What thickness pickleball paddle should I buy, 14mm or 16mm?

Across the reviewers we read, 16mm cores are described as more forgiving with a larger sweet spot and better control on dinks and resets, making them the default for most rec and intermediate players. 14mm paddles trade some of that plushness for crisper pop and faster hand speed, which advanced players who already have soft hands tend to prefer. If you're not sure, specialist community consensus leans 16mm.