The 10 Best Pickleball Paddles in Australia

A pickleball paddle is the solid-faced racquet used to hit a perforated plastic ball across a badminton-sized court, built from a rigid core sandwiched between two hitting faces instead of the strung frame a tennis racquet uses. It sits closer in feel to a table tennis bat than anything else in a sports bag, which is part of why the sport has spread so fast through Australian clubs and community courts: almost anyone can pick one up and rally within ten minutes. Finding the right one among the best pickleball paddles in Australia comes down to matching the core material and thickness to how hard, and how often, you actually play.

Paddles split into three broad types once you look past the branding: fiberglass-faced paddles, softer-hitting and forgiving on mishits, good for a first season; raw carbon fiber paddles, grittier-surfaced and built for spin, favoured by anyone chasing a competitive edge; and starter sets, which bundle two or four paddles with balls and a bag so a household can get moving without buying four separate items. A few sets fold in a portable net as well, which matters if the closest dedicated court is a 20-minute drive.

Across the ten paddles and sets compared here, core thickness runs from 13mm to 16mm and paddle weight sits between 198g and 241g, with thicker 16mm cores generally trading a touch of pop for a quieter, more controlled feel. The spec most buyers skip past is handle length: a longer, elongated handle helps with two-handed backhands but adds a few grams that show up on your wrist after a long doubles session, so check it against your own grip strength instead of the headline weight figure alone. It is not hard to see why the game has taken off so quickly locally – Pickleball Australia’s own membership figures show the sport growing faster than almost any other racquet code in the country, and the Australian Sports Commission’s AusPlay national participation survey puts total players well past the 90,000 mark. This list runs from budget starter sets through to tournament-grade signature paddles, all currently available to Australian buyers.

Quick Picks

Best Pickleball Paddles Australia Compared

Product	Link	Type	Best For	Key Spec
Everfit Pickleball Paddle Set	Check price	Fibreglass set of 2	Budget starter households	700g total, PP honeycomb core
Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle 4-Pack	Check price	Carbon fiber set of 4	Family doubles nights	1.26kg total, breathable grip
Pickleball Net and Paddle Combo Kit	Check price	Net + paddle set	No local court nearby	22ft net, tool-free setup
JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CAS 16	Check price	Signature carbon fiber	Serious/competitive players	16mm hybrid-ply core
Vatic Pro Prism V7 Carbon Fiber	Check price	Raw carbon fiber	Touch and control	16mm foam-injected walls
Jojolemon CX100 Carbon Fiber	Check price	3K carbon fiber	Two-handed backhands	16mm core, extended handle
HEAD Cyber Elite Pickleball Paddle	Check price	Fiberglass	Intermediate club players	13mm core, 230g
Franklin Sports Pro Pickleball Paddle	Check price	Fiberglass/carbon core	Advanced rec players	13mm core, MaxGrit surface
VICLION Carbon Fiber Pickleball Set	Check price	Carbon fiber set of 2	Beginner pairs	218-224g, includes towels
DULCE DOM Pickleball Paddle Set	Check price	Set of 2/4	Big family groups	10.5oz per paddle, sling bag

How We Picked

We started with the two specialist retailers that stock real pickleball paddles for the Australian market, checked live stock and pricing on both, then filled out the list with paddles from established racquet-sports brands and dedicated pickleball makers once those two catalogues ran dry of standalone paddle products. Every pick had to be in stock and dispatched from within Australia, not shipped from an overseas seller.

Cons in each entry draw on patterns from hundreds of verified buyer reviews rather than our own guesswork, and we cross-checked Mypickleball’s rating on ProductReview for how local buyers talk about specialist paddle retailers generally. We do not physically test every paddle ourselves.

1. Everfit Pickleball Paddle Set – Best Value Starter Set

This is the cheapest way onto a court on this list, and it does not pretend to be anything more than that. Two fibreglass-faced paddles over a polypropylene honeycomb core, four balls split two indoor and two outdoor, one carry bag, done. The checkerboard maroon-and-cream finish will not fool anyone into thinking it is a premium paddle, but the honeycomb core keeps the swing weight low enough that a first-timer is not fighting the equipment on top of learning the game.

