Well-read and reputable online platform Business Insider recently tested various pickleball paddles with the help of eight unnamed pickleball pros. The goal? To determine which paddle is the best for each level of player. The results might surprise you—or not.

Best Overall Paddle: SLK HALO Pro XL

Business Insider described the SLK HALO Pro XL as “the goldilocks of paddles” among those tested. The reviewers praised is as being “a true hybrid paddle for both power and control” and for being a “great all-court option for players of all skill levels and styles.” 

The SLK HALO Pro XL is 14 millimetres thick and weighs around 7.7 and 8.2 ounces,with a surface made of a patent-pending blend of carbon fibre and Kevlar. This blend of materials make the SLK HALO Pro XL’s surface  stiff, durable, textured, and capable of generating a good amount of spin.

Best for Beginner: SLK EVO Power XL

As Business Insider correctly points out, beginners need to develop power and speed simultaneously  and have “an understanding of how to generate speed and strength, as well as how to control where the ball ends up.” The SLK EVO Power XL, according to Business Insider, allows exactly that, even though its name includes the word power. 

Selkirk Sport itself describes the SLK EVO Power XL as for “advancing players who crave power without sacrificing control.” It accomplishes both, allowing players to unleash power but maintaining control while doing so. This balance, Business Insider points out, is perfect for those just getting a feel for pickleball.

Wilson Vesper

It appears that the pickleball pros Business Insider recruited for its paddle testing agreed that the Wilson Vesper is the best for advanced player. And that goes for the Vesper’s two models: the Wilson Vesper Power and the Wilson Vesper Control.

The Wilson Vesper Control, though, gets the edge ever so slightly. At 17 millimetres, the Wilson Vesper Control is the thickest paddle Business Insider, and it provided great control and allowed for just the right power. One advanced tester, according to Business Insider, felt “really in control of the ball” though its relative smallness requires some getting used to.

What’s Best for You?

Of course, just because Business Insider’s testing says gave high marks to the SLK HALO Pro XL, the SLK EVO Power XL, and the Wilson Vesper doesn’t mean either one of them is the paddle for you. We at PNA suggest you try out different paddles first before deciding on which one you will buy. Take your time with it, be deliberate about the paddle-choosing process, and decide on what you think is the right choice.

Remember, your choice of paddle is one of the biggest decisions you will make as a pickleball player!