Top 5 Paddle's the Pros Play With

The debate over which paddle is best will never end. Some players love experimenting with new gear, while others are fiercely loyal to their chosen brand. In this blog, we're narrowing the paddle space from the hundreds of models on the market to the five most common brands used by professionals.

This isn’t a list of the best paddles for recreational players—nor is it necessarily a ranking of which brands offer the best performance for pros. When players decide to pursue a professional career, it's common for them to seek out paddle sponsorships. On the flip side, there are brands that don’t sponsor pros—either due to limited resources or lack of interest—which naturally shrinks the field of options for aspiring professionals.

I know not everyone is going pro, but if you’re a pickleball nerd like me and watch a lot of PPA and MLP events, you probably find this stuff just as interesting as I do.

This list highlights the five paddle brands you’ll see most often on the PPA and APP tours—along with insight into which ones are most likely to give players a competitive edge.

#5: Selkirk 

Selkirk has been—and will continue to be—one of the most recognized and respected brands in pickleball. Over the past year and a half, however, the company has faced notable scrutiny for its refusal to follow market trends, instead opting to chart its own path. Honestly, I admire Selkirk for this. While some of the criticism they've received may be warranted, much of it feels overblown. In my view, they’re still pushing boundaries and releasing some genuinely innovative products—like their new 008 paddle featuring PureFoam technology.

That said, I’ll admit I found their prolonged commitment to grit-paint paddle faces frustrating, especially as other brands moved toward more durable and textured surfaces. Fortunately, Selkirk seems to have addressed this with the release of their new “InfiGrit” surface, which appears to hold up much better and aligns more closely with the paddle technology we're seeing across the market in 2025.

The elephant in the room with Selkirk is their dwindling roster of sponsored pros, many of whom have jumped ship to other brands. This trend has led many to believe that the criticisms of Selkirk extend even into the professional ranks. Notable departures on the men’s side include Dylan Frazier, who recently switched to Volair, and Pablo Tellez, who is now sponsored by Lotto. Quang Duong signed with a Vietnamese company called Sypik after being vocal about his dissatisfaction with Selkirk—even going so far as to switch paddles mid-match while still under contract. And perhaps the most significant departure was Tyson McGuffin, who left Selkirk for Joola at the start of 2024 after nearly nine years as the face of the brand. 

With that being said, as I mentioned earlier, Selkirk still has plenty going for it. The brand maintains a strong influence in the sport, and its PureFoam core—featured in the Project 008—is one of the few true foam cores currently on the market. However, the general consensus is that this paddle leans heavily toward control rather than power. And in a pro game that’s getting faster by the day, players are increasingly looking for paddles that offer more firepower. That’s why Selkirk lands at number five on my list.

At the time of writing, the SLK Era Power paddles are only listed on the USAP and UPA-A approved lists and are not yet available for purchase, so they were not factored into this ranking.

Notable Pros Using Selkirk:

• Jack Sock

• Catherine Parenteau

• James Ignatowich

• Rachel Rohrabacher

#4 Proton

Proton is a relatively new brand in the pickleball world, though it has been a big name in the softball industry for years. Proton burst onto the pickleball scene when they signed Andrei Daescu, who is currently ranked #4 in the world for Men’s Doubles and #10 for Mixed Doubles.

Proton initially turned heads with the nanotac technology featured in their Series One paddles, which many thought would become their defining niche. Nanotac is a highly tacky, slick surface designed to grip the ball with maximum traction. However, they shifted direction with their Series Two and Series Three lines—opting for spray grit on the Series Two and carbon fiber faces on the Series Three.

The paddle most commonly used by their sponsored pros is the Series Three Project Flamingo, a Gen 3 elongated paddle that stands out with its 15mm core—offering a unique feel compared to the more standard 14mm and 16mm options typically seen on the market.

My doubles partner currently plays with the Flamingo and has had nothing but praise for it—his increased power has definitely shown on the court. That said, Proton’s current lineup lacks variety, especially when it comes to Gen 3 paddles. The Flamingo is essentially their only offering in that category, both in shape and core thickness. For that reason, Proton lands at #4 on this list.

Notable Pros Using Proton:

• Andrei Daescu

• Meghan Dizon

• CJ Klinger

• Kaitlyn Christian

#3 Franklin

I’ll be honest—I didn’t think I’d ever be ranking Franklin this high again. But here we are.

Franklin actually holds a special place in my heart, though not for the reason you might expect. When I first started playing pickleball, Ben Johns was sponsored by Franklin, and with limited paddle options on the market at the time, the Franklin Ben Johns Signature paddle was wildly popular. My friends and I all bought one, and any time we hit a great shot, we’d shout “Ben Johns!”—as if the paddle itself gave us superpowers. Good times.

