Quick Answer: Proton Sports’ one reliably in-stock 2026 paddle is the Project Coyote Elongated 15mm ($195), a Gen 3 hybrid honeycomb-and-foam-perimeter build that’s dual-approved by USA Pickleball and the UPA-A. Its two higher-profile paddles, the power-focused Project Flamingo ($175, marked down from $280) and the touch-focused Project Peacock ($180, also down from $280), both showed sold out across every color and thickness direct from Proton’s own site at publish time — though both remain buyable through retail partners like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Scheels. The Flamingo carries a genuine first: it’s the first paddle ever approved by both USA Pickleball and the United Pickleball Association of America.
Proton isn’t trying to be the budget alternative on this list. Its leadership has ties to Major League Pickleball team ownership, and it’s landed big-box retail placement most direct-to-consumer paddle brands never reach — shelf space at Dick’s Sporting Goods and Scheels takes real inventory, margin, and consistency to win. Proton’s own pitch is that it belongs in the same conversation as JOOLA and Selkirk, not next to them at a discount. Here’s what that actually gets you in 2026.
Proton paddles at a glance
| Paddle | Best for | Core / face | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton Project Coyote | Best overall / in stock | 15mm polypropylene honeycomb + reinforced foam perimeter · carbon fiber | ~7.78oz avg | $195 |
| Proton Project Flamingo | Best for power/spin | 13mm/15mm polypropylene honeycomb "Velocity Core" · gritty carbon | ~8.0oz | $175 (list $280) |
| Proton Project Peacock | Best for touch/control | Soft foam core · gritty carbon | Not published | $180 (list $280) |
1. Proton Project Coyote Elongated 15mm — Best Overall / In Stock
Proton Project Coyote Elongated 15mm
- Proton's third-generation ("Gen 3") build blends a 15mm polypropylene honeycomb core with a reinforced-foam perimeter, a hybrid meant to widen the sweet spot and steady the response near the edges — a newer approach than the pure-honeycomb core in Proton's earlier paddles.
- Elongated 16.5in x 7.5in shape with a modified throat taper for a smoother handle-to-face transition, ~7.78oz average weight, 5.5in handle, 4.125in grip circumference.
- Dual-stamped: approved by both USA Pickleball and the UPA-A, so it's legal for USAP-sanctioned play and PPA Tour events alike. In stock direct from Proton at publish time, unlike its two higher-profile siblings below.
Get your new paddle before the weekend games — try Amazon Prime free for 30 days. A reinforced-foam perimeter around a honeycomb core is a genuinely different construction than most paddles on this site — if you want to see how it stacks up against pure-foam and pure-honeycomb designs, our foam core pickleball paddle guide breaks down the category.
2. Proton Project Flamingo — Best for Power/Spin
Proton Project Flamingo
- 13mm or 15mm polypropylene-honeycomb "Velocity Core" under a roughness-enhanced, gritty aerospace-grade carbon face — the thinner 13mm option trades some stability for a crisper, "poppier" feel favored by attacking players.
- Released to pros in early 2025 and used by several top players that year; officially became the first paddle ever approved by both USA Pickleball and the UPA-A, effective November 1, 2025 — the same date USA Pickleball's tightened 0.43 PBCoR cap took effect sitewide.
- Honest trade-off: at least one independent reviewer (Palmera Pickleball) reported the core felt fragile between units ("like a crunchy Belgian chocolate wafer") with some players noting delamination after limited use, plus a short handle that forced a two-handed grip for dinks and backhands. Their verdict: strong spin and power, but "$280 for this paddle is crazy considering what else is out there" at the list price — which is exactly why the $175 street price, not the list price, is the number that matters here.
A dual USAP-and-UPA-A approval is still rare enough to matter if you play across both sanctioning bodies — see our best pickleball paddle for power guide for how the Flamingo compares against the rest of the attacking-paddle field.
3. Proton Project Peacock — Best for Touch/Control
Proton Project Peacock
- Swaps the Flamingo's Velocity Core for a different, softer foam core under a similar gritty carbon face — built for dwell time and touch rather than raw pop, while Proton says it still holds onto real power.
- Sold in four configurations: 15mm and 13mm elongated, 15mm and 13mm wide-body. Proton's own guidance points doubles players toward the 13mm wide-body and singles players toward the 15mm elongated.
- Same $280 list price as the Flamingo, selling at $180 (about 36% off) — and, like the Flamingo, showed sold out in every configuration direct from Proton's site at publish time.
Four shape-and-thickness combinations from one core paddle is more choice than most brands on this site offer — if touch and dinking are your priority regardless of brand, see our best pickleball paddle for control roundup for the wider field.
Proton, by the numbers
- First ever. The Project Flamingo is the first pickleball paddle approved by both USA Pickleball and the UPA-A, effective November 1, 2025.
- 35-37%. The permanent markdown on both the Flamingo and Peacock from their shared $280 list price down to $175 and $180 respectively — not a limited-time sale, per Proton’s own consistent pricing.
- 7.78oz. The average weight of the in-stock Project Coyote, per Proton’s published specs — a mid-weight build for its 16.5in elongated shape.
- 24.3 million. U.S. pickleball players in 2025 per the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s 2026 Pickleball Single Sport Report, the growth wave every brand on this list is competing for.
How to choose a Proton paddle
- Want the paddle you can actually buy right now? The Project Coyote ($195) was in stock direct from Proton at publish time, with a hybrid honeycomb-and-foam-perimeter core and dual USAP+UPA-A approval.
- Want maximum pop and spin, and you’re comfortable buying via retail or resale if the brand site is sold out? The Project Flamingo ($175) is the first dual-sanctioned paddle in the sport, though weigh that against at least one independent report of unit-to-unit inconsistency.
- Prioritize touch and dinking over raw power? The Project Peacock ($180) trades the Flamingo’s Velocity Core for a softer foam core, in four shape/thickness options.
- Buying sight-unseen from a brand’s marketing copy makes you nervous? That’s a fair instinct here — cross-check the exact SKU on equipment.usapickleball.org and read a full independent review before paying list price for any paddle.
The bottom line
The Proton Project Coyote is the best Proton pickleball paddle to buy today — it was actually in stock direct from the brand at publish time, uses a genuinely newer hybrid core construction, and carries dual USA Pickleball and UPA-A approval, all for $195. The Project Flamingo is the more historically significant paddle — the first ever dual-sanctioned by both governing bodies — but an independent reviewer’s report of core inconsistency and a cramped handle is worth weighing against its $280 list price before you chase it down through a retail partner. The Project Peacock covers the softer, touch-first end of Proton’s lineup in four shape options. For the wider field of power-focused paddles at every price point, see our best pickleball paddle for power guide, or start from our best pickleball paddle pillar to compare every brand on this site.