved)
  • Location: Niles, Michigan, USA
  • Key Innovation: First polymer honeycomb core paddle
  • Mission: Improve paddle technology and player performance
  • Product Features: Made in USA, lifetime warranty, advanced tech (Smart Response, vibration control)
  • Industry Position: Leading brand, technology in 80%+ of premium paddles
  • Website: paddletek.com

Paddletek was founded in 2010 in Niles, Michigan, as a small family business with a passion for pickleball and a vision to improve paddle technology. The company introduced the first polymer honeycomb core paddle, which was designed to last longer and enhance the playing experience, marking a significant innovation in the sport.

Since its founding, Paddletek has become one of the leading names in pickleball, known for revolutionary innovations such as Smart Response Technology and vibration control. These innovations are aimed at fine-tuning paddles for every style of play and athlete. Paddletek remains family-owned and emphasizes superior quality, performance, and craftsmanship, with all paddles made in the USA and backed by a limited lifetime warranty and a 5-year deadspot guarantee.

Paddletek’s mission is to help players reach the next level of play by continuously advancing paddle technology and supporting the pickleball community through sponsorships and innovation. The company has become a major player in the industry, with its technology found in over 80% of premium paddles sold and a strong presence at professional tournaments worldwide.

3. Engage Pickleball

  • Founded: 2015
  • Founders: Robert, Jodi, Joshua, and Rachel Elliott
  • Location: Oxford, Florida, USA
  • Origin Story: Started as a family garage startup; developed the Encore paddle to improve gameplay
  • Company Focus: Innovation, quality, applied physics in paddle design, community engagement
  • Manufacturing: Made in the USA, no outsourcing
  • Additional Activities: Runs pickleball camps and clinics globally
  • Employees: Over 70
  • Website: engagepickleball.com

Engage Pickleball was founded in 2015 by the Elliott family—Robert, Jodi, Joshua, and Rachel. The company began as a family startup in a garage and has since grown into one of the largest pickleball companies globally, with over 70 employees and nearly 20,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space in Florida.

The origins of Engage Pickleball trace back to Robert and Jodi Elliott’s introduction to the sport in 2013, after which they identified a need for better equipment. Jodi asked Robert to create a paddle designed to improve her game, leading to the development of the Encore paddle. This paddle quickly became popular among top professionals and helped establish the company’s reputation. Engage Pickleball is family-owned and prides itself on innovation, quality, and community. Robert Elliott personally oversees the design, research and development, engineering, and manufacturing of their paddles, which are made entirely in the USA.

4. ONIX Pickleball

  • Founded: 2005
  • Headquarters: Evansville, Indiana, USA
  • Focus: Professional-level pickleball equipment manufacturing and sport growth
  • Products: Performance paddles, balls, accessories with advanced technology
  • Innovation: Patented technologies like ThermoFused Technology, carbon fiber frames
  • Community Role: Sponsorships, donations, and support for tournaments and nonprofits
  • Industry Position: One of the original and leading pickleball brands globally
  • Website: onixsports.com

ONIX Pickleball was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. Since its inception, the company has focused on growing and supporting pickleball at a professional level. ONIX is recognized as a leading manufacturer of performance pickleball paddles, balls, and accessories, known for technologically advanced equipment designed to make the sport faster, more precise, and more strategic.

The company emphasizes innovation and craftsmanship, continuously researching and engineering high-performance gear in collaboration with professional athletes to create equipment tailored for players, by players. ONIX’s products, including their patented Dura Fast 40 pickleball, are widely used in national tournaments and are approved for official play. ONIX has grown significantly since 2005, launching advanced paddle models with proprietary technologies such as ThermoFused Technology and carbon fiber frames. The company also actively supports the pickleball community through donations and sponsorships of tournaments and events.

5. ProKennex

  • Founded: 1978
  • Founder: Lo Kunnan
  • Origin: Began with wooden badminton racquets in 1965; brand established in 1978
  • Headquarters: Taichung, Taiwan
  • Industry: Racquet sports equipment (tennis, badminton, squash, racquetball, pickleball)
  • Innovations: First mid-size graphite tennis racquet (1980), Kinetic Technology for vibration reduction
  • Market Position: Former global leader in tennis rackets; niche focus on technology-driven racquets today
  • Manufacturing: Owns and operates its own factory; all design and production done in-house
  • Pickleball Focus: Advanced paddles designed with pro players, featuring carbon fiber and shock absorption tech
  • Website: prokennex.com

ProKennex was founded in 1978 in Taiwan by Lo Kunnan, who started producing wooden badminton racquets in 1965 and later expanded into tennis and aluminum racquets before establishing the ProKennex brand. The company originated from Kunnan Enterprises Ltd., launched in 1969, which quickly became the world’s largest badminton producer. The brand name evolved from “Kennedy” to “Kennex” and finally to “ProKennex” to avoid political and trademark conflicts.

