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Onix Z5 wins on forgiving feel and proven club-level performance; JOOLA Essentials is the more future-proof brand bet.
Pickleball is exploding in the UK, and at £60-90 these are both reasonable entries to the sport. The JOOLA Essentials at £90 is the all-skills option and gets you into JOOLA's ecosystem, which matters if you want to upgrade later within the same brand feel.
The Onix Graphite Z5 has been a best-seller for a reason. Specs tell the story: 220-235g, widebody shape, Nomex honeycomb core, graphite face, 4 1/4" grip and 14mm thickness. The widebody gives you a genuinely large sweet spot, and the graphite face delivers clean touch around the kitchen line. The trade-offs: it's heavier than newer carbon paddles, and the design is showing its age.
For a first paddle, the Z5 is still the safer bet. For longevity, JOOLA.
Hand-written editorial — not auto-generated. By Gary, RacketRise.
| Product | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Pickleball Paddles | Pickleball Paddles |
| Sport | Pickleball | Pickleball |
| Skill Level | Beginner | Intermediate |
| Weight | — | 220-235g |
| Shape | Standard | Widebody |
| Core | Polymer honeycomb | Nomex honeycomb |
| Surface | Composite | Graphite |
| Grip Size | — | 4 1/4" |
| Core Thickness | — | 14mm |
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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The main differences are: Shape: JOOLA Essentials has Standard vs Widebody. Core: JOOLA Essentials has Polymer honeycomb vs Nomex honeycomb. Surface: JOOLA Essentials has Composite vs Graphite. Overall, the JOOLA Essentials Pickleball Paddle is best for beginners while the Onix Graphite Z5 Pickleball Paddle suits intermediate players.
The JOOLA Essentials Pickleball Paddle is the better choice for beginners thanks to its forgiving design and accessible price point. The Onix Graphite Z5 Pickleball Paddle is aimed at intermediate players and may be more demanding to use effectively.
The JOOLA Essentials Pickleball Paddle (£90) costs more than the Onix Graphite Z5 Pickleball Paddle (£60-80). Whether the premium is worth it depends on your skill level — if you are beginners, the extra investment in the JOOLA Essentials Pickleball Paddle can pay off.