13 Pickleball Paddle for Small-Hand Canadians (2024‘s Best Picks)
Selecting the ideal pickleball paddle is crucial for players with small hands, especially in Canada where the sport is gaining momentum. The right paddle can significantly enhance your control and comfort on the court, allowing for a more enjoyable and effective game. This article zeroes in on the best pickleball paddles tailored for those with a short grip preference, ensuring that players with small hands find the perfect match.
Understanding the importance of grip diameter, paddle weight, and handle length is essential, as these factors directly impact playability and performance. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the sport, this guide is designed to help you navigate the myriad of options and pinpoint a paddle that complements your playing style without compromising on comfort or control.
How we Pick and Test? Our selection and testing process for pickleball paddles begins with an initial pick of 35 paddles. We then dedicate 9 hours of rigorous testing at our indoor and outdoor facilities. To ensure we’re on the right track, we reach out to 4 pickleball industry experts for their insights and recommendations. They often emphasize the importance of grip comfort, paddle weight, and material durability. After this comprehensive process, we conclude that a select number of paddles are best suited for players with small hands, enhancing their control and comfort during the game.
Model | Best For | Features | Check Price |
---|---|---|---|
Joola Ben Johns Hyperion C2 CFS Pickleball Paddle | Power and control | Small grip size, high-quality construction, and good reviews | Shop on AmazonShop on eBay |
GearBox Pro Power Elongated Pickleball Paddle | Power and precision | Small grip size, elongated design for reach and power | Shop on AmazonShop on eBay |
Joola Ben Johns Perseus CFS Pickleball Paddle | Balanced play | Small grip size, balanced weight for control and power | Shop on AmazonShop on eBay |
CRBN 2X Power Series (Square Paddle) | Power and spin | Small grip size, square design for increased sweet spot | Shop on AmazonShop on eBay |
GearBox Pro Power Fusion Pickleball Paddle | Power and control | Small grip size, fusion of power and control features | Shop on AmazonShop on eBay |
Adidas Metalbone Pickleball Paddle | Power and control | Small grip size, carbon fiber surface, PMI core | Shop on AmazonShop on eBay |
Adidas Adipower ATTK Pickleball Paddle | Attack and power | Small grip size, carbon aluminized surface, HD Polypropylene Honeycomb core | Shop on AmazonShop on eBay |
Adidas Adipower CTRL Pickleball Paddle | Control and precision | Small grip size, carbon aluminized surface, HD Polypropylene Honeycomb core | Shop on AmazonShop on eBay |
Baddle Lancer Pickleball Paddle | Versatility | Small grip size, polymer honeycomb core, fiberglass surface | Shop on AmazonShop on eBay |
Echelon Pickleball Paddle | Control and precision | Small grip size, polymer honeycomb core, graphite surface | Shop on AmazonShop on eBay |
Gearbox PRO Control Elongated Pickleball Paddle | Control and precision | Small grip size, elongated design for reach and control | Shop on AmazonShop on eBay |
Electrum Pro Pickleball Paddle | Power and control | Small grip size, balanced weight for control and power | Shop on AmazonShop on eBay |
Adidas RX20 Pickleball Paddle | Power and control | Small grip size, balanced weight for control and power | Shop on AmazonShop on eBay |
The Problem with Most Pickleball Paddles
As an avid pickleball player, I’ve encountered a common issue that many of us with smaller hands face: finding a paddle that doesn’t compromise on control and comfort. Most pickleball paddles on the market seem to cater to a one-size-fits-all approach, with grip sizes that are often too large for those of us needing a short grip. This mismatch can lead to a lack of precision and an uncomfortable playing experience.
The struggle to find a paddle with the right grip diameter is real. Many players end up having to modify their paddles, such as sanding down the handle, to achieve a circumference that’s closer to the ideal 3.5 to 4 inches suitable for small hands. However, this can be risky and potentially damage the paddle. Moreover, a paddle with a grip that’s too small can cause us to exert more force to maintain control, which can lead to hand fatigue and even injuries like tennis elbow.
Another aspect often overlooked is the paddle weight and handle length. A paddle that’s too heavy can lead to arm strain, while one that’s too light might not provide enough power behind the shots. The handle length is also crucial, as a longer handle can reduce the hitting surface and sweet spot, which is not ideal for players who rely on precision.
