What is the difference between a foam core and a honeycomb core?

A honeycomb core is made of small cells. A full foam core is one solid piece of foam. Some cores combine the two, such as honeycomb with foam at the edges.

Should I get a 14mm or 16mm pickleball paddle?

Paddle makers generally describe 16mm as steadier and more controlled and 14mm as livelier. We offer both on every core at the same price, and USA Pickleball sets no limit on thickness.

Is an elongated or wide body paddle better?

Neither is better for everyone. The rules cap length plus width at 24 inches, so an elongated paddle adds reach and a wide body paddle adds face width. Paddle makers describe wider faces as more forgiving. Standard and Hybrid sit in between.

What is the difference between carbon, Kevlar, titanium and fiberglass faces?

Carbon fiber is the most common performance face. Kevlar is aramid fiber with the color woven in. Titanium faces are carbon woven with a metallic fiber. Fiberglass is a glass-fiber composite with a smooth white surface. Paddle makers generally describe fiberglass as livelier and carbon as more controlled.

How rough can a paddle face be?

USA Pickleball's equipment standard limits the hitting surface to an average roughness of no more than 30 µm Rz and 40 µm Rt. Faces rougher than that are for recreational play.

Are custom paddles tournament legal?

Custom paddles are for recreational play. USA Pickleball sanctioned events require a paddle model on its approved list. If you want a build certified, we can take it through USA Pickleball's approval process on request, and approval is decided by USA Pickleball.

How much does a custom paddle cost?

It depends on the core, the face and how many you order. One paddle with your design starts at $125 with fiberglass on our standard core, $165 with carbon, and $245 with an advanced core. The price per paddle drops as the quantity rises, to $26 each at 500 or more on the standard build.

How long does it take to make?

Production starts once you approve your proof, and the time depends on the build and the quantity. Our lead times page has production and shipping times, and our team confirms your date when you order.

Can I build my own pickleball paddle?

Yes. Our paddle builder lets you choose from 16 cores, 25 face surfaces, 14mm or 16mm, four shapes and five spin textures, with the price at every quantity. Your design is printed on it, and our design team prepares a proof before anything is built.

Paddle construction guide

How a pickleball paddle is built.

Every paddle is a core between two faces, in a shape the rules allow. Here is each part, what it is made of, and the choices you can make.

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A pickleball paddle taken apart: the carbon face sheets on each side of a honeycomb core

Images on this page are mockups to show how a paddle is built, not exact replicas of a finished paddle or its construction.

Inside

The core.

The core sits between the two faces and makes up most of the paddle's thickness. We build on 16 cores in five families. Tap two to compare them.

Build one with this core →

The hitting surface

The face.

The face is a thin sheet bonded to each side of the core, and your design is printed on it. There are four materials and 25 surfaces.

Build one with this face →

The outline

The shape.

All four shapes below are shown at the same scale, so you can see how each one spends the same allowance.

USA Pickleball caps a paddle at 17 inches long and 24 inches of length plus width combined, edge guard and end cap included. It sets no limit on thickness or weight.

Build one in this shape →

Cross-section

Thickness.

Thickness is the depth of the core. Every core comes in 14mm or 16mm at the same price.

Build one at 16mm →

Surface texture

Spin texture.

A rougher face grips the ball and adds spin. USA Pickleball limits how rough a face may be for sanctioned play, and we build five levels on either side of that line.

The USA Pickleball limit is an average roughness of no more than 30 µm Rz and 40 µm Rt. Custom paddles are for recreational play; tournament play also needs the paddle model on USA Pickleball's approved list, and we can take a build through approval on request.

Build one with this texture →

Not sure where to start?

Let us pick the build.

Answer three questions about how you play, how much spin you want and which shape, and our builder picks the core, face and thickness, with the price at every quantity. You can change any part after.

Answer three questions →

Questions

Common questions.

Build your own paddleChoose the core, face, shape, thickness and spin texture, with a live price. Just want your logo on a paddle?Use the paddle designer and our team sends a free mockup and price.

Rules: USA Pickleball Official Rulebook 2026 (rule 3.D) and Equipment Standards Manual rev 3.0 (2.E.2). Images are renders of our builds, not photographs of a finished paddle.

Take it with you

The printable spec sheet.

Two pages. Page one is the reference: every build, every core family, every face material, and what each costs at 10, 100 and 500. Page two is a worksheet you fill in and send back, and it is enough for us to quote from.

The full price ladder at 10, 100 and 500 paddles
16 cores grouped into five families, in plain English
Artwork requirements: file types, resolution, bleed and safe area
A one page build worksheet to print and mark up

Your email Also email me occasional updates on custom gear and club programs.

One field, and the download opens straight away. We will not chase you.