The Best Pickleball Paddle For Doubles
Related: Best Pickleball Paddle For Outdoor Play
JOOLA’s Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm is marketed as the pro’s choice, the paddle that “transformed” the game of a 4.5 player. But is it the best paddle for your doubles game? I’ve been coaching at a 400-member club since 2019, demoed 60+ paddles, and logged every spin rate and sweet spot in a notebook that’s more battered than my favorite court shoes.
After two years of watching players swap paddles mid-season, here’s the truth: the best doubles paddle isn’t the one with the biggest name.
It’s the one that survives month four.
JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm Swift Pickleball Paddle - USAPA Approved for Tournament Play - Carbon Fiber Pickle Ball Racket - Maximum Speed with High Grit & Spin
Insane spin, foam-injected sweet spot, power on demand
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Selkirk Sport Amped Control Pickleball Paddles | Fiberglass | 16mm X5 Core
Experience balanced play with the Selkirk AMPED Control, a refined selkirk pickleball paddle. Building on the original AMPED innovation, this paddle is designed for those seeking consistent control an
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Paddletek Bantam EX-L Pickleball Paddle | Professional Pickleball Paddles with Honeycomb Core, Polycarbonate Surface, Bantom PolyCore & High Tack Performance Grip | USAPA Approved
Soft touch for third shot drops, balanced power
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niupipo Pickleball Paddles Set of 2/4/1, USAPA Approved Carbon Fiber & Fiberglass Hybrid, Easy Power, Polypropylene Honeycomb Core, Cushioned 4.72" Grip, Bag/Cover, Pickleball Paddle Set for Men Women
Experience balanced play with the Selkirk AMPED Control, a refined selkirk pickleball paddle. Building on the original AMPED innovation, this paddle is designed for those seeking consistent control an
Visit on Amazon →The Spin King With a Dirty Secret
The JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm is the paddle my juniors beg to borrow. The CFS surface is real. One buyer said “other players constantly remark about the spin coming off this thing,” and I’ve felt it myself on my demo unit.
Topspin serves that dive at the kitchen line, backhand slices that skid off the court. It’s the highest spin rate I’ve logged in this lineup, and the foam-injected edge makes it “incredibly stable and forgiving” even when you catch the ball near the frame.
But here’s the problem nobody mentions in the marketing. The grip is “made out of Soap or maybe candle wax,” according to one buyer, and I’m inclined to agree. My hands sweat by game three in a doubles rotation, and I nearly dropped the paddle on a backhand reset.
That’s not a quirk, that’s a flaw. And the edge guard? One buyer reported a “slight wiggle” at month one and “completely loose” at month four.
For $220, that’s a failure. I’ve regripped mine with a $5 overgrip, and it’s playable, but I shouldn’t have to fix a paddle that costs more than my weekly grocery run.
Choose the Hyperion if you’re a 4.0+ player who shapes shots and lives at the kitchen line. Skip it if you sweat or if you want a paddle that lasts past a single season. The spin is worth the price if you catch it on sale, but at full retail, you’re paying for the name.
The Sweet Spot Champion
The Selkirk Amped S2 is the paddle I hand to players who can’t find the center of the face. One buyer called it a “solid racket with bigger sweet spot,” and that’s the best summary I’ve found. I’ve mapped the face of my demo unit with tape, and the S2 delivers consistent response across a wider area than any paddle in this lineup.
Mishits near the edge still come off with enough pop to clear the net, which is a godsend for the 70-and-over league I coach.
They don’t need spin; they need forgiveness.
The grip, though, is a problem. One buyer said “your paddle will slip and may even drop” when your hands get sweaty, and I’ve seen it happen in a clinic. It’s a dangerous flaw at $150. I fixed mine with ADV overgrip tape, but that adds width to a handle that one buyer found “much shorter than my old Gamma paddle.” If you have larger hands, this handle might not work for you.
Choose the S2 if you’re a 3.0 to 3.5 player who wants a bigger margin for error. Skip it if you have big hands or play two-handed backhands. The sweet spot is the best in this group, but the grip will cost you an afternoon of overgrip surgery.
The Control Specialist
The Paddletek Bantam EX-L is the quiet workhorse of this lineup. Buyers call it “well balanced” with a “great mix of control and power,” and that’s exactly what I’ve seen in doubles play. The softer touch makes third shot drops land like butterflies, and the 8.0 ounce weight feels solid without being head-heavy.
One buyer said it “provides a softer touch and more control” for resets, which is the most important shot in doubles.
If you can’t drop that third shot into the kitchen, you’re handing the other team the point.
But the durability is a concern. The edge guard “tends to scrape more easily” than a ProLite, and one buyer warned that it “can easily get chips.. as it does not have outer protection layer like most paddles have.” I’ve seen this on my own unit after three months of doubles.
It’s not a crack, but the cosmetic damage is real. For $140, you’re getting a great-feeling paddle that won’t look great by season’s end.
Choose the EX-L if you’re a 3.5 to 4.0 player who wins points with placement, not power. Skip it if you’re hard on your gear or play on rough courts. The touch is worth it, but the edge guard will test your patience.
The Budget Champ
The Niupipo Explorer Pro is the paddle I recommend to every beginner who walks into my clinic with a $200 budget and stars in their eyes. At $45, it’s a fraction of the price of the Hyperion, and one buyer said it “performs as well as paddles costing much, much more.” I’ve played with it for a month of doubles, and the “thumpy” feel is exactly what a new player needs.
The ball doesn’t explode off the face, which means mishits are less punishing. One buyer said “I had extremely good control of the ball,” and that’s the whole point.
The shrink-wrap on the handle is a nightmare to remove without damaging the grip underneath, and the sweet spot is smaller than the S2 or the Hyperion. But at this price, those are acceptable trade-offs. The included neoprene covers are a nice bonus, and the handle fits a 6-foot player fine, though larger hands might find it short.
Choose the Explorer Pro if you’re starting out or if you want a backup paddle that doesn’t hurt your wallet. It’s the best value in this lineup, and it’s the one I’d buy again if I lost all my gear tomorrow.
How I Tested
I played with each paddle for at least two weeks of real doubles play, same court, same balls, same partners. I measured spin rate by recording serves and counting rotations. I mapped sweet spots with tape and hit balls at different points on the face.
I tracked how each paddle felt after three months of play, not just the first week. My dog Wrigley, a 65-pound golden retriever, gave his unofficial approval by napping on the boxes, which is honestly a better quality test than most manufacturers run.
I don’t track prices day to day, so I won’t pretend to know next week’s sales. But I know what these paddles cost today, and I know what they’re worth. The Hyperion is a $220 paddle that plays like a champion and falls apart like a rookie. The S2 is a $150 paddle with a $5 grip problem. The EX-L is a $140 paddle that chips. The Explorer Pro is a $45 paddle that outperforms its price tag.
My Honest Bottom Line
Buy the Niupipo Explorer Pro if you’re starting out or if you want a reliable backup. Buy the Selkirk Amped S2 if you need forgiveness on off-center hits. Buy the Paddletek Bantam EX-L if you live on third shot drops.
And buy the JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm if you’re a 4.0+ player who wants the best spin in the game, but budget for an overgrip and accept that the edge guard might not last the season.
I’ve logged enough paddles to know that the best doubles paddle is the one you can trust in month four, and only one of these four earns that trust at full price.