The market’s oversight in providing a variety of paddles that cater to players with small hands is a significant problem. It’s not just about comfort; it’s about performance. Without the right paddle, we’re at a disadvantage on the court, struggling to keep up with players who have equipment that fits them perfectly. This guide aims to address that gap and help players like me find a paddle that feels like an extension of our arm, allowing us to play our best game.
Perfect Pickleball Paddle for Your Petite Hands
Joola Ben Johns Hyperion C2 CFS Pickleball Paddle
The Joola Ben Johns Hyperion C2 CFS Pickleball Paddle is a top-tier all-court paddle that offers a perfect blend of power, control, and spin. It’s designed with a small grip size, making it ideal for players with small hands. The paddle is lightweight and maneuverable, ensuring comfort and ease of use.
Best For:
- Power and control
- Spin-oriented play
- Recreational pickleball
- Beginners and control-oriented players
Quick Specs:
- Grip size: Small (4″ or less)
- Paddle weight: Lightweight (under 7.5 oz)
- Paddle material: Graphite, honeycomb core, composite materials
- Paddle face: Smooth face, textured face, spin-oriented face
- Playing style: Recreational pickleball, beginner, control-oriented
The Joola Ben Johns Hyperion C2 CFS Pickleball Paddle is a well-balanced control paddle that delivers plenty of pop and power. It features an elongated shape and a large sweet spot, allowing for greater reach. The paddle is fully encased in carbon, which not only makes it more durable but also allows it to withstand more frequent play and ensures a consistent shot across the life of the paddle.
Compared to other top paddles, the Joola Ben Johns Hyperion C2 CFS Pickleball Paddle stands out for its unique Aero-Curve shape and Charged Carbon Surface Technology. These features provide a crisper feel with greater energy return, resulting in impressive feedback and a poppier response. The paddle also has a reactive honeycomb core that is specially tuned for high-level players, maximizing consistent bounce and feel for every shot.
In comparison to the Scorpeus 16mm, another popular paddle, the Joola Ben Johns Hyperion C2 CFS Pickleball Paddle offers a perfect blend of features. Although it is an elongated paddle, its round top makes it swing faster than the Scorpeus, which has a more square top. It’s not head-heavy but balanced like the Scorpeus, and it has a huge sweet spot where hits on the edges feel way more solid than they ought to.
Overall, the Joola Ben Johns Hyperion C2 CFS Pickleball Paddle is a top-tier all-court paddle that offers a perfect blend of power, control, and spin. It’s designed with a small grip size, making it ideal for players with small hands. The paddle is lightweight and maneuverable, ensuring comfort and ease of use.
GearBox Pro Power Elongated Pickleball Paddle
The GearBox Pro Power Elongated Pickleball Paddle is a game-changer for pickleball enthusiasts seeking power and precision. Its elongated design extends reach and enhances spin potential, making it ideal for players with small hands. The paddle is lightweight, maneuverable, and constructed with innovative technologies for next-level performance.
Best For:
- Power and precision
- Extended reach
- Spin-oriented play
- Recreational pickleball
Quick Specs:
- Grip size: Small (4″ or less)
- Paddle weight: 8.0 oz
- Paddle material: Carbon Fiber Chambers
- Paddle face: Toray T700 (Raw Carbon Fiber)
- Playing style: Power-oriented
The GearBox Pro Power Elongated Pickleball Paddle is a standout in the pickleball market. Its elongated shape and extended handle provide players with an extended reach and power on the court. The paddle’s SSTCore™ ensures efficient energy transfer, while the Power Matrix stores and releases explosive power with finesse.
Compared to other top paddles, the GearBox Pro Power Elongated Pickleball Paddle is unique in its design and performance. Its patent-pending technologies and raw carbon fiber face offer a unique feel and extra power, making it one of the most powerful paddles in the market.
In comparison to the Joola Ben Johns Hyperion C2 CFS Pickleball Paddle, the GearBox Pro Power Elongated Pickleball Paddle offers a different playing experience. While the Joola paddle is known for its balance and control, the GearBox paddle stands out for its power and precision. It’s designed for players who prefer a more aggressive, power-oriented playing style.
The GearBox Pro Power Elongated Pickleball Paddle is a revolutionary breakthrough in pickleball technology. It redefines the standards for paddle power, spin, feel, control, and paddle sound. Crafted with passion, precision, quality, and unmatched ingenuity, this paddle is the ultimate choice for players focused on victory.
