The face texture on a carbon fiber paddle determines how much spin you can generate — and how long that capability lasts. Peel-ply, raw carbon, and applied grit each behave differently under play conditions. Here is what the differences actually mean for your game.

Walk through the paddle aisle and you will see “T700 carbon fiber” printed on almost every premium spec sheet. But what does T700 actually mean, and does it matter for your game? T700 is a specific aerospace-grade carbon fiber developed by Toray Industries, and it has quietly become the standard hitting surface for high-end pickleball paddles. In this guide we break down what the “700” refers to, how it compares to lower and higher grades, why raw T700 is the spin king, and where it shows up across the ARTI lineup.