Finding the best pickleball paddle for spin shots can turn you into a weapon on the pickleball courts.
There’s nothing better than having a variety of spin shots, from topspin drives, to soft, backspin dinks and topspin serves. Just when you’re opponents think they have you figured out, you hit a shot with so much spin that there was no chance they could get to it.
More Resources: Our Favorite Pickleball Paddles In 2022
So without further ado, let’s break down the best pickleball paddles for spin in 2022.
Key Factors To Consider When Choosing A Pickleball Paddle For Spin
Face Material
You generally have three main materials that you’ll commonly see. Graphite, Composite, and Carbon Fiber. Composite and Carbon fiber are going to usually generate the most spin. Composite is lighter and more maneuverable so you can generate more speed. Furthermore, it has a grittier surface.
Carbon Fiber is a lot softer, which allows the ball to stay on the face for a fraction longer and create more friction to generate spin. Either one is great and we mention both carbon fiber and composite paddles in this review.
Handle Length
A longer handle means more leverage, which makes it easier to create that “swipe” motion for a spin.
Paddle Weight
A lighter paddle allows you to generate more speed through the ball and create more spin. Carbon fiber is usually lighter so it’s easy to generate spin. A heavier paddle will give you more control and power, but it’s harder to generate spin. You have to find a good sweet spot for your game.
Also Check Out: Top 5 Pickleball Paddles For Control
Technique
The pickleball paddle will only work if your technique is good. You could give a pro the worst pickleball paddle and they could still spin it. You could also give a complete beginner the best pickleball paddle for spin, and they won’t be able to spin it.
The paddle can only improve spin by maybe 10%, your technique and form account for 90%. However, that 10% can be a day and night difference if you have your form down.
So here are the best pickleball paddles for spin.
Check out: Best Beginner Pickleball Paddles
5 Best Pickleball Paddles For Spin- Reviews
NOTE: All Pickleball Paddles meet USA Pickleball/IFP regulations. They are completely legal.
- Paddle Weight 7.9 oz
- Handle length: 4 3/8"
- Paddle length: 15.34" x 8"
- Paddle Face: carbon/fiberglass hybrid
The Selkirk Vanguard Power air is quite possibly the easiest paddle to generate tons of spin that I’ve used. Their rough surface texture is the key factor for this. Not only is the surface texture easy to spin, but it’s also extremely durable.
I tested this paddle for two months and although there were little chips and scratches from general use, the texture stayed the same. For the two months that I was using it my serves and drives improved dramatically. I could hammer serves and drives with so much topspin that it shocked my opponents and me.
The carbon fiber face has tons of pop while also feeling very soft. It almost feels like the ball stays on the face a fraction longer.
If you’re solely looking to increase spin on serves and drives, this is the perfect paddle for you. The one drawback I had with this paddle is that it has almost too much power. My dinks drops and resets suffered while using this paddle because of how hot the face was.
That being said, my dinks and drops have never been my strength. The Selkirk Power Air does take a little getting used to, but if you give it time and you already have a good short game, it could be a very versatile pickleball paddle.
- 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
- Very expensive
- Slightly hard to control at first because it has so much pop
- 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
The SLK omega Max is a high-performance pickleball paddle that is being offered a medium-performance price range. For under $150 you’re getting an edgeless, carbon fiber face pickleball paddle that outperforms many of the premium pickleball paddles in the $200 range.
It’s almost shocking how much spin this paddle generates. The face texture feels a lot like the Selkirk Power air, however, unlike the Power Air, it’s a lot easier to control shorter shots.
The paddle face and sweet spot are a lot bigger, so this pickleball paddle doesn’t have as much pop as the power air, but I still had no problem hitting it hard.
The surface texture seems durable, I’ve only been using this paddle for about a month but if it’s the same as the power air it should be extremely durable.
Overall the SLK Omega max is a very well-rounded, versatile, and premium pickleball paddle. If you’re looking for spin and control without sacrificing too much power, this is the paddle for you.
- 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
- Not the best paddle if you're looking for power
- Paddle Weight: 7.6 oz
- Handle length: 5"
- Paddle length: 15 3/4" x 7 5/8"
- Paddle Face: Carbon Fiber Skin
The Omega Evolution Elite was very easy to generate spin. Unlike the first two pickleball paddles we reviewed, the face had some texture, was not nearly as gritty.
The reason this pickleball paddle is so easy to spin is that it is so light. The super thin core, carbon fiber face, and no edge guard make this paddle very easy to generate a lot of speed through the ball. Furthermore, the long handle give you a lot of leverage to brush up and create a top spin.
The face of this paddle is not very forgiving at all and lacks stability due to how narrow the face is. I personally don’t typically use a lightweight paddle, so I still need to get used to it.
Overall this paddle is another premium quality paddle at a very good price. If you’re used to lightweight paddles the Omega Evolution Elite could be a great option.
