Best Pickleball Paddles for Advanced Players in 2024 - Top 5 Compared | Pickleheads (2024)

1. Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air Invikta

2. Legacy Pro

3. Bread & Butter Filth

4. JOOLA Perseus

5. CRBN-1X Power Series

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An elite-level paddle, if you're experienced enough to tame it

The Power Air Invikta had the highest combined score for spin and power of any paddle I've tested in 2023 so far.

I did find it difficult to control, with a lot of pop off the face. However, if you're an advanced player with good control already, you can play an aggressive game with this paddle that's difficult to compete against.

Who it's for

The Vanguard Power Air Invikta is suitable for players rated 4.0 up to pro level. While intermediates can try it out, it'll definitely be a challenge. If you're not too hard-hitting and more into a soft, control game, this one isn't for you either. The JOOLA Perseus will be more up your alley.

Features

One of the first features anyone notices on this paddle is the hole in the throat. This exists to make the paddle more aerodynamic and help it to swing faster through the air.

This isn't just a gimmick, either. The "Air-Dynamic" throat definitely increased my swing speed and boosted my power and spin. This small design feature gives this lightweight paddle a big boost of power.

Design and feel

This paddle feels sleek, modern, and premium in the hand. You can tell the materials used are high-quality and the unique throat design turns heads on the courts.

The Invikta is the longest and narrowest of the three Vanguard Power Air models. Between the elongated shape and the aerodynamic throat hole, my swing speed felt super fast and had lots of power behind it.

This paddle is also thermoformed (Selkirk prefers the term "360° molded") which creates a "unibody" paddle. This means that all the elements are bonded together, making it tough, durable, and overall better at generating power.

Thermoformed paddles typically play stiff with lots of pop, and I felt that here. They're also powerful, though, which the Invikta sure is.

Performance

First up, let's talk power. The paddle cuts through the air easily and that extra speed gives your shots a ton of drive and zip. In my testing, this helped keep my opponents back off the kitchen line and playing defensively.

The spin is also great, thanks to how the sandpaper-like surface grips the ball. In testing, I could feel the paddle cling to the ball on my backhand slice return or when mixing it up with a spin serve.

The only drawback for me is that Selkirk still use a spray-on grit, which means wears off over time. Many newer raw carbon fiber paddles have the texture built in, like the CRBN-1X, so the grip surface lasts much longer.

If you're looking for help with your drops and dinks, this paddle isn't right for you. Try the JOOLA Perseus instead.

Value for money

This is worth the $250 if you're an advanced player who plays an aggressive game. You won't find a paddle with better power and spin, at any price.

However, if you're looking for comparable power at a much more affordable price, check out the Bread and Butter Filth. The Filth is also a much more well-rounded paddle.

My verdict

A pro-level paddle without the premium price tag

Given the price, I assumed there was a catch with this paddle, but then I started seeing top players at my local courts playing with it and finally got it on the court myself.

As it turns out, there is no catch. It spins hard, has great control, and packs enough power to play a 4.0 or higher game. At $150, it's easily the best value for advanced players.

Who it's for

This paddle is ideal for any advanced player on a budget. It's an all-court paddle that offers all the spin and control you need. If you want pure power, check out the Bread & Butter Filth. Otherwise, the Legacy Pro is an awesome advanced paddle without the high price tag.

It also has a surprisingly large sweet spot. So, if you've recently moved up to advanced, you'll appreciate its forgiveness.

Features

This paddle is built like many of the most professional (and most expensive) paddles on the market today. It's thermoformed, with foam injected into the face's perimeter, which makes it stable and strong.

The face is made from T700 raw carbon fiber, the choice of many elite paddle manufacturers nowadays. Legacy make their paddles with a woven pattern that is meant to enhance the spin even more.

Having tested it against the competition, I agree and even chose it as my favorite for spin in my list of the best pickleball paddles in 2023.

Design and feel

This paddle's elongated shape gives you better reach—especially up at the kitchen. It's also thermoformed, which usually makes a paddle more powerful. I found this one surprisingly forgiving and controlled, while the power level was slightly less than I'd expected.

One issue is that the head can feel a little heavy and sluggish. If you're looking for a more nimble, lighter feel, try the JOOLA Perseus.

Performance

Spin is the first thing you'll notice with this paddle. I could put the kind of spin on the ball where your opponents let a shot go, thinking it's going to sail, only to watch it dip right on the line. That's always a satisfying feeling.

I'm also impressed by the control I get with the Legacy Pro. I feel at home with my touch shots and have no problem winning long dink rallies. The paddle is also surprisingly forgiving for an advanced paddle, with one of the largest sweet spots I've seen on a thermoformed paddle.

Having heard about this paddle's power, I was excited to see how hard I could hit the ball. Sadly, I was a little disappointed, so I'd recommend the Bread & Butter Filth if you want more power in your game.

Value for money

At only $150, this paddle is a genuine bargain. If you're an advanced player on a budget, I recommend giving this paddle a look before the $250 JOOLA Perseus or other premium picks.

