ONIX Graphite Z5 Graphite Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddles with Cushion Comfort Pickleball Paddle Grip - USA Pickleball Approved, Grip Size 4 1/4 inches

Why it's worth it

The Z5 is a wide-body graphite paddle with a forgiving face and a tennis-style handle, and it's been a fixture on rec courts for years. It won't out-hit a modern power paddle, but it's easy to control from your first session and it's approved for sanctioned play.

The wide-body shape is the friendliest thing you can hand a new player. At about 8.3 inches across, the face gives you room to miss. Off-center hits still go roughly where you aimed, and that's the difference between a rally that keeps going and a ball in the net. If you're still learning where the sweet spot lives, a wider paddle teaches you faster than a narrow one does.

The graphite face is why this paddle feels the way it does. It's thin and stiff, so the ball sits on it for a beat before it leaves. That extra dwell is what lets you drop a third shot short instead of floating it long. Owners moving up from a bundled starter paddle describe the same change again and again: more control, not more power.

From our review of 7 graphite pickleball paddles, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +The wide-body shape is the friendliest thing you can hand a new player
• +The graphite face is why this paddle feels the way it does
• +It's approved for sanctioned play, which matters more than people expect
• +The handle is shaped like a tennis grip, which is why so many converts get along with it immediately

What to know

• –The core is Nomex honeycomb, not the polymer most current paddles use
• –The stock grip draws the most complaints