The 45-Day Paddle Cycle (And What It’s Really Costing You)
Most regular pickleball players in India are stuck in a 45-day paddle cycle.
If you’re playing 4–5 times a week (or more), you probably know the drill:
you buy a “Selkirk style” or “Joola style” clone for ₹3,500–₹5,000, it feels great for a month… and then the face goes dead, the core starts buzzing, the edge-guard loosens, or the handle gives way. You bin it, buy another clone, and repeat.
This blog is about why that cycle exists, why it’s a bad deal in the long run, and why choosing a brand like Handle – designed in India, for Indian players – makes way more sense.
Let’s do some quick, very real math.
If you’re buying a ₹3,500–₹5,000 clone paddle roughly every 45 days:
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That’s around 8 paddles a year.
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At an average of ₹4,000 per paddle, you’re spending ₹32,000+ a year.
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Push that closer to ₹5,000 and you’re easily touching ₹40,000 a year… on paddles with no warranty, no brand accountability, and no long-term relationship.
On top of that, most clones:
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Use cheaper cores and faces, so they lose pop and control faster.
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Have inconsistent weight, balance, and swing feel, so every new paddle feels slightly off.
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Copy graphics and shapes of premium brands without doing the actual R&D, testing, or quality control behind them.
And let’s be honest:
if the whole point is “I don’t want to spend ₹15K–25K on an original Selkirk or Joola,” then burning ₹30–40K a year on disposable clones isn’t really “saving money.” It’s just spreading the pain out.
The Industry Is Booming – in India and Globally
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. Pickleball is in hyper-growth mode worldwide:
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Globally, the pickleball equipment market was valued at around USD 457 million in 2024 and is expected to grow at a 4.8% CAGR from 2025 to 2034. Global Market Insights Inc.
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Another global report pegs the broader pickleball market (courts, services, gear, etc.) to grow from ~USD 1.7 billion in 2023 to USD 5.45 billion by 2029, at a massive 21.92% CAGR. Bonafide Research
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In the US alone, pickleball participation jumped from 4.8 million to 8.9 million players in just one year (2021–2022). Global Market Insights Inc.
India is not far behind. In fact, we’re one of the most exciting markets:
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According to Sports Central, India already had ~30,000 amateur players and 8,000 registered players across 18 states in 2024. India Brand Equity Foundation
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Recent coverage of India’s pickleball boom estimates ~60,000 active players by the end of 2024, and close to 100,000 people who have tried the sport at least once – a 275% jump in active players over three years. Finshots+1
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Across Asia, research by UPA Asia and YouGov calls it the next big frontier, with pickleball participation growing ~60% year-on-year across 12 territories, with India among the top for awareness and play rates. PPA Tour Asia
All this growth has led to two parallel realities in India:
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Premium international brands like Selkirk and Joola are now officially available, with original paddles often in the ₹8,000–₹25,000+ range depending on the model. KIBI SPORTS+4SCS Sports+4Pickleball Outlet+4
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A growing “clone economy” where unlicensed paddles imitate the look of these brands at ₹3,500–₹5,000, often cutting corners on materials and quality.
Handle was created as a third – and better – path.
The Clone Economy: What Are You Actually Flexing?
Let’s talk honestly about clones.
When you walk onto court with a “looks-like-Selkirk/Joola” paddle that isn’t actually made or licensed by those brands, what are you really flexing?
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No R&D – You’re paying for graphics, not for the years of testing, material science, or pro feedback that went into the original.
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Inconsistent performance – Two paddles that look identical might swing, feel, and sound completely different because there’s no strict quality control.
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Zero accountability – If the edge guard pops in a month or the core goes mushy, you can’t exactly email the brand you’re copying.
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Ethical grey area – At the end of the day, it’s still someone else’s design, look, and brand identity being used to make a quick buck.
And from a player’s perspective, there’s an invisible cost:
you never really build trust with your gear. Every 45 days, your timing, control and touch need readjusting. That’s not ideal when you’re trying to level up.
Why Handle Exists: Designed in India, for Players Who Actually Play
At Handle (www.handlesports.in), we looked at the Indian pickleball scene and asked:
“Why should regular Indian players, who are on court 4–5 times a week, have to choose between very expensive imports and disposable clones?”
So we built a brand around three simple principles:
1. Born in India, Built for Indian Conditions
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Our paddles are designed in India, with Indian courts, climate, and playing styles in mind.
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We obsess over weight ranges, balance, and grip feel that work for Indian players who play in:
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Humid outdoor conditions
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Dusty courts
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Mixed lighting (indoor/outdoor)
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Instead of copying someone else’s graphics, we build our own identity so that when you carry a Handle paddle, you’re carrying something original.
2. Quality That Respects Your Time on Court
You’re not a “once-a-month” hobby player.
If you’re reading this, you probably:
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Train regularly
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Play leagues, ladders, or club tournaments
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Care about your game enough to tweak your grip, footwork and shot selection
You deserve a paddle that:
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Holds tension, pop, and control far beyond the 45-day cycle
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Has consistent build quality, so if you buy a second Handle paddle, it still feels like “your” game
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Comes from a brand you can actually talk to (DMs, email, WhatsApp), not a faceless clone seller
Our Stealth Series carbon fiber paddles are built for players who need spin, control, and put-away power without paying international pro-signature pricing.
Our Element Series fiberglass paddles are limited edition drops – only 50 pieces of each colourway will ever exist – for players who want great feel and a paddle that stands out on the court.
And yes, we design and test our H-40 outdoor pickleballs to work on Indian courts and weather, not copied specs from somewhere else.
3. Supporting the Local Ecosystem
When you buy Handle, you’re not just buying a paddle. You’re investing in:
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Indian design & engineering – every rupee spent builds local expertise.
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Local jobs & partnerships – from creatives and photographers to logistics and customer support.
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The Indian pickleball ecosystem – tournaments, clubs, and communities we collaborate with as we grow.
Instead of flexing a fake or unlicensed design, you’re flexing something way cooler:
“This is an Indian brand, built for players like me, and I’m part of its growth story.”
Growing With a Brand vs Cycling Through Products
Buying clones means you’re never really tied to anything. It’s a transactional relationship: use → break → replace.
Buying Handle is the opposite. It’s about growing with a brand:
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You start with one paddle and, over time, we bring out new shapes, surfaces, and tech.
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Your feedback actually reaches us, and influences what we build next.
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When we sponsor tournaments, leagues, or grassroots events, your purchases are what enable that.
You’re not just a customer ID; you’re someone we might run into at a court in Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, or any of the cities where pickleball is exploding. That matters to us.
So… Should You Still Buy Clones?
If you’re:
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Playing once a month,
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Not too fussed about consistency,
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Just looking for something that “looks like the pros use it” for cheap…
Then sure, clones might temporarily scratch that itch.
But if you’re:
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On court 4–5 times a week or more
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Serious about improving
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Tired of burning money every 45 days
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Wanting to be part of the real growth story of pickleball in India
…then it’s time to move on from the clone economy.
The Handle Way Forward
Here’s what we invite you to do:
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Audit your last 12 months of paddles.
How many did you buy? How much did you actually spend? -
Ask yourself if your game feels consistent.
Are you always adjusting to a new feel, new weight, new sound? -
Try a Handle setup.
Pick a Stealth Series carbon paddle or an Element Series fiberglass paddle from www.handlesports.in, pair it with our H-40 outdoor balls, and give yourself a few weeks.
If you love pickleball enough to play 4–5 times a week, you deserve gear that respects that commitment.
Not clones.
Not counterfeits.
Something real, designed in India, built for you.
That’s Handle.