INTERNATIONAL PICKLEBALL STANDARDS (IPS)
Our goal is to create a unified framework that supports the consistent growth, development, and sustainability of pickleball worldwide. These goals address the sport's evolving needs while ensuring accessibility, inclusivity, and competitive integrity. Look for IPS approved pickleball clubs and paddles to be assured of quality.
How The IPS Assess Pickleball Clubs
These four criteria balance practical aspects (facilities, location) with the social and developmental side of the pickleball experience (community, coaching).
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Facilities and Amenities
Indoor vs. Outdoor Courts: The number of available courts (indoor and outdoor), their quality, surface type, and availability for members.
Additional Amenities: Locker rooms, seating areas, pro shops, fitness centers, and access to other recreational activities can add to a club's appeal.
Court Maintenance: The condition of courts (e.g., resurfacing, net quality, lighting) is crucial for a positive playing experience.
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Membership and Community Engagement
Member Demographics: A good mix of skill levels and ages can foster a welcoming, inclusive environment. Clubs with diverse membership might attract players who want to socialize as well as compete.
Club Culture: Engagement in social events, tournaments, leagues, and informal play opportunities. A strong sense of community can make a club more enjoyable and supportive.
Accessibility and Inclusivity: Welcoming new players, offering lessons, or having adaptive programs for those with special needs can enhance a club's reputation.
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Coaching and Player Development
Professional Coaching: The quality and availability of experienced coaches who offer private lessons, clinics, and structured training programs for all skill levels.
Skill Advancement Programs: Clinics, workshops, and leagues designed to help players improve their technique, strategies, and competitive abilities.
Tournaments and Competitive Play: The presence of local or regional competitions and opportunities for players to advance in skill and ranking.
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Location and Accessibility
Proximity to Major Urban Areas: Clubs in well-connected areas (easy access via car, public transport) are generally more popular.
Parking and Transport: Availability of parking spaces or proximity to transit options can impact how convenient it is for members to access the club.
Climate Considerations: For outdoor clubs, weather patterns (availability of year-round play) and shelter options (covered courts) can influence accessibility.
Featured Pickleball Clubs (IPS Approved)
Pickleball Palace, Melbourne, Australia
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The Courts: Pickleball Palace in Melbourne, Australia has 4 indoor courts for players to enjoy all year round, rain or shine. Pickleball palace demonstrates a high level of professionalism with their 4 indoor courts which have a spacious layout and well maintained acrylic court surface. Pickleball Palace offer memberships with various benefits, including preferential rates for court bookings, discounts and exclusive access to their member’s lounge.
Additional Amenities: Besides their exclusive member’s lounge, Pickleball Palace has a SportWell Revival Centre onsite! This means players can have access to cold/hot therapy, a hydrotherapy spa and full body massage chairs to relax after their pickleball games.
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Member Demographics: Pickleball Palace memberships are available to players of all skill levels and backgrounds. They also offer different memberships based on an individual’s needs as well as their Royal Family Membership, which is the only unlimited membership in Australia. The family memberships also include weekly treatments at the SportsWell Revival Centre.
Club Culture: Pickleball Palace hosts a wide range of pickleball events, including social sessions, tournaments, matchplays and lessons with their club’s partner academy, TTT Pickleball Academy. The pickleball club is family oriented and encouraging to players of all ages and skill levels. Pickleball Palace believes that Pickleball is highly accessible and inclusive. They continue to prove how great the sport is with their growing popularity as a thriving Pickleball club in Australia.
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Professional Coaching: “The foundation of success in pickleball lies in the power of teamwork”, this is a wise teaching from the coaches at TTT Pickleball academy. Rohan and Sharon, the head coaches of TTT Pickleball, founded the academy in 2019. They run regular training sessions at Pickleball Palace with a focus on the values of teamwork and continuous improvement. The triple “T” in their name stands for Teamwork, Training and Tournaments. You can be sure to enjoy pickleball in various ways with their sessions and tournaments.
