What Paddle Does Hunter Johnson Use? (2026)

Hunter Johnson — World No. 15 and the 2026 PPA National Championships men’s singles champion in Cary — is one of the most-asked “what paddle does he use” names on tour. And in 2026 the answer moved more than once.

I’m Jason Regan, a USA Pickleball Ambassador for North Central Massachusetts, tracking the pro tours.

What is Hunter Johnson’s paddle?

As of October 2026, Hunter’s official PPA Tour profile lists the Mehau S5 Airpoom, an aerodynamic paddle from Mehau. That caps a busy equipment year: he left Paddletek early in 2026, briefly played the HIT Hand Cannon HC-01 (the signature paddle from HIT Pickleball, the new brand co-founded by streamer Turner “Tfue” Tenney), and has since moved to Mehau. Pro deals move fast — this is the current, profile-verified answer.

What is the Mehau S5 Airpoom?

Mehau is a newer paddle brand that is already carried by major retailers — Pickleball Central stocks the Mehau line, and the better-documented sibling, the Mehau E5 Precise Series, is a thermoformed 16 mm paddle (elongated, carbon-fiber face) that runs about $259. The S5 Airpoom is newer, and Mehau has not yet published a full, independently lab-tested spec sheet for it, so we are not going to quote swing-weight or spin numbers we cannot verify. What we can say: the aerodynamic naming points at a faster-swinging, power-oriented build, which fits Hunter’s singles game.

Should you use Hunter Johnson’s paddle?

Hunter’s setup is tuned for a world-class power-singles game, and brand-new signature paddles are often hard to buy and unverified on specs. If you want that aggressive, fast-swing style from a paddle you can actually buy today — and compare on real measured numbers — match your game with our Paddle Finder (try the Power preset) or see the tournament-ready options in our best paddles guide.

See the full pro paddle list for who plays what.

— Jason Regan, USA Pickleball Ambassador, North Central Massachusetts. Verified against Hunter Johnson’s official PPA Tour profile. Last updated October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What paddle does Hunter Johnson use?
As of October 2026, his official PPA Tour profile lists the Mehau S5 Airpoom. He played Paddletek and then the HIT Hand Cannon earlier in 2026 before switching to Mehau.

Did Hunter Johnson leave HIT Pickleball?
His current PPA Tour profile lists a Mehau paddle, not the HIT Hand Cannon he used earlier in 2026. Pro paddle deals change often, so we track the profile as the source of truth.

Where can I buy a Mehau paddle?
Pickleball Central carries the Mehau line. The S5 Airpoom is new, so check current stock and the better-documented Mehau E5 Precise Series, and see our best-paddles guide for buyable power alternatives.