There's always been a bit of a rivalry between tennis and pickleball.

Tennis players think that pickleball is beneath them, and pickleballers feel like they have something to prove. But the reality is that both sports are a heck of a lot of fun and complement each other very well. You can use both sports to get better at the other. Using tennis to get better at pickleball is obvious, and something I’ll consistently reference throughout this article, but it works the other way too.

Pickleball is built around finesse and touch in a way that tennis just isn't anymore. Because of the kitchen, touch shots aren't optional in pickleball, they're mandatory. That was the hardest adjustment for me when I started, and it's probably going to be the steepest part of the learning curve for you too. The good news is, once you spend time developing touch in pickleball, it’ll have a positive effect on your touch in tennis. It's not a perfect transfer of skills, but there's enough overlap that the two sports can function as cross-training for each other.

None of that is really why you're going to fall in love with pickleball, though. Once you drop the snobbish tennis-player attitude toward it, you’re going to have a lot of fun. I've seen this happen with most of my tennis friends; two or three sessions and they were hooked.

But now it’s time to pick a paddle, so let’s go over all the options and the tradeoffs associated with each one so you can better understand how to narrow down your search.

Why Your Tennis Background Is Crucial to Picking a Paddle

Understanding the transferable skills and inherent weaknesses you’ll have on a pickleball court is crucial to figuring out which paddle you should get, so let’s run through them.

Put two beginners on a pickleball court, one from a background in soccer or basketball, the other from tennis, and the tennis player will have a significant advantage. The technique isn't identical, but groundstrokes, serves, and overheads carry over very closely. It's no coincidence that most pickleball pros came from tennis; in a lot of ways, pickleball is tennis on a smaller court with a smaller paddle, and a more forgiving ball.

But in some ways it’s not.

Tennis players don't have inherent weaknesses in pickleball — it's more that certain parts of the game take more adjustment than others.

Modern tennis is a baseline sport: most players hit 95% groundstrokes and rarely come to net. That approach doesn't work in pickleball. The court is small enough that getting to the net is easy, and whoever gets there first has a serious advantage. Pickleball also has the "kitchen" (non-volley zone) — a no-go area with no tennis equivalent — so you'll need to learn how to play around it from scratch.

First, to master the kitchen offensively, you’ll have to learn how to hit a pickleball-specific volley. This will come easily enough, but the really difficult part will be mastering the kitchen defensively. If your opponent makes their way to the net before you, a soft, controlled shot that lands into the kitchen, will effectively neutralize the point. Learning that type of touch shot is exactly where tennis players struggle the most.

It’s important to understand these inherent strengths and weaknesses when you’re choosing a paddle. Some paddles make the control game easier, some paddles make the power game easier. I’m going to explain why you may want to go for one over the other and I’m going to start with a very important part of that discussion: paddle length.

Picking a Length: Why Elongated Paddles Make Sense for Tennis Players

Pickleball paddles come in a range of shapes, sizes and lengths. The three lengths you'll run into most are elongated, widebody, and hybrid paddles. Elongated paddles are usually 16.5 inches, widebodies are 16 inches or shorter, and hybrids typically fall between 16.2 and 16.3 inches.

Coming from a 27-inch racket, you probably think you’ll want the longest paddle available, and you’d generally be right.

Elongated paddles give you more leverage over the ball for power and spin, and they mimic the swing feel of a tennis racket more closely than the shorter paddles do. The pivot point feels much more familiar, and the sweet spot sits in a similar relative position to where it does on a racket. That alone is enough for me to recommend elongated paddles to nearly every tennis player making the switch. They're going to feel more like home, and they'll reward the powerful, spin-oriented groundstrokes you already know how to hit.

The most obvious tradeoff with elongated paddles is maneuverability. Longer paddles feel more clunky in fast exchanges, but this is rarely an issue for tennis players. You’ve spent years swinging something much longer and heavier, so a 16.5 inch paddle certainly won’t feel clunky in comparison.

Shorter paddles also usually have bigger sweet spots because their face is wider. That’s most useful in the touch game and in fast kitchen exchanges; exactly the areas where tennis players feel the least comfortable. That said, I don't think it's reason enough to go for a shorter paddle. Tennis rackets are far less forgiving than pickleball paddles, so you’ll already feel like any paddle is more forgiving than what you’re used to.

The only time I'd steer you toward a hybrid is if you know that you won't have the discipline to develop the soft game on your own. Elongated paddles make the tennis side of pickleball easier; hybrids force you to rely less on your groundstrokes and develop control and net play. They won't feel as satisfying when you swing big, but their more forgiving sweet spot and quicker hand speed will push you toward the skills you're currently missing. If you don’t trust that you’ll devote the time to develop those skills yourself, hybrid paddles can serve as a useful tool to “do it for you”.

Still, for most of you, I'd go for an elongated paddle. These complement your strengths and don’t have any significant weaknesses, or at least not any that tennis players will experience.

The Various Paddle Generations

Once you've found your shape, the next step is understanding paddle generations — each one plays differently. Generation 1 paddles use a standard polypropylene honeycomb core. Generation 2 refines that into a more solid, durable build. Generations 3 and 4 change things more significantly.

Gen 3 paddles keep the honeycomb core of Gen 1s and Gen 2s, but surround it with a layer of EVA foam, which adds a spring effect similar to what strings do in a tennis racket. This creates more power, more spin, a distinctive hollow feel, and a longer, "grabbier" dwell time.