Skill Advancement Programs: The academy offers private and group pickleball clinics. And offer sessions to players at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. This allows for players to have continuity, progression and lots of fun in their training at Pickleball Palace.
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Proximity to Major Urban Areas: The club is located in Pascoe Vale, a suburb in Melbourne around a 15 minute drive from the city. Within walking distance from the club, you can enjoy a variety of eateries and shops and a supermarket.
Parking and Transport: Those driving will be pleased to know that the parking lot at Pickleball Palace is spacious and accessible. The club is around 2 kilometers from the Pascoe Vale Railway station. Commuters can expect to take bus or taxi services to get to the club.
PickleRage, Michigan, USA
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The Courts: PickleRage located in Bloomfield, Michigan offers 9 indoor courts. The court layout is spacious with fences in between courts to provide a suitable environment for tournaments. The surface of the courts is coated with a high grade acrylic fit for advanced level play, paired with Joint Friendly CushionX technology. Courts can be booked by the public as well as the club’s members who receive discounted rates.
Additional Amenities: The club provides ample restrooms and locker rooms, high quality lighting systems for the courts to ensure the best level of visibility for players and plenty of space outside of the court areas for spectators to enjoy. Players can also gear up on pickleball equipment at the club’s pro shop and members can enjoy the spacious lounge area that PickleRage provides with a high level of cleanliness.
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Member Demographics: PickleRage memberships are open to players of all skill levels. Newcomers to the sport as well as seasoned veterans are encouraged to join. Their membership packages include an Unlimited Membership which comes with special rates on court reservations, priority scheduling, discounts at their pro shop and tournaments.
Club Culture: PickleRage is a rapidly growing community, full of pickleball enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds. The club offers a wide range of events, including social matchplay, lessons with their professional coaches and tournaments. Furthermore, members can enjoy the benefits of PickleRage at 30 different locations in 16 different states across the US. The expansion of the club has allowed for a diverse, exciting and inclusive club culture.
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Professional Coaching: PickleRage upholds professional standards with their coaching and encourages a strong sense of community and inclusivity in their training sessions. Pickleball is a sport that many can enjoy and with PickleRage’s certified coaches, accessibility to learning the sport at a higher level is rapidly increasing.
Skill Advancement Programs: The club’s academy offers lessons, training sessions and tournaments for players of all skill levels. Beginners may opt for private lessons to get a quicker grasp of the fundamentals, while players with a bit of experience may want to sharpen up specific skills with the club’s intermediate group sessions.
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Proximity to Major Urban Areas: West Bloomfield Township is a suburb of Detroit and is roughly 40 kilometers from the city. The club is located at the Gateway Centre which has a variety of shops and restaurants. Sometimes referred to by the locals as the “Lake Township of Oakland County”, West Bloomfield Township is known for its small and medium sized lakes.
Parking and Transport: For those driving in there are plenty of places for parking at the Gateway Centre’s spacious car park. The nearest bus stop to the club is Orchard LK Rd Bus Stop. The bus stop is a 10 minute walk from the club.
Play! Pickle, Singapore
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The Courts: Being a leading pickleball club in a thriving city, Play! Pickle in Singapore boasts a total of 14 pickleball courts across the island. This includes 6 sheltered courts, 2 indoor courts and 6 outdoor courts for players to enjoy. Play! Pickle ensures that their court surface quality is suitable for their pickleball lessons and events. Their outdoor courts in Chai Chee are coated with a premium acrylic and their indoor courts in Kallang are designed to provide a conducive learning environment for their academy training. Furthermore, they have 6 sheltered courts in Punggol! Rain or shine, players in Singapore can enjoy the facilities with Play! Pickle.
Additional Amenities: All of Play! Pickle’s facilities have toilets, changing rooms and showers within walking distance from the courts so players can freshen up post pickle. The academy’s first facility in Chai Chee is surrounded by enrichment and sports facilities, including a gym, swimming pool and tennis court. Play! Pickle’s sister academy, Play! Tennis is in the same vicinity and offers affordable tennis lessons at their private rooftop tennis court. Furthermore, there are sports shops in earshot, catering to a range of sporting needs, including pickleball and tennis gear.
