Underrated Pickleball Paddles That Deserve More Love– Paddle Roundup 2025
We’ve been in a golden era for pickleball paddle releases lately. Every few weeks, it feels like a new brand is dropping another high-tech, high-performance paddle, and honestly, even for reviewers like me, it’s getting tough to keep up.
So in this paddle roundup, I’m taking a step back to highlight a few paddles that deserve more attention. Some launched a few months ago and got overshadowed, while others are just now hitting the market. A few are even available for preorder. Whether you’re after power, control, or value, this list has something for you.
Thrive Project Fury
The Thrive Fury might be one of the most underrated releases of the year. It’s a gen 3 floating-core paddle with a 15.5 mm hybrid design and a TPE foam ring instead of the usual EVA. That small change alters the feel in a surprisingly good way.
The Fury features internal weighting for added stability, a fiberglass layer for pop, and sits in the middle of the power paddle range. What I really love is that it offers custom swing-weight options when ordering, something few brands do.
At around $200 retail ($180 with code PickleballBlast), it’s a complete paddle that feels consistent right out of the box and doesn’t require extra weighted tape to shine. It’s powerful, quick in the hands, and blends that poppy, modern feel with the control to handle soft play.
Six Zero Ruby Pro
Six Zero went back to its roots with the Ruby Pro, bringing the original’s feel into today’s paddle tech. The biggest update? A new Diamond Tough face material and it’s the grittiest paddle I’ve ever felt, offering insane spin and longer surface durability.
The Ruby Pro is a 14 mm hybrid paddle with 12 mm honeycomb cells, weighing 7.92 oz with a swing weight around 112. Despite being thinner, it has above-average dwell time for great ball shaping.
It’s a smart evolution for players who loved the Ruby and want an upgrade without going full experimental. And with 10 % off using code PickleballBlast, it’s a worthy refresh for 2025.
Gherkin Wraith
The Wraith started as an exclusive paddle only sent to pickleball content creator co-hosts, but now it’s available for preorder, and it’s seriously good for its price.
At $121 after discount, it’s Gherkin’s first jump into gen 3 territory. The 16 mm core with a CFC layup gives it strong pop and solid power, while maintaining a comfortable feel.
I mainly tested the hybrid shape (8 oz, swing 110.9, twist 6.1), and it feels firm and responsive without being overly harsh. This paddle is perfect if you’re curious about foam-core paddles but don’t want to spend $200+. It’s stable, powerful, and a great first step into the modern paddle tech scene.
Selkirk SLK Era Power
The Era Power from Selkirk’s SLK line kind of got lost in the shuffle, overshadowed by the later release of the Boomstik in my opinion. But make no mistake, the Era Power is a legit, high-performing paddle.
It’s a 16 mm core paddle that comes in elongated and wide-body shapes, with the elongated sitting around 8.04 oz (swing 116.9, twist 6.4). It’s crisp, powerful, and well-balanced, similar to the 11six24 Power Series, which is a good thing.
At $200 (gift card with code INF-PickleballBlast), the Era Power offers high-end performance without the Boomstik’s $333 price tag, making it one of the better values in Selkirk’s lineup.
Chorus Phoenix
The Chorus Phoenix is one of those paddles that players will either love or hate, and that’s not a bad thing. It’s stiff, fast, and unapologetically powerful.
Built with a 14 mm core using 10 mm cells, it features a CFC layup with fiberglass sandwiched between soft-carbon layers. The result is a paddle that’s explosive and linear. What you put in is exactly what you get out.
At $170 after discount, it’s not for everyone, but for players who like a crisp, stiff feel and direct feedback, the Phoenix delivers exactly that.
Bread & Butter LOCO
Finally, let’s talk about the Bread & Butter LOCO, a paddle that keeps surprising me the more I play it. I recently switched the elongated LOCO into my main rotation and it’s been playing lights-out.
It features a 16 mm full-foam core with EVA foam in a floating-core design, blending top-tier power with excellent feel and ball-shaping ability. With a swing weight around 123.8 and a price tag of $199 ($179 with code PickleballBlast), the LOCO delivers power and stability without sacrificing control.
It’s one of the most complete foam-core paddles for the price and a standout performer across all skill levels.
🏆 And the Winner Is…
Every paddle in this roundup deserves more attention, but if I had to choose a standout, it would be the Thrive Project Fury. Its combination of internal weighting, controllable power, and customization options make it one of the most versatile new paddles of 2025.
That said, all the paddles here bring something valuable to the table and depending on your play style, any one of them could be your next favorite.
The paddle market is more competitive than ever, and that’s great news for players. Whether you’re chasing power, control, or value, there’s never been a better time to find your perfect fit.
