Best Pickleball Paddle for Doubles Play in 2025 (and How to Set It Up Right)

Best Pickleball Paddle for Doubles Play in 2025 (and How to Set It Up Right)

Why Doubles Requires a Different Paddle Setup

In doubles, success hinges on quick reactions, soft hands, and net dominance. Your paddle needs to be:

  • Light enough for rapid hand speed

  • Stable enough for blocks and resets

  • Precise enough for dinks and kitchen play

  • Comfortable enough to prevent fatigue over long matches

Unlike singles, doubles is less about baseline power and more about hands battles and placement.


Top 5 Pickleball Paddles for Doubles Play in 2025

1. JOOLA Scorpeus 14mm

Why It’s Great:

  • Aerodynamic and lightweight for quick hands

  • Responsive 14mm core helps with fast resets

  • Carbon Friction Surface adds spin for flicks and rolls

Best For: Competitive doubles players who attack at the net

Upgrade Tip: Add lead tape at 3/9 o’clock for stability and use a custom paddle band to prevent slippage during quick transitions.


2. CRBN 1X 14mm (Lightweight Edition)

Why It’s Great:

  • Designed for advanced hands-speed play

  • Lightweight and slightly head-light balance

  • Carbon face offers clean touch and control

Best For: Defensive counters, speed rallies, elite resets

Upgrade Tip: Swap in a tacky grip for consistent feel. Use lead tape for better depth on blocks.


3. Selkirk Luxx Control Air Invikta

Why It’s Great:

  • High dwell time for soft touches

  • Larger sweet spot for forgiveness during hands battles

  • Comfortable weight and low vibration

Best For: Touch-focused doubles teams who drop and dink all day

Upgrade Tip: Use grip-enhancing bands for wrist control and add tape at 6 o’clock to stabilize resets.


4. Electrum Model E Lite

Why It’s Great:

  • Lightweight feel with great spin access

  • Raw carbon surface adds grip for quick flicks

  • Great balance for finesse and control

Best For: Soft-handed players who control tempo

Upgrade Tip: Add lead tape to the sides for stability and match it with a pro-level grip for extra precision.


5. Gearbox CX14H Ultimate Control

Why It’s Great:

  • Unibody carbon construction = vibration-free

  • Compact shape ideal for quick maneuvering

  • Excellent feedback and control

Best For: Strategic doubles players who value clean resets

Upgrade Tip: Install a custom paddle band for wrist awareness. Consider dampeners or extra grip layers if you play in humid conditions.


Paddle Comparison Chart for Doubles Play (2025)

Paddle Weight Surface Best For
JOOLA Scorpeus 14mm ~7.5 oz Carbon Friction Aggressive hands battles
CRBN 1X 14mm Lightweight ~7.4 oz Carbon Fiber Speed + reset defense
Selkirk Luxx Control Air Invikta ~7.7 oz Hybrid Control Face Soft touch + forgiveness
Electrum Model E Lite ~7.4 oz Raw Carbon Spin control + feel
Gearbox CX14H Ultimate Control ~7.6 oz Carbon (SST Core) Strategic resets + smooth feel

Key Paddle Upgrades for Doubles Players

Even the best paddle needs the right setup for elite-level doubles play:

🎯 Lead Tape

  • Improve paddle stability for fast exchanges

  • Add depth to resets and blocks

  • Fine-tune swing weight to your preference

🎾 Custom Paddle Bands

  • Reinforce grip consistency

  • Help train paddle face orientation

  • Add visual flair for quick paddle ID

🧤 Premium Grips

  • Prevent grip fatigue in long matches

  • Improve traction in sweaty conditions

  • Rotate monthly to maintain consistency


Final Tips: How to Pick the Right Paddle for Doubles

  • Play aggressive? Choose something fast and responsive (like the JOOLA or CRBN 1X)

  • Play soft and slow? Look for dwell time and control (Selkirk or Electrum)

  • Need all-around balance? Gearbox is ultra-reliable and smooth

But don’t stop at picking a paddle — elevate it with:


Shop the Full Paddle Upgrade Arsenal

Head to CustomPickleballBands.com to get:

Gear up, level up, and dominate the doubles court in 2025.

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