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Buy the Diadem Icon v2 if you're playing regularly — the better build earns its £30 premium; otherwise the Ben Johns Essentials is the sensible cheaper starter.
These used to be a coin flip; now there's £30 between them and a real decision to make. The Diadem Icon v2 at £83 has a fibreglass face on a polypropylene honeycomb core, with a slightly elongated shape that gives you more reach at the kitchen. Diadem's edge guard quality is genuinely better than most paddles at this level, and it survives being chucked in a kit bag.
The JOOLA Ben Johns Essentials at £53 is a similar fibreglass-faced budget paddle but with a more standard shape and a slightly chunkier handle. It's leveraging Ben Johns's name, but the build is honest entry-level kit - decent touch, no real spin, fine for casual club nights.
At over half as much again, the Diadem needs to justify itself — and for regular players it does: better build longevity and that extra reach add up over a season. But if you're testing the water, the Ben Johns Essentials at £53 does the starter job fine. Both are paddles you'll outgrow in 6-12 months if you play regularly - so match the spend to how sure you are that you'll stick with it.
Hand-written editorial — not auto-generated. By Gary, RacketRise.
| Product | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Pickleball Paddles | Pickleball Paddles |
| Sport | Pickleball | Pickleball |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | Beginner |
| Weight | — | — |
| Shape | Standard | Standard |
| Core | Polymer honeycomb | Polymer honeycomb |
| Surface | — | Composite |
| Grip Size | — | — |
| Core Thickness | — | — |
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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The main differences are: Skill level: Diadem Icon suits intermediate players, JOOLA Ben suits beginners. Price: £83 vs £53. Overall, the Diadem Icon v2 Pickleball Paddle is best for intermediate players while the JOOLA Ben Johns Essentials Pickleball Paddle suits beginners.
The JOOLA Ben Johns Essentials Pickleball Paddle is the better choice for beginners thanks to its forgiving design and accessible price point. The Diadem Icon v2 Pickleball Paddle is aimed at intermediate players and may be more demanding to use effectively.
The Diadem Icon v2 Pickleball Paddle (£83) costs more than the JOOLA Ben Johns Essentials Pickleball Paddle (£53). Whether the premium is worth it depends on your skill level — if you are intermediate players, the extra investment in the Diadem Icon v2 Pickleball Paddle can pay off.