Edgeless Paddle Aerodynamics: How Removing the Edge Guard Changes Your Swing
What changes when you swing an "edgeless" paddle, one without the protective strip around its rim (the edge guard)?
I'm Coach Yoshi. I've played tennis for 15 years and discovered pickleball in 2026. In this article, I'll use a physics formula and manufacturers' explanations to sort out how the design of the edge and the neck (throat) changes a paddle's aerodynamics and where its weight sits.
What Is the Edge Guard For?
The edge guard is the protective strip that runs all the way around the outside of a paddle. Its job is to protect the face from drops, scrapes against the ground and the impact when the paddle hits something. When you reach for a low ball, for example, you may end up scraping the paddle's edge on the court. This rim is what protects the edge of the face from that impact.
For durability, the edge guard is a part you can count on. That's why many paddles still have one today. Also, Paddle Lifespan and Care lists a peeling edge guard and cracks in the paddle body as signs that it's time for a new paddle.
But this protection also has side effects.
Side Effects of the Edge Guard: Weight, Edge Hits and Airflow
There are 3 side effects.
- (A) Weight sits on the perimeter: The edge guard wraps around the very outside of the face. As I wrote in Swing Weight vs. Twist Weight, what affects how a paddle feels to swing is not so much the weight itself as "the square of its distance from the axis." Weight on the edge at the tip (12 o'clock) mainly raises swing weight (how hard the paddle is to rotate when you swing it, pivoting at your hand), and weight on the edges at the sides (3 and 9 o'clock) mainly raises twist weight (how well the face resists twisting on off-center hits). A few grams on the edge do more than a few grams near your hand.
- (B) Shots near the edge: A ball that hits right at the edge can touch the raised step of the edge guard. Going edgeless gets rid of this step.
- (C) Airflow: The raised edge can disturb the airflow around the rim when you swing. One U.S. retailer's explainer says edge guards "may slightly increase drag," but in my research for this article, I couldn't find any data measuring how much difference it makes.
Of these 3, the design that sets out to reduce (A) and (C) in particular is the edgeless (edge-guard-less) design.
What Is Edgeless Design Trying to Achieve?
Get rid of the raised edge, or make it as thin as possible. Here's what that aims to do.
| Aim | What it means |
|---|---|
| (1) Use the hitting surface all the way to the edge | The dimensions set by the rules (length plus width of 24 inches or less) include the edge guard. Without an edge guard, the hitting surface can extend all the way to the edge within the same outline |
| (2) Make the swing lighter | Less weight on the perimeter tends to lower swing weight. Without the raised edge, the airflow changes too, but I couldn't find data measuring that difference |
| (3) Feel and looks | With no step, the face is flat, which changes how the feel and handling come across |
Selkirk, which we carry as an authorized dealer, also has edgeless models. Selkirk calls its edge construction "Aero-DuraEdge" and explains that its own blend of impact-resistant composites and polymer makes the edge more durable even without an edge guard. The idea is to get rid of the raised edge and then make up for durability with materials.
💡 Coach Yoshi's Tip You often see the claim that "edgeless paddles have a bigger sweet spot," but I think it's better to split that into 2 separate questions. You can use the hitting surface all the way to the edge because the edge guard counts toward the rule dimensions. On the other hand, whether the face stays stable on off-center hits (twist weight) depends heavily on the weight on the left and right of the perimeter and on the width of the face. Simply removing the edge guard tends to make the perimeter lighter, so some manufacturers compensate with the edge material or the internal construction. Don't assume "edgeless = easier to hit"; if a twist weight figure is published, take a look at that too.
The weakness is clear, too. With nothing protecting the edge, it chips more easily when it hits the ground or a fence. Selkirk lists "chips to the top or sides of edgeless paddles" as not covered by its paddle warranty.
There are 2 ways to deal with this. One is for the manufacturer to make the edge more durable through materials, like Aero-DuraEdge above. The other is to apply edge guard tape yourself. USA Pickleball's rules also allow edge guard tape to be added or replaced (3.D.6). However, it may extend onto the face no more than 1.27 cm (0.5 inch) from the edge (3.D.7). Tape puts a little weight on the perimeter, so it changes the swing feel slightly, too.