Joola Ben Johns Perseus CFS Pickleball Paddle
The Joola Ben Johns Perseus CFS Pickleball Paddle is a high-performance paddle that offers a balanced play. It’s designed with a small grip size, making it suitable for players with small hands. The paddle is lightweight and maneuverable, ensuring comfort and ease of use.
Best For:
- Balanced play
- Recreational pickleball
- Beginners and control-oriented players
- Power and control
Quick Specs:
- Grip size: Small (4″ or less)
- Paddle weight: Lightweight (under 7.5 oz)
- Paddle material: Graphite, honeycomb core, composite materials
- Paddle face: Smooth face, textured face, spin-oriented face
- Playing style: Recreational pickleball, beginner, control-oriented
The Joola Ben Johns Perseus CFS Pickleball Paddle is a versatile paddle that offers a balanced play. It features a small grip size, making it suitable for players with small hands. The paddle is lightweight and maneuverable, ensuring comfort and ease of use.
Compared to other top paddles, the Joola Ben Johns Perseus CFS Pickleball Paddle stands out for its balanced weight and small grip size. These features provide a comfortable feel with greater control, resulting in impressive feedback and a consistent response. The paddle also has a reactive honeycomb core that is specially tuned for high-level players, maximizing consistent bounce and feel for every shot.
In comparison to the GearBox Pro Power Elongated Pickleball Paddle, another popular paddle, the Joola Ben Johns Perseus CFS Pickleball Paddle offers a perfect blend of features. Although it is not elongated, its balanced weight and small grip size make it a versatile choice for players of all levels. It’s not head-heavy but balanced, and it has a large sweet spot where hits on the edges feel solid.
Overall, the Joola Ben Johns Perseus CFS Pickleball Paddle is a high-performance paddle that offers a balanced play. It’s designed with a small grip size, making it suitable for players with small hands. The paddle is lightweight and maneuverable, ensuring comfort and ease of use.
CRBN 2X Power Series (Square Paddle)
The CRBN 2X Power Series (Square Paddle) is a high-performance pickleball paddle designed for players seeking a balance of power, control, and spin. Crafted with a durable, gritty carbon fiber face, this paddle offers unmatched power and pop. Its unique unibody design, reinforced with carbon fiber, provides a more responsive and durable paddle with an ergonomic grip.
Best For:
- Control-oriented playing style
- Players seeking maneuverable paddles
- Recreational pickleball
- Players preferring a small grip
- Players seeking a lightweight paddle
Quick Specs:
- Paddle Material: Graphite, honeycomb core, composite materials
- Paddle Weight: 7.8-8.1 oz
- Grip Size: 4.125 in
- Paddle Length: 15.75 in
- Paddle Width: 8 in
The CRBN 2X Power Series (Square Paddle) stands out for its unique unibody design, which eliminates the weak joint found in other paddles where the handle and face meet. This design makes the paddle more responsive and durable, and provides a more ergonomic grip. The paddle also features foam-injected edge walls, which add stability, reduce vibration, and expand the sweet spot, leading to improved shot consistency.
The paddle’s square shape extends the sweet spot laterally, making it more forgiving. It also features a raw T700 carbon fiber face, which produces high levels of spin. The paddle’s handle is fortified with reinforced carbon fiber, which increases hand and paddle speed and durability.
Compared to other top paddles, such as the Joola Ben Johns Perseus CFS Pickleball Paddle, the CRBN 2X Power Series (Square Paddle) offers a unique blend of power, control, and spin. It’s particularly noted for its ability to produce high levels of spin, which can take your game to the next level. The paddle’s unique design and features make it a top choice for players seeking a balance of power, control, and spin in their game.
GearBox Pro Power Fusion Pickleball Paddle
The GearBox Pro Power Fusion Pickleball Paddle is a marvel of pickleball engineering, designed to elevate your performance on the court. This paddle offers a perfect balance between power, touch, and feel, thanks to its advanced SSTCore™. Its Fusion shape provides extreme maneuverability, allowing for lightning-fast shots and precise ball placement.
Best For:
- Power and Aggression
- Quick Swing Speed
- Precise Ball Placement
- Delicate Drop Shots
- Baseline Dominance
Quick Specs:
- Paddle Face Finish: Toray T700 (Raw Carbon Fiber)
- Core Material: Toray T-700 Carbon Fiber
- Core Construction: Patented Carbon Fiber Chambers
- Weight: 8.0 oz
- Handle Circumference: 4” grip.
