Third Shot Drop

From Anna: It’s Time to Give Widebody Paddles a Chance

September 21 2025

[This segment was written by top PPA pro Anna Bright exclusively for The Dink. You can subscribe to her newsletter for more insider info just like this.]

“Elongated” paddles have become the default shape in pickleball, the shape you see most of your friends playing with, the shape most pros play with, probably even the shape YOU play with.

But there is a better option for the vast majority of players!

“Standard” or “widebody” shapes are actually the optimal shape for most pickleball players. Why? Well, a few reasons.

  • The wider shape allows for more stability and a larger sweet spot. Resetting, dinking, and all the “soft” skills in pickleball doubles are SO much easier.
  • The shorter length also makes this shape more maneuverable while decreasing drag.
  • The lower swing weight means switching from forehand to backhand will be quicker than ever, and it will be easier to swing through your volleys.

All of these things together make winning hands battles a lot easier.

The elongated shape does have its advantages and is definitely the right fit for some players. Everything has its place! But for doubles (which is what most of us play 90%+ of the time), widebody shapes reign supreme.

So I beg of you, give the frying pan a chance!

Add New
Comments

no comments found