My verdict

The most powerful paddle I've tested so far in 2023

The Filth was the most fun paddle I tested in 2023. It hit really hard and I couldn't help but play aggressively with it. I think any advanced player who wants a lively, hard-hitting paddle is going to like the Filth.

Who it suits

This paddle will suit the advanced player who values power above all but who also likes to play with spin. Both areas were 10/10 for me. It also has an affordable price tag despite being built like the most expensive paddles on the market.

Features

This paddle has the same thermoformed build and raw carbon fiber face as paddles like the Legacy Pro and CRBN Pro Series. On paper, it's almost identical to the CRBN-1X (but $65 cheaper).

I thought that the thermoforming added lots of power, and the texture of the face generated great spin.

Design and feel

I'll be honest—I love the way the paddle looks with its trippy face design and nice-looking leather grip. It also feels plush and comfortable in the hand. I could play with this paddle all day and night if I could.

Performance

This paddle has lots of pop and energy, but I think advanced players will have no issue taming it. Bread & Butter claim their paddles are built in outer space, and I was almost hitting balls into outer space in my first game.

Thankfully, I got a feel for it by the second game. The more I played with it, the more I could dial in advanced touch shots like topspin drops or even third shot drops taken off a deep return. I never expected it would become my go-to paddle through much of 2023.

Value for money

Priced at $165, this paddle is genuinely great value. I compare it to one of my favorite paddles of all time (and pick 5 on this list) the CRBN-1X, which retails for $65 more.

My verdict

A premium control paddle from top brand JOOLA

Having tested over 20 thermoformed carbon fiber paddles this year, I found most of them great for power and spin but often lacking in control. The Perseus is the exception. It's great on blocking and resetting, and I found it had just enough spin and power to play a complete game.

Who it suits

This paddle is ideal for advanced players who are looking to focus on their control game and who aren't put off by a small sweet spot. If you like fast hands battles, I'd recommend giving this one a try.

Features

The paddle's unibody design, which JOOLA call "fully encased carbon", gives this paddle a stiff, crisp feel. However, I found that the poppiness can be reigned in after a short adjustment period.

The surface they use on the face is now called "charged carbon", though I was disappointed to find it generated less spin than their previous "carbon friction" surface.

Design and feel

JOOLA certainly know how to design a pro-level paddle—the Perseus feels and looks great in the hand. It's lightweight, at only 8 oz for the 16 mm option, so feels quick without any sluggishness.

Head heaviness was one of the biggest complaints from the Hyperion, so this is a definite upgrade.

Performance

The main strength of this paddle is its excellent control. I quickly found myself hitting dinks, drops, and resets with confidence. I also liked playing with it against hard-hitting advanced players as it was especially good for blocking.

Unlike its predecessor, the Hyperion, this paddle feels light and nimble in the hand. The sweet spot is small, but advanced players won't be bothered by that.

Once you get a feel for this paddle, you can play a strong touch game. While spin is lacking, and you won't generate as much power as the B&B Filth, there's plenty of both to play a complete game and win games against 4.0-5.0 players.

Value for money

This is another $250 paddle, which is a lot of money to shell out. If you have the budget though, and want a control-focused, top-of-the-range paddle, the Perseus is a great option to consider.

My verdict

An excellent all-court power that's built for spin

It's rare to find a paddle that works as well for early intermediates as it does for 4.5-5.0 players, but the CRBN-1X is just that. It's an all-court pick that skews toward power. Plus, advanced players will appreciate the reach and extra power you get from the elongated design.

Who it suits

This paddle can work well for intermediate players too, but they won't get the same level of performance from it that a more experienced player will. Advanced players who like to play with lots of power and spin will feel at home with the 1X.

Features

This paddle's face material is what generates its spin. CRBN use the T700 Toray carbon fiber surface with a gritty texture, which grips the ball really well.

Unlike with the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta, this surface isn't sprayed on but instead is built into it, so it won't wear off over time.

Design and feel

This paddle is thermoformed with a unibody design, which I found adds a lot more power and pop to my shots, as well as more stability and strength to the paddle.

Thermoformed paddles tend to feel stiff, but I didn't find that too much of a problem here. The increased stability made up for any stiffness.

Performance

Despite being part of the Power Series, the CRBN-1X still has great levels of spin. During my testing, I could generate the kind of topspin that dips the ball right at my opponent's feet.

The spin here is in the 1750-1850 rpm range. While I know some newer paddles are achieving over 2,000 rpm, in my opinion, they're simply not as good as the CRBN-1X for advanced players. CRBN started the raw carbon trend and, impressively, are still at the very top.

As it says in the name, the CRBN-1X Power Series packs a lot of power, mostly thanks to its unibody design. While not as much as the Filth, there's plenty even for aggressive players like me. There's a small compromise on control, but advanced players won't mind too much.

Value for money

At $229.99, this one certainly has a premium price tag. However, there are plenty more expensive paddles on the market in 2023 that don't get the results this one does. It also comes with a free neoprene paddle cover, and we all love a freebie.

My verdict