Paddle Aerodynamics Basics: Drag Increases with the Square of Speed
From here on, we're getting into aerodynamics. There's only 1 formula.
When you swing a paddle, the face pushes the air in front of it aside as it moves. The force that resists this motion is air resistance (drag). In physics, the size of the drag force can be written in the following form. For an object of a paddle's size moving at a paddle's speed, this formula applies well.
F ∝ ρ × v² × A × Cd (F = drag, ρ = air density, v = speed, A = the size of the face as seen from the direction of travel, Cd = a coefficient determined by shape)
There are 2 key points here.
- It scales with the square of speed (v²): Double your swing speed and drag goes up about 4 times. For a slow dink, drag itself is small, and it gets bigger with fast drives and hand battles.
- It scales with the size (A) and shape (Cd) of the face: The bigger the face, and the more its shape disturbs the air, the greater the drag. What design can change is this A and Cd.
Looking at it through this formula shows which parts of a paddle's design affect drag.
- Shape: USA Pickleball's rules limit a paddle's length plus width to 24 inches or less, so even with different shapes, the size of the face (A) doesn't tend to vary much. Where differences in shape show up first is in where the weight sits. A long, narrow elongated paddle carries weight out far from your hand, so it's a shape that tends to have higher swing weight and lower twist weight. I couldn't find data measuring drag by shape. I've covered how to choose the shape itself in the Paddle Shape Guide.
- Perimeter (edge): Removing the raised edge changes the airflow around the rim. But since the edge guard counts toward the rule dimensions, the size of the face (A) doesn't change for the same outline. If there's a difference, it would be in the shape coefficient (Cd), and I couldn't find data measuring it.
- Throat (neck): This is where the face meets the grip. Some designs cut a hole here to let air through. We'll look at this in the next section.
💡 Coach Yoshi's Tip You sometimes see numbers like "edgeless makes your swing X% faster" or "cuts drag by X%," but I think it's best to treat numbers that don't say what was measured, or how, as rough reference only. What's certain is the physics framework: drag is determined by the square of speed and by the size and shape of the face. Knowing how this works gives you a yardstick when you read spec tables and marketing copy.
Holes in the Throat: The Idea of Letting Air Through
Alongside the edge, another eye-catching design is a hole in the throat (where the face meets the grip). Selkirk calls this the "Air Dynamic Throat." It was developed in its research line, Selkirk LABS (Project 002), and later adopted on models outside LABS as well.
According to Selkirk, it aims to do 3 things.
- Faster swings: Air passes through the hole when you swing, which Selkirk says reduces drag and makes your swing faster
- More flex: Selkirk says the right amount of flex in the neck lengthens the time the ball stays on the face (dwell time), leading to more power and precision
- Ball control: Selkirk says the airflow and flex help you hit consistently to where you aim
No figures are given for how much faster it makes your swing, so read this as the manufacturer's explanation.
Taking material out of the neck makes the paddle lighter by that much. But the neck is close to the grip. As I wrote in (A), what affects swing feel is "the square of the distance from the axis," so removing the same amount of weight there won't lower swing weight as much as removing it from the tip would. The relationship between where you add weight and what it does is easy to see in the lead tape placement diagram in the Paddle Weight Customization Guide.
This hole is in the neck, not the hitting surface. What USA Pickleball's 2026 rules (3.D.5) prohibit is holes in the hitting surface, so a hole in the neck doesn't fall under this rule. In fact, every Selkirk paddle with the Air Dynamic Throat that I checked for this article was on USA Pickleball's Approved Paddle List (checked October 24, 2026). If you're using one in a tournament, it's reassuring to confirm your model name on the list. I've explained how to look things up on the list in What Is a USAP-Approved Paddle?
Paddles with a hole in the throat are also made by manufacturers other than Selkirk. I've rounded up unusual paddles like these in the Complete Guide to Unusual Paddle Shapes.
Edgeless or Edge Guard: Which Should You Choose?