ProKennex became a global leader in racquet sports equipment, pioneering innovations such as the world’s first mid-size graphite tennis racquet in 1980 and the first graphite squash racquet in 1983. By the 1980s, it was the largest tennis racket manufacturer worldwide, producing rackets for top brands and sponsoring professional players like Li Na and Peng Shuai. The company is known for its focus on science and design, holding more patents than all other racquet brands combined, and emphasizing advanced technologies like Kinetic Technology, which enhances performance and reduces arm injuries.

Despite financial difficulties faced by its parent company in the late 1990s and early 2000s, ProKennex reorganized in 2002 to focus on racquet sports and continues to innovate in tennis, badminton, squash, padel, and pickleball equipment, with all rackets designed and produced in its own factory. In pickleball, ProKennex collaborates with professional players to create technologically advanced paddles featuring carbon fiber faces and patented shock-absorbing systems.

6. Franklin Sports

  • Founded: 1946
  • Founders: Sydney and Irving Franklin
  • Location: Brockton, Massachusetts, USA
  • Early Products: Footballs, boxing gloves, basketballs, baseball gloves made from scrap leather
  • Key Innovation: 1984 invention of the Pro Classic baseball batting glove
  • Current Position: Family-owned global brand with partnerships across major professional sports leagues
  • Recent Focus: Pickleball equipment, volleyball products, and continued innovation
  • Website: franklinsports.com

Franklin Sports was founded in 1946 in Brockton, Massachusetts, by brothers Sydney and Irving Franklin. The company started by using discarded scrap leather from local shoe factories to develop a line of athletic equipment, including footballs, boxing gloves, basketballs, and baseball gloves, with the aim of providing quality sports gear for athletes of all ages.

A major breakthrough for Franklin Sports came in 1984 when they invented the Pro Classic, the first-ever baseball batting glove, developed with the help of Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. This innovation established Franklin as a leader in baseball equipment and helped the brand gain widespread recognition.

Over the decades, Franklin Sports has grown into a multigenerational, family-owned global sporting goods brand with a broad product range and partnerships with major professional leagues such as MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, NWSL, and USA Pickleball. The company continues to innovate and expand, recently entering the competitive volleyball market and supporting the fast-growing sport of pickleball with premium paddles and balls.

7. HEAD Pickleball

  • Founded: 1950 by Howard Head in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Entry into tennis: 1969, introduced first aluminum tennis racquet
  • HEAD Pickleball launch: Around 2017-2018 (first full year in pickleball market)
  • Background: Established sports equipment brand with strong racquet sports innovation and manufacturing expertise
  • Product focus: High-performance pickleball paddles and gear leveraging tennis and racquet technology
  • Website: head.com

HEAD Pickleball, as a dedicated division or product line, was launched around 2017-2018, although the parent company HEAD was originally founded in 1950 by Howard Head in Baltimore, Maryland. HEAD started as a ski company and expanded into tennis in 1969, pioneering aluminum tennis racquets and later becoming a major global sports equipment brand. The company’s core expertise in racquet sports and innovation naturally extended into pickleball as the sport grew in popularity.

HEAD Pickleball leverages the brand’s long history of engineering excellence and innovation from tennis and other racquet sports to produce high-quality pickleball paddles and gear. Their pickleball product line is made with advanced materials and technologies, designed to appeal to players ranging from beginners to professionals. HEAD’s approach combines its heritage of scientific design, athlete collaboration, and manufacturing expertise to compete strongly in the pickleball market.

8. Gamma Sports

  • Founded: 1974
  • Founder: Dr. Harry Ferrari
  • Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Initial Focus: Tennis strings innovation (GAMMA Gut)
  • Pickleball Entry: 2014
  • Company Type: Family-owned, innovation-driven
  • Facilities: R&D lab and onsite testing courts
  • Mission: Enhance athlete performance; “Never Stop Playing” ethos
  • Website: gammasports.com

Gamma Sports was founded in 1974 in the USA by Dr. Harry Ferrari, a nuclear engineer and tennis enthusiast. The company initially gained recognition for developing the patented GAMMA irradiation process, which produced GAMMA Gut tennis strings. These strings were the top-rated tennis strings according to the United States Racquet Stringer’s Association for 23 years, starting in 1977.

