A relatively-new innovation in the industry is graphite and composite paddles without an edge guard protruding around the paddle edge. These paddles are favored by players who want the widest possible hitting surface without fear of miss-hit caused by the edge wrap. Edgeless paddles typically have a protective tape running along the perimeter of the paddle which does not interfere with play whatsoever. However, this type of paddle has a tendency to chip along the edges because the edge guard is not there to protect it from impact.
