Pickleball Paddle Wholesale: OEM Manufacturer Guide for Brands, Retailers and Amazon Sellers

Why Wholesale Pickleball Paddles from China Is So Attractive (And Confusing)

Wholesale pickleball paddles from China can look very attractive on paper: lower unit cost, flexible OEM options and access to thermoformed and foam core technologies that many local factories do not offer.

At the same time, the reality is not always simple. Different factories use very different materials, structures and quality standards. Some are serious OEM manufacturers, while others just resell paddles from somewhere else.

For brands, retailers and Amazon sellers, the real challenge is not just “finding a cheap supplier”, but building a wholesale structure that is sustainable: clear product roles, stable quality, realistic MOQs and a supply chain that can support growth.

This guide will walk you through how to think about pickleball paddle wholesale from China in a structured way, from product planning to OEM cooperation with a factory.

Who This Wholesale Guide Is For

This guide is written for three main groups:

• Brands that want to develop their own pickleball line under a unique logo.

• Retailers and distributors who need stable wholesale supply for shops, clubs or sports chains.

• Amazon and e-commerce sellers who want ready-to-sell paddles or paddle sets that fit their target price and review strategy.

If you are in one of these groups and you are considering wholesale orders from an OEM manufacturer in China, this guide is designed for you.

What “Wholesale” Really Means for Pickleball Paddles




When buyers say “wholesale”, they may mean different things:

Buying existing paddles in bulk with simple logo printing.

Developing OEM paddles with custom shapes, specs and full brand packaging.

Ordering full paddle sets, for example two paddles plus balls and a bag, for retail or Amazon.

A serious OEM pickleball paddle manufacturer can normally support all three, but the structure, MOQ and pricing logic behind them are different.

Before you ask for a quote, it helps to define clearly which type of wholesale you really want to do in the next six to twelve months.

Different Wholesale Goals: Brands, Retailers And Amazon Sellers

Brand owners usually care most about long term positioning, product hierarchy and how the paddles feel in real play. They are willing to invest more in OEM structures like thermoformed paddles or foam cores, as long as the story makes sense for their market.

Retailers and distributors often focus on reliability, simple SKU structures and clear margins. They want models that are easy to explain and hard to break, with stable wholesale prices and predictable reorders.

Amazon and online sellers tend to care about perceived value, review stability and logistics efficiency. For them, paddle sets, good packaging and carton sizes that work well for FBA can be even more important than chasing the absolute best performance.

A good OEM pickleball paddle manufacturer in China should adjust their wholesale recommendations depending on which group you belong to. The wholesale strategy for a school or club is not the same as for a high end paddle brand.

Designing Your Wholesale Product Ladder with an OEM Manufacturer

When you work with an OEM manufacturer, the most effective wholesale structures usually include three levels: entry, hero and flagship.

Entry or traffic line:

Cold press PP honeycomb paddles, often with fiberglass faces or basic carbon. These are priced for volume, schools, clubs, bundles and lower price Amazon sets.

Hero or main profit line:

higher spec paddles such as thermoformed PP honeycomb with foam edges and T700 carbon faces, or very stable cold press carbon models. These become your core products for most serious players.

Flagship line:

Premium constructions such as high density EVA plus EPP foam cores with raw carbon faces. These are not designed for maximum volume, but for brand image, ambassadors and top tier players.

For wholesale, you do not need twenty different models. A clear three level ladder that matches your channel (retail, online, club) is often more profitable and easier to manage.

Level	Example construction	Typical retail range	Main channel	Main role
Entry	Cold press PP honeycomb plus fiberglass	Lower to mid price	Schools, clubs, starter sets, budget Amazon bundles	Traffic and volume
Hero	Thermoformed PP honeycomb plus T700 carbon, or stable cold press carbon	Mid to upper mid price	Core retail models, main Amazon listings	Main profit and performance
Flagship	High density EVA plus EPP foam and raw carbon face	Higher price	Brand site, pro channels, KOL collaborations	Brand image and top tier players

Key Specification Choices for Wholesale Orders




No matter which level you are planning, there are a few core specs you should lock in with your OEM manufacturer.

Shape and thickness

Standard shape and 13–16 mm thickness usually cover the majority of players. More extreme shapes or very thin cores are better left for later, once your base line is stable.

Grip and handle

Standard grip sizes and comfortable handle lengths simplify inventory and reduce confusion for retailers and online buyers.

Surface type:

Raw carbon, Toray and Kevlar, 3K, Titanium etc each speak to different customers. For wholesale, it is often smarter to pick one or two main surface types and build your range around them.

Your OEM factory should be able to suggest combinations that match both your target retail price and your player level.

Wholesale MOQ And Order Structure: How Much To Start With

Different factories have different minimum order quantities, but the logic behind wholesale MOQs is often similar.

Test or launch order:

A smaller order used to test quality, packaging and early sales feedback. This is common for new brands or sellers entering pickleball for the first time.

Standard wholesale order:

A more structured order where each model has a realistic MOQ that allows better pricing. At this stage, you already know which products are your entry and hero models.

