EPP Core & TPE Perimeter in Pickleball Paddles

Technical abbreviations only help if you know what they mean. In INVICTA V we combine a Kevlar face, a central EPP core and a TPE perimeter in a 16 mm construction. Here is what sits behind those names.

EPP: foam at the center of the paddle

EPP means expanded polypropylene, a closed-cell foam. As a material family it combines low weight, energy absorption and recovery after compression. Its behavior changes with density and part design, so two EPP cores do not necessarily feel the same.

TPE: an elastic material around the perimeter

TPE means thermoplastic elastomer. Think of it as a flexible material with rubber-like behavior. In INVICTA V it sits around the central core. TPE describes a family of materials; it does not automatically mean that the part is a foam.

The image in this article is an illustration of the INVICTA V construction. It helps visualize the components; it is not a laboratory measurement.

What this combination is designed to achieve

• A response you can dose. The core and perimeter are part of how the paddle's feel is engineered.
• Different components doing different jobs. The center, perimeter and faces work as a system; looking only at the face material leaves out part of the construction.
• An alternative feel. It is worth trying if you want to compare different core types in dinks, blocks and drives.

Trade-offs and limits to understand

More damping does not automatically mean more power: absorbing energy and returning it to the ball are different things. It also does not guarantee more spin. The result depends on the full paddle, including core density, thickness, faces and bonding.

Feel is also personal. If you prefer a very crisp, direct response, compare that sensation with INVICTA V before deciding. The terms EPP and TPE alone do not tell you durability or the exact reduction in vibration.

How to decide whether it suits you

Use the same ball and repeat the same sequence: several dinks, volley blocks and drives. Pay attention to how easily you control depth and how confident the impact feels. Do not choose only by pressing the paddle face with your hand.

Explore INVICTA V or continue with our guide on why roughness does not explain everything about spin.

General material references: BASF on expanded polypropylene and KRAIBURG TPE on thermoplastic elastomers. These sources describe material families, not INVICTA V performance tests or paddle suppliers.