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Best Control Pickleball Paddles (2026)
While control paddles may not be as popular amongst the enthusiast crowd in 2026, I still think they are very relevant for many types of players. Whether you want something that doesn't have a lot of pop to prevent you from floating your dinks and resets, or something that allows you to swing more freely and still keep the ball in, control paddles can do that really well. We update this list every time we have a new paddle to add, so you can always stay up to date.
You can use code PBSTUDIO to save money on any of these paddles.
These paddles are not ranked in any specific order. Every player is unique in what they want or need, and we think this list covers a wide variety of those players. Think of this list as a way to get a head start on the paddles to research further.
How we tested
All paddles in this list have been play-tested on court between drilling, rec games, and tournament play. We independently measure every paddle's swing weight, twist weight, spin RPM, balance point, and more using calibrated equipment. You can view the full spec profile for any paddle in our paddle database.
Volair Mach 2 Forza $129
The Volair Mach 2 Forza 16mm has been a control paddle staple for almost 3 years now, and for really good reason. It has a huge sweet spot, soft and dense feeling, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. It's only real weakness is that it doesn't have a lot of pop and power, but that's kind of the point.
If you are a player who wins by placement over power, moving your appointments around, and wants a paddle with a forgiving sweet spot, this is the top option in this list.
Pros
- Extremely forgiving sweet spot
- No customization needed for sweet spot performance
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Could be too soft or lacking pop for some players compared to other paddles in this list
Vatic Pro Prism $99
The Vatic Prism series may be a couple years old now, but in my opinion, still a very good control option in 2026. While I do think it is slightly outclassed in overall performance by paddles like the 11six24 Jelly Bean and the Volair Mach 2 Forza, the Prism does have a few distinct advantages.
The first is that it comes in so many shape options. Whether you want a widebody, hybrid, or elongated paddle with different handle lengths, Vatic has it.
It's also a very dampened, muted, and soft feeling paddle. So, for people who really want to swing through the ball and not worry about over swinging, the Prism does that really well.
It probably does have one of the tighter sweet spots of paddles in this list, but it's certainly not bad. A little bit of weight can easily make it plenty acceptable as well.
Pros
- Lots of shape options
- $90 after a discount code
- Very soft, dense, and easy to control
Cons
- Tighter sweet spot than some of the paddles in this list. May need a small amount of weight
- Some of the shapes have high swing weights and may not be very maneuverable
11six24 Jelly Bean $99
The best way to think about the 11six24 Jelly Bean, is a slightly bumped up version of a Vatic Prism. It isn't quite as soft because of the fiberglass layer in the face, and gives just a little bit of extra pop to help you keep up in hand battles without sacrificing all of the control. So, if you don't want a total pillow in your hands, the Jelly Bean is a great option to consider, and is very affordable.
Pros
- Comes in all three shapes
- Slightly more pop than some of the other paddles in this list
- $90 after discount code
Cons
- The feel of fiberglass can be polarizing to some players
Franklin Aurelius 16mm $229
While the Franklin Aurelius might have a gen 3 construction which is known to be for power paddles, this plays much softer. The main advantage of the Aurelius compared to other paddles in this list is that it's extremely light with a swing weight of 98 out of the box.
In fact, that is so light, that for most people I would highly recommend you add weight at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions, because without it, the sweet spot is a bit smaller, and the paddle is just too fast in the hand. Adding 2.5-5 grams of weight on each side of the paddle would be a great place to start.
Of all the paddles in this list, this is by far the lightest control paddle.
Pros
- Extremely fast in the hand
- The most pop of any of the control paddles in this list
- Short handle length for players who don't have large hands
Cons
- Gen 3 core construction could lead to core crushing
- Needs weight to reach full performance
- More expensive than most control paddles
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who should use a control paddle?
- Control paddles are best suited for two types of players. 1. Players who struggle with their soft game and need the paddle to help take away energy. 2. Players who can generate more than enough power themselves. If you fall into one of those two camps, a control paddle may be suited for you.
- Are control paddles irrelevant in 2026?
- While control paddles have certainly taken a backseat compared to the power paddles on the market, I do think that control paddles are still relevant for certain players. However, I do think that many players would be perfectly fine with an all-court paddle, unless they really struggle to keep their soft game in check. Control paddles don't really seem to be getting anymore updates from large companies, while all-court and power are the primary focuses for most manufacturers. Primarily with things like longer lasting grit textures.
- Why aren't there more control paddles?
- In the last few years, power paddles have fixed many of the issues that made them difficult to use. Particularly in sweet spot and swing weight. Because of this, many players are finding that they get some of the benefits of a control paddle, with more power. The other reason is that there has become this notion that if you don't have a power paddle, you can't play competitively (which is not true). So, power paddles are what everyone wants to buy, which makes manufacturers prioritize power paddles over control paddles. Most of the paddles in this list are actually several years old already, because companies just aren't putting effort into improving them. The other thing is, control paddles already don't have many flaws. They usually have generous sweet spots, good maneuverability, and it's harder to make something even easier to control than these already are. The only update that would be nice to see is adding the longer lasting textures that are coming out to these control paddles.
