Pickleball Paddles & Pickleball Rackets

The Best Pickleball Paddles and Outstanding Selection by Li-Ning

The most significant decision facing any pickleball player from beginner to professional is to choose the best pickleball paddle to suit their play style and abilities. It’s where your game starts and ends. With so many pickleball racket options, it’s important to match the best pickleball paddle with the type of game you play. Li-Ning has simplified the process and caters its rackets to four distinct play styles: Instinct, Drive, Boost and Combat. Your choice of pickleball racket reflects your style and defines your game. This is why Li-Ning partners with Manta, a Canadian company that has been manufacturing racket sports equipment since 1972, to offer the highest quality paddles made from various materials including fiberglass, composite, graphite and polymers. Our paddles are designed to be durable, to be highly responsive on the court, and to exceed your expectations.

The first thing you should decide is what type of pickleball paddle from the four Li-Ning series best compliments your style of play. The four levels indicate what you are trying to accomplish on the court: training, competing, playing like a professional or searching for the ultimate best overall experience.

Players new to the game of pickleball, may prefer an affordable option from the Instinct Series. The entry-level layered birch veneer plywood paddle harks back to the game’s original 1965 roots and can often be found at your local YMCAs, gymnasiums or recreation centers.

Pickleball paddles from the Drive Series are quickly becoming the most popular because their graphite skins and polymer honeycomb cores provide a good mix of power and control. With most of these competition-grade paddles weighing an average of 7.5 ounces (213 grams) the Drive Series paddles are perfect for indoor or outdoor play.

The Boost Series of pickleball paddles features an array of eye-popping colors, but it’s also where Li-Ning introduces the professional-grade option of a sheer polymer honeycomb core for those who don’t want to be distracted by cutting-edge style and flair.

If you want to combine a solid sweet spot with maximum reach for those elusive overheads and incoming low balls, the Combat Series is where you will find the longest paddles in the Li-Ning pickleball lineup. Many of these ultimate offerings include paddles that approach the maximum USAPA approved length of 17 inches (43 cm) that gives uber players the largest weapon on the court without adding any unnecessary extra weight.

No matter what category of pickleball paddle you decide to purchase, the grip sizes will be fairly similar because Li-Ning understands you want a paddle that feels comfortable and won’t slip in your hand. Most grips are 4 ¼ inches (10.8 cm) which is popular option among players because it allows the paddle to act as an extension of the hand for intricate volleys, greater accuracy, power and deception.

A final consideration for pickleball paddles is the sound that it emanates with each shot. Paddles can range in sound levels from soft, medium to hard (wood). Usually the goal is to dampen the noise not only because it can be annoying to you, spectators or nearby neighbors, but it also telegraphs your shots a bit, so it’s better to be incognito.

Buy Pickleball Paddles Online or In-store

Li-Ning is the foremost North American destination for pickleball paddles, pro sportswear and accessories. Shop online anytime to discover our wide selection of pickleball shoes, bags, balls and performance pickleball clothing for men, women and children. State-of-the-art Li-Ning pickleball paddles available via the Li-Ning Pickleball Superstore website or through your local dealer in the USA and Canada, are intended to help athletes gain a winning edge. Contact Li-Ning Pickleball Superstore toll-free weekdays at 855-6LI-NING, or drop us a line using our online form.