Pickleball Paddle Care Guide

So, you’ve found your perfect paddle and you’re ready to dominate the court. But wait, before you start smashing and dinking your way to victory, it’s important to give your paddle the TLC it deserves. Just like a good partner, your pickleball paddle needs some love and care to perform at its best. From cleaning to storing, we’ve got all the tips and tricks to keep your trusty paddle in top-notch shape. So let’s dive in and make sure your paddle stays in prime pickleball-playing condition!

BEST PRACTICES 

DO avoid leaving your paddle in hot temperatures.

What do dogs, kids, and pickleball paddles have in common? You shouldn’t leave them alone in a hot car for a long time. Prolonged exposure to heat like leaving it outside in the hot sun or letting it bake in your car can cause your pickleball paddle’s composite to break down more quickly. Technically, different components of your paddle have different coefficients of thermal expansion so they expand and contract differently when hot which creates unnecessary stresses and wear spots on your pickleball paddle. So, to avoid warping, delamination, and melted grips, store your paddle in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. This will help make sure that it stays in tip top condition. 

DON’T let your paddle hit anything other than a pickleball ball.

Your pickleball paddle was built to hit a pickleball ball. Period. We know, we know - stuff happens. Sometimes you clip the net post on a sick ATP attempt or fall onto your edgeguard after a midcourt scorpion. Paddle makers understand this and your paddle should be able to withstand a single light impact during play, but repeated hard impacts cause significant structural damages to your paddle’s face and/or edgeguard. So save that paddle tap for the ball and give your partner a bear hug after your next win. 

DO keep your paddle dry.

We totally empathize with wanting to play rain or shine, but excessive water exposure just isn’t good for your pickleball paddle. If your paddle gets completely soaked, the water can creep into the composite, causing the face materials to warp and the adhesive bonds to weaken. To keep your paddle’s structural integrity in top condition, it’s best to avoid getting it wet and drying it thoroughly when extreme  water exposure happens.