🏓 GEN 3 & GEN 4 Paddles | Learn & Demo #s to try them at Doylestown Pickleball.

Doylestown Pickleball
2 minutes ago
3 min read

(DEMO #s AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE)

🆕 Understanding GEN 3 vs. GEN 4 Paddles

GEN 3 Paddles

GEN 3 paddles introduced a big leap in paddle design. They feature a foam perimeter built around the outside of the paddle. The inner core is then “floating” inside this frame — similar to how a trampoline is suspended.

The result is more power, a larger sweet spot, and improved stability.
Shots feel livelier while still offering control at the net.
Many brands began shifting to this design because it blends forgiveness with performance.

GEN 4 Paddles

GEN 4 paddles take the GEN 3 concept even further. While keeping the foam perimeter and floating core idea, they typically add:

Refined core materials for better energy transfer.
Enhanced durability to reduce breakdown over time.
More consistent ball response across the entire face of the paddle.
Better sound dampening, making play feel smoother and quieter.

Think of GEN 3 as the first major leap forward in paddle tech, and GEN 4 as the next evolution — taking those same design principles and fine-tuning them for even more performance.

⚙️ Paddle Technology Generations

GEN 1 – Traditional Core + Face

Construction: Simple honeycomb polymer or Nomex core with a fiberglass or graphite face.
Feel: Classic, solid feel but smaller sweet spot.
Performance: Reliable and durable but less power and forgiveness compared to newer tech.
Think of it as: The “original” modern pickleball paddle design most players started with.

GEN 2 – Upgraded Core + Surface

Construction: Improved polymer cores with thicker builds (13mm, 16mm, etc.) and the introduction of raw carbon fiber faces.
Feel: More control and spin thanks to gritty surfaces.
Performance: Larger sweet spot than Gen 1, better touch, and more consistent performance.
Think of it as: The first big upgrade — control + spin became the focus.

GEN 3 – Foam Perimeter + Floating Core

Construction: A foam edge/perimeter around the paddle, with the inner core “floating” (like a trampoline).
Feel: Bigger sweet spot, more pop, and improved stability.
Performance: A balance of power + forgiveness with better consistency across the face.

GEN 4 – Advanced Foam + Refined Core Tech

Construction: Builds on Gen 3 with denser foam walls, enhanced core tech, and better layering of carbon/fiberglass.
Feel: Quieter, smoother, and even more consistent.
Performance: Power + spin + control in one — the current cutting edge of paddle tech.