American electric vehicle giant Tesla has surprised the market by launching a premium pickleball paddle priced at up to USD 350. The company has partnered with Selkirk, a leading pickleball equipment manufacturer, to introduce a special model called the Tesla Plaid Pickleball Paddle.
The new paddle combines Selkirk’s core paddle technologies with Tesla-inspired aerodynamic calculations and design optimization, aiming to enhance swing speed, control, and overall performance on the court.
The collaboration traces back to the USAP National Championships 2023, where Tom Barnes, Selkirk’s Director of Research and Development, first met Tesla’s engineering team. Inspired by the encounter, Barnes created a limited batch of custom black-and-white Tesla-branded paddles as gifts for Tesla employees.
By March 2024, Barnes began formal discussions with several Tesla designers, including Javier Verdura, Tesla’s Director of Product Design, on how aerodynamic principles used in Tesla vehicle development could be applied to a pickleball paddle. A series of design workshops led to early prototypes produced at Selkirk’s laboratory in Idaho, followed by multiple rounds of iterative performance testing conducted jointly by both companies.
The Tesla Plaid Pickleball Paddle draws design elements from previous Selkirk models while introducing a range of new technologies. The paddle is assembled in the United States and is USAP certified, making it eligible for official tournament play.
Selkirk’s engineering team integrated its proprietary PureFoam core technology with a newly developed TPU Power Ring, designed specifically for this paddle. According to Selkirk representatives, the new perimeter structure has been tested to reduce vibration and stabilize the paddle face, preventing long-term deformation commonly seen in polymer honeycomb cores.
Tesla, for its part, focused on analyzing airflow behavior around the paddle during various swing paths. Engineers evaluated drag coefficients, turbulence patterns, and how specific geometric adjustments influence acceleration. These findings resulted in an elongated paddle shape, an edgeless perimeter, and a perforated throat—an innovative feature not previously seen in Selkirk paddles.
Both the paddle face and handle are engraved with the Tesla logo and branding. The Tesla x Selkirk Plaid Pickleball Paddle is currently available in the U.S. market at a retail price of USD 350, positioning it among the most premium pickleball paddles on the market today.