Growth or restocking order:

Once you see stable sell through data, you can work with the OEM manufacturer to increase quantities for your best sellers and adjust or remove weaker models.

Instead of pushing for the lowest possible MOQ on every SKU, it is often more effective to focus your volume on a few strong models. This gives you better unit economics and makes it easier for the factory to keep your quality consistent.

Paddle Sets And Bundles: Wholesale Strategies for Retail And Amazon

For many retailers and Amazon sellers, paddle sets are more attractive than single paddles. Well designed sets can increase perceived value and make it easier for customers to make a decision.

Common set types include:

• Two paddles plus two or four balls.

• Two paddles plus two or four balls plus a towel and overgrip tape.

• Two paddles plus balls and a carry bag.

• Two paddles plus balls, a towel, overgrip tape and a carry bag.

• Four paddles plus balls for families or clubs.

• A single premium paddle with gift box packaging.

• A single premium paddle with balls or overgrip tape, a user guide and a gift box.

When planning wholesale sets, you should consider:

• Target retail price and margin per set.

• Carton size and weight for FBA or shipping efficiency.

• Visual branding on paddles, balls and bags.

Your OEM manufacturer in China can help you design paddle sets that fit both your channel and your logistics constraints, rather than just adding more items into the box.

Shipping And Lead Time Planning for Wholesale Orders

Once your product plan is clear, you need to think about how the goods will actually move from the factory to your warehouse or fulfillment center.

For samples and very small test orders, express shipping is fast but more expensive per unit.

For medium wholesale orders that need to arrive quickly, air freight can be a reasonable balance between speed and cost.

For many of our clients, our air freight and sea freight options can include door to door delivery with customs clearance and import tax included, so you do not need to handle these steps yourself.

For larger replenishment orders, sea freight or other economy options are usually the main method. In these cases, good planning with your OEM factory is essential to avoid peak season delays.

Your OEM manufacturer should be transparent about realistic lead times for production and help you align shipping methods with your sales calendar and cash flow.

Checklist Before Placing Your First Wholesale Order from China

Before you confirm your first wholesale pickleball paddle order with a Chinese OEM manufacturer, it helps to review a simple checklist.

• Do you have a clear target retail price range for each level, entry, hero and flagship?

• Do you know which channels each model will serve, such as retail, Amazon, club or school?

• Have you chosen one or two main surface types to focus on, for example fiberglass for entry and carbon for hero?

• Are your MOQ expectations aligned with realistic pricing from the factory?

• Do you have a plan for paddle sets and bundles if you sell on Amazon or in retail stores?

• Have you discussed lead times, shipping options and potential peak season risks with the OEM manufacturer?

If you can answer “yes” to most of these questions, you are in a much better position to place a successful wholesale order from China.

Real Case Study: From Test Order to Stable Wholesale Cooperation

A mid sized European sports brand wanted to enter pickleball. They had retail shops, a basic online store and some experience with other racket sports, but no pickleball line yet.

At first, they only asked for “wholesale pickleball paddles from China at a good price”. After a detailed discussion, it became clear that they actually needed a structured OEM plan, not just cheap bulk paddles.

Together we defined a three level product ladder:

Entry line: cold press PP honeycomb paddles with fiberglass faces, for schools, clubs and basic retail.

Hero line: thermoformed PP honeycomb paddles with foam edges and T700 raw carbon faces, designed for serious players and main retail sales.

Flagship line: a smaller quantity of high density EVA plus EPP foam core paddles, used for ambassadors, instructors and higher end customers.

Their first order was structured as a launch test: enough quantity to see real feedback, but still small enough to control risk.

During the first three months, they tracked:

Which level sold fastest in shops.

How many complaints or returns each construction had.

Which models generated the most positive comments from players.

The data showed that the hero line thermoformed paddles quickly became their main revenue driver, the entry line worked well for schools and clubs, and the flagship line helped position their brand as “serious about technology”.

For the second and third orders, they increased the hero line volume, kept the entry line stable for institutional buyers and used the flagship line strategically for brand storytelling.

This kind of step by step wholesale cooperation is very different from just buying “whatever is cheapest”. It is based on a clear plan, real data and a long term view of how the product line should grow.

How iAcesport Works with Wholesale Partners

At iAcesport, we focus on long term partnerships with brands, retailers and online sellers who take their business seriously.

We operate multiple pickleball paddle production lines with a monthly capacity of over 150,000 paddles, covering both cold press PP honeycomb paddles and advanced thermoformed paddles with foam and premium cores.

For wholesale projects, we help partners:

• Clarify product ladders for different channels instead of randomly picking models.

• Choose core structures and materials that match realistic budgets and player levels.

• Plan MOQs and order structures that can grow over time rather than one time deals.

• Align production lead times and shipping methods with launch schedules and replenishment plans.

We do not aim to be the cheapest supplier in the market. Our goal is to be the OEM manufacturer you can still work with three to five years from now, when your brand and wholesale business have grown much bigger than they are today.

If you are planning your next wholesale step in pickleball, you are always welcome to talk with us, share your target markets and price ranges and let us help you build a product plan that makes sense for the long term.