But when Ben Johns left Franklin for Joola, the brand quickly faded into the background. Other companies began pushing out more advanced technology—often at similar or better price points—making it hard to recommend Franklin paddles in good faith. That lull felt like it lasted a long time.

Eventually, Franklin launched their FS Tour line, which was competitively priced around $150. Still, it flew under the radar, largely due to its high swing weight—though some would argue that’s actually a plus at the pro level.

But just recently, things may have changed with the release of the Franklin C45. This Gen 3, 14mm hybrid-shaped paddle boasts a swing weight of around 104, making it a favorite at the pro level. Its customizable nature with lead tape gives players the ability to adjust it to their liking, and its shape is one that most players can get behind—or at least are more open to trying, regardless of their past preferences.

Looking ahead, with the upcoming release of the new Dynasty and Tempo shapes, along with 14mm and 16mm variants, Franklin pros will have a solid range of options to choose from. The only reason Franklin didn't rank higher is that the Tempo and Dynasty are not yet available, so for now, the C45 remains the primary option. Regardless, I think more unsigned pros will gravitate toward the C45 than the Proton Flamingo due to its customization potential.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Franklin earn the title of most improved brand in 2025.

Notable Pros Using Franklin:

• JW Johnson

• Jorja Johnson

• Hayden Patriquin

• Parris Todd

• Megan Fudge

#2 United Pickleball Paddles (Paddletek/ProXR)

United Pickleball is the result of a merger between two long-standing brands: Paddletek and ProXR. While both have solid reputations, Paddletek has consistently been the more popular name among players. That said, I’ve personally never had a negative experience with a ProXR paddle. In fact, my wife still plays with the original Zane Navratil Signature model, and the spin she gets with it is incredible. Still, you don’t see many ProXR paddles out in the wild.

The real star of United Pickleball is Paddletek. Although both brands have been around for years, Paddletek truly entered the top-tier conversation with the release of their ALW-C and TKO-C paddle lines. You’ll see several unsigned pros—like Hunter Johnson and Yana Newell—using them. Even without the much-hyped Gen 3 tech, these paddles deliver impressive performance/power that holds up at the pro level.

Similarly, Paddletek offers a diverse lineup of paddles, giving athletes a wide range of shapes and thicknesses to choose from to suit their individual play styles.

Notable Pros Using UPP:

• Anna Leigh Waters

• Christian Alshon 

• Hunter Johnson 

• Tina Pisnik 

• Connor Garnett 

• Riley Newman 

• Zane Navratil 

#1 Joola

Claiming the top spot on this list is Joola—a choice that may draw some criticism, but at this point, it’s hard to argue against. With a powerhouse lineup that includes the Perseus, Scorpeus, Magnus, Hyperion, and now the Agassi, Joola offers an impressive range of Gen 3 power paddles tailored for elite performance. The brand currently boasts over ten pros ranked within the top 20 on the PPA Tour. Like Paddletek, Joola is also a go-to brand for many unsigned pros. Even some signed athletes—like Federico Staksrud, who is under contract with Adidas—continue to use Joola paddles like the 3S.

At this point, it’s rare to turn on a PPA broadcast and not see a Joola paddle on the court. While the brand certainly has its critics, I’m not one of them—as you can probably tell by this ranking. Joola’s diverse lineup, combined with its status as one of the original pioneers of Gen 3 paddle technology (second only to Gearbox), has solidified its place as the number one brand among professional pickleball players.

Notable Pros Using Joola:

• Ben Johns

• Collin Johns 

• Anna Bright 

• Dekel Bar 

• Etta Tuionetoa 

• Lea Jansen 

• Tyson McGuffin 

• Lacy Scheeman

• Kate Fahey 

• Noe Khlif 

• Julian Arnold 

• Vivian Glozman 

• Brooke Buckner 

Final Thoughts

While the debate over the best paddle will rage on, these five brands have clearly separated themselves from the pack when it comes to professional play. Whether it’s Joola’s unmatched tour presence, Paddletek’s powerful resurgence, or Franklin’s unexpected return to relevance, each of these companies offers something unique for aspiring pros and diehard fans alike.

Ultimately, the 'right' paddle will always come down to personal preference, play style, and—at the pro level—sponsorship opportunities. But if you're someone who studies the pro circuit closely or just loves geeking out over gear, these five brands are the ones to watch in 2025.

Did your favorite brand make the list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. 

Thanks for visiting Playmaker Pickleball!

If you enjoy this kind of content, head over to the sidebar and subscribe to the blog to get updates and pickleball tips delivered straight to your inbox. Stay in the loop with gear reviews, strategy breakdowns, and more!