The top five pickleball paddles with short handles range from a wide array of different options and I'm going to do my best to break them all down below.
With paddles companies like ProXR, Pickleball Apes, Oya and more coming out with handles that are 6+ inches and the majority of companies competing with a range that is generally 5.3-5.5 inches - we're left with 4-5 inches being considered a shorter handle on a pickleball paddle.
Shorter handles tend to lean to wide bodies, which also often find themselves leaning towards the control paddle option considering they are more forgiving with more face surface area and maneuverability.
That said, I'm going to be doing my best to break down paddles that not only fall into the control category but also other options like thermoformed paddles (you can read more about thermoforming and the best thermoformed paddles here) for extra power with a shorter handle, the best overall paddles with the inclusion of price and performance, and even elongated (non wide body) and super thing handles as well.
I have personally tested all of these paddles and you'll find many of them within my pickleball paddle reviews as well, so, of course, there will also be a factor to remember that part of this is my own personal preference in the way that a paddle hits and feels. I'll be breaking down elements like power, pop, control, feel and price, but always remember that personal preference plays a huge part in the perfect paddle selection for you.
I also have our Perfect Paddle Quiz that helps you find the best paddle for you among the best options on the entire market if that's something you prefer - but either way I'll be breaking down the very best specifically among the paddles with short handles below, so buckle up.
Top Five Pickleball Paddles With Short Handles
The Top Five Pickleball Paddles With Short Handles
Number One: Hudef Apex Pro
The Best All Around Option
PRICE:$89 ($75 with code "THESLICE")
SHAPE: Wide Body
MATERIALS: T700 Raw Carbon Fiber Face with Polypropylene Honeycomb Core
THERMOFORMED: No
LENGTH: 16.06"
WIDTH: 7.9"
AVG. WEIGHT: 7.8-8.3 oz
GRIP LENGTH: 4.9"
THICKNESS: 16MM or 14MM
Coming in at number one on our list of the best pickleball paddles with short handles is the Hudef Apex Pro.
The Apex Pro came in at number four on my list of the best control pickleball paddles and also made it onto my list of the top paddles for under $100, so it should be no surprise seeing it high on our list here.
This one is not thermoformed, so it's not on our list of power paddles, but you can definitely generate it when you need it.
It has the wide body that we're used to seeing with the shorter handle and even has the option to go with the 16mm thickness or the 14mm if you want a bit more pop coming off the face.
At $89 $75 with code "THESLICE" you can't beat the price point for what you get from this paddle, which is why it's coming in at the top of the list.
The Top Five Pickleball Paddles With Short Handles
Number Two: CRBN2X
The Best Thermoformed Option
PRICE: $229.99 ($202 with code "THESLICE")
SHAPE: Wide Body
MATERIALS: T700 Toray Carbon Fiber Surface with Polymer Core
THERMOFORMED: Yes
LENGTH: 15.75"
WIDTH: 8"
AVG. WEIGHT: 7.8-8.1 oz
GRIP LENGTH: 4.75"
THICKNESS: 14MM or 16MM
Next up on our list of the best pickleball paddles with short handles is the CRBN 2X Power Series paddles.
You guys may have read my review of the CRBN Power Series Paddles and know that I am fond of them, but the only issue I've ever really had was the price point.
Even with code "THESLICE" giving 10% off, they're still coming in above many of the other options on the market, albeit being amazing paddles.
That said, they are one of the only companies out of the mid level competing with thermoformed technology (Gen2) that give the option for a short handle and wide body.
Which is precisely why this one comes in so high on the list.
Even the new Joola Scorpeus that is a thermoformed option with a wide body shape comes in with a longer handle - so the CRBN2X is fairly unique, and a great option for someone who wants a power paddle with a short handle and wide body.
The Top Five Pickleball Paddles With Short Handles
Number Three: Vulcan V730HT MAX
The Best Elongated Option
PRICE: $109.99 ($225 on JustPaddles with this Slice Promo Link)
SHAPE: Elongated
MATERIALS: V-Skin Carbon Fiber Surface with HiTract Surface Grit and StateraCore Polypropylene Core
THERMOFORMED: No
LENGTH: 16.5"
WIDTH: 7.25"
AVG. WEIGHT: 8.2-8.4 oz
GRIP LENGTH: 4.75"
THICKNESS: 13MM
Coming in at number three on our list of the best pickleball paddles with short handles we stray from the wide body and go to the complete opposite with this thin elongate paddle: the Vulcan V730HT Max, which is one of Vulcan's new 700 series paddles.
