Pickleball Paddle Surfaces Explained

For context, let’s discuss why high friction surfaces are an important part of your paddle’s performance. Back in the day, the surface of wood paddles was made entirely of same stuff. The slick laminated finish allowed the ball to slide around the paddle face during your swing, which made it a chore to develop substantial spin on the ball.

High friction surfaces allow players to easily shape their shots with spin. This is an advantage over a slick paddle surface for a few reasons. First you can add a lot more power to your shots so long it is complemented by topspin. Without enough topspin, power shots sail long. High friction hitting surfaces also make it easier to hit sharp angles out wide and shots that dip toward the feet of your opponents.

Raw carbon fiber is the most popular and widely used material for the hitting surfaces of a pickleball paddle. The friction of the raw carbon surface helps hold the ball in place while it is still on the paddle face during your swing. This makes access to spin extremely easy and, for most, increases how fun pickleball is to play.

Fiberglass increases paddle power and enhances spin compared to wood laminate paddle surfaces. Today fiberglass is a popular hitting surface, and manufacturers are now applying a texture to their fiberglass paddle options, which increases both power and the quality of spin.

Aramid or Kevlar fiber has shown to be a great alternative to carbon fiber for a paddle’s hitting surface. Aramid is the generic term for Kevlar, a DuPont product. Other forms of aramid include Twaron and Nomex. Whether the aramid face material is black, blue or red, the spin potential and power of aramid are the same and on par with most carbon fiber paddle surfaces. Weight wise, aramid is a little heavier and more durable than carbon fiber and feels a bit more forgiving after a brief break-in period.

Aramid or Kevlar fiber has proven to be a great alternative to carbon fiber for a paddle’s hitting surface. Aramid is the generic term for Kevlar, which is a DuPont product. Other forms of aramid include Twaron and Nomex. Whether the aramid face material is black, blue or red, the difference is purely cosmetic. The spin potential and level of power aramid hitting surfaces is on par with most carbon fiber paddle surfaces. Weight wise, plies of aramid fiber are typically a little heavier and more durable than carbon fiber. Aramid hitting surfaces also feel a bit more forgiving after a brief break-in period.

Whether you want power or more precision to go along with easy access to spin on the ball, there is an ideal paddle and paddle surface for you:

• Raw carbon fiber is a great option if a higher degree of precision, a crisp feel and great spin potential are what you want.
• Fiberglass hitting surfaces are now commonly textured, making this material ideal for those who want spin mixed with power at a lower price point.
• Aramid paddle surfaces provide spin numbers that are equitable to that of raw carbon fiber. Most report that aramid feels a little firmer than raw carbon fiber, which softens up with play.
• Composite surfaces, whether they are raw carbon fiber or fiberglass dominant, tend to deliver great spin potential, good longevity along with an extra pinch of power at a great price point.

Discovering which paddle surface complements your game style, skill level and budget the best is no doubt one of the more important aspects of choosing a paddle. That said, there are other traits to consider and we have several helpful sources of information available on our site. Try taking a look at these articles:

Best Paddles for Spin
Best Pickleball Paddles
Best Paddles for Under $150