Quick answer: 13mm pickleball paddles are a shrinking category. Of the roughly 800 paddles in our catalog with a listed core thickness, 78 are 13mm or thinner, and none of the 143 paddles released in 2026 is one of them. Thin cores swing a little lighter, but on average they score lower for power and spin than 14mm and 16mm paddles.
The 30-second version
- Thin cores are rare and getting rarer. 63% of 2021 releases were 13mm or thinner. In 2026 it’s 0 of 143.
- They swing lighter. Median swing weight is 110 for thin cores against 114 for 16mm paddles.
- They score lower. Average power is 4.92 against 5.92 for 16mm, and spin ratings follow the same pattern.
- Most are already gone. 69% of the thin-core paddles Pickleball Studio tracks are marked discontinued, against 31% of thicker ones.
Thin-core paddles used to be common. In 2021 they were most of that year’s releases in our catalog. Here’s what our catalog says about 13mm pickleball paddles now, and who should still buy one.
What is a 13mm pickleball paddle?
A 13mm pickleball paddle has a core about 13 millimetres deep, against the 16mm that most paddles use today. The number describes the honeycomb or foam layer between the two faces, not the total paddle depth.
USA Pickleball doesn’t regulate it. Rule 3.D.2 of the official rulebook says there is no restriction on paddle thickness. Most thin cores in our catalog sit at about 13mm (12.7mm and 13.25mm builds included), with 26 at 10–12mm.
Are 13mm pickleball paddles disappearing?
Yes. Brands have almost stopped releasing them. Here is the share of each year’s releases with a core of 13mm or less:
| Release year | Paddles | 13mm or thinner | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16 | 10 | 63% |
| 2022 | 25 | 8 | 32% |
| 2023 | 76 | 5 | 7% |
| 2024 | 116 | 16 | 14% |
| 2025 | 188 | 10 | 5% |
| 2026 | 143 | 0 | 0% |
The 2025 thin-core releases came from a short list: Selkirk Labs’ Project 008 line, PaddleTek’s Bantam GTO-C 12.7mm, Franklin’s C45 Parris Todd 13.25mm, Engage’s Pursuit Pro Innovation 12.7mm and three Avoura models. Matched to Pickleball Studio’s database, 40 of 58 thin-core paddles are marked discontinued. For thicker paddles it’s 160 of 522. Our discontinued paddles breakdown has the full picture.
How do thin cores compare on swing weight, power and spin?
Thin cores swing lighter, but they rate lower for power and spin. Medians and averages by core group:
| Core | Swing wt | Twist wt | Power | Spin RPM | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13mm or less | 110 | 5.79 | 4.92 | 1,889 | $210 |
| 14–15mm | 113 | 6.28 | 5.59 | 2,056 | $229 |
| 16–17mm | 114 | 6.38 | 5.92 | 2,040 | $180 |
Many thin cores are first-generation designs, so we also matched 16 models sold in both a thin and a thicker version. The thin version had the lower swing weight in 14 of 16 pairs and the lower twist weight in 13. It was also lighter in 12 of the 14 pairs where both weights are listed. Spin RPM split 6 to 6, which tells you thickness isn’t what sets spin. For the power side of the same question, see our 14mm vs 16mm comparison.
Who should still buy 13mm pickleball paddles?
13mm pickleball paddles suit a narrow group of players: those who value a light, fast swing over power and forgiveness.
- Fast hands first. A lower swing weight makes quick volley exchanges easier.
- Not players who need forgiveness. The lower twist weight means off-center hits twist more. A balance point check helps too.
Check the model is still in production, and demo it first. With New England’s indoor season starting, ask your club or local shop about a demo before you commit. You can also start from the Paddle Finder or browse every paddle we track.
Frequently asked questions
Are 13mm pickleball paddles legal?
Yes. USA Pickleball Rule 3.D.2 says there is no restriction on paddle thickness. Check the approved paddle list for your exact model.
Do 13mm paddles have more power than 16mm?
Not in our catalog. Thin cores average 4.92 on power against 5.92 for 16mm paddles.
Why are brands moving away from thin cores?
Brands don’t say. What our data shows is that none of the 143 paddles released in 2026 has a core of 13mm or less.
Are thin-core paddles lighter to swing?
Usually. Their median swing weight is 110 against 114 for 16mm paddles, and the thin version swung lighter in 14 of 16 same-model pairs.
Is a 13mm paddle good for beginners?
Usually not. Beginners benefit from forgiveness on off-center hits, and thin cores have lower twist weight.
Sources: Thickness, swing, twist and static weight and spin RPM are Pickleball Studio’s measurements. Discontinued labels are from Pickleball Studio’s database, read October 24, 2026. Power scores come from Pickleball Studio and John Kew testing. Group figures and pair counts are our arithmetic on 802 catalog entries with a listed thickness (October 27, 2026); a few models appear under two names. By Jason Regan, USA Pickleball Ambassador, Leominster, MA. Disclosure: Jason is Engage Pickleball’s New England territory manager and a Selkirk Advocate, and we have discount codes with several paddle brands. None of that affected these numbers.
