What is your current paddle?

antony

Hall of Fame
Gearbox CX11E Control 8.5

When I started playing in August I watched a couple interviews with the company owner explaining the construction of their paddles and was sold, so I bought a GX6 Control 8.5. I played it for a bit but noticed that the sweet spot was small compared to friends paddles I would try (OneShot Proshot, Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro, one of the Head Radical models, Diadem Warrior). I added some lead to open the sweet spot some, but it was still lacking. I was getting ready to buy a Warrior when Gearbox announced the new paddles. I'm glad I waited.

I tried the CX11E Control 8.5 and the CX14E. The CX14E was super soft, but I didn't have enough power and had to "over swing" which lead to accuracy problems. I ended up with the CX11E and am super happy.

Compared to my GX6, it has a bigger sweet spot, more consistency, is softer, and has more spin. Zero complaints about it.
My paddle has almost a full two inches longer grip length than this. Not sure it’ll be for me
 

srvnvly

Hall of Fame
Do you not like your paddle anymore

It’s ok; I used the Tempest Wave Pro for awhile, then went to a paddle with a longer handle, which I like. Allegedly, my ideal paddle is 8” wide, 16.5-ish long, with a handle that is 5.5-6” long; in my mind anyway. The Gearbox is not that but I’m intrigued by their structure and larger, edge less surface area.
 

jonestim

Hall of Fame
Nice! I currently use the Selkirk Mach 6, 8 oz, but started drooling when I read the specs for this paddle. Any issues with the grip size?
No. I play a 3/8 tennis grip, and have adjusted just fine to the smaller one for pickleball. I am using a Volkl overgrip - which is thicker than the Wilson I use on my tennis racquet, just so I can build it up a hair more
 

jonestim

Hall of Fame
It’s ok; I used the Tempest Wave Pro for awhile, then went to a paddle with a longer handle, which I like. Allegedly, my ideal paddle is 8” wide, 16.5-ish long, with a handle that is 5.5-6” long; in my mind anyway. The Gearbox is not that but I’m intrigued by their structure and larger, edge less surface area.

16.5 long and 8 wide is an illegal paddle. They can only be 24" combined - so a 16.5" long one can only be 7.5" wide, and an 8" wide one can only be 16" long.
 

srvnvly

Hall of Fame
16.5 long and 8 wide is an illegal paddle. They can only be 24" combined - so a 16.5" long one can only be 7.5" wide, and an 8" wide one can only be 16" long.

I was thinking only in terms of paddle length, I learned something new.
 

rabidranger

Rookie
I just got a ProXR Signature paddle. It's got a unique handle that contours to your grip and is the "super heavyweight" version (mine is 9.7 oz.). Have played with it a few times. Very solid with good pop and control. Not sure if the handle is more than a gimmick at this point but the overall paddle feels good to use.
 

TripleB

Hall of Fame
Gearbox CX11E Control 8.5

When I started playing in August I watched a couple interviews with the company owner explaining the construction of their paddles and was sold, so I bought a GX6 Control 8.5. I played it for a bit but noticed that the sweet spot was small compared to friends paddles I would try (OneShot Proshot, Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro, one of the Head Radical models, Diadem Warrior). I added some lead to open the sweet spot some, but it was still lacking. I was getting ready to buy a Warrior when Gearbox announced the new paddles. I'm glad I waited.

I tried the CX11E Control 8.5 and the CX14E. The CX14E was super soft, but I didn't have enough power and had to "over swing" which lead to accuracy problems. I ended up with the CX11E and am super happy.

Compared to my GX6, it has a bigger sweet spot, more consistency, is softer, and has more spin. Zero complaints about it.

That's fantastic to hear! I agree...the new line is definitely a huge upgrade over the previous models (and they were great to begin with).

I went back to my Gearbox GX6 Power 8.5oz (from a Wilson Echo Carbon) because I was just so confident in my drives and backhand dinks with it. Ordered the following demos form Gearbox: CX11E Power 7.8, CX11E Power 8.5, CX14E, and CX14H.

I loved the spin and touch that the CX14E offers, but like you I find some shots that should have been simple were made a bit more difficult because of the lower power of the CX14 series. It still has some pop, but just not as easy to put those overheads away or those drives into the corners. Love both of the CX11E power models. The 7.8 oz offers everything my GX6 8.5 ounce does with better maneuverability. The pain I had with the GX6 isn't there with the new models.

Probably should have tried one of the CX11E Control model demos but I preferred the Power models in the GX6 so figured the same was probably true here. But then again, the Control model might be the perfect compromise between the CX11E Power and the CX14E.

TripleB
 
Top