Building on decades of innovation in tennis, Gamma Sports expanded into pickleball in 2014, applying their expertise in composites, plastics, and manufacturing to create high-quality paddles and balls. The company remains family-owned and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where it operates a research and development lab and onsite testing courts. Gamma Sports continues its mission to support athletes with cutting-edge products under the slogan “Never Stop Playing”, emphasizing continuous innovation and community engagement in both tennis and pickleball.

9. JOOLA

  • JOOLA founded: 1952 (in Germany, originally for table tennis)
  • Headquarters: Rockville, Maryland, USA
  • Pickleball launch: 2022
  • Ownership: Acquired by Sport Squad, Inc. in 2019 (based in Rockville, MD)
  • Background: Pioneer in table tennis equipment; expanded into pickleball with high-profile sponsorships and innovation
  • Website: joolausa.com

JOOLA was originally founded in 1952 in Germany as a table tennis brand, gaining a strong reputation in that sport over many decades. The company expanded into pickleball much later, officially launching JOOLA Pickleball in 2022. This expansion quickly attracted top players and established JOOLA as a significant new player in the pickleball market. JOOLA is owned by Sport Squad, Inc., a US-based company that acquired JOOLA in 2019 and has since grown the brand globally in both table tennis and pickleball.

10. Diadem Sports

  • Founded: 2015
  • Location: Pompano Beach / Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
  • Founders: Former collegiate and professional tennis players and coaches
  • Initial Focus: Tennis rackets, strings, balls, and accessories
  • Key Innovation: Patented Solstice Power string with Star Core Technology
  • Pickleball Entry: Began developing pickleball paddles around 2019-2020; pickleball division launched in 2021
  • Company Philosophy: Innovation, high-quality performance gear, “Live to Play” lifestyle
  • Market Position: Growing presence in both tennis and pickleball markets globally
  • Manufacturing & R&D: Designed and developed in the USA
  • Website: diademsports.com

Diadem Sports was founded in 2015 in Pompano Beach (Fort Lauderdale area), Florida. The company began with a focus on tennis products, aiming to develop the most innovative and high-quality tennis rackets, strings, balls, and accessories to help players maximize their performance. Founded by former collegiate and professional players and coaches, Diadem sought to challenge the stagnant tennis equipment market by introducing new technologies, such as their patented Solstice Power string with Star Core Technology for enhanced spin and control.

Around 2019-2020, Diadem expanded into the pickleball market, investing heavily in developing their first generation of pickleball paddles and officially opening their pickleball division in 2021. They have since grown their product line to include a wide range of paddles, balls, bags, apparel, and grips, designed with performance and innovation in mind. Diadem remains a family-oriented and innovation-driven company, emphasizing American design and development with a global distribution network.

Finding Your Perfect Pickleball Match

Choosing the right brand for your pickleball gear isn’t about finding the “best” brand overall—it’s about finding the one that fits your specific needs and style. After years of being in the industry, we’ve learned that every player is unique, and the right paddle can make all the difference. Here’s our advice, based on both our personal experience and countless hours spent on the court:

  • For Beginners: It’s all about finding value and forgiveness in your paddle. Don’t break the bank—focus on getting paddles that offer great performance while still being affordable. Look for wider paddles with larger sweet spots for those off-center hits. Brands like Franklin, Gamma, and Onix offer fantastic options for those just starting out.
  • For Intermediate Players: As your game improves, your needs will shift. Power players may want to explore Selkirk, Onix, or HEAD, while control enthusiasts may find paddles from Engage, Joola, or Gearbox more suited to their style. This is the time to demo paddles from different brands and see what feels right for you before upgrading to premium equipment.
  • For Advanced Players: At this level, the fine details in a paddle’s design will matter. Many advanced players maintain a collection of paddles for different game conditions. If you’re looking for precision, brands like Selkirk, Engage, and ProKennex offer professional-grade paddles that can elevate your game with specific performance features.
  • For Players with Arm Issues: Your health is paramount, and it’s okay to prioritize comfort and arm safety. ProKennex stands out with its shock-absorbing technology, while Engage and Paddletek also offer paddles designed to reduce strain on your arms and joints.

The pickleball world is continuously evolving, and manufacturers are constantly innovating to keep pace with players’ growing needs. We encourage you to stay curious, try out different gear, and focus on finding equipment that makes playing more enjoyable. After all, the best equipment is the one that keeps you excited for every match, whether it’s a casual weekend game or a competitive tournament.

Remember, pickleball is about more than just gear—it’s about community, competition, and the sheer joy of the game. Let your paddle be the tool that helps you enjoy all of it!