Is a 14mm or 16mm Pickleball Paddle Better? Take the Quiz

10/12/2024 Update: I loved writing this article so much that I just wrote a new article covering whether the top 10 professional pickleball players use 14mm or 16mm pickleball paddles.

Early on, I was searching to purchase a Vatic Pro pickleball paddle, and I came to a choice of whether to choose a 14mm vs 16mm paddle, similar to the one below.

Fearing I would make the wrong decision that would cripple my budding pickleball career (cough cough – sarcasm), I could not click purchase before researching my fate.

Quick Editor Update: I ended up purchasing the Vatic Pro Prism Flash 16mm and liked the paddle so much that I became an ambassador (to provide a $10 discount code to readers) and I also bought the 14mm, and wrote an entirely separate review covering the Vatic Pro Prism Flash 14mm vs 16mm

Now back to the story. So, I started researching online, which left me increasingly confused. 

Pros did a great job explaining the difference between 14mm vs 16mm if I was another pro. 

Unfortunately, I was not a pro (at the time). Who am I kidding, I’m still not.

I wanted someone to give me a “14mm vs 16mm” definition for dummies, and I had a hard time.

Take The Free Quiz To Determine Which Paddle You Should Choose

Once I finally grasped the differences, I created a pickleball paddle quiz and added it below, so it could easily explain the differences. I also tested 25-50 paddles (receipts here), so I also provided at the end of the quiz my favorite overall and favorite budget paddle by each standard.

I also explained the differences below if you don’t feel like taking a quiz (I get it).

Let’s next cover the definition and the winners now.

Simple 14mm vs 16mm Definition

In its simplest form, the difference between 14mm and 16mm is the thickness of the pickleball paddle, which you can see below. That said, there are 4 crucial variables to consider when considering thickness.

We will cover each of those variables (and a bonus variable), which are:

1. Power
2. Control
3. Spin
4. Speed

Let’s go through each component one by one, and see which I think wins when it comes to key components:

Power

The 14mm can provide more power because of the better aerodynamics and “poppiness” compared to the 16mm pickleball paddle. That said, raw power is not the same as controlled power, so the 16mm paddle may be better, so if you’re playing on the run, then the 16, may feel more powerful.

Also, the 16mm is often a heavier racket with a larger sweet spot, so some may think they get more power in the 16mm than the 14mm. 

So, 14mm may be more powerful, but you may not get the same control as the 16mm, which makes me believe that the 14mm’s power is more of a benefit to more advanced players.

Control

Thicker core paddles are typically considered control paddles because the ball gets absorbed into the core on contact compared to its thinner counterpart.

With a 14mm, you may have more precise control due to its smaller sweet spot. This enables players to execute delicate short with pinpoint accuracy, making it helpful for those who have finesse in placement in their strategy.

That said, a 16mm paddle provides a larger sweet spot, offering a bit more forgiveness on off-center hits. While you may not get the same precision as the 14mm paddle, you get that back in the ability to generate more control and power combined. 

So, if you do not yet have finesse and need absolute precision, a 16mm may be your racket of choice if you prefer control.

Spin

I love a good spin although this area of my game needs improvement. With spin, a 14mm may be the clear winner as the thinner surface enables you to grip the ball more effectively. This allows you to generate an easier spin with proper technique.

On the contrary, a 16mm paddle may not provide as much spin potential due to the large surface area, so it may not allow your paddle to grip the ball as tightly to give that spin.

Experienced players can spin with 14mm and 16mm pickleball paddles, but I would call the 14mm the winner.

Speed

Hand speed can differ based on the thickness of the paddle. The 14mm paddle is often lighter, so your hand speed can facilitate quicker swings, allowing you to react swiftly to fast-paced rallies and make rapid shot adjustments.

On the other hand, a 16mm paddle is often heavier and thicker, which may impede your hand speed to a certain extent. 

So, your hand speed will generally be faster with a 14mm vs a 16mm.

So, here’s the winners:

1. Power – 14mm
2. Control – 16mm
3. Spin – 14mm 
4. Speed – 14mm

One Last Thing To Note: Hand Size

This may be a lesser-known thing about the differences between the paddles. There are three different sizes of grips, and a 14mm is going to tend to have a smaller grip than a 16mm. So, a 16mm may be the default choice if you have larger hands.

So, should I choose a 14mm or 16mm paddle?

It’s ultimately your decision, but in practicality, I would choose a 14mm if you are a more advanced player and a 16mm if you are a beginner or intermediate.

If unsure what you are, consider this comprehensive skill level chart by St. Louis Pickleball that outlines each player’s ranking from 1.0 beginner to 5.0 advanced.

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See you on the courts!

Sources:

1. Article title: “Six Zero Double Black Diamond 14mm vs 16mm Comparison Review”. Retrieved on Apri, 2, 2024 from: https://dashpickleball.com/six-zero-16mm-double-black-diamond-vs-14mm-double-black-diamond-comparison/ 
2. Article title: “14 vs. 16mm Pickleball Paddles: Which One Is Best For You?”. Retrieved on April 2, 2024 from: https://www.justpaddles.com/blog/post/14mm-vs-16mm-pickleball-paddles/ 
3. Article title: “Pickleball Paddle Core Thickness (EXPLAINED)”. Retieved on April 5, 2024 from: https://www.selkirk.com/pages/selkirku/pickleball-paddles-core-thickness-explained