How do I pick a Pickleball paddle?
Power - if you are looking for a paddle that will do some of the work for you, then select wood. Wood and composite have a higher trampoline effect than graphite, especially at lower hitting forces.
Fatigue - if your primary concern is arm fatigue (tennis elbow or tendinitis), then a light-weight graphite or composite paddle is for you.
Price - maybe you are new to the game and aren't sure how much you are going to play, choose a wood or composite paddle.
Once you have decided the order of your priorities, the selection process becomes easier. After holding a paddle in your hand, you may find that price is no longer your priority, but comfort or power is more important. Or, you might find that a lighter paddle isn't as important as having the power that you need to smash a ball in your opponent's court. Remember that regardless of your intellectual priorities, the paddle has to physically feel right in your hand.
Paddle Materials
Wood - Classic, durable, and the paddles don't have an edge guard to interfere with your hit. Wood offers the highest trampoline effect of any material on the market. Wood paddles tend to be heavier and require more forearm strength.
Composite - A medium weight material which lends itself to less arm fatigue. Composite usually refers to a fiberglass materials. Composite is lighter than wood, but typically heavier than graphite. The trampoline effect is in the middle range between wood and graphite.
Graphite -The lightest material which lends itself to less arm fatigue. Graphite typically has a lower trampoline effect, but this can be compensated for by the swing speed that you gain with a light weight paddle.