Tennis elbow (a type of tendonitis that causes pain and inflammation in the outside of the elbow) is an overuse injury often caused by repetitive movements, including playing sports like tennis or pickleball. When dealing with arm pain or injury, paddle size and weight may make a difference in your comfort and recovery, says Landon Uetz, DPT, physical therapist and pickleball instructor on TeachMe.To. Generally, the lighter and shorter a paddle is, the less potential strain it’ll put on your arm.

“This is my favorite paddle because it’s super light and helps prevent tennis elbow for me, but still packs a powerful punch,” says Hannah O’Brien of Syracuse, NY. If, even on sale, it’s too much for your pickleball budget, “they have others in this same brand/weight that are a bit more reasonable,” she says.

• Weight: 7.6 oz.
• Size: 11mm
• Grip: 5.3” length, 4” circumference
• Material: Graphite
• Pros: Lightweight, spin, shock-reducing
• Cons: Expensive