Modern-day paddle manufacturers use a lot of high-end materials to make sure their paddles feel just right in the hand of the user. Plus, the amount of research and development that goes into the production of these paddles makes them quite expensive for the end user. These reasons, among many others, make these Pickleball paddles a luxury for some people and beginners.
However, there are cheaper alternatives to these paddles if you’re on a tight budget and don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on just a single paddle. These alternatives might not be as good as the high-end paddles, but they’re sure to give you a quality experience on the court.
With that being said, let’s talk about all of the ins and outs as to why these Pickleball paddles are so expensive and what you can do to get them at a cheaper price. So without any further ado, let’s get started, shall we?
Why Are Pickleball Paddles So Expensive?
There are a lot of factors that are taken into consideration when evaluating the price of any product. First of all, the company has to make sure that they are making a profit, obviously. Second of all, they need to be able to earn enough money so that they can fund their future ventures easily.
In the case of these Pickleball paddles, a lot of money is spent on the quality of the material that is being used to construct these Pickleball paddles. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg. There are a bunch of different elements that come into play when manufacturing Pickleball paddles. These different elements are as follows:
- Material Quality
- Design
- Research and Development
- Expensive Brand Name
Paddle Material Quality
When this game was first invented, it used to be only played with wooden Pickleball paddles. These days, manufacturers make Pickleball paddles with a variety of different materials. To this day, you can find wooden Pickleball paddles on the market that costs you around $10 to $30 dollars. However, when we get into more advanced materials like carbon fiber and aluminum, things start getting more expensive.
Carbon fiber is most popular in the automobile industry, and it is usually used for weight-saving purposes. It is weightless compared to wood or metal and at least 4 times stronger. This makes for more durable and longer-lasting Pickleball paddles.
Shape Design
Manufacturers spend a lot of time designing different arts for their Pickleball paddles as well as different formations of shapes and sizes. Although this is not a huge game changer in increasing the prices of these Pickleball paddles, it is still something to be considered.
Pickleball Research and Development
Manufacturers spend a lot of money trying out different compositions of materials to make sure their customers are well satisfied with their paddles. They also spend a lot of hours researching the best type of materials and weight-saving techniques to ensure they can have Pickleball paddles in their lineup for all types of people.
Pickleball Brand Name
This one shouldn’t come as a surprise to you. It happens in every single industry in the world. Once a company has made its name in the market, it can get away with selling a $40 product for $70 just because of the name and trust that they have built with its customers.
However, there is an alternate solution for this if you’re not a brand-conscious person. There are endless amounts of Chinese Pickleball paddles available on the market that provide the same quality as these well-known brands but for half the money.
- Read more: “TOP 10 Best Pickleball Paddle Brands 2023 [Pro Sponsor Brand]”
Do Expensive Pickleball paddles Mean Better Paddles?
No, not necessarily. If we’re talking about the difference between a $10 paddle and a $50 paddle, then yes, the difference would be massive. However, once you cross the $50 to $60 mark, the differences start to become so negligible that an average person would not even notice.
That being said, if you’re playing this sport competitively, it is absolutely necessary that you have the best paddle on the market. So go ahead and spend $150 to $200 on an expensive Gamma pickleball paddle if you’re going to be playing this sport competitively; otherwise, just stick to your $50 paddle as long as you can.
What is a reasonable price for a Pickleball paddle?
There are many factors to consider since paddles range from cheap $10 ones to over $150 for pro paddles. It depends on factors like your budget and how often you play. However, to save you from the trouble of investing too much time we recommend that if you are a beginner or don’t play very often, start with a cheap but sturdy wooden paddle ranging from $15-$35.
While for someone who is a pro or plays pickleball intensively, we suggest investing in a durable professional paddle. These range from $80-$120 for good-quality graphite or composite paddles. These will last longer and save you from having to replace cheaper paddles ever so often because of the intense play.
Final Words
Although having a better paddle does make a difference, what’s even more important than having an expensive paddle is having a good hand behind it. It’s a waste of money if you cannot even play the game properly, but you have one of the most expensive Pickleball paddle on the market.
So, it’s important to practice as much as you can in order to improve yourself. As a beginner, you can even start with a $10 wooden paddle. You just need to have the heart to play the game.
If you’ve liked what you’ve just read or if you have any questions, be sure to comment down below and let us know.
