Raw Carbon Fiber Pickleball paddles are the current “talk of the town.” Raw Carbon fiber is incredibly stiff, and the stiffness helps provide incredible control over where the ball goes. Raw Carbon fiber is lighter but stronger than steel, and as a result, carbon fiber is used in things like racing cars and space shuttles.
Currently, one new Raw Carbon Fiber paddle is released every 1 ½ days, that’s 243 paddles a year. With that many new paddles being released, which are the best and how do I know. While many of those work great for the “core” player (someone who plays 8 to 10 games a year), many lack the durability to withstand daily play over several weeks.
Is RCF better than other materials? Raw Carbon Fiber pickleball paddles can take a hard hit shot and return the ball back with a hard shot, or they can take speed off and return a soft shot. Raw Carbon fiber pickleball paddles tend to be some of the most durable paddles on the market.
When advertised as being made of RCF and the company does not specify which carbon fiber manufacturer, they may be using cheaper generic options. Prior to purchasing the paddle ask which manufacturer made the RCF in the paddle. If they don’t know or will not tell you, you may want to consider another paddle.
It is important to know the manufacturer of Raw Carbon Fiber. Cheaper RCF will result in the skin of the paddle wearing down faster. When cheaper material is used, the spin and reflection off the paddle is reduced due to an increase in wear. Higher quality RCF will result in maximizing strength and flexibility which is key for durability and longevity. Toray is a manufacturer of higher grade RCF and T700 is the typical grade. When possible, choose a paddle made of Toray RCF with a grade of T700, you be glad you did.
Additionally, look for a paddle that was made using Thermoforming as this creates an extremely strong and durable paddle which is unlikely to break between the handle and paddle face. Thermoforming is done by wrapping the entire paddle with carbon fiber and injecting EVA foam on the edge. Then a new heat-pressed technique is used to create thermoformed edges and a Unibody Construction. This process creates a sealed edge injected foam that is both lightweight and durable, so the honeycomb core is sealed before the edge guard. Thermoformed Pickleball paddles are different from other types of paddles because they are heat-pressed and sealed edge instead of the cold cutting. This sealed edge with foam layer provides a softer feel and more control, making it easier to hit the ball with precision. Thermoforming has other advantages such as an expanded sweet spot and more power.
Finally, don’t buy a paddle because of the name that’s on it, but consider the way it’s made and the materials it is made of. There are many quality paddles on the market that will perform as well as the name brand ones for a lot less money.
Our philosophy is, invest in a good pair of court shoes before you invest in a high-quality paddle.