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Buy the SLK 2-pack at the £45 end if you need two paddles; otherwise grab a single JOOLA Ben Johns Essentials.
Two budget pickleball options, but with very different use cases.
The SLK by Selkirk 2-pack at £45-70 gets you two paddles for less than the cost of one Ben Johns Essentials. 215-225g standard shape, polymer honeycomb core, 13mm thick, fibreglass face. Basic but functional — and the two-paddle pack means you and a mate can play immediately. That's genuinely useful if you're starting out together.
The JOOLA Ben Johns Essentials at £40 is a single paddle with the marketing weight of pickleball's biggest name. No detailed specs published, but "Essentials" denotes JOOLA's entry tier — solid build, basic surface, no premium tech.
If you already own one paddle and need a second, the JOOLA is fine. But for first-time buyers playing with a friend, the SLK 2-pack at £45 is unbeatable value — that's £22.50 per paddle.
Don't pay £70 for the SLK upgrade pack though — at that price, two JOOLAs make more sense.
Hand-written editorial — not auto-generated. By Gary, RacketRise.
| Product | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Pickleball Paddles | Pickleball Paddles |
| Sport | Pickleball | Pickleball |
| Skill Level | Beginner | Beginner |
| Weight | — | 215-225g |
| Shape | Standard | Standard |
| Core | Polymer honeycomb | Polymer honeycomb |
| Surface | Composite | Fibreglass |
| Grip Size | — | 4 1/4" |
| Core Thickness | — | 13mm |
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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The main differences are: Surface: JOOLA Ben has Composite vs Fibreglass. Price: £40 vs £45-70. Overall, the JOOLA Ben Johns Essentials Pickleball Paddle is best for beginners while the SLK by Selkirk Pickleball Paddle 2-Pack suits beginners.
Both the JOOLA Ben Johns Essentials Pickleball Paddle and SLK by Selkirk Pickleball Paddle 2-Pack are suitable for beginners. The JOOLA Ben Johns Essentials Pickleball Paddle offers the better value entry point at £40.
The SLK by Selkirk Pickleball Paddle 2-Pack (£45-70) costs more than the JOOLA Ben Johns Essentials Pickleball Paddle (£40). Whether the premium is worth it depends on your skill level — if you are beginners, the extra investment in the SLK by Selkirk Pickleball Paddle 2-Pack can pay off.