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Member Demographics: Play! Pickle strives to create and maintain an inclusive and diverse community. Players of all backgrounds, ages, genders and abilities are encouraged to enjoy one of the world's fastest growing sports, pickleball.
Club Culture: Play! Pickle has been a pioneer in running unique sports events in Singapore such as the iconic Pickleball and Tennis festival held at Kallang in 2024. The club instills a strong sense of community during their regular group training sessions and family classes, led by their certified coaches. The club also encourages team bonding and runs corporate workshops. Their clients include Deutsche Bank, Shell and the Ministry of Education.
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Professional Coaching: Play! Pickle’s academy offers various packages and lesson plans for players of different abilities and experience levels. From complete beginners to intermediate level, there are classes running across Singapore. They ensure the coaches are certified and trained to lead sessions with their structured lesson plans.
Skill Advancement Programs: Play! Pickle also runs social events and tournaments for players with experience, who want to sharpen up their competitive edge and make new friends. The Play! Pickle League allows for players to take part in matches and score ranking points to have a chance to win exciting prizes.
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Proximity to Major Urban Areas: Singapore is one of the safest and most convenient places in the world. All of Play! Pickle’s facilities are within earshot of shops and eateries. It’s no surprise that the local and international players are highly satisfied with the experience Play! Pickle offers. They are one of the highest reviewed clubs in Singapore.
Parking and Transport: All of Play! Pickles facilities have parking lots just next to the courts or within walking distance. Those using public transport will be pleased to know all facilities are within a 10 minute walk from train stations or bus stops.
Club Pickleball, Utah, USA
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The Courts: Club Pickleball in Orem, Utah has 15 indoor pickleball courts, surfaced with high grade acrylic, the type you would see at a professional tournament. Members of the public are able to book the club’s courts but the club’s members receive advanced booking options and special rates.
Additional Amenities: On top of their 15 impressive pickleball courts, the club also has warm-up dink courts, a spacious party room, lounge and pro shop for players. Furthermore, the locker rooms and bathrooms are well equipped and clean.
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Member Demographics: Club Pickleball, like most clubs in the industry, are highly encouraging of newcomers to the sport. Pickleball for many players, is about community, accessibility and most importantly, fun. You can expect a diverse range of players at this club. From the casual Sunday pickleballer to the expert pickleball pro.
Club Culture: Club Pickleball hosts tournaments, academy training and social events on a regular basis. These events include their popular Skills and Drills Clinic, summer camps and large group parties.
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Professional Coaching: Club Pickleball has an outstanding level of care and professionalism in their coaching and academy training sessions. Their expert coaches are friendly and constructive and offer group and private sessions for players of all skill levels.
Skill Advancement Programs: With state of the art facilities and expert coaches, Club Pickleball is also suitable for advanced level players wanting to sharpen up specific parts of their game. The club’s academy offers tailored programmes for individuals with competitive goals. Furthermore, the club runs tournaments and match-plays all year round.
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Proximity to Major Urban Areas: Orem is one of the five major cities in the state of Utah. Orem is known for its Timpanogos Storytelling Festival and their Summerfest celebration and parade is a popular local attraction. Being located in a major city, public transport is regularly available and shops and restaurants are within walking distance from the club.
Parking and Transport: Club Pickleball, like many of the large clubs we have reviewed in the US, has a spacious parking area. The club is a 6 minute drive away from UTA Orem Central Station. The commute using the various bus services available will take around 20 minutes.
The Jar Pickleball Club, North York, Canada
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The Courts: The Jar Pickleball club is located in North York, Canada. They have 4 indoor pickleball courts, coated with acrylic from Picklemaster, the official USA Pickleball coating. Non-members can book courts at the club but only six times a year with no access to amenities.
