Best pickleball paddles under $100
Cheap paddles used to mean wood and regret. Not anymore. A few carbon-faced paddles now sell under $100, and one of them is good enough to keep past your first year. The catch is that truly sub-$100 paddles are rare, and most "budget" lists inflate the count by counting sale prices as the real price. I've kept this honest.
Of the eight paddles I tested, only the Vatic Pro Prism Flash holds under $100 at full price. The Selkirk Amped S2 regularly drops to around $100 on sale from a $159.99 list. Everything else I tested starts at $149.99 or more. I've flagged each price clearly so you know what you're actually looking at.
Our picks
1. Vatic Pro Prism Flash
$99.99Vatic Pro · Value · Hybrid · the only true under-$100 pick
This is the answer to "what paddle under $100 should I buy." Raw Toray T700 carbon face, a 16mm polymer core, and a hybrid shape that gives you reach without shrinking the sweet spot. For the price it's absurd. New players and casual members alike will be happy here for a long time, and it holds up if you decide to take league play seriously.
| Core | 16mm C7 polymer |
| Face | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Shape | Hybrid (Flash) |
| Weight | 7.7–8.2 oz |
| Length / Width | 16.25" × 7.7" |
| Grip | 5.5" length, 4.125" circumference |
2. Selkirk Amped S2 Widebody
$159.99 MSRP, often ~$100 on saleSelkirk · Beginner · Widebody · best value when discounted
Not under $100 at full price, but it lands there often enough that I'm including it. When it's on sale it's the best widebody you can get in this range, with the lightest swing weight I tested. Set a price alert and grab it under $110. For a newer player who wants a forgiving shape, this is the one to watch.
| Core | 16mm X5 |
| Face | Fiberglass (FiberFlex+) |
| Shape | Widebody S2 |
| Weight | 7.3–8.4 oz |
| Length / Width | 15.75" × 8" |
| Grip | 4.65" length, 4.25" circumference |
3. Engage Encore Pro MX 6.0 (stretch)
$149.99Engage · Control & Spin · best value if you can stretch
If you can stretch past $100, the Engage is the best spin paddle under $150. The treated fiberglass face grabs the ball, and the sweet spot is huge. I'd call it the value pick for players who already know they like touch play and want grit without paying $200. Watch for holiday drops that pull it closer to $120.
| Core | ControlPro polymer (thick) |
| Face | FiberTEK (chem-treated fiberglass) |
| Shape | Elongated (MX) |
| Weight | 7.5–8.3 oz |
| Length / Width | 16.5" × 7.5" |
| Grip | 4.375" length, 4.25" circumference |
Buying tips that actually save money
- Watch the live price. Our links pull the current Amazon number, and paddles move $20 to $40 during holidays. The MSRP is a starting point, not the price you'll pay.
- Buy last year's colorway. Brands discount old colors hard, and the paddle is the same.
- Skip the $30 specials. The surface grit wears out in weeks and the core dies fast. The Vatic at $99.99 is the floor I'd trust.
How the three compare
| Paddle | Face | Shape | Real price | Score |
| Vatic Pro Prism Flash | Raw T700 carbon | Hybrid | $99.99 | 4.6 |
| Selkirk Amped S2 | Fiberglass | Widebody | ~$100 on sale | 4.4 |
| Engage Encore Pro MX 6.0 | FiberTEK fiberglass | Elongated | $149.99 | 4.4 |
How we picked
I hit-tested all eight paddles over multiple sessions and checked each one against the manufacturer's published specs. Prices are typical US figures as of July 2026; the Amazon links show what the paddle costs right now. Scores come from hands-on play weighted against those specs.
Compare budget paddles on Amazon →
Sources. Specs verified against each brand's official product page (Vatic Pro, Selkirk, Engage). getrallypick may earn a commission from partner links. Testing is independent and never paid for. See our disclosure.