HUB CONVERSATIONS 🎾 — Coach Paul shares his thoughts on why paddle shape is becoming increasingly important, and why the future could be widebody for consistency, hybrid for doubles and elongated for singles.
One of the biggest changes I've noticed in pickleball equipment recently isn't simply new materials, foam or surface technology.
It's shape.
More manufacturers are developing hybrid paddles, and I don't think that's happening by accident.
As a coach, I'm much more interested in what a paddle actually helps a player do on court than the latest technical terminology.
And when I look at the modern doubles game — faster hands, more counters, resets, blocks and speed-ups — I can understand exactly why manufacturers are investing so heavily in hybrids.
Why Hybrid?
For years, the choice was relatively straightforward.
A widebody generally offered more forgiveness and a larger hitting area.
An elongated paddle offered additional reach and leverage, often appealing to the more aggressive player.
The hybrid sits somewhere between the two.
You're trying to retain useful reach and attacking potential without sacrificing too much forgiveness or manoeuvrability.
And for doubles, that combination makes a lot of sense to me.
At the kitchen, fractions of a second matter. A paddle that feels quick through the hands but still gives you enough stability to block, reset and counter can be incredibly valuable.
We're now seeing several manufacturers take that idea in slightly different directions.
The Hybrids I'd Point You Towards
Thrive Fury Hybrid
The Fury is a good example of what I consider an all-court hybrid.
It's not about being extreme in one particular area. You're getting manoeuvrability, control and enough attacking capability when you want to accelerate.
For a doubles player wanting something versatile rather than purely power or purely control focused, I can understand the appeal.
Thrive Ignite Hybrid
The Ignite takes that hybrid philosophy into a more performance-orientated package.
There's plenty available when you want to attack the ball, but importantly you're retaining characteristics that matter when the game slows down.
Because ultimately, doubles isn't played at one speed.
One moment you're resetting a difficult ball into the kitchen; seconds later you're involved in a rapid hand battle.
A good hybrid needs to cope with both.
RPM Friction Pro V2 Hybrid — 14mm & 16mm
This is also a good illustration of why shape is only part of the conversation.
With the V2 available in 14mm and 16mm, you've got two different interpretations of a similar hybrid platform.
I'd look towards the 14mm for someone wanting a quicker, more direct response and an aggressive feel through the hands.
The 16mm moves things more towards control, stability and forgiveness.
Neither is automatically better.
It's about understanding the player holding it.
RPM Q2 Hybrid — Flat Top & Curve Top
This is where the hybrid category becomes particularly interesting.
RPM offering both Flat Top and Curve Top options shows that manufacturers aren't simply asking:
"Should we make a hybrid?"
They're now asking:
"What kind of hybrid should we make?"
Changes in geometry can affect balance, hitting area, reach and how quickly a paddle feels in your hands.
That tells me we're probably still relatively early in the development of this category.
If you're weighing up the two RPM platforms, I've broken them down side by side here: RPM Q Series vs V2 — which one suits your game?
AIREO Cyclone X Hybrid
The Cyclone X Hybrid is another example of that increasingly important middle ground.
Enough reach to attack, while retaining the manoeuvrability and forgiveness that so many doubles players need.
And perhaps that's ultimately why we're seeing so many hybrids appearing.
For a large number of players, the middle ground is actually the sweet spot.
More on that one here: AIREO Cyclone X Hybrid vs Cyclone Elongated. And if you want my full hybrid shortlist: Coach Paul's top hybrid paddles in the UK.
But Don't Forget the Widebody…
With all the attention hybrids are receiving, I certainly wouldn't write off the widebody.
In fact, for some players, I'd actively recommend one.
Not everyone needs more reach.
And not everyone needs more power.
For the more compact player whose game is based around consistency, placement, resets and staying in the point, a widebody can make a huge amount of sense.
The larger hitting area and additional forgiveness can give you something that's hugely underrated:
Margin for error.
We sometimes become obsessed with finding equipment that helps us hit a winner.