Additional Amenities: Besides courts, the club has spacious locker rooms, a fitness room equipped with resistance bands and free weights. Additionally, they have a lounge and sauna for players to unwind and relax.
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Member Demographics: The Jar Pickleball Club is diverse in player backgrounds. The club encourages beginner players and offers beginner group pickleball classes as well as private lessons. Furthermore, players with prior experience are welcome to join the more advanced training sessions and tournaments to sharpen their skills.
Club Culture: The club’s culture is inclusive of its members and fosters a strong sense of pride and camaraderie. Some of the Jar Pickleball club players don the club’s t-shirt. Due to the club’s popularity there is now a waiting list for those that are keen to apply for membership. However, with the club continually expanding, we can expect to see more space for new members.
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Professional Coaching: The club’s pickleball coaches ensure the sessions are action packed and conducive for players of all levels. Jar Pickleball Club offers a variety of group and private training options so players can join specific sessions that suit their skill level and goals.
Skill Advancement Programs: For players of intermediate and advanced level, the club offers more targeted training clinics focusing on specific shots such as two-handed backhand drives. The targeted training helps players to sharpen up their game bit by bit and allows for improvement, continuous learning and fun.
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Proximity to Major Urban Areas: The Jar Pickleball Club, being located in North York, is located in the Northern Area of Toronto. Being one of the major cities in Toronto, Ontario, there is ample access to nearby shops and eating places.
Parking and Transport: The club is a 25 minute bus ride or a 3 minute car ride from the Ingram Transfer Station. There are plenty of parking spaces at the club and in the surrounding areas. The club is also a 12 minute car ride from Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Smash Pickleball, London, Ontario, Canada
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The Courts: Smash Pickleball presents a stunning pickleball facility to London, Ontario. Their indoor facility has 9 beautifully surfaced courts. Each court is sectioned with low fencing to prevent balls rolling across from different courts.
Additional Amenities: In the centre of the courts, there is the club’s restaurant, Dink Kitchen. This allows for an immersive experience for members to dine and watch pickleball together. To top it off, there is the Smash Pickleball Pro Shop located next to the restaurant and courts. Truly an all in one Pickleball facility.
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Member Demographics: The club welcomes players of all skill levels and offers a variety of memberships to suit individual and family needs, as well as having a dedicated membership package for students. Members of the club receive benefits such as advanced bookings, discounts and exclusive access to certain events.
Club Culture: Smash Pickleball is a family oriented and action packed club with exceptional staff and customer service. The club places emphasis on social play and events, which demonstrates a fun and inclusive environment for players of all ages and levels.
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Commitment To Providing Excellent Customer Experiences: Smash Pickleball’s employees, also known as Smash Experience Providers are a dedicated team to ensure that members receive a conducive and enjoyable pickleball experience. The club’s team works hard to maintain a high level of customer service as well as focus on constant improvement.
Special Events: The club offers a variety of events for special occasions. This includes birthday parties and team building workshops in the theme of pickleball. With such a cutting edge facility, pickleball enthusiasts and newcomers will enjoy an immersive, well-rounded experience.
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Proximity to Major Urban Areas: London, Ontario is the 11th largest metropolitan area in Canada. Smash Pickleball being located in one of Ontario's major cities, players will be within walking distance from shops, restaurants and public transport.
Parking and Transport: The club is a 5 minute walk away from the Wharncliffe & Legendary bus stop and a 25 minute car ride from London International Airport. Furthermore, there is ample parking space for those driving to the club.
Royal Pickle Club, Victoria, Australia
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The Courts: The Royal Pickle Club’s main venue in Carrum Down’s, Victoria has 3 premium indoor pickleball courts, coated with acrylic in vibrant colours such as pastil pink and royal blue. The courts are well maintained and have a decent amount of surrounding space.
