1. Wood: Wood has always been the standard baseline material for the pickleball paddle. We’ve traded the hefty materials for plywood. Plywood pickleball hands are as ubiquitous as their hardwood counterparts but they come in at a small fraction of the weight. There are other benefits as well though. They are also durable, reliable, and able to be used for many years without the need for replacement.
2. Polymer Plastics: Polymer paddles feature a mix of materials but whatever the makeup most units operate in common cause. The goal of the pickleball paddle is to be lightweight.
3. Graphite: Graphite is always there to take clunky old materials and make them a little bit better. Graphite paddles are lighter, quicker, and more responsive.
4. Composite: Composite is much like the polymer in that it features a mixture of materials. However, in this case, the blend is often of a higher quality. It might feature fiberglass, aluminum, graphite. Higher-end materials that are light, durable, and made to last a long time.