Length is Overrated! At least in pickleball😜

Sorry for the innuendo, but I mean… c’mon. I’m never resisting that! (And if more come to mind as I write/you read, I’m also sorry in advance). In my last edition, I mentioned how I believe the “standard” paddle shape is the best shape for most amateurs, and I got so many responses from people requesting I write more on that, so here I am! I aim to please!

If you’re unsure what I mean by “standard” shape, it is actually now commonly referred to as a “wide-body” shape and the terms are largely interchangeable. Think “frying pan”, lol. The default shape you see most players using is called “elongated”.

If you didn’t know, pickleball paddles cannot exceed 24 inches in the summation of their height and width. “Hybrid” paddles are paddles whose dimensions fall between 16-16.5 inches for length and 7.5-8 inches for width.

If you didn’t know, my signature paddle, the AB 14mm Scorpeus, is a standard-shaped paddle. Wider shapes are amazing for many reasons. Primarily, they allow for:

The improved stability and sweet spot allow for significantly improved “forgiveness”. Once you’re used to a standard shape, when using an “elongated” paddle it will feel like the “sweet spot” is tiny and like your slight mishits are punished far more. And let’s be honest, if I’m mishitting the ball, I KNOW you are.

The reduced length does cost a bit of reach, but I am generally of the opinion that if I was going to hit that ball in the 1-inch space I no longer have, I was going to miss/lose the point anyway. This reduction in length does, however, give the paddle less drag. This reduced drag makes it more aerodynamic and allows for both improved maneuverability (switching from backhand to forehand is easier or into weird positions), and a lower swing weight. Both of these things translate to faster hand speed and an easier ability to accelerate. Hand speed is obviously of paramount importance in doubles, and acceleration is what makes a lot of high-level shots possible.

Elongated paddles are better for players whose entire game is built around a bit of extra reach into the kitchen, and players who play a lot of singles. This shape is better for drives as the length gives a bit more plow-through, hence the improved singles prowess. If you play the majority of your doubles games from the baseline hitting drives, then it would also suit you there, but I know that isn’t most people reading this! People who really, really prioritize power will also benefit from this shape, but the difference in power is, imo, quite marginal with technological advancements in paddle technology in the last few years. That power comes at the cost of increased drag, it just depends on what matters more to you!

In summary, the elongated shape is great for a lot of men who do a lot of reaching into the kitchen and who build their game around huge drives and having a lot of putaway power. Generally, the standard shape is better suited for other things.

A lot of tennis players favor this shape as it looks more like a tennis racket, and a high percentage of pickleball players come from a tennis background. This has resulted in it becoming the default shape, but I truly do not think it is the best fit for the majority of players. The standard shape shines in doubles play, which is largely what pickleball is. It allows for better feel, hand speed, forgiveness, and acceleration. Most people would benefit more from an improvement in these areas rather than a small increase in power/reach.

For me, once I switched to a standard shape in August of 2022 there was absolutely no going back. It felt like I was now living life on easy mode. My hands were faster, resetting was easier, and I even got more power (this is largely because I was switching from a 16mm Hyperion to a 14mm Solaire… throwback)! I’ll never go back to an elongated shape, and I bet that if any of you get accustomed to a standard shape, you will feel the same! Long live the frying pans!!!

Oh, and you don’t just have to take my word for it, Chris Olson agrees with me! If you’re still interested in this topic, check out this amazing video he made breaking down different paddle shapes and their pros/cons.

In summary, I think for most doubles players, the standard shape is the way to go. There are a good number of options on the market, but if you’re interested in trying one out and you’re reading this, I hope you’ll consider giving mine a go!