Choosing the Perfect Paddle For You Part 2

This blog is a continuation of Choosing the Perfect Paddle for You Part 1. If you haven't read that blog you can read it here.  

This blog is all about twistweight and swingweight—two paddle specs that are often overlooked but, in my opinion, are even more important than static weight (which we’ll also touch on briefly).

According to The Picklr, swingweight is defined as "how heavy a pickleball paddle feels when you swing it." Twistweight, on the other hand, "is about how resistant the pickleball paddle is to rotation when the ball is hit off-center on the paddle face."

In simple terms:

  • Swing weight affects your hand speed and maneuverability.

  • Twistweight determines how stable the paddle feels on off-center hits.

Wider paddles generally have higher twistweight and lower swingweight, making them more stable and easier to maneuver. Elongated (narrower) paddles usually have lower twistweight and higher swingweight, offering more reach and power, but less forgiveness on mishits.

Understanding these specs can seriously impact how your paddle feels in play—and your overall performance.

My Take: Why Swingweight Matters Most

Personally, swingweight is the single most important factor I consider when choosing a paddle. As you move up in levels, hand speed becomes absolutely crucial, especially with how powerful paddles are becoming these days. As you might have guessed from my earlier comments, this has led me to favor widebody paddles.

Widebody paddles typically offer a great combination of stability (thanks to higher twistweight) and maneuverability (due to lower swingweight). So, if they’re stable and easy to control, why doesn’t everyone use them?

Well, there are benefits to paddles with higher swingweight and lower twistweight. For example, a higher swingweight provides more plow-through, which translates into greater power and often even more spin, since the ball comes off the face faster. If power is a priority for you, that extra swing weight can be an asset.

Interestingly, a lower twist weight can sometimes help offset the downside of a high swing weight by adding a bit more maneuverability, especially for players with strong hands and fast reactions.

Most paddle manufacturers don’t include swing weight or twist weight in their specs, but these are two of the most important numbers when it comes to how a paddle actually feels in your hand. My go-to resource for this is Pickleball Studio’s Paddle Spreadsheet. It’s an incredible tool that breaks down a wide range of paddles by swing weight, twist weight, and other key specs. Plus, it gives you a clear layout of what to expect from different paddle designs, so you can make smarter decisions based on how you play, not just the marketing.

Any swing weight below 110 is going to feel really fast and maneuverable in your hand, perfect for quick reactions and speedy exchanges. A swing weight in the 110-115 range is still reasonably fast but not nearly as blazing fast as paddles with swing weights under 110. Above 115, the paddle will begin to feel heavier through the swing, and over 120 is considered very high, with more plow-through but significantly less hand speed. As for twist weight, a value in the 4-5 range is on the low side and could result in some instability on off-center hits, while anything over 6 will have good torsional stability and perform better when the ball does not contact the sweet spot.

Final Thoughts

If you’re serious about finding the right paddle for your game, understanding swingweight and twistweight is a game-changer. These specs go far beyond just the listed weight on a paddle—they influence how fast you can react at the net, how much power you can generate, and how forgiving your paddle is on off-center shots.

Whether you're looking for quick hands, added stability, or maximum plow-through, taking the time to research these numbers (especially using tools like Pickleball Studio’s Spreadsheet) can help you choose a paddle that actually matches your playstyle, not just one that sounds good on paper.

At the end of the day, the best paddle is the one that makes you feel confident in every exchange. Swingweight and twistweight just help you get there faster.

Stay tuned for part three, where I compare prices and approval stamps. 

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Definitions of swingweight and twistweight are sourced from The Pickler.





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