What's the difference between a $50 pickleball paddle and $200 one? | Interview with Gamma

When you're looking at the specs of a $50 pickleball paddle and a $200 one, you can't really tell the difference. They both seemingly use the same materials like a polypropylene core and a carbon fiber face. In this interview, I sit down with the Director of Product Marketing at Gamma Pickleball to answer this question.
Time stamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:11 - The question
02:16 - The difference is in what you can't see
05:31 - The costs of a paddle
07:22 - How price should affect what you buy
Discounts:
- 10% off paddles at Fromuth Pickleball (code 10EFFECT): bit.ly/3Dex6n6. Some exclusions apply.
- Like my shirt? 20% off Civile pickleball apparel (code: PBEFFECT): www.civileapparel.com/r?id=ki...
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[@terogan]

That's what I've come to appreciate about your reviews - you spending a few weeks playing with a paddle vs a few hours like way too many of the others.

[@mervatameen646]

Pickleball is becoming a big business. That guy couldn't convince me that it cost them a lot more money to make a 200$ paddle than a 50$ one

[@pickleballeffect]

I got the same impression

[@brianbanks3044]

@@pickleballeffect More $$ has GOT to be better....that's what consumers (I/me) think

[@pickleballeffect]

@@brianbanks3044 right, ha. He didn't make the most convincing case for it though lol.

[@GerryHigh]

I wished you had done an actual comparison of the material cost in a $50 paddle vs the $150 paddle. Yes, we get that the more expensive paddle might have some more expensive materials. But is this difference in cost $10? $20. For comparison, in the tech industry companies tear down a device and then estimate the cost of materials (e.g, an Apple Watch has < $100 in parts so the rest of the cost is markup for covering other costs). What about manufacturing costs? How has COVID impacted costs?

[@pickleballeffect]

Good questions, that would have been interesting. I get the feeling that the actual cost isn't much different.

[@cwarner5909]

The difference between a $50paddle and the one for $200 is about $150.00. Consumers have the mindset that if it cost more it must be better. There is a difference but much of it is marketing.

[@christianNchaos]

I think the prices are ridiculous. I made my own paddle for free out of 3/4 plywood, played five times, and then played this guy who had a 250 paddle, said he practiced 6-9 hours a week and I beat him one set. I think most of it is just if you're athletic. But what do I know

[@christianNchaos]

$250

[@tanthony3895]

Softer... c'mon....ALL paddles are hard. And heavy....1/4 ounce is indiscernible....geez

[@brianbanks3044]

i play a ton of softball and it is all in the distribution of the weight...2 bats can weigh 26 ounces but if the end cap on one is 1 ounce and the other is 1/2 ounce, the bat will swing differently...I am sure it is similar in paddles

[@FireinTheBowl]

I look at pickleball paddles the same way I look at Wine and Scotch. There's a difference between cheap and good. A slight difference between good and great, bit then it goes into this strange world of ridiculousness for nominal differences. Imo

[@pickleballeffect]

There is some truth to that ha.