Additional Amenities: In addition to the courts, there is a courtside mezzanine and private room for events and parties. To top it off, the club also has a dedicated restaurant that runs 7 days a week serving delicious comfort food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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Member Demographics: The Royal Pickle Club memberships are open to players of all skills levels and ages. They are currently offering two types of membership, an unlimited membership and a premium membership. Both include exciting discounts of food and merchandise.
Club Culture: The club culture is inclusive and vibrant with regular social play as well and special themes being added to the club’s restaurant menu. Foodies and pickleball enthusiasts are sure to have an enjoyable experience at the Royal Pickle Club.
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Commitment To Providing Excellent Customer Experiences: The Royal Pickle Club indeed holds a royal standard when it comes to providing a well rounded customer experience for its members. From the maintenance of the facilities to the passionate chefs in the kitchen delivering a high standard of service.
Special Events: The club offers a range of events for members to enjoy. From pickleball, food, drinks and fun to private pickleball themed parties for families and friends looking for a space to share a special occasion. Pickleball, food, drinks and entertainment, the Royal Pickle Club has it.
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Proximity to Major Urban Areas: The club is located in Carrum Downs, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. It is within a 90 minute drive of Melbourne Airport and major bus stations. Carrum Downs is 48 kilometres south-east of Melbourne’s central business district.
Parking and Transport: The club has ample parking lots for both its members and visitors. The club is a 5 minute car ride from Carrum Downs Regional Shopping Centre. There are also bus services from the shopping centre to the venue. The commute is around 10 minutes.
Elite Pickle Ball Club, Houston, Texas
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The Courts: Elite Pickleball Club’s largest facility has 16 indoor courts and is open 24 hours a day. They are surfaced with a premium acrylic coating and have fences to divide courts. They also have an impressive amount of spacing around the courts which allows for players to move around more freely.
Additional Amenities: In addition to the courts, the club also has a pro shop with a variety of pickleball equipment for players of different levels from beginner to advanced. The club has also announced that they will be opening a new restaurant and bar at their 16 court facility soon.
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Member Demographics: Elite Pickle Ball Club membership caters to players of all levels and backgrounds. Beginner players can consider taking an introduction lesson with the club’s elite coaches, while intermediate and advanced players can join social and tournaments that run regularly.
Club Culture: The club makes valiant efforts to run social events and tournaments for its members to enjoy. Competitive players take part in tournaments hosted by the club regularly to sharpen their game.The club’s pickleball academy is welcoming to newcomers and the coaches are patient with their students.
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Professional Coaching: The coaches at Elite Pickleball Club demonstrate a high level of knowledge and skill. The club’s academy regularly conducts introductory group lessons where players can pick up the basics of pickleball, as well as meet new players and socialise.
Player Development: The coaches at Elite Pickleball Club also offer private lessons for those that want a more focused session. For the players who develop a strong foundation, can train towards playing the club’s tournaments to develop their competitive side.
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Proximity to Major Urban Areas: The club being located in Houston, a major city in Texas, is well connected to shopping centres and restaurants. The club is a 25 minute car ride away from George Bush Intercontinental
Parking and Transport: The club has proficient parking facilities and is conveniently located near major bus stations. Players can commute from Market Square Park and reach the club within 45 minutes by using bus services.
Pickle Social Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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The Courts: The Pickle Social Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has 4 sheltered courts and 4 outdoor courts. All their pickleball courts are coated with a durable high grade acrylic and are well maintained and have ample space surrounding the court.
Additional Amenities: The club provides a spacious reception area as well as a viewing area allowing for friends and family to cheer on the players. Both the outdoor and sheltered courts are well lit at night ensuring ball visibility is good.
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Member Demographics: The club currently does not offer membership packages. All players who sign up through their website are able to access their facilities, programmes and events, subject to availability.
Club Culture: The club’s culture is inclusive and diverse. They are welcoming to players of all levels and ages. The club’s social play sessions allow for players to make new friends. The club’s pickleball lessons allow for newcomers to learn the basics fast.
