How Often Should I Get a New Pickleball Paddle?

TL;DR:

Pickleball paddles wear out over time due to use, affecting performance and appearance. Factors like storage, type, level and style of play, and treatment impact longevity. Generally, paddles last 6-12 months based on usage frequency. Replace worn paddles to maintain game quality.

Key Factors and Considerations:

• Storage, type, and treatment of paddle
• Frequency and intensity of play
• Signs of wear: performance drop, surface grit loss, sound change, visible damage
• Paddles normally last 6-12 months
• Affordable replacements available

Just like your pickleball shoes — or almost any piece of equipment for any sport — your pickleball paddle will slowly wear out over time.

Repeated use across many games can cause your paddle to lose its most important qualities. You might notice that an older paddle doesn’t seem to have the serving power it once did, or that your shots aren’t going quite where you’d expect them to go.

You can run into cosmetic issues as well as performance issues as your paddle experiences more wear and tear. Cosmetic issues are a matter of personal preference, of course, but reduced performance is something that no pickleball player wants to deal with.

So, how often should you get a new pickleball paddle? How long can you expect a pickleball paddle to last? Let’s take a closer look.

Factors That Cause Pickleball Paddles to Wear Out

It’s important to recognize that factors both inside and outside of your control affect the lifespan of your pickleball paddle.

Things you can control, and can help your paddle last longer, include:

• How you store your paddle. Keeping your paddle in a low-moisture, dark environment (like a dry and clean pickleball bag or backpack) can help it last longer. Leaving it in a humid place or exposing it to direct sunlight can cause it to deteriorate more quickly.
  One of the worst places to leave your paddle is in the trunk of your car, due to the extreme heat.
• The type of paddle you use. High-quality paddles can stand up to more use before they start changing for the worse. Certain paddle materials can also wear out more quickly than others.
• Your level of play. If you play pickleball frequently at a high level, or practice often, your paddle may wear out more quickly than the same one used by an occasional, purely recreational player.
• Your style of play. Hard shots may start to break down your paddle more quickly than a control-focused approach. If you try to get a lot of spin on your shots, you might wear out the textured surface of the paddle faster than a player who doesn’t focus as much on topspin.
• How you treat your paddle. Avoiding the temptation to lean on your paddle on the court and to touch paddles with opponents after a game can help your paddle last longer.

Factors outside your control include the fact that any use of a pickleball paddle will slowly wear it out. You don’t want to alter your style of play only to protect your paddle. Occasionally hitting the pickleball court or dropping your paddle, as long as it doesn’t affect your game otherwise, shouldn’t be a major source of concern.

Have you noticed your paddle isn’t returning the ball off its sweet spot like it used to? Is the surface grit starting to wear out? Does the paddle sound different when you hit the ball? Are there visible cracks or warping?

If you can answer “yes” to at least one of those questions, it may be time for a replacement paddle.

How Long Do Pickleball Paddles Last?

The general wisdom in the pickleball community is that paddles normally last for 6-12 months with regular time on the court. That’s the general guideline for how often you should replace your pickleball paddle.

The time period can be as short as 4-5 months or even less for frequent players, especially those at a high level of play. For players who get on the court less frequently, take good care of their paddles, and don’t have particularly intense games, paddles can last for a few years or more.

Of course, certain qualities of individual pickleball paddles influence how long they last. Paddles from popular brands tend to have more research and development put into them, so they’re often more durable.

On the other hand, inexpensive paddles can break at the handle sooner than you might expect. They can also start to rattle — a sign that glue or internal parts of the paddle have broken down and become loose within the paddle itself.

The good news is that pickleball paddles aren’t particularly expensive. Most players can easily budget a few hundred dollars (at most) to replace their paddles every 6-12 months.

Additionally, you can replace certain parts of your paddle without having to buy an entirely new one. We offer some of the best pickleball paddle grip replacements. These are effective, low-cost options whether you simply want to change your grip or you need to replace one that’s worn out.

Replacing Your Pickleball Paddle with Pickleball Superstore

Ultimately, you know best whether your paddle is working like it should or is starting to fall off in performance. Don’t let a worn-out paddle keep you from getting the most out of this game we all love!

Pickleball Superstore carries hundreds of high-quality paddles from leading manufacturers. You can find paddles for every experience level and style of play in pickleball!

Need help choosing a new paddle? Check out our Ultimate Pickleball Paddle Buying Guide.

Ready to get a new paddle? Shop our full collection of pickleball paddles!