Pickleball Paddle Buying Guide Australia
Walk into any paddle search in Australia and you will hit hundreds of options, most of them genuinely good. The hard part is not finding a good paddle anymore. It is finding the right one for you. We have sorted players into the correct paddle hundreds of times at our Epping store, so here is the nine-step path we use to cut the noise and land you a paddle that suits how you actually play.
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Identify Your Skill Level
- Step 2: Define Your Playing Style
- Step 3: Choose the Right Core Thickness
- Step 4: Choose Your Core Type: Honeycomb or Full Foam
- Step 5: Match the Paddle Shape to Your Game
- Step 6: Understand Surface Material and Spin
- Step 7: Get the Grip Size Right
- Step 8: Cost Guide for the Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced
- Step 9: Test or Get Expert Advice Before You Commit
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Your Next Move
- Try Before You Buy: Our Paddle Demo Program
- More reading
Step 1: Identify Your Skill Level
Start with an honest read of where your game actually is. Skill level sets the budget band and the amount of forgiveness you need, and it is the fastest way to cut the list down before you look at a single spec.
Those three bands run all the way through this guide and match our paddle cost guide, so once you know your level you already know your shelf.
Step 2: Define Your Playing Style
Now be honest about how you play. Level tells you what to spend; style tells you what to buy:
Step 3: Choose the Right Core Thickness
Core thickness is the single biggest feel decision, and it comes down to 14mm versus 16mm:
Many top lines, like Six Zero Coral and RPM Friction Pro, come in both, so you can pick the feel without changing brand.
Step 4: Choose Your Core Type: Honeycomb or Full Foam
Thickness is how much core there is. Core type is what that core is made of, and it is the bigger change in paddles right now. Two builds dominate the wall:
Both are on our wall. The RPM Friction Pro Elongated 14mm ($369) is a honeycomb build, while the Six Zero Black Opal ($350) and the RPM Q2 below are full foam.
Neither type is better outright, and newer is not automatically better for your game. If you like a firm, predictable paddle, honeycomb is still the right answer. If you mis-hit more than you would like and want the extra forgiveness, foam is worth the adjustment. We go through this in far more detail in Gen 3 vs Gen 4: honeycomb vs full foam.
Step 5: Match the Paddle Shape to Your Game
The Six Zero Coral line is a useful example because it comes in all three shapes at the same price, so the choice is purely about your game.
Step 6: Understand Surface Material and Spin
The face is what grips the ball. Raw carbon fibre, found on paddles like the RPM Friction Pro and most of the Six Zero and Engage range, bites the ball for far more spin and control than the composite or fibreglass faces on entry paddles. If spin matters to your game, raw carbon is worth the step up.
Step 7: Get the Grip Size Right
Grip size is the most overlooked spec and one of the easiest to get wrong. Too big and you lose wrist snap and spin. Too small and you grip too hard and tire out. A rough guide: most adults land on a 4 1/8 to 4 1/4 inch grip. You can always build a small grip up with an overgrip, but you cannot shrink one that is too big. When in doubt, size down.
Step 8: Cost Guide for the Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced
Paddles in Australia run from about $73 to $440. Price tracks your level more than anything else, so here is the same three-tier split we use in the shop, with what is in stock at each right now.
Beginner: Up to $169
Your first paddle. These are honest, playable paddles that will not hold a new player back, and they leave you room to work out what you actually like before you spend more.
6 models in stock in this tier today. Three of them:
Intermediate: $170 to $299
You have found your grip, you are driving the ball with intent, and the gaps in your game are yours rather than the paddle's. This is where build quality steps up without going pro-level, and where most committed players land.
15 models in stock in this tier today. Three of them:
Advanced: $300 and up
Thermoformed and full foam builds, premium carbon faces, and the paddles our competitive players actually use. At this level you are buying a specific feel, so hitting before you buy matters most.
51 models in stock in this tier today. Three of them:
You do not need to spend the most to play well. The JOOLA Magnus CAS 14mm at $209.95 delivers genuine power tech at the value end.
Step 9: Test or Get Expert Advice Before You Commit
Specs only tell you so much. The same paddle can feel completely different in two players' hands. This is the step most online shoppers skip, and the one that saves the most wasted money. Hit a few paddles before you buy, or talk it through with someone who fits players for a living. That is exactly what we do at the Pickleball Parlour in Epping, and it is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important thing when choosing a pickleball paddle?
Matching the paddle to how you actually play. A power player and a control player are best served by very different paddles, so be honest about your style before you look at specs.
Is a 14mm or 16mm paddle better?
Neither is better outright. 14mm gives more power and pop. 16mm gives more control and a bigger sweet spot. Aggressive players lean 14mm, control players and improvers lean 16mm.
What grip size do I need?
Most adults suit a 4 1/8 to 4 1/4 inch grip. If you are between sizes, choose the smaller one and build it up with an overgrip. You cannot make an oversized grip smaller.
How much should I spend on my first paddle?
Up to $169 is plenty to start. Learn your style first, then step up into the $170 to $299 band once you know what you want.
Does paddle brand matter?
Build quality and tech matter more than the logo, but the established brands earn their reputation. Six Zero, JOOLA, Engage and RPM are all asked for by name by serious players for good reason.
Your Next Move
Work through these nine steps and you will know exactly what you are looking for. Browse the full range online with delivery Australia-wide, or come into our Epping store and we will fit you to the right paddle in person. No guesswork, no upselling, just the paddle that suits your game.
Try Before You Buy: Our Paddle Demo Program
You do not have to guess. Melbourne players can take paddles away and hit them on their own courts before committing.
| The demo program | |
|---|---|
| Cost | $50 per paddle |
| How many | Up to 3 paddles at a time |
| How long | 3 days |
| Pick up & return | In person at Racquet World, Pickleball Parlour, Shop 4/59 Willandra Drive, Epping VIC 3076 |
| What you can try | Control, power and hybrid all-court paddles from the demo wall |
| Where you can play | Anywhere at your club, league night, or local courts across Melbourne |
Return them on time to avoid late fees. Find one you love and the team will order a brand new one in for you.
Read more about the demo program →