Gen 4 paddles remove the honeycomb entirely and replace it with foam throughout, but instead of springy EVA foam in the centre of the core, it's a denser, more solid EPP foam. Think of EVA as the foam in a running shoe midsole, and EPP as closer to styrofoam. EVA is springy, while EPP feels more consistent and controlled. Within Gen 4s, some paddles use full EPP cores (more control), while others blend EPP and EVA (more power, spin, and dwell time).

Gen 2s offer much more "no nonsense" playability. They don’t have a particularly complex or long dwell time, no extra spring, just a solid, boardy sensation. Because of that, a lot of pickleball players consider these to feel more controlled.

But, for tennis players specifically, that no-nonsense playability of Gen 2s will make them feel bland rather than controlled. Tennis rackets have a very complex feel because graphite and strings are working together to create trampoline effect. That complexity is what you're used to, so foam-based paddles, will feel more familiar and more natural to you. Add to that the massive performance benefits these paddles provide, and it’s a no brainer to narrow down your search to Gen 3s and Gen 4s.

Power or Control

Within the categories of Gen 3s and Gen 4s, you’ll find paddles ranging from powerful and springy to soft and controlled. Gen 3s are almost all powerful, while Gen 4s offer a wider range of playability thanks to varying ratios of EVA to EPP foam.

Paddles like the Enhance Duo, the SixZero Coral Pro, and the Honolulu Pickleball J6NF are more EPP-dominant, giving them a denser feel, less spring, and more consistency. Unlike Gen 2s, though, they're not one-dimensional; you still get a boost in power and spin, just in a more controlled package. If you're worried about developing the soft game, these are worth considering for the same reason I mentioned earlier with hybrid shapes.

 

That being said, I don't think a controlled Gen 4 is the right call for most tennis players. Power-oriented Gen 4s have become very popular because they give you an edge in the power and spin department, which plays directly into your strengths. The usual knock against them is that they're less forgiving in the control game, but tennis players likely won’t experience that, for one very important reason, feel.

EVA-dominant paddles feel the closest to a tennis racket. You're already used to the ball springing off a stringbed with trampoline effect so while pickleball players might associate that with a loss of control, you're going to find it familiar. I say this from experience; I still prefer power paddles even in the control game, because I’m more connected to the ball and and prefer that spring effect to guide my shots.

What’s great about powerful Gen 4s is that there are so many options with different feel and playability characteristics. The Selkirk Boomstik and RPM Q2 offer the stiffest, most responsive feel with the shortest dwell time which will work well for you if you prefer stiffer rackets. If you use a softer racket or a lower string tension, the Thrive Ignite Elongated and Honolulu Pickleball J6CR have a longer dwell time and more spin modulation while still keeping that big trampoline effect.

Power Gen 3 vs. Power Gen 4

While Gen 4s are excellent and extremely well-rounded, there’s still a reason to go for a Gen 3 in 2026. EPP foam cores simply can't match the crisp feedback of a honeycomb core, which is why so many high-level players are still using Gen 3s.

This ultimately comes down to personal preference. If you're someone who values excellent feedback in a tennis racket, you'll probably prefer a Gen 3. If you prefer a racket that’s forgiving on off-centre hits, then Gen 4s are the obvious choice. I personally still prefer Gen 3s; paddles like the RPM Friction Pro V2 have a crisp, satisfying feel with plenty of power and spin. The Selkirk SLK Era Power is a more budget-friendly option with a similarly crisp feel, just not quite at the level of the Friction Pro. And the Joola Pro V line offers a slightly softer control profile. while still remaining very power-oriented.

 

That said, if you're new to the sport, I'd still steer you toward Gen 4s. The better feel of Gen 3s isn't worth the sacrifice in tangible benefits you get with Gen 4s. The reason players like me still gravitate toward Gen 3s is mostly familiarity. Before 2025, every paddle had a honeycomb core so we got used to their feel, but you don't have that preference. That means you can start with a Gen 4 without missing the feel of honeycomb. Gen 4’s are more durable and more forgiving which are real, on-court benefits, whereas "better feel" is a matter of preference and lived experience.

I’d only recommend a Gen 3 if you try a Gen 4, find that it plays to bland or muted, and really want to try something with more crisp feedback.

Putting It All Together

To finish off this article, I want to simplify everything I just discussed, so you have a clear path toward finding a first paddle. The first step is to go for an elongated paddle because it complements your natural technique and gives you more power, spin, and stability.

From there, decide between a Gen 2, Gen 3, or Gen 4. Skip the Gen 2s, the EVA foam in Gen 3s and Gen 4s creates a trampoline effect that you're used to from a racket, so they’re going to feel more natural and familiar and give you more power and spin potential.

Then, decide between control and power. Only go for a controlled Gen 4 if you genuinely don't trust that you’ll work on the soft game yourself, because otherwise, these paddles will limit the strengths you've spent years developing.

For most tennis players, a power-oriented Gen 3 or Gen 4 is the way to go. Power Gen 4s give you a bigger sweet spot and more durability; power Gen 3s give you better feel. Since you haven't built a preference for feel in pickleball yet, I'd lean Gen 4. The practical benefits matter more when you’re actually playing, and if you try a Gen 4 and don't love how it feels, then you can try a Gen 3.

So there you have it: for most tennis players, an elongated, power-oriented Gen 4 paddle is the best place to start.

The best course of action is to come demo paddles with us in store, but if you already know what you're after, you can find everything mentioned here on our website.