This particular paddle is the elongated model that is Tyler Loong's signature paddle - the Erne King.
Vulcan developed this new V-Skin Carbon Fiber Surface that has only had incredible reviews thus far, and I actually had the chance to hit with this one a bit and actually really enjoy it.
I'm not much of a short handle elongated type of player, per se, but this one was extremely fun and if I have a chance to grab it for myself one day I could easily see it joining my fun rotation (I have a fun rotation and a competitive rotation).
Six Zero has the Black Diamond Power, the Sapphire and, the most popular among players (one of the most sought after paddles on the market), the Double Black Diamond Control.
Our partnership with JustPaddles makes this one even more appealing, giving you 10% off with this link, bringing it down to $225 as opposed to the normal $250.
The Top Five Pickleball Paddles With Short Handles
Number Five: Electrum Pro
The Best Extremely Short Handle Option
PRICE: $119 ($107 on JustPaddles with this Slice Promo Link)
SHAPE: Wide Body
MATERIALS: RAW Toray T700 carbon fiber and Honeycomb Polypropylene Core
THERMOFORMED: No
LENGTH: 15.5"
WIDTH: 8.5"
AVG. WEIGHT: 7.9-8.4 oz
GRIP LENGTH: 4"
THICKNESS: 11MM
Coming in at number four on our list of the top pickleball paddles with a short handle is the Electrum Pro.
The original Electrum Pro comes in with just a 4 inch handle, making it the shortest handle on this list, and the widest body as well, at 8.5 inches wide.
With the core of 11mm thin, this one can definitely pack a punch, but with the wide body shape you should be looking to be a reset king that can also put the ball away when needed with this one.
The Slice partnership with JustPaddles allows you to grab this one for not only 10% off, but also with a limited edition variation of it, making you able to get the lime green handle as well.
The Top Five Pickleball Paddles With Short Handles
Number Five: ProXR "The Standard"
The Best Short AND Thin Handle Option
PRICE: $209 ($188 on JustPaddles with this Slice Promo Link)
SHAPE: Wide Body
MATERIALS: T700 Raw Carbon Fiber Face with Polypropylene Honeycomb and added Shock Foam
THERMOFORMED: Yes
LENGTH: 16"
WIDTH: 8"
AVG. WEIGHT: 8.0-8.4 oz
GRIP LENGTH: 5"
THICKNESS: 16MM or 14MM
The last paddle on our main list (we do have a runner up section as well), at number five among our best pickleball paddles with short handles, is the ProXR Zane Navratil "The Standard" paddle.
While the original Zane Navratil paddle (and now also the Connor Garnett variant) come in with a 6 inch handle, ProXR decided to also release this one for the players who prefer a short handle and wide body face.
You can grab this one at both 14MM or 16MM to choose whether you'd like a bit more pop or a bit more control, depending on your play style and preference, which is also a nice addition to a paddle decision.
The reason I also love the PROXR paddles is because they come in with some of the slimmest thickness among paddles, with The Standard (and the longer handle options as well), coming in at just 4 inches thick (where-as most paddles are 4.125-4.5).
The Top Five Pickleball Paddles With Short Handles
The Top Five Pickleball Paddles With Short Handles - Runner Ups (Other Great Options, In No Specific Order):
- CRBN 2 (Non-Thermoformed Version of CRBN2X - 10% Off With Code "THESLICE")
- Onix Evoke Premier Pro Carbon (10% off With This Link to JustPaddles)
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 6.0 (10% Off With This Link to JustPaddles)
- Joola Radius (Great for Ex-Table Tennis Players - Available on Amazon)
- Selkirk SLK Halo Max (Amazing Control Paddle - Available on Amazon)
The best pickleball paddles with short handles come in a wide array of shapes and sizes, but you're generally going to find them with wide bodies and gearing towards control with their big sweet spot.
That said, I know a lot of players who love their elongated paddles with short handles, so, as always, it comes down to the player.
I'd love to hear your personal preference - what is your favorite short handle paddle?
