How We Test Beach Tennis Paddles
Every score on this site comes from the same protocol, run by Denys Machullo on Miami Beach sand. No paddle gets a rating from a spec sheet, and no paddle gets rated on a calm day only — calm conditions make every paddle look good.
Minimum six match sessions
Real doubles matches, not drills. A paddle's first impression and its sixth-session truth are usually different — soft cores flatter early, stiff faces open up as timing adapts.
At least one windy session
Wind is the honest examiner in beach tennis. It exposes light frames on lobs, punishes low-spin serves, and reveals whether a paddle's "control" survives conditions or only exists in marketing.
Scored by situation, not by feel
Each paddle is graded on the situations that decide club matches: serve threat, return stability, net-exchange speed, smash finishing, stretched defense, and third-set consistency. The 1–10 review score is a weighted blend of those grades.
Player-fit before ranking
A 9/10 paddle for Denys can be a 5/10 paddle for a beginner. Every review names who the paddle is for and who should skip it — the "best" paddle is always relative to how you win points.
Affiliate links never touch scores
This site earns a commission when readers buy through product links. Scores and rankings are written before links are added, and negative findings stay in the reviews. Full details in the affiliate disclosure.