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This one's personal. Widebody pickleball paddles are still my go-to, even with elongateds and hybrids everywhere. Here's my case for the standard shape, plus my top 5 widebodies for October 2026.
Is the Widebody Shape Dying?
Lately it feels like there's a conspiracy to take down widebody pickleball paddles (aka the standard shape).
One company, which I won't name, has decided to release only an elongated and a hybrid for the sequel to a paddle I used as my main at the end of 2025 and into the start of 2026. On top of that, some popular reviewers have been saying they don't care for the shape either, mostly because they don't play well with a widebody themselves.
Shoutout to Anna Bright and Chris Olson, two of the biggest voices for my beloved widebody shape.
Do I think the widebody is done for altogether? No. Some of this could be clickbait for engagement, and the company in question might still release a widebody. But with paddle tech and manufacturing now giving hybrid and elongated shapes sweet spots and swing weights that rival widebodies, if anyone was going to try to get rid of the shape, now would be the time.
Why I Still Default to Widebody Pickleball Paddles
I've spent the last year or so reviewing paddles fully aware that the widebody is the least popular shape. I've tested a plethora of awesome elongated and hybrid paddles. And I still default to the widebody.
If this is a money thing, and companies are cutting the widebody because fewer people buy it, I'd argue that ostracizing an entire group of players for being the minority is a mistake for any paddle company, even one backed by big Selkirk. (Oops, guess I did kind of say it.)
Long story short: I hope the widebody stays in pickleball. We're the minority, but I still see plenty of players using the widebody shape, and plenty switching to it because it fits their playstyle better, at all levels.
While the shape still very much exists, here are my picks for the top 5 widebody pickleball paddles in October 2026.
Quick Picks: Best Widebody Pickleball Paddles for October 2026
- V. 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean 2: Best all-court widebody
- IV. Joola Pro V Scorpeus 14mm Anna Bright Signature: Best Gen-3 / honeycomb widebody
- III. Honolulu J3CR Crystal Blue Endurance: Best durable grit widebody
- II. RPM Q2 Widebody 16mm: Elite power with a widebody soft game
- I. Gherkin Draco Widebody: My main and the best widebody paddle of 2026
(Use code JDPB at Spinwave Pickleball to save 10% off your entire order.)
The Top 5 Widebody Pickleball Paddles, Ranked
Counting down from five to my number one. Every one of these widebody pickleball paddles has real court time behind it.
11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean 2 16mm Pickleball Paddle
$169.99
Heads up: UPA-A approved, NOT USAP approved. If your league or tournament runs USAP equipment rules, this one isn't legal there. Need USAP? Look at the original Vapor Jelly Bean. 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean 2 16mm The Jelly Bean 2… read more
I recently posted my full video review after about 20 hours of court time, and the Jelly Bean 2 is my newly crowned king of all-court paddles.
If you're a widebody player looking to instantly upgrade your soft game while keeping enough firepower to hang with the bangers, look no further.
Heads up: the Jelly Bean 2 is UPA-A approved, not USAP approved, so check your league or tournament rules before you buy.
IV. Joola Pro V Scorpeus 14mm Anna Bright Signature
JOOLA Scorpeus Pro V Anna Bright JOOLA Yellow 14mm Pickleball Paddle
$299.95
JOOLA Scorpeus Pro V – Anna Bright (JOOLA Yellow) 14mm Pickleball Paddle A defensive player’s dream. The Scorpeus Pro V is JOOLA’s widest and most forgiving Pro V shape, built for elite control, stability, and lightning-fast hands at the kitchen… read more
What widebody list is complete without the top pro who uses a widebody? Before anyone says it: at this point it seems confirmed that Anna Leigh Waters (ALW) has switched to the hybrid, so Anna Bright takes the cake here.
The AB signature yellow colorway is still extremely common at the places I play, and I could use this paddle in a tournament tomorrow. Between the Pro V and the Pro IV, the Pro V is the more controllable Gen-3, and its honeycomb feel has yet to be fully replicated by any other company.
Going back to this paddle always reminds me how nice a dense feel can be. Knowing a top pro like Anna uses it at the highest level is icing on the cake.