Fiberglass gives a softer, more forgiving pop off the face than the carbon fiber paddles further down this list – mishits do not sting the same way, which matters while you are still working out where the sweet spot actually sits. Buy this one to find out whether pickleball sticks before spending three times as much on a signature paddle. A weekend at a local court in Perth’s dry summer heat, or a wet Melbourne morning session, will tell you fast enough.

Pros

• The lowest outlay of any pick on this list
• Includes both indoor and outdoor balls, not just one type
• Backed by a full year’s warranty

Cons

• The checkerboard pattern shows scuff marks quickly on the paddle face
• Two paddles only, so a doubles night needs a second set
• Handles feel noticeably thinner than the carbon fiber paddles below

Key specs: Fibreglass surface, polypropylene honeycomb core, 700g total set weight, includes 4 balls and carry bag, 1-year warranty.

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2. Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle 4-Pack – Best for Family Doubles

Four paddles in one box solves the actual problem most households run into: someone always ends up holding a battered old bat while everyone else has a real one. This set skips that entirely, with four matching carbon fiber paddles, four balls and a bag built to carry the lot without paddles rattling around loose in the boot.

Carbon fiber bites into the ball noticeably harder than the fiberglass set above – you will feel the difference on your first serve, not just read about it on a spec sheet. The breathable grip is a small thing until you are three games into a warm Brisbane afternoon and your hands are still dry. A step up from the value starter set above for roughly the same outlay, but for double the paddles, which is the whole appeal if two couples are playing together instead of one person learning solo.

Pros

• Four matching paddles means nobody gets stuck with the odd one out
• Carbon fiber surface grips the ball better than fiberglass for spin
• One bag keeps the whole set together between sessions

Cons

• Four paddles for the price means the included balls feel like an afterthought and wear out fast
• No individual paddle covers, just the shared carry bag
• Grip size runs slightly large for smaller hands

Key specs: Carbon fiber surface, includes 4 paddles, 4 balls and 1 carry bag, 1.26kg total set weight.

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3. Pickleball Net and Paddle Combo Kit – Best Complete Court-in-a-Box Kit

Skip this one if you already play at a local court. Buy it if the nearest one is a 20-minute drive and you would rather just set up on the driveway. The kit folds into a single carry bag and includes a full net (regulation width, tool-free setup) alongside four paddles and balls, so it really is a full court packed into one box instead of a net you still need paddles for separately.

Set against the paddle-only 4-pack above, you are trading two spare paddles for a net wide enough for real doubles play, not a shrunken backyard version. Setup really is tool-free – slot the poles, tension the net, done in under ten minutes, which counts for a lot on a Sunday afternoon when the kids have already lost interest by minute fifteen. It will not survive a Cairns wet season stored outdoors between uses, though. Pack it away instead of leaving it against the back fence.

Pros

• A complete setup with nothing extra to buy before your first game
• Tool-free assembly, packed down into the same bag it ships in
• Works on a driveway, oval or any flat concrete pad

Cons

• The included paddles are a step down from the dedicated 4-pack above
• Net poles feel a little wobbly on uneven grass until properly staked
• Heavier to carry than a paddle set alone, at over 9kg

Key specs: 22ft regulation-width net, includes 4 paddles and 4 balls, tool-free setup, carry bag included.

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4. JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CAS 16 – Best for Serious Players

At the premium end of this list, and priced like it. JOOLA is the official paddle sponsor of Ben Johns, currently the world’s number one pickleball player, and this is his signature line – not a marketing sticker slapped on a generic blank, but a paddle built around his own Carbon Abrasion Surface tech. The sandblasted CAS finish feels grittier under the fingers than anything else here, and it shows up as extra spin the first time you brush a dink shot.

Reviewers consistently flag the hybrid-ply construction as the standout: a top layer tuned for dinking and blocking, bottom layers built for power on the drive, a harder engineering trick than it sounds. Worth it if you are already playing club-level pickleball and feel the ceiling on a starter paddle. Not worth it for someone still working out which side of the court is the kitchen. A step up in price from the two carbon fiber picks above, with a real step up in shot-shaping control to match.