- Great Price
- Very maneuverable for hands battles
- Thin core provides a lot of pop
- Long handle gives you good reach
- Great control and feel
- Hard to generate a lot of power
- May be too light for those who are used. to heavy paddles
- Paddle Dimensions: 16.5" x 7.5
- Paddle Weight: 8.4 oz
- Handle Length: 5.5"
- Grip Circumference: 4.25"
- Paddle Face: Carbon Friction Surface (CFS)
The Ben Johns Joola Hyperion CFS has gathered a lot of popularity since it was released. The hype is true This pickleball paddle does it all. It’s got plenty of pop, its easy to spin due to the carbon face surface (CFS), and it’s a very responsive, solid face and sweet spot.
This paddle ranges on the heavier side and I feel like if it were lighter it would’ve generated more spin that the top paddles in this review. The wright is great for dries and serves and you can generate tons of spin with power. However, on hands battles it’s a little too heavy for me.
If you play a heavier paddle and I think you’ll absolutely enjoy this and be able to execute a wide variety of shots with the Joola Hyperion CFS.
- Heavier weight makes it easy to create power
- Very comfortable ribbed grip
- Gritty face texture makes it easy to control spin
- Forgiving and soft face
- Face texture wears down after a while
- The white grip gets very dirty.
- Paddle Dimensions: 15 7/8" x 8"
- Paddle Weight: 8.1 oz
- Handle Length: 5 5/8"
- Paddle Face Material: Woven Carbon Fiber
Gearbox Cx 14h is one of the newest (and thickest) pickleball paddles from Gearbox. The carbon fiber paddle face is very smooth and soft, yet generates a ton of spin. It’s not as much as the Selkirk or SLK paddles above, but if you’re already pretty good at generating spin a little more control, this is the paddle for you.
The face is super responsive and solid especially compared to a polymer core. Overall this paddle is very versatile. Resets and dinks felt good and it was easy to control the spin, and drives and serves were easy to generate power while also controlling spin.
It’s worth noting that if you’ve never used a gearbox before, it can feel a lot different than a traditional polymer paddle, so if you go with this paddle, give it some time to get used to.
- Very good at absorbing shock
- Great balance and stability for greater control
- Great sound off the face
- Slightly longer handle gives you more reach
- Needs a little more power.
Why Is Spin So Important in Pickleball?
Pickleball has attracted a MASSIVE following in the last 5-10 years. With more players, comes more competition and more skill.
We’re seeing a lot of former tennis players and even table tennis players dominate around local and tournament pickleball courts,
In tennis and ping pong, a nasty spin shot is a key to success.
Mastering the spin shot in pickleball is essential to play at an intermediate or advanced level.
Spin ads insurance to every shot. If you hit a dink that has backspin, you can hit it a little higher over the net knowing that it will not take a big bounce when it lands.
Same with topspin. If you hit a drive with top spin, you can hit it a little higher, knowing that it will come in low and hot hopefully, at your opponent’s feet.
Sidespin is also useful since it makes the bounce less predictable. Therefore, there’s a higher chance your opponent hits a juicy high one back to you for the put-away.
Conclusion
I cannot emphasize this enough. Just because you get the top pickleball paddle for spin, does not mean you’re magically going to go from a 2.5 to a 5.0.
These paddles only really improve spin rate by maybe 5%-10% maximum! If you can already get spin on the ball with good technique, then that 10% is a huge advantage.
If you don’t already have good technique, then focus on your form first, then get the right paddle after.
Nice, all great paddles but to name five out of such a wide range? I have one of the five in my collection and am not sure I’ll go seeking out another.
Playability in a paddle being dictated pretty much on ‘effective hitting area’ aka the ‘sweet spot ‘, it stands to reason a bigger one offers more. Some players make contact with it 90% of the time or better and others a lot less.
How you use it to apply spin, power and control is also going to help your game. In Table Tennis these are the three areas listed on the rubber ratings. Interesting to say the least. On the PB serve (being essentially a defensive stroke since it’s underhand) using the sweet spot that’s more toward the middleish is good. What I like to do is sometimes use the very top of the paddle surface to make contact with the ball. This is basically the farthest, outside part of the curved arc of the swing/stroke. It will sometimes give me a deeper more effective serve and occasionally a ‘slingshot’ effect as best can be described. The ball that comes off that is like nothing else. Even though it’s low percentage, if you practice it it’s can be a problem for virtually anyone to return it. If they do it’ll be easy to put away.
What’s is critical with paddles is what defines the game/sport itself. Evolution!
Although PB has elements of these other racquet/ paddle sports as so often pointed out, the equipment used is so dissimilar. That says a lot. In the end though PB is a lot of fun in so many ways and one can be as creative with their game as they like. Many factors go into why it is immensely popular with everyone, regardless of age or gender etc. Truly multi generational and quite a bit cheaper to engage in. Cheers!
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