III. Honolulu J3CR Crystal Blue Endurance
This was the last paddle I used at a 4.5-and-under tournament, and it's a major sleeper, probably because of its shape.
I've had my J3CR CBE since release, and the spin has held up perfectly through months of court time. It arguably holds the feel of its raw carbon fiber counterpart better than any other tier-1 durable grit offering, which adds to the long list of reasons it stays in my rotation. When I'm playing tight or having an off day, it's my safe paddle these days, for when my two main babies are a little too tough to control.
With all the juicy paddles on the market now, I've changed my categorization of the J3CR from the middle of the power category to the low end of power, or maybe the high end of all-court. Don't get it twisted though: the J3 can still slap a ball.
New to Honolulu? Our Honolulu pickleball paddles guide breaks down the whole lineup.
RPM Q2 16MM Widebody Pickleball Paddle
$249.99
RPM Q2 16MM Widebody Pickleball Paddle The RPM Q2 16MM Widebody is part of RPM’s new Q Series, developed in collaboration with legendary paddle engineer and reviewer John Kew. Designed as a refined full-foam performance paddle, the Q2 Widebody blends… read more
Anyone who plays with me regularly could guess my top two, and this should really be a tie for first. But today, the Q2 takes the runner-up spot.
When I'm locked in, moving my feet, with my grip pressure dialed in, it's hard to take the Q2 out of my hands. Sitting at the high end of the power category, it helps a widebody soft-game player with no tennis background, like me, when it's time to counterpunch, or to annihilate a pop-up or a bad reset off one of my patented one-handed backhand lobs out of the air.
Weighing RPM's Gen-3 option instead? See our RPM Friction Pro V2 review.
I. Gherkin Draco Widebody
Gherkin USA DRACO 16mm Pickleball Paddle - Widebody
$179.99
New to Gherkin's lineup? See how this paddle compares to every other Gherkin shape before you commit. Read the complete Gherkin Guide → Gherkin USA DRACO Wide-Body Pickleball Paddle The Gherkin USA DRACO Wide-Body is built for players who want… read more
My main girthy baby.
When I'm dialed in, the Draco Widebody gives me a touch more responsiveness than my Q2 16mm, which lets me play a touch more aggressively. It's also at the high end of the power category, especially among widebody pickleball paddles, and it has Gherkin's updated raw carbon fiber surface, which in Gherkin's own testing has held up really well with players since release.
It doesn't have durable grit (yet), but my unit has held up great since I got it in April, and it's still in heavy rotation today. Be on the lookout for the durable grit version!
Final Thoughts
There's a bit of jest, and maybe a touch of shade, in this crusade. I see the numbers, and I know widebody players are the minority. But I do hope my beloved shape sticks around, and I had fun making this list.
If you read this far, drop me a comment, and consider picking up one of these widebody pickleball paddles, or any other pickleball gear, from Spinwave Pickleball with code JDPB to save 10% off your whole order.
Still deciding on a shape? Our guide on how to choose your next pickleball paddle walks through it, and our 2026 Q3 paddle rankings cover every shape.
Questions? Find me at @threefiveforever. See you on the courts.
This one's personal. Widebody pickleball paddles are still my go-to, even with elongateds and hybrids everywhere. Here's my case for the standard shape, plus my top 5 widebodies for October 2026.
Is the Widebody Shape Dying?
Lately it feels like there's a conspiracy to take down widebody pickleball paddles (aka the standard shape).
One company, which I won't name, has decided to release only an elongated and a hybrid for the sequel to a paddle I used as my main at the end of 2025 and into the start of 2026. On top of that, some popular reviewers have been saying they don't care for the shape either, mostly because they don't play well with a widebody themselves.
Shoutout to Anna Bright and Chris Olson, two of the biggest voices for my beloved widebody shape.
Do I think the widebody is done for altogether? No. Some of this could be clickbait for engagement, and the company in question might still release a widebody. But with paddle tech and manufacturing now giving hybrid and elongated shapes sweet spots and swing weights that rival widebodies, if anyone was going to try to get rid of the shape, now would be the time.
Why I Still Default to Widebody Pickleball Paddles
I've spent the last year or so reviewing paddles fully aware that the widebody is the least popular shape. I've tested a plethora of awesome elongated and hybrid paddles. And I still default to the widebody.