Pros

• A true pro-level signature paddle, not a licensed reprint
• CAS surface produces noticeably more spin than a standard textured face
• Includes a custom-fit paddle cover, not a generic sleeve

Cons

• The elongated handle takes some adjustment if you are used to a standard grip
• Premium price puts it well past what a beginner needs to spend
• Sure-Grip texture wears smoother after a season of regular play, based on recurring buyer feedback

Key specs: 16mm polypropylene honeycomb core, Carbon Abrasion Surface, hybrid-ply construction, includes custom paddle cover.

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5. Vatic Pro Prism V7 Carbon Fiber – Best for Touch and Control

Vatic Pro built the Prism series specifically for players who found thermoformed paddles too powerful and traditional sandwich paddles too soft – an awkward middle ground a lot of mid-tier paddles ignore entirely. The fix is a cold-molded build with foam-injected edge walls in place of heat-pressed construction, which sounds like a technicality until you feel how much longer the ball sits on the face before it leaves.

That extra dwell time is the whole point: more control on resets and dinks, less raw pace than the JOOLA above, and a noticeably plusher feel on mishits near the edges. USAPA approved, and reportedly used by professional players on the PPA tour, a stronger real-world endorsement than most brands can claim. It is not a beginner’s paddle, mind you. That control comes at the cost of some of the free power a beginner might actually want while still learning to generate their own pace.

Pros

• Foam-injected edge walls measurably widen the forgiving zone near the paddle’s rim
• A strong following among competitive PPA-level players
• Over 1,500 verified reviews at a 4.6-star average, among the highest of any pick here

Cons

• Less raw power off the face than the raw carbon paddles elsewhere on this list
• Sits in the same premium price bracket as the JOOLA above
• The polyurethane edge inserts add a touch of extra swing weight

Key specs: Raw T700 carbon fiber face, 16mm foam-injected edge walls, cold-molded construction, includes paddle cover.

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6. Jojolemon CX100 Carbon Fiber – Best for Two-Handed Backhands

The highest-rated paddle on this whole list, at 4.8 stars across more than 1,300 reviews – an unusually strong showing for a paddle that is not from one of the big established brands. The 3K carbon weave and thermoformed one-piece build are common enough on paper, but the elongated handle is the real differentiator: built specifically to support two-handed backhands, a shot more amateur players are picking up as the sport matures past its beginner phase in Australia.

The JO-SHARKTEX grip (yes, that is really what it is called) is textured rather than tacky, which holds up better through a long, sweaty Queensland summer session than a standard rubber wrap does. Set against the HEAD paddle below, this one hits noticeably harder off a flat drive, at the cost of a slightly smaller forgiving zone on mishits. A reasonable middle ground between the two premium signature paddles above and the mid-range options that follow.

Pros

• The highest star rating of any paddle on this list
• Extended handle actually helps two-handed backhand technique
• Thermoformed one-piece build holds up well under repeated hard hitting

Cons

• Extended handle adds reach but also a touch more swing weight
• Smaller sweet spot than the more forgiving fiberglass paddles here
• Grip texture, while good in humidity, wears down faster than a standard overgrip

Key specs: 3K raw carbon fiber, 16mm polypropylene honeycomb core with foam edges, thermoformed one-piece construction, extended handle.

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7. HEAD Cyber Elite Pickleball Paddle – Best for Intermediate Club Players

HEAD has been making tennis and squash gear for decades, and it shows in the Cyber Elite’s build quality even at an honest mid-range price point. This is the paddle for someone who has already played a season of club pickleball, is not a beginner anymore, but is not chasing a tournament-grade paddle either. The fiberglass hitting surface forgives more than the carbon fiber paddles above, without feeling as basic as the entry-level fiberglass set at the top of this list.

The Ergo Grip is the standout detail. HEAD has clearly carried decades of tennis grip design into this paddle instead of bolting on a generic handle, and it shows in how the paddle sits in the hand through a long rally. At 230g it sits toward the heavier end of this list’s weight range, which adds stability on drives but tires a smaller wrist faster over a long session. A name most Australian sporting goods shoppers already recognise from the racquet wall at their local store, which counts for something when choosing between a dozen paddles you have never heard of.

