Tesla is bringing its “Plaid” high-performance philosophy from the drag strip to the pickleball court. The electric vehicle giant has officially launched the Tesla Plaid Pickleball Paddle, a high-tech collaboration with industry leader Selkirk Sport.

Priced at $350, the limited-edition paddle sold out almost immediately upon appearing in the Tesla North American web shop, underscoring the massive demand for Tesla’s expanding lifestyle ecosystem.

Engineering Meets Athletics

The project is a result of a direct collaboration between Javier Verdura, Tesla’s Director of Product Design, and Tom Barnes, Selkirk’s Director of R&D. According to Tesla, the paddle was developed using the same “first-principles” engineering approach used to design the Model S and Model X Plaid.

“Every curve and layer was engineered and optimized for high-performance play,” Tesla stated in the product description. The design leans heavily on aerodynamics, utilizing an open-throat face and an edgeless construction to minimize air resistance during fast-paced rallies.

Professional-Grade Specifications

Far from being a mere novelty item, the paddle is USAP-approved for competitive play and features Selkirk’s most advanced materials:

• Carbon Fiber Face: Built with Florek Carbon Fiber for a blend of power and control.
• Spin Technology: Features an InfiniGrit surface texture to maximize ball rotation.
• Core Engineering: A 16mm PureFoam core provides a stable sweet spot and vibration dampening.
• Weight Tuning: Weighing between 7.8 and 8.1 ounces, the paddle includes integrated MOI (Moment of Inertia) tuning weights for a balanced swing.

A Growing Lifestyle Brand

The launch of the Plaid Pickleball Paddle marks Tesla’s latest move to dominate the “lifestyle” space. The paddle joins a premium lineup of Plaid-branded merchandise, ranging from Nürburgring-themed apparel to high-end home goods. This release also coincides with Tesla’s holiday collection, which recently debuted items like the Optimus robot action figure and Cybertruck-themed collectibles.

While the initial stock has been depleted, Tesla has opened an email notification list for fans hoping for a second “lap” of availability.