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Professional Coaching: The coaches at Pickle Club social offer a variety of lesson plans to cater to all skill levels. The club’s coaches demonstrate a high level of professionalism and ensure the sessions are fun and engaging for players.
Skill Advancement Programs: The club offers open play sessions for intermediate and advanced players. This allows for players with strong technical foundations to play with different players and sharpen their match play skills.
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Proximity to Major Urban Areas: As the club is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital and a thriving city, you can expect to be in close proximity with shopping centres and food places. The club is a 50 minute car ride away from Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Parking and Transport: The club has ample parking spaces for those driving. For those commuting on public transport, there are various bus services available from the city centre to the club.
Pickleball Phuket, Kathu, Thailand
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The Courts: Pickleball Phuket Club is one of the leading providers of pickleball in Phuket. It is home to 4 outdoor pickleball courts coated with professional grade acrylic. The courts are well maintained and have a spacious surrounding area.
Additional Amenities: The club is surrounded by beautiful greenery creating a sense of peace and happiness, being at one with nature. The club also has a shaded sitting area and cafe serving drinks and snacks.
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Member Demographics: Pickleball Phuket offers one membership which gives members unlimited access to open play and social games. The club caters to members of all skill levels and backgrounds.
Club Culture: Pickleball Phuket prides itself on being a fun and healthy retreat for friends and families to enjoy pickleball. The club runs social sessions and open play regularly for those looking to meet new players. This builds a strong sense of community and inclusivity for new and returning members.
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Proximity to Major Urban Areas: Pickleball Phuket is conveniently located in Kathu, a central area on the island of Phuket, making it easily accessible from major urban destinations. The venue is situated about 15 minutes by car from the popular tourist hotspot of Patong Beach. ]
Parking and Transport: Pickleball Phuket offers ample parking for visitors who choose to drive. The venue has dedicated parking spaces, parking availability. For those using public transport, the location is well-served by local buses and songthaews (shared minibuses) that connect Kathu to both Patong and Phuket Town.
How The IPS Assess Pickleball Paddles
These four criteria provide a comprehensive evaluation of pickleball paddles.
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Design
Branding through design also extends to the visual appeal of the paddle. The color scheme, graphics, and overall aesthetic are often what attract consumers in the first place, particularly for recreational players who want something that stands out. A paddle that’s visually striking can evoke feelings of pride and confidence when using it on the court.
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Power
IPS examines the power that the paddle produces.
A paddle's power is influenced by its weight, head size, and material composition. Heavier paddles generally generate more power due to increased momentum, while larger head sizes provide a larger sweet spot for hitting the ball with force. The material used in the paddle's face, such as graphite or carbon fiber, also plays a significant role in power generation.
Players seeking maximum power often opt for heavier paddles with larger head sizes and materials known for their responsiveness. However, it's essential to consider the trade-offs, as increased power can sometimes come at the expense of control and maneuverability.
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Control
Control is another critical aspect of pickleball paddle performance, and it's often a balancing act against power. A paddle's control is determined by its weight, balance, and grip size.
Lighter paddles generally offer better control due to their maneuverability, allowing for precise shot placement and delicate touch. A balanced paddle, with the weight evenly distributed, enhances stability and reduces unwanted vibrations, contributing to a smoother swing and better control.
Grip size also plays a role, as a comfortable and secure grip allows for a more confident and controlled swing. Players seeking exceptional control usually prioritize lighter paddles with a balanced design and a grip that fits their hand perfectly.
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Price
We look at the pricing of the paddle to determine if it’s value and affordability to players.
Featured Pickleball Paddles (IPS Approved)
Head Extreme Tour Max
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The Head Extreme Tour Max pickleball paddle demonstrates innovative technology and design. Its hexagonal frame allows for a more compact and maneuverable paddle that has a large sweet spot. This paddle is suitable for beginner, intermediate and advanced players.
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The power level of the Head Extreme Tour Max paddle is moderate with a 11.0mm thickness and a total weight around 230 grams. The length of this paddle is 16 inches and width is 7.8 inches.