Pros

• An established racquet-sports brand with decades of build history
• Fiberglass surface hits more forgivingly than carbon fiber
• Ergo Grip design is comfortable through long rallies

Cons

• At 230g, noticeably heavier than most other paddles on this list
• Fiberglass surface generates less spin than the carbon fiber options above
• Marketed for intermediate play, so it plateaus for anyone chasing a serious edge

Key specs: Fiberglass surface, polypropylene honeycomb core, 13mm thickness, 230g, Ergo Grip handle.

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8. Franklin Sports Pro Pickleball Paddle – Best for Advanced Rec Players

Franklin Sports built its name on baseball and backyard sports gear long before pickleball existed, and the Pro paddle reads like a company applying decades of grip-and-core engineering to a newer game instead of chasing a trend. MaxGrit technology is the headline feature, a surface texture built specifically to dampen vibration through the swing, which matters more than it sounds once you are playing back-to-back games on a hard court.

The polypropylene core with a fiberglass surface layer is a hybrid approach: more spin potential than a pure fiberglass paddle, more forgiveness than a pure carbon face. USAPA certified for tournament play, so it is not just a recreational-grade product wearing a competition label. Well suited to someone who has outgrown a starter set but is not ready to spend JOOLA or Vatic Pro money on a paddle they are not sure they will stick with long-term.

Pros

• Hybrid core-and-surface build splits the difference between spin and forgiveness
• USAPA certified, so it is legal for club competition play
• Vibration-dampening grip noticeably reduces the sting on off-centre hits

Cons

• Fewer verified reviews than most other paddles here, so the sample size is smaller
• MaxGrit surface picks up dirt and grime faster on an outdoor court
• Handle circumference runs a little narrow for larger hands

Key specs: Polypropylene core with fiberglass surface, MaxGrit texture, 13mm thickness, USAPA certified.

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9. VICLION Carbon Fiber Pickleball Set – Best for Beginner Pairs

Built for two people learning together instead of one player upgrading solo. The set includes two carbon fiber paddles, four balls, two cooling towels and a bag – the towels are a properly practical inclusion for anyone starting out in a Gold Coast or Perth summer, where a first pickleball session can turn into a fairly sweaty introduction to the sport fast.

The T300 carbon fiber surface with a grit-textured coating produces more spin than the entry-level fiberglass set at the top of this list, at roughly the same price point, which makes it a stronger starting point if two people are learning at once instead of just one. At 218 to 224g it sits toward the lighter end of this list’s weight range, easier on the wrist through a first few sessions before your technique catches up with your enthusiasm. Not built to last through years of serious competitive play. That was never really the brief.

Pros

• Built specifically for two beginners playing together, not one
• Includes cooling towels, a small but actually useful inclusion
• Lighter weight is easier on the wrist while technique is still developing

Cons

• Balanced for beginners, so it plateaus quickly once technique improves
• The wrist strap on the grip feels unnecessary and gets in the way for some players
• Carry bag is noticeably smaller than the family 4-pack above

Key specs: T300 carbon fiber surface, polypropylene honeycomb core, 218-224g per paddle, includes 4 balls, 2 cooling towels and bag.

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10. DULCE DOM Pickleball Paddle Set – Best for Big Family Groups

Four paddles, a spacious sling bag, and easily the most reviews of any product here, at over 1,700. Worth flagging upfront: the listing’s own specifications disagree with themselves, describing the hitting surface as fiberglass in the title and as basswood in the detailed spec copy elsewhere on the same page. That is worth knowing before you buy, not after, and reason enough to treat the material claims here as approximate rather than exact.

What is not in question is the practical stuff. Four paddles is enough for a full family doubles match without anyone waiting a turn, and the sling bag is properly oversized, big enough for phones, a water bottle and towels alongside the paddles themselves, more than most bundled sets bother with. Fine for school holidays in the backyard or a low-stakes family tournament, less convincing as a paddle for anyone taking the sport seriously. The cheapest four-paddle set on this list, and it plays like it.

