Top 5 Best Edgeless Pickleball Paddles 2022 – Reviews

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Lineup of the 5 edgeless pickleball paddles in the review

Edgeless pickleball paddles are the modern standard of pickleball paddles. The edge guard was an essential part of the overall construction. Pickleball paddles are typically 3 part paddles with the edge guard holding them together. Currently, edgeless paddles follow a 2 part construction and It’s speculated that you’ll see most paddles start to ditch the edge guard in the future. Without further ado, here are our favorite picks for the best edgeless pickleball paddles you need to check out in 2022.

It’s worth noting that for these tests, we tested only standard-size and mid-weight paddles to get accurate comparisons. Many of these manufacturers make paddles in different shapes and sizes which we also recommended below.

More Resources:

Top 15 Best Pickeball Paddles

Best Selkirk Pickleball Paddles

Our Favorite Pickleball Paddles For Control

Best Overall
PROKENNEX Pro Speed II Pickleball Paddle
  • Paddle Weight 7.9 oz
  • Handle length: 4 7/8"; circumference 4"
  • Paddle length: 15.43" x 7.6"
  • Paddle Face: carbon/fiberglass hybrid

ProKennex was really the first big paddle manufacturer that started the edgeless movement. The Pro Speed II is a very well-rounded pickleball paddle.

The thin core creates a ton of power and the Kinetic inserts that sounds like sand when you shake the paddle is so efficient at absorbing shock which is great if you suffer from tennis elbow.

You’ll notice a top edge guard on the paddle, but that is easy to remove or replace and really just protects the face from any damage. Overall this paddle sits very nicely in the hands and feels very aerodynamic and stable on the court.

Pros
  • A compressed core gives it a lot of power
  • Very good at absorbing shock
  • A balanced face feels stable and forgiving 
  • Easy to control spin
  • Great price 
Cons
  • short shots take some adjustment because of the pop and power it generates

Need a lightweight paddle?: ProKennex Pro Flight Lightweight

Need More Maneuverability?: ProKennex Ovation Flight Oval Paddle

Need More Spin?: ProKennex Kenetic Pro Spin

Editor's Choice
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air s2
  • Paddle Weight 7.9 oz
  • Handle length: 4 3/8"
  • Paddle length: 15.34" x 8"
  • Paddle Face: carbon/fiberglass hybrid

This paddle has a ton of spin (if you know how to generate it). The face feels great and so far the face texture has lasted longer than other Selkirk paddles. The sweet spot on this paddle is very well-balanced and big which means it offers stability and control. It doesn’t have crazy amounts of power, but it’ll get the job done.

Overall this is another well-rounded paddle in terms of spin, power, and controlled resets and dinks. The only downside is that it’s a little pricey, but after a couple of months, it seems to be the most durable Selkirk I’ve used so far. It’s a very light and maneuverable paddle since it has no edge guard and that wide opening by the handle.

Pros
  • So easy to generate tons of spin
  • Durable surface texture 
  • Big sweet spot 
  • Lots of pop
  • The handle feels great in the hands 
  • Forgiving face
Cons
  • Very expensive 
  • Slightly hard to control at first because it has so much pop

Need more Power: Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta (Elongated)

Best Feel
Gearbox CX14H
  • Paddle Dimensions: 15 7/8" x 8"
  • Paddle Weight: 8.1 oz
  • Handle Length: 5 5/8"
  • Paddle Face Material: Woven Carbon Fiber

One of the first things I noticed about this pickleball paddle is how great it feels in your hands. The stock grip is very high quality and the paddle length is long enough for tow handed backhands.

The carbon fiber face is extremely durable and you won’t find any dead spots or have to worry about durability. Additionally, the face feels amazing and consistent, especially coming from a polymer paddle. It’s a solid, thick, and very soft feel but once you get used to it you get better control.

The power is okay, but the spin is great and you can control the spin perfectly on long drives or short dinks and resets.

Pros
  • Very good at absorbing shock 
  • Great balance and stability for greater control
  • Great sound off the face
  • Slightly longer handle gives you more reach 
Cons
  • Needs a little more power. 

Looking for More power and maneuverability?: Gearbox CX 14e

Most Affordable
SLK Omega Max
  • Paddle Dimensions: 16" x 7.85"
  • Paddle Weight: 7.9 oz
  • Handle Length: 4.85"
  • Paddle Face Material: GC9-Flex Dual Carbon and Fiberglass Face

If you don’t want to spend $250 on a premium edgeless Selkirk Paddle (like the Power Air), then look no further than the SLK Omega Max.

Just because it’s cheaper than the other paddles in this review does not mean you’re sacrificing performance. You can generate a lot of spin with his paddle. In my opinion, it’s easier to generate more spin with this paddle than the Power Air.

As far as power goes, the Power Air takes the point there. The Omega Max feels like it has a bigger, softer sweet spot which isn’t great for power, but it is great for control. The paddle feels great and has a lot of pop off the face. Overall this paddle really shocked me in terms of performance and playability.

Pros
  • So easy to generate tons of spin
  • Amazing price for quality
  • Durable surface texture 
  • Big sweet spot 
  • Very nice feel
  • Decent power
  • Easy to control
  • Forgiving face
Cons
  • Not the best paddle if you're looking for power 
Lightweight
Engage Omega Evolution Elite
  • Paddle Weight: 7.6 oz
  • Handle length: 5"
  • Paddle length: 15 3/4" x 7 5/8"
  • Paddle Face: Carbon Fiber Skin

This is another mid-tier paddle that has top-tier performance. The first thing you’ll notice right away is how thin this paddle is. The thin core with no edge guard makes for a very light weight pickleball paddle. The second feature that stood out was the long handle. You can easily fit two hands on the handle if you prefer two-handed backhands.

Since the paddle is so light, it makes it hard to generate a lot of power, and the stability could have been better. This paddle really excels around the net for hands battles. The lightness made it easy to be lightning quick.

Pros
  • Great Price
  • Very maneuverable for hands battles
  • Thin core provides a lot of pop
  • Long handle gives you good reach 
  • Great control and feel
Cons
  • Hard to generate a lot of power
  • May be too light for those who are used. to heavy paddles

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of edgeless pickleball paddles?

Edgeless pickleball paddles are going to usually be lighter, more aerodynamic and more maneuverable than paddles with edge guards. Furthermore, the face tends to feel more responsive with less dead zones on mis-hits since the edge guard dulls the feeling when you hit the ball off-center.

Why do Pickleball Paddles have Edge-Guards?

Edge-guards protect brittle paddle surfaces from chipping and de-laminating which is when the paddle face detached from the core. Edgeless pickleball paddles are made up of a two part construction so you don’t have to worry about de-lamination.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Having extensive experience with edgeless paddles since they were introduced several years back—-I concur that the 2021 model Wolfe XF is far superior to any that have been produced. The suppressed integrated edge is impervious to nicks except in the most severe cases of floor contact.

    Amazingly, some of the more skilled players generate extraordinary spin, which to me is almost inexplicable since the surface is smooth (and also tough). The newly introduced grip garners the most positive feedback and I understand it will be employed in the production of all Wolfe paddle releases in the future.

    I usually never comment on paddle reviews since they can be very personal and subjective——–however, you are ‘spot on’ on your current review.

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