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With its moderate weight, thickness, width and length, this paddle finds a nice balance between power and control. The majority of our play-testers found that the Head Extreme Tour Max pickleball paddle was an excellent all rounder.
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The price point of this paddle is in the mid to lower range of pickleball paddle prices. As of 2024, players can buy a Head Extreme Tour Max off amazon for around 105 USD. This price point makes it an attractive option for beginner and intermediate level players looking for a solid entry point paddle.
Play! Pickle Paddle
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The Play! Pickle paddles have a vibrant visual design with the academy's signature orange colour paired with a brown grip. This paddle has the standard square shaped frame with a 13mm core thickness. This pickleball paddle is suitable for all types of players.
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The power of this pickleball paddle is high considering its thin elegant beam. Our play testers were pleasantly surprised at the pop and power they were able to get on their shots with the Play! Pickle Paddle.
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This pickleball paddle is designed for all-rounders, players that enjoy mixing up their shots and enjoy a balance of power and control in their game. The Play! Pickle paddle provides an exceptional amount of control and feel on various strokes.
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The Play! Pickle Paddle is currently the most affordable option in series for the best pickleball paddles. Currently available at around 35 USD, this paddle offers great value for money with its high quality materials and design. This is a user-friendly pickleball paddle made for players of all levels and ages.
Selkirk SLK Halo Control
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This pickleball paddle is sheik and minimalist in terms of the visual design. Its black face and brown rim create a classy look, along with its faux leather base grip. The shape of the paddle is the standard square shape for pickleball.
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The power on the Selkirk SLK Halo Control is relatively low and is suitable for players that are able to generate their own power with ease. Control oriented paddles such as this one tend to be lower in power, thus providing more control and feel.
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As the name has indicated, this pickleball paddle is all about the control. Our playtesters couldn’t stop raving about how dialed in they felt when using this paddle for dinks. This precision pickleball paddle is suitable for advanced level players.
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The price of this pickleball paddle as of 2024 is around 160 USD on Amazon. This price point is more affordable than other Selkirk paddles such as their newest Vanguard Power, raging around 300 USD.
Joola Ben Johns Perseus
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This pickleball paddle has clean and classic visual design. With a black body, grey rim and light grey base grip, the monochromatic shades make a serious impression. In light blue the iconic Joola logo. The paddle has a standard head shape.
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The power level on the Joola Ben Johns Perseus is moderate. It is designed to cater to the more aggressive pickleball players as it offers a more control oriented response. With a 16.5 inch paddle length, those who know how to swing it will be able to generate plenty of power.
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The control and feel on this paddle is exceptional. This is definitely a pro level pickleball paddle. Advanced level players will be able to enjoy the benefits of the extended length while staying dialed in on their shots.
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The Joola Ben Johns Persueus is currently around 310 USD on Amazon. This price point is on the higher side for pickleball paddles. This paddle is suitable for players who play competitively or frequently, as well as those that take their equipment seriously and want to try a pro level pickleball paddle.
Vatic Pro Prism Flash
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The Vatic Pro Prism Flash pickleball paddle has a rounded head shape. With its 7.7 inch width, it is wider than most paddles. It has a clean and simple visual design being full black in colour. It is a fierce looking paddle that is used by Spencer Smith, professional pickleball player.
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The paddle is designed with an elongated handle, allowing it to create a high level of power, longer handles allow for more leverage on shots. High quality foam injected all around the paddle allows for a larger sweet spot, thus increasing the overall power of the paddle.
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Our play testers found this paddle also has a good level of control, considering how powerful it is. The injected foam in the paddle also helps with control as it helps dampen and absorb any fast incoming balls.
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The Vatic Pro Prism Flash is currently around 147 USD on Amazon. With this price point, we consider this pickleball paddle to be of great value for the money, considering it is used by a professional player on the PPA Tour and our playtesters loved using it.
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0
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The Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 is in the shade of black and comes in four different variations of designs involving various graphics such as the US flag, camo theme and a green crosshair design.