Pros

• Four paddles at the lowest per-paddle cost of any set here
• Oversized sling bag holds more than just the paddles and balls
• The highest review count of any product in this comparison, at 1,700-plus

Cons

• The listing’s own material specifications contradict each other between title and description
• Edge protection feels thin next to the dedicated 4-pack further up this list
• Paddle face shows wear noticeably faster than the carbon fiber options here

Key specs: Set of 4 paddles, includes 4 balls and sling bag, about 10.5oz per paddle.

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How to Choose a Pickleball Paddle

Core thickness decides feel more than price does. A 13mm core, like the ones on the HEAD and Franklin Sports paddles above, hits with a touch more pop and a slightly louder sound off the face. A 16mm core trades a little of that pop for a quieter, more controlled feel that is easier to place precisely. Neither is objectively better. It is a genuine preference, and the only way to know which side you land on is to hit with both.

Surface material is the real spin-versus-forgiveness trade-off. Fiberglass paddles, like the value set at the top of this list, forgive mishits more easily and cost less, making them the sensible starting point for a first season. Raw carbon fiber grips the ball longer through contact for noticeably more spin, but punishes off-centre hits more harshly. Got a shaky first month of missed dinks ahead of you? Start on fiberglass and upgrade once your contact point settles.

Weight matters more over three games than it does in the first five minutes. A heavier paddle, like the HEAD at 230g, feels stable and confident on a single drive. Over a full afternoon of doubles, that same weight shows up as fatigue in the wrist and forearm, especially if you have not played a racquet sport regularly before. Setting up for a longer session, or carrying a minor wrist niggle from tennis or badminton? The lighter sets here are worth the trade-off in raw power.

Handle length only matters if you actually hit two-handed backhands. Most recreational players never do, which makes the extended handle on the Jojolemon paddle a genuine niche feature and not a universal upgrade. If you came to pickleball from tennis and already play a two-handed backhand there, seek it out specifically. If you did not, it is one more spec you can safely ignore.

Bundled sets solve a different problem than a single premium paddle does. If you are the only one in the house who plays, buy one good paddle and improve on your own timeline. If it is a shared activity – a couple, a family, a regular doubles group – a 4-pack set like the ones near the top of this list solves the “everyone needs a paddle” problem in one go, at a fraction of what four premium paddles would cost bought separately.

Where you will actually play changes what you need. A dedicated pickleball or converted tennis court needs nothing more than the paddle itself. A concrete driveway behind a brick veneer in the outer suburbs, a school hall or a local oval with no fixed net changes the calculation entirely, and that is exactly the gap the net-and-paddle combo kit above is built to fill. Setting up a proper backyard for more than one active sport? The guide to trampolines in Australia covers the other big piece of outdoor family equipment worth getting right the first time.

You’ll Also Want

Playing on concrete or asphalt wears through a paddle’s included balls faster than most people expect. A set of proper outdoor pickleballs, like the Franklin Sports X-40, the official ball used on the USA Pickleball and APP tours, is worth having spare before your bundled set’s balls crack.

Grip tape degrades with sweat and sun long before the paddle face does, and a fresh overgrip is the cheapest single upgrade for any paddle here, bundled set or premium signature model alike.

Playing solo, or want to sharpen your return without dragging a second person to the court? The adjustable pickleball rebounder bounces the ball straight back at variable angles, which is actually useful practice equipment and not a gimmick.

Turning the backyard into a proper multi-sport setup for the kids over summer? The guide to the best trampolines covers the other major piece of outdoor equipment worth doing properly instead of picking whatever is cheapest on a whim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

For most Australian households just getting into the sport, the Everfit Pickleball Paddle Set or the carbon fiber 4-pack cover the actual entry point cheaply and honestly, while the net and paddle combo kit is the pick if there is no court within a short drive. Anyone already playing regularly and feeling the limits of a starter paddle should look at the Jojolemon CX100, which combines the highest rating in this comparison with real two-handed backhand support, or the JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion if budget is not the deciding factor and tournament-level spin is the goal.