The GearBox Pro Power Fusion Pickleball Paddle is a game-changer for players who prioritize power and aggression. Its compact shape provides a quick swing speed, and its stiff, powerful face delivers explosive smashes. This paddle is ideal for players who want to dominate the baseline and overwhelm their opponents with hard-hitting shots.
Compared to other paddles in the Pro series, such as the Pro Control Elongated and the Pro Control Fusion, the GearBox Pro Power Fusion stands out for its power and precision. It’s more lively and offers more power all over the court, making it a top choice for power players.
The GearBox Pro Power Fusion paddle’s advanced SSTCore™ guarantees explosive energy transfer and an expansive, intelligent sweet spot for superior shot accuracy. Its Fusion shape gives the paddle extreme maneuverability, allowing for lightning-fast shots, precise ball placement, and the finesse needed for those delicate drop shots.
The paddle’s raw carbon fiber face enhances player experience by amplifying feel, spin, and sweet spot dynamics. This makes it a great choice for players seeking a power paddle that still has a great amount of control.
In comparison to other Canadian brands like Paddletek, Selkirk, Mantis, and Gamma, GearBox stands out for its innovative design, premium construction, and advanced technologies that elevate your game to new heights.
In terms of comfort, the GearBox Pro Power Fusion paddle features a small grip size, making it suitable for players who prefer a narrow grip. The paddle’s lightweight design (under 7.5 oz) makes it highly maneuverable, ideal for players who value quick reactions and precision.
In conclusion, the GearBox Pro Power Fusion Pickleball Paddle is a top pick for players seeking a balance of power, control, and comfort. Its advanced features and innovative design make it a standout choice in the world of pickleball paddles.
You Should Avoid These Paddles If You Want a Good Playing Experience
1. Franklin Titus Pickleball Paddle
While the Franklin Titus Pickleball Paddle is an affordable option, it’s not the best choice for small-handed Canadians. Its grip circumference of 4.25 inches may be too large for players with smaller hands, and its aluminum construction, while sturdy, may not provide the best feel or control.
2. Prokennex Paddles
Prokennex paddles, while praised for their “ergonomic” feel, may not be the best fit for small-handed Canadians. The grip size and shape are not specified, and the thin core may not provide the power or control that some players prefer.
3. Paddles with Plastic, Factory Seconds, Carbon Graphite, or Foam
Paddles described with these terms are often low-quality graphite paddles made with low-grade materials. They may not provide the durability or performance that players need, especially for those with smaller hands who need a paddle that offers good control and feel.
4. Paddles with Large Grip Sizes
Paddles with large grip sizes can contribute to the development of tennis elbow, which can be a significant issue for players. Small-handed Canadians should avoid these paddles to ensure comfort and prevent potential injuries.
5. Paddles with a Grip Circumference Larger than 4 1/8″
Paddles with a grip circumference larger than 4 1/8″ may not be suitable for players with small hands. A larger grip size can make the paddle harder to control and may lead to discomfort or strain during play.
Remember, the best paddle for you will depend on your personal preferences and playing style. It’s always a good idea to try out different paddles to find the one that feels the most comfortable and enhances your performance on the court.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the ideal grip size for a pickleball paddle for small hands?
The ideal grip size for a pickleball paddle for small hands is typically between 3.5 to 4 inches in circumference. This size allows for a comfortable and secure grip, enhancing control and reducing the risk of hand fatigue or injury.
2. How does paddle weight affect my game?
Paddle weight can significantly impact your game. A heavier paddle can provide more power behind your shots but may lead to arm strain over time. Conversely, a lighter paddle is easier to maneuver and can offer better control, but it might not deliver as much power.
3. Can I modify my pickleball paddle to fit my small hand?
While it’s possible to modify a pickleball paddle to better fit your hand, it’s not generally recommended. Alterations like sanding down the handle can potentially damage the paddle and void any warranty. It’s better to find a paddle designed for small hands.
4. How does handle length affect my game?
The length of the paddle handle can influence your game. A longer handle can reduce the hitting surface and the sweet spot, which can affect precision. On the other hand, a shorter handle can provide a larger hitting surface but may offer less wrist action for spins.
5. Are there pickleball paddles specifically designed for small hands?
Yes, there are pickleball paddles specifically designed for players with small hands. These paddles typically feature a smaller grip size, lighter weight, and shorter handle length, making them more comfortable and easier to control for players with small hands.