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16mm Pickleball Paddles pickleball paddles have a distinctive feel — more control and a softer, more forgiving touch. Our top 5 UK-available picks are matched on thickness and the playing style that goes with it.
The thickness choice is usually the first spec players get wrong. 16mm cores extend dwell time — more control on resets and dinks Softer feel — absorbs pace rather than rebounding Larger forgiveness zone on off-centre hits
We ranked the 16mm pickleball paddles below using our equipment database — weighting rated-and-reviewed models higher, filtering by UK retailer availability, and matching specs (thickness, shape, core, weight) against the needs of player preferring thicker core for control, dink-heavy kitchen play, soft game. Every paddle listed is one we’d actually recommend to a UK player today.
Selkirk · £170-220 · 4.7/5
The Selkirk Vanguard Power Air is a premium pickleball paddle featuring innovative Air Dynamic Throat technology. Built for competitive players who want maximum performance.
JOOLA · £75-100 · 4.5/5
The JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm is a top-performing paddle endorsed by the world's best pickleball player. Great balance of power and finesse.
Franklin · £140-160 · 4.4/5
The Franklin Signature paddle features MaxGrit texture technology for exceptional spin generation. A premium choice for competitive players.
We ranked paddles by a weighted score of brand, skill-level match, UK retailer availability, rating and spec alignment (thickness, shape, core and weight) against the needs of player preferring thicker core for control, dink-heavy kitchen play, soft game. Only paddles stocked at UK retailers (PDHSports, Amazon UK, Decathlon, or direct JOOLA UK) made the shortlist.
Yes — it's one of the biggest-felt differences between paddles. A 13mm paddle feels lively and fast; a 16mm paddle feels softer and more controlled. Most UK players switching from 16mm to 13mm notice immediately; the opposite switch usually takes longer to adapt.
Mixed — top-tier pros play both. Ben Johns alternates between 14mm and 16mm. Anna Leigh Waters plays 16mm. Most power-first pros lean 13mm; control-first pros lean 16mm. The spec isn't a shortcut to their level — match it to your style.
Yes — UK Consumer Rights gives 14 days to return online purchases. Most UK retailers accept returns on unused paddles with original packaging. Paddles that have been used on court usually can't be returned (the surface shows micro-wear immediately).
Take the pickleball paddle finder quiz — 8 questions, 2 minutes, matches you to a paddle based on level, style and budget.