Here’s a list of local pickleball players and pros who you can reach out to if you would like to try their paddle. Most have demo paddles or spare paddles available and will be happy to help.

Bread & Butter – Ryan Kellenbarger

CORE – David New

CRBN Pickleball – Craig Lashley

Diadem Pickleball – Buck King

Engage Pickleball – Laurie Newton

Flight Pickleball – Noi Sourinthone, Senda Vu, Kyle Rinck

Gamma Pickleball – Robert Mansfield, Kristalyn Shinn

Gearbox Pickleball – Stacy Wessley, Cody Courter, Michael Harris

HEAD Penn Pickleball – Will Williams

JOOLA USA – Patrick Smith

Lunar Pickleball – Matt Nola, Michael Cheung, Brady Randall, Cindy Egan, Dan Leddy

Paddletek – Jason Doll

Royal Pickleball – Brycen Boucher, Buck King

RPM – Jason Rickard

Selkirk – Ariana Raga

Six Zero – Jared Smart

Vatic Pro – Don Lovell

Vulcan Pickleball – Joe Witte

Additionally, these pickleball companies have great demo paddle programs:

• Diadem Demo Paddles – Demo up to 2 paddles for 10 days. Demos are only available within the contiguous United States. Cost is $20. Demo customers receive $25 credit towards their first paddle or paddle package purchase. If demo paddles are not returned, your credit card will be charged the full retail price of the paddles.

• Gearbox Demo Program – Select up to 4 paddles to try for 7 days and return them using the pre-paid UPS shipping label provided. The program is available within the continental United States and the cost is $20. The fee covers shipping the demo paddles to you and shipping them back to Gearbox. NOTE: If demos are not returned to Gearbox within 5 days of the due date, the full retail price of all un-returned paddles will be automatically charged to your credit card. Also note, the Gearbox warranty program does not cover demo paddles.

• Pickleball Galaxy – Select 2 paddles to try for 7 days. Paddles arrive within 2 days. Return using the pre-paid FedEx return shipping tag. Cost is $30, but you get a $5 OFF loyalty code towards the purchase of a paddle within 30 days of your return date.

• Pickleball Superstore – Demo paddles are available to try for 7 days. Cost is $25 to $45 (depends on the number of paddles selected). Return the paddles using the pre-paid Canada Post shipping label provided. There is a $2 per day fee per paddle if demo paddles are returned late. If the store is unable to reach you regarding returning the demos, your credit card will be charged for the full retail price of the demo paddles.

• Royal Pickleball – Royal Pickleball ambassadors host demo days. Check their website for dates and locations. You can also book a demo directly through an ambassador. Our local rep, Brycen Boucher, is located in Winfield, Kansas.

• Tennis Point – Demo up to 3 paddles for $30. Program is available within the continental United States. Try the paddles for 7 days and return them using the pre-paid UPS label provided. You can also drop off the return package at any UPS store or alternate drop off location. This program includes a $25 rebate that can be applied to your first new paddle purchase.

• TMPR Demo Program – Try up to 7 TMPR paddles for 2 weeks (starts from date that you receive the demos). Select the demo package and weight range option you prefer (substitutions may be made as long as quantity of paddles is the same). In the notes section at checkout, you can request customization of your selections. They can include one paddle with a custom handle (larger and/or smaller). Program is available within the US only. Cost is $20. Contact TMPR directly to demo paddles in Canada. At the end of the demo period, you’ll receive a $20 discount code to use on a paddle purchase placed within 30 days of returning the demos.

• Total Pickleball – Select up to 3 paddles. Paddles arrive in about 2 days. Try the paddles for a week while you decide. Return the paddles using their pre-paid shipping label. Demo program limited to the contiguous United States. Cost is $15 to $25 depending on location.

• Vulcan Pickleball – Choose a demo pack (either the V500 or V700 series). Each demo pack includes all of the paddles in that series. Try the paddles for 10 days. Cost is $30 and covers shipping to you and back to Vulcan using the pre-paid FedEx shipping label. There is a late fee of $5 per day if the demo paddles are returned late. If the demo paddles are not returned, your credit card will be charged for the full price of the series ($610 for the V500 series, $600 for the V700 series).

Please leave a comment if I missed a local rep, ambassador, or sponsored athlete off the list and I will be sure to add them. Also, if you know of a great demo paddle program that is not already listed here, please share it with us.