Real Gear Advice from a Real Beginner
No sponsorships. No fluff. Just honest reviews from someone who just started playing.
Real Gear Advice from a Real Beginner
PaddlersPick isn't run by a pro player with sponsorship deals. It's built by someone who just picked up a paddle for the first time — and wants to help you do the same.
6+
Guides Published
7
Paddles Tested
$120
Starter Budget
0
Sponsorships
From Overwhelmed Beginner to Building This Site
I'm Charles McQuain — a software engineer based in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. In April 2026, my wife and I decided to try pickleball after hearing about it from seemingly everyone — our neighbors, our friends, and all over social media.
Before our first game, I did what any engineer would do: I researched. I spent hours reading reviews, comparing paddles, watching YouTube videos, and trying to figure out what I actually needed to buy.
And honestly? It was overwhelming.
I couldn't find a single site that spoke to me as a total beginner.
So I built PaddlersPick.
— Charles McQuain, Founder
What PaddlersPick Is (and Isn't)
- checkA beginner testing gear and sharing honest opinions
- checkRecommendations based on real use, not sponsorships
- checkClear, jargon-free guides for people just starting out
- checkBudget-conscious — we know you don't want to spend $200 on your first paddle
- closeA pro player telling you what works at tournament level
- closeSponsored by any brand — our recommendations are independent
- closeA store — we link to retailers where you can buy what we recommend
How We Keep the Lights On
PaddlersPick is supported through affiliate commissions. When you buy a product through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is what allows us to spend time researching, testing, and writing these guides.
Affiliate partnerships never influence our recommendations. If a product isn't good enough for a beginner, we won't recommend it — regardless of commission rates.
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