Best budget Gen 3 paddle of 2026? | Luzz Glider 2026 Review

Luzz is one of the hottest brands right now — the Inferno is their most popular paddle.

They also have a more budget-friendly line called the Glider (~$110–120 before code; about $100 with code). Some pros even use it instead of pricier options.

They just dropped the Glider 2026. Let's see if it's better than the original Glider.

Intro

My name is Pickle Li. I'm a 5.0 pickleball player and I've reviewed over 50 paddles on this channel. I created MyPickleList, which does community-driven paddle ratings, and there are currently over 1,000 ratings.

Caveats & Disclosures

Reminder: This is a first impressions review, not a full review.

I played with this for a few days, so I can't speak to long-term durability.

It is gen 3 — honeycomb + edge foam — so it may play differently over time and can core crush eventually. Keep that in mind.

I'll be rating this paddle on MyPickleList at the end of this write-up, so stay tuned for that.

Shout out to Luzz for sending this over.

Use code PICKLELI for 15% off at luzzpickleball.com.

Quick Specs Overview

The Glider is a gen 3 hybrid — same general idea as Joola Pro IV/V construction (honeycomb core, foam around the edges).

The 2026 version keeps the same design as the original with minor updates (including "2026" on the face). Luzz also mentioned newer grit on this run.

• My 2026 sample: 7.83 oz (stock)
• Original Glider (2024): 7.92 oz — not a huge drop; could be normal variance
• Price: ~$100 with code — the headline value prop

On-Court First Impressions

Pop

Above-average pop — standard for an average power paddle. Good for counters without making you pop balls up more than normal.

Control & Feel

Day one I hit the original Glider and 2026 back to back. Noticeable difference — though the original had miles on it and the 2026 was brand new.

The original felt hotter and more muted. The 2026 let me feel the ball better, which is my preference.

Surprising vs my original Glider review where I called it a more responsive Joola Pro IV. Maybe I'm just used to more responsive paddles now (RPM Q2, etc.). Neither Glider feels as responsive as I remembered — not as poppy-responsive as other power paddles, but also not the soft dwelly feel some paddles have.

I played well in stock form, but left wanting more feel vs recent 9s and 10s.

Grit: Above average OOB — significantly grittier than my worn original. Grit wore some with use but still grittier than the old one at the same stage — maybe lasts a bit longer; hard to say in a few days.

Spin: Average for a good paddle.

Sweet spot: Fine, not elite — lots of paddles get mishits over easier; Glider wasn't quite there without adding weight.

Solid all-around, but didn't excel in one area that made me love it.

Power

Mid-tier power — putaways get the job done, nothing that screams high-tier power. Won't amaze you, won't hold you back if you don't need max firepower.

Verdict & MyPickleList

MyPickleList is a site I built for community-driven paddle ratings — a quick way to see how a paddle stacks up without watching a full review. We have 300+ members and 1,000+ ratings; more ratings make it better, so please join if you haven't.

If you're in the Atlanta area, Premier Racquet Sports in Dunwoody is running $20 gift cards when you rate and comment on 5 paddles on the site.

Back to the review.

When the original Glider dropped, it was a strong budget Pro IV competitor. Since then, a lot of great gen 4 paddles came out — I personally like a more consistent feel across the face, which gen 4 has delivered for me lately.

Rating: 8/10 (same as original Glider)

Probably slightly better than before if I had to guess — not worse. Hard to compare gen 3 paddles as they change with use/core crush.

Did a lot well, played fine stock — just didn't wow me like my 9s and 10s.

Good fit if you want a budget gen 3 power hybrid. Not many hybrid gen 3 options around ~$100. If you prefer gen 3, like hybrid shapes, and want value — one of your best bets.

Thanks for reading. Join the MyPickleList community on site and Discord — we talk paddles, gear, and pickleball tips daily. If you caught this as a video too, like and subscribe there; it helps a lot. See you next time.

Shop Luzz Glider → (code PICKLELI, 15% off)