It finally happened: Like half the world, I dove into the pickleball craze. If you’d asked me a few years ago if I’d ever play, I’d probably have rolled my eyes, but now—a year into learning the sport—I consider myself a full convert.
The most crucial element to leveling up your pickleball game (after acquiring some cute outfits for the court, of course) is a great paddle. According to International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA) certified pickleball instructor Jennifer Azevedo, “you can personalize a paddle to your specific needs as a player. Lacking in mobility? Get a paddle that’s a little bigger and longer to help reach the ball. There are options to help almost every aspect of the game that might be lacking,” she says.
Even though I understand the value of a good paddle, I balked when the instructor of my intro class recommended a specific set that cost over $100. As a newbie who wasn’t sure if I was going to stick with the sport or not, I wasn’t ready to shell out that much—so I went hunting on my own, using recommendations from friends who already played and online reviews to guide me.
After weeks of searching, I finally landed on the Niupipo Pickleball Paddle Set from Amazon. These paddles were highly rated by thousands of people, relatively affordable, and claimed to have features I was looking for. Sure, they weren’t the most aesthetically pleasing, but I believe in prioritizing function over form when it comes to sports equipment.
The set comes with two paddles, a carry bag, and both indoor and outdoor pickleball balls (yes, there’s a difference). Here’s what happened when I put it to the test.
The specs
The paddles are USA Pickleball Association–approved, which Azevedo says is “something you’ll need as you begin to look into tournament play,” as officials will actually check your paddles for the stamp of approval.
The paddle faces are made of fiberglass and contain a honeycomb polymer core, which the brand’s website says helps reduce noise. The entire paddle head is also wrapped in an edge guard to help prevent damage and chipping if the paddle scrapes the ground, which I have to say is pretty effective—there’s barely a scratch on mine after a year’s worth of use.
Original photo by SELF writer Esther Carlstone
How it feels
The first thing I noticed when I unboxed the set was how lightweight the fiberglass paddles were. Weighing only 7.8 ounces each, they’re much lighter than the ones from another brand I bought for some family members, thinking I’d get them a cute set. I’ve also played with a friend’s wooden paddles, which feel like cement in my hand compared to my Niupipo ones.
