Are Training Paddles Worth It for Pickleball? We Tested 3 Types to Find Out
The world of pickleball is booming. From foam paddles to specialized court shoes, there’s always something new claiming to upgrade your game. Training paddles have been making their way into players’ bags. But are they a genuine training tool or just another gadget?
We wanted to find out. We took the three most common training paddles—the mini “sweet spot” paddles, the weighted setups, and narrow “skinny” paddles—and put them through an on-court testing session. Our goal was simple: to see if these tools actually improve accuracy, reaction time, and control where it counts.
How We Drilled Down on Performance
We ran each paddle through a focused gauntlet of drills designed to isolate specific skills:
Accuracy: We set up targets for cross-court dinks, third-shot drops, followed by volley ladders to test precision under pressure.
Reaction time: We subjected ourselves to 5-ball rapid-fire volleys at the net and intense, close-quarters hand battles.
Control: We focused on disciplined resets into a defined depth window and practiced absorbing pace with soft-hand body blocks.
Most importantly, after every drill, we immediately switched back to our preferred paddles. The direct comparison was where the magic—or gimmick—revealed itself. We paid close attention to how our bodies recalibrated and which skills actually transferred over.
Mini “Sweet Spot” Paddles
The Franklin Sweet Spot Trainer
These paddles shrink the hitting surface down to the bare essentials but keep a standard grip and weight, forcing you to hit the center or miss. The Franklin Sweet Spot Trainer is the classic example. This is an excellent tool for new players tired of shanking shots and for intermediate players looking to tighten up their dink or volley game.
Pros
Forces you to develop precision—fast.
The weight and grip feel familiar, making it an easy transition.
Perfect for pre-game warm-ups and solo wall drills.
Cons
Forget about power; you have to generate your own pace.
Overuse can briefly mess with your touch when you switch back.
Cheaper models can feel flimsy and unsatisfying on contact.
On-Court Feedback
The feedback was instant and undeniable. Mis-hit dinks made a dull thud and died at our feet. But a perfectly centered shot felt incredibly crisp and pure. The biggest “aha!” moment came during volley drills. The compact head made our hands feel faster and more deliberate. When we switched back to our regular paddle, the sweet spot felt enormous and forgiving, giving us a huge boost in confidence at the net.
Our Verdict: If you only buy one training aid, make it this one. Use it for the first 10-15 minutes of your warm-up, then switch to your game paddle and run the same drills. The muscle memory will start to lock in.
Weighted Paddles & Add-On Weights
The Lightning Loop Weighted Band
Instead of changing shape, these tools add mass. We used the Lightning Loop, a simple weighted band that slips over the head of any paddle (like a baseball bat donut), instantly adding four ounces. Weighted work is less about precision and more about building strength and swing speed. This is for the intermediate or advanced player hunting for more power on drives and faster hands on defense.
Pros
Delivers noticeable gains in drive power and blocking stability.
Makes your standard paddle feel incredibly light and quick afterward.
Adjustable weights let you scale the intensity of your training.
Cons
High risk of injury if overused. Listen to your elbow and shoulder.
Your timing will feel off during the drill; that’s part of the process.
Touch and delicate shots feel blunt and clumsy while the weight is on.
On-Court Feedback
Swinging with the extra weight felt like battling through water at first. Our drives were slower, but the paddle felt rock-solid against pace. The real payoff came the moment we slid the weight off. Our regular paddle felt like a feather—explosive and effortless. Our hands felt quick in exchanges, and blocks that used to get pushed around now felt solid as a rock. The added stability was the most immediate and transferable benefit.
Our Verdict: Treat this like strength training at the gym. Use it in short, controlled bursts two or three times a week, never for a full session. To avoid sacrificing touch for power, always follow a weighted set with drills focused on soft hands.
Narrow “Skinny” Paddles
The Vulcan V100 Training Paddle
These paddles, like the Vulcan V100, take an unforgiving approach by squeezing the face into a slim, blade-like profile. Let’s be clear: this tool is not for beginners. It’s a humbling but highly effective device for advanced players who need to fine-tune accuracy and eliminate lazy habits.
Pros
The ultimate tool for enforcing sweet-spot discipline.
Makes your regular paddle face feel as wide as a barn door afterward.
Excellent for short, hyper-focused accuracy drills.
Cons
Brutally unforgiving. Be prepared for many of mishits.
Some models have an awkward balance that doesn’t feel like a real paddle.
Not practical for practicing serves or power drives.
On-Court Feedback
This trainer was humbling. Any contact even slightly off-center resulted in a dead paddle and a ball flopping into the net. It forces you to watch the ball all the way to contact. But when you did find the center, the connection felt perfect. After just a few minutes of dinking with this paddle, switching back to our preferred paddle felt like a cheat code. Dink exchanges felt easier, and we found ourselves hitting fewer “floaters” because our contact point was so much more consistent.
Our Verdict: This is a sharp tool for specific problems. If your dinks are floating or your volleys are inconsistent, use this for 8-10 minutes once a week. It’s a quick, intense reset for your mechanics.
How to Work These Into Practice
Don’t just hit with these aimlessly. Integrate them with intention:
Warm-up block (10-15 minutes): Start your session with a mini paddle for dinks and volleys. Then, switch to your preferred paddle and repeat the same drills to feel the immediate improvement.
Strength block (2x a week, 10 minutes): Dedicate a short segment to drive-and-reset drills with a weighted paddle. Immediately remove the weight and do a “clean” set to translate that stability into speed.
Precision block (1x a week, 8-10 minutes): When your accuracy feels off, grab the narrow paddle for targeted dink and volley practice. Switch back to your regular paddle to lock in that newfound consistency.
The key is to always finish with your preferred paddle. This ensures the positive feelings and refined muscle memory transfer to your actual game.
A Worthy Investment in Your Game
So, are pickleball training paddles worth it? Our testing showed a clear yes, but with a condition: you have to use them as focused tools, not toys.
Get a mini paddle to build accuracy and reduce mishits.
Use a weighted setup to build power and make your hands feel faster.
Use a narrow paddle as a scalpel to sharpen your precision when you’re in a slump.
Used correctly, each of these trainers make your game-day paddle feel easier to use. They let you practice harder than you play, so when the match is on the line, the game feels lighter, faster, and more in your control.