Whether a paddle has an edge guard isn't a question of which is better; it's a trade-off.
| Edgeless | With edge guard | |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Uses the hitting surface all the way to the edge within the same outline; if the perimeter is light, the swing feels light | Protects the edge from drops and scrapes; perimeter weight keeps the face stable |
| Weaknesses | The edge chips more easily (sometimes not covered by the manufacturer's warranty) | The edge guard makes the hitting surface smaller; perimeter weight tends to make the swing feel heavier |
| Best for | Players who want to prioritize a light swing; players who can handle the paddle without scraping the edge | Players who want to prioritize durability; players who want the face to stay stable even on off-center hits |
If you play a lot of fast exchanges, like speed-ups and hand battles, one option is to prioritize a light swing and add edgeless models or models with an open throat to your shortlist. On the other hand, if you want one paddle to last a long time, or you often scrape the edge, a paddle with an edge guard is the safer choice. If you're unsure, think it through together with the 5 factors in The Complete Pickleball Paddle Buyer's Guide.
Summary: Edgeless Is a Trade-Off Between Swing and Durability
Edgeless paddles and throat holes aren't just a trend in looks. They're designs with a rationale: reduce the weight and the raised profile of the edge to lighten the swing, and use the hitting surface all the way to the edge within the dimensions set by the rules.
That said, with nothing to protect the edge, they chip more easily, and a lighter perimeter also tends to make the face twist more on off-center hits. In my research for this article, I also couldn't find any data measuring how much drag is actually reduced.
I think it's better to choose based on whether you want to prioritize a light swing or durability, rather than "choosing it because it's edgeless." If you go edgeless, protecting the edge with edge guard tape is one option.
For more on what's inside a paddle, see Foam Core Paddles Explained, along with Swing Weight vs. Twist Weight, which covers what determines how a paddle feels to swing.
If you have questions like "Which suits me better, edgeless or an edge guard?", feel free to ask me (Coach Yoshi) on LINE. You can add us as a friend through Pickleball Lab's official LINE account. You can also add us with the green "LINE Official" button at the bottom right of the screen.
Related Products
If you want to replace your edge guard tape or add tape to protect the edge, you can choose from here. The manufacturer markets it for use with Six Zero paddles. You can browse the Selkirk paddles covered in this article with the button below.
Related Articles
- Paddle Shape Guide: A Coach Explains the Differences Between Standard, Elongated and Wide — How to choose the shape itself
- Swing Weight vs. Twist Weight: Why Paddles of the Same Weight Feel Different — Why perimeter weight affects how a paddle feels to swing
- The Complete Guide to Unusual Pickleball Paddle Shapes: A Coach Examines the Thinking Behind Throat Holes and Hexagonal Faces — Paddles with unusual shapes, such as throat holes and edgeless designs
- Foam Core Paddles Explained: Materials, History and PBCoR of Gen 4 Paddles — What's inside paddles molded as one piece right out to the edge
- Paddle Lifespan and Care: A Coach Explains How to Make Your Paddle Last and the Signs It's Time to Replace It — Signs it's time for a new paddle, such as a peeling edge guard
- Pickleball Paddle Weight Customization Guide: Make It Your Own with Lead Tape and Grip Build-Up — Where to add weight and what it does
- Every Selkirk Paddle Model Explained: How to Choose the One That's Right for You — Where each Selkirk model fits
- The Complete Pickleball Paddle Buyer's Guide: A Coach Explains 5 Key Factors for Success — Factors to weigh beyond whether a paddle has an edge guard
- What Is a USAP-Approved Paddle? An Authorized Dealer in Japan Explains the Essentials for Playing in Official Matches — The dimension rules and how far tape may extend
- Speed-Up Basics: A Coach Explains the Moment to Go from Dink Battles to Attacking — Situations where a fast swing pays off
References
- USA Pickleball — 2026 Official Rulebook (3.D.2 dimensions / 3.D.5 hitting surface / 3.D.6 and 3.D.7 edge guard tape)
- USA Pickleball — Approved Paddle List
- Selkirk — Why is there a hole in Selkirk pickleball paddles? (Air Dynamic Throat; February 24, 2025)
- Selkirk Asia — Paddle Warranty (chips on edgeless paddles are not covered)
- Wikipedia — Drag (physics) (the drag equation; the square of speed)
- Pickleball Nation — Pickleball Paddle Aerodynamics: Shape, Drag, and Speed (August 26, 2025)
Even after reading our blog, it's common to wonder, "Which one is right for me?" Coach Yoshi will answer your questions personally.