But pickleball — particularly at club and intermediate level — is very often decided by something much simpler.
Who makes the mistake first?
Sometimes the player who makes one fewer mistake wins the point.
That's why I'd never automatically move somebody towards an elongated or more aggressive paddle just because it's fashionable.
If your strength is consistency, embrace it.
Where I'd start: the RPM Q Series Widebody or the RPM Friction Pro Widebody — and my full list of top widebody paddles in the UK.
And What About Elongated?
Elongated paddles certainly aren't disappearing either.
For the player looking for reach, leverage and a more aggressive style, they're still a fantastic option.
And there's one area where I think they make particular sense:
Singles.
Singles asks very different questions of a player.
There's more court to cover. Reach becomes more important. Serving and returning become bigger weapons. Passing shots matter more, and you're generally looking to finish points differently than you would in doubles.
That's why, personally, I'd still lean towards elongated for singles.
Two I keep coming back to: the Thrive Fury Elongated and the RPM Friction Pro 14mm Elongated V2. The rest of my picks are here: top elongated paddles in the UK.
So Where Are We Heading?
I don't believe there's one perfect paddle shape.
There probably never will be.
Your technique, physical attributes, movement, level and playing style should always influence your decision.
But if I had to simplify where I think paddle development could be heading, it would be this:
Widebody — Forgiveness & Consistency
For the compact player who values stability, a larger sweet spot and staying in rallies longer.
Hybrid — The Modern Doubles Paddle
A balance of reach, forgiveness, manoeuvrability and attacking potential. For me, this could increasingly become the natural choice for doubles.
Elongated — Reach & Aggression
For players wanting additional reach and leverage, particularly those with a naturally aggressive game. And perhaps ideally suited to singles.
Paddle Shapes at a Glance
| Shape | Best for | What you gain | What you give up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Widebody | Consistency players, club & intermediate level | Larger hitting area, forgiveness, margin for error | Reach and leverage |
| Hybrid | Doubles, all-court players | Balance of reach, hand speed and stability | Not the most extreme in any one area |
| Elongated | Singles and aggressive players | Reach, leverage, put-away power | Sweet spot size and manoeuvrability |
Coach Paul's Prediction 🔮
Widebody for consistency.
Hybrid for doubles.
Elongated for singles.
Will every player fit neatly into those three categories?
Absolutely not.
And that's part of what makes choosing a paddle so interesting.
The important thing isn't buying the paddle with the biggest power numbers or the newest technology.
It's understanding what kind of player you are — and choosing a paddle that helps you become a better version of that player.
That's the conversation I think we should be having more often.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hybrid pickleball paddle?
A hybrid sits between a widebody and an elongated paddle in shape. You keep useful reach and attacking potential without giving up too much forgiveness or manoeuvrability — which is why it suits the modern doubles game so well.
Is a hybrid or widebody paddle better for doubles?
For most doubles players I'd lean hybrid, because doubles isn't played at one speed — you need to reset one ball and win a hand battle seconds later. But if your game is built on consistency, placement and staying in the point, a widebody and its bigger margin for error may serve you better.
What paddle shape is best for singles?
Elongated. Singles asks different questions: more court to cover, reach matters more, and serves, returns and passing shots become bigger weapons.
Should I choose a 14mm or 16mm hybrid?
14mm gives a quicker, more direct response and an aggressive feel through the hands. 16mm moves towards control, stability and forgiveness. Neither is automatically better — it depends on the player holding it.
Does paddle shape matter more than materials or core technology?
Shape decides what a paddle helps you do on court — reach, sweet spot size, how fast it feels through your hands. Materials and cores then fine-tune that feel. Start with the shape that fits your game, then choose the specification.
Not sure which shape suits your game? Have a look at the Hybrid / All-Court range, or shop by playing style — and if you'd rather just ask, message us and I'll happily point you in the right direction.
Coach Paul
ThePickleballHubUK
Play better. Choose smarter.