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The power on this pickleball paddle is marketed as more of a control and spin oriented paddle. That being said, our playtesters found there was no shortage of power on their shots and enjoyed the additional control and spin this paddle gave them.
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The control that this pickleball paddle provides is sublime. The soft and textured carbon fibre surface on this paddle allows for more grip on the ball. With the added spin, this paddle allows for players to control the ball more effectively.
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The price of the Engage PursuitPro1 6.0 is currently around 380 USD on Amazon. This puts it up as one of the more expensive pickleball paddles we have reviewed. At this price range and quality, this paddle is suitable for advanced level players.
Head Gravity Tour
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This pickleball paddle is one of our favourites when it comes to aesthetics and visual design. The shiny gold and copper finish on these paddles is pristine and classy, the Head Gravity Tour is a real head turner on the pickleball court.
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This pickleball paddle offers a nice blend of power and control. Our playtesters found it to be a well balanced paddle suitable for all rounders who like to play with a variety of shots. The 230 gram weight of the paddle allows for just enough stability on shots.
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While being a nice blend of power and control, our playtesters came to the conclusion that the Head Gravity Tour Pro pickleball paddle leans a bit more towards being a control oriented paddle. This paddle is suitable for advanced and intermediate players.
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The price point being around 150 USD on Amazon is in the mid range of pickleball paddle pricing. For its price point, the quality and design of these paddles is one of the best we have seen on the market. Head continues to impress with their cutting edge sports equipment.
Joola Journey Series
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This pickleball paddle comes with five different visual designs that are both colourful and aesthetically pleasing. The Joola Journey series comes with a standard square shaped frame and a honeycomb polymer core which helps reduce vibrations.
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The power on these pickleball paddles is high, due to its large sweet spot. Therefore, making this paddle highly user friendly for entry level players to begin their pickleball journey. Our play testers enjoyed the easy power that this paddle provided.
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With the honeycomb polymer core technology in place, the paddles control level is moderate. Our play testers found that the paddle damped vibration well and because of this there was a sacrifice on feeling connected to the ball, thus lessening the control and accuracy on their shots.
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The Joola Journey Pickleball Paddle series is available on Amazon for around 90 USD making it a highly affordable and popular option for beginners and casual players. Besides the price point being on the lower side, you can be assured that the paddles are of a good quality.
Franklin Sports Signature Series
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The Franklin Sports Signature Series Pro Pickleball Paddles come in a wide range of different colours, from black and gold to lilac, pink and blue. The paddles have vibrant visual designs and are suitable for players of all levels.
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The power on the 16mm version that our play testers tried out came with a decent amount of power. Thicker paddle such as this one tend to pack more of a punch as well as absorb shock from incoming balls.
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With a thicker paddle some of our play testers found the response and feel of the paddle to be a little muted or dampened. However, they found there was still a decent amount of control with the paddle once they got used to playing with it.
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The Franklin Sports Signature Series pickleball paddles are available on Amazon for around 111 USD. This puts them in the mid to low price range for pickleball paddles. The quality and variety of different designs make this a great value choice for beginner and intermediate players.
Selkirk SLK Evo Power MAX
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The SLK Evo Power MAX by Selkirk comes with a striking black and neon green design in a standard square shaped frame. This user-friendly pickleball paddle is suitable for players of all levels, from beginner all the way to advanced.
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The power level on this paddle is impressive, hence the name “Evo Power MAX”. Our play testers enjoyed the extra punch that this paddle provided, allowing them to effortlessly pound heavy serves from the baseline.
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The Spinflex surface technology on this paddle allows for better bite and spin on the ball. Our playtesters found that the paddle allowed them to generate high amounts of spin, thus helping them keep control over the ball.
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The SLK Evo Power MAX pickleball paddle is available on Amazon for around 149 USD, putting it in the middle price range for quality pickleball paddles. For the quality and additional technology that this paddle offers, we believe the price point is exceptional.