The Best Pickleball Paddles You’ve Never Heard Of
If you’ve been paying attention to pickleball lately, you know it’s an incredible time to be a player. Paddle technology is moving faster than ever, and it feels like new paddles are dropping every single week. From full foam cores to innovative surface materials, there’s no shortage of options.
But here’s the thing: while big-name brands like Joola, Selkirk, and CRBN tend to dominate the spotlight, there are some hidden gem pickleball paddles that fly under the radar. Some are surprisingly good, some are just “fine,” and some might be the perfect fit for certain players.
In this roundup, I’ll share my honest thoughts on five paddles you probably haven’t heard much about, along with their strengths, weaknesses, and whether they’re worth adding to your bag.
Warping Point Neon
Warping Point has been an interesting brand to watch. Their earlier paddles felt closer to budget Amazon models, but they’ve been working hard and the Neon is another step in the right direction.
Shape: Elongated with an aero top
Specs: 8.08 oz static weight, 115 swing weight, 6.4 twist weight
Design: Gen 3-style build, foam ring around the core (similar to the 11six24 Hurache Power and SLK Era)
Feel: Powerful but more plush and less poppy than the 11six24 or SLK due to no fiberglass layer and a little less power, but great price.
The big draw here is price. At just $100 retail or $75 with code PICKLEBALLBLAST, it’s one of the most affordable Gen 3-style paddles out there. If you’re price-conscious and want something controllable with sneaky power, the Neon is worth a look.
Gherkin Nightshade
The Gherkin Nightshade might be the most mainstream paddle in this roundup — and one that deserves more attention.
Shape: Elongated or hybrid (I preferred elongated)
Specs: 7.99 oz static weight, 118.4 swing weight, 6.1 twist weight
Build: CFC layup, fiberglass layer in the middle, 10mm cells
Feel: Smooth, balanced, plays more like a 16mm despite being 14mm
This paddle sits in the all-court category, giving you a great balance of control and power without being harsh. It retails for $135 ($120 with code PICKLEBALLBLAST), making it a strong value even as newer paddles hit the market.
LUZZ Cannon
The LUZZ Cannon has one of the more unusual backstories. It originally launched months ago, then got pulled and resubmitted for approval. Now it’s back.
Shape: Elongated
Specs: 7.95 oz static weight, 119.6 swing weight, 6.3 twist weight
Build: Gen 3 paddle with honeycomb core + foam perimeter
Feel: Loud, hollow, and definitely in the power category
The Cannon doesn’t reinvent anything, but it’s a fun power paddle — and at $109 retail ($92 with code PICKLEBALLBLAST) it’s another under-$100 option for players chasing more pop without breaking the bank.
Dynasty Foam Legend Future Series
The Dynasty Foam Legend Future Series is probably the most polarizing paddle in this list.
Let’s get this out of the way: I don’t love the “Gen 4.5” branding, I think their website is complicated, and the graphics aren’t great. But looks aside, this paddle actually plays really well.
Shape: Elongated
Specs: 8.15 oz static weight, 117.8 swing weight, 6.6 twist weight
Build: Gen 4 foam core with fiberglass face
Feel: Effortless power, dense foam feel
Warranty: Lifetime
At $195 retail ($175 with code PICKLEBALLBLAST), it’s not the cheapest foam core paddle, but it’s also not the most expensive. For players chasing easy power with foam durability, this could be a sleeper pick.
Onix Hype X
Last up is the Onix Hype X, a paddle that honestly surprised me.
Shape: Elongated, 14mm
Specs: 7.88 oz static weight, 116.6 swing weight, 6.0 twist weight
Build: Gen 2
Feel: Quicker in the hands than the swing weight suggests, leans control
Onix may have released this paddle a little late compared to all the Gen 3 and foam-core models on the market, but that doesn’t make it bad. In fact, at its price point, it’s a really solid all-around control paddle. A year or two ago, this would have been an easy recommendation for most players and today I still think it’s a solid paddle just maybe a little late to the party. Code PickleballBlast will save bring it down to $110
Final Thoughts
We’re at a point in pickleball where you don’t have to spend $250+ to get a quality paddle. Smaller brands are all releasing paddles that might not get the same attention as the big brands, but can absolutely compete on the court.
Some of these paddles are budget-friendly power options, some are balanced all-court performers, and some might not be for everyone. But if you’re willing to look beyond the biggest names in the game, you might just find your next sleeper pick.
