What Paddle to you use?

ChaelAZ

ChaelAZ

G.O.A.T.
I am playing enough to a) have graduated from my A-zon China special, because b) I his with a PB friends paddle and it definitely made a difference. So what is your weapon of choice and why?

A few I am looking at are:
Sword and Shield J2K
Neonic Flow or Flame Prime X

Or some other variation of all-court paddle.

What do you use?
 
As someone who is doing this exact same thing my journey has been the following; I got a "Franklin Signature" paddle from my local Target, it was on sale. And to be honest that has become my frame of reference for future paddles.

So in that i learned I like a longer handle than most pickleball paddles come, something north of 5.5 inches handle. So I am demo'ing. I will tell you I really like the Gamma Obsidian 16, and the Gamma Airbender 16. 16mm feels like the right width, coming from tennis we don't need much help with pop, and the size allows for a more comfortable feel and bigger sweet spot to me then 13mm or smaller paddles. Of course I have liked the Selkirk Air series of paddles but it seems every tennis player playing pickle uses those in my area.

But I will end up with either of the two Gamma options I mentioned most likely. Not sure they will make it to my signature though, haha.
 
FedLIKEnot said:
So in that i learned I like a longer handle than most pickleball paddles come, something north of 5.5 inches handle.
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I still play with 1 hand on the BH, so haven't found a use for the longer handle personally, but makes sense.

My son has the Franklin Target special too, and that thing weighs a ton compared the the azon ones I had bought.

Hit with a friend's Vatic Pro the other night, and that felt amazing really. My buddy at his tennis shop wants me to demo some, so I might start down that long road. Need to see what the different feels are with each type, but probably like tennis I'll end up in some kind of all-court, Wilson Blade equivalent type paddle.

Edit to add: Someone mentioned a purple ape paddle, so going to search that one too. But every time someone mentions a paddle they are over $100 and I am not THAT into PB...yet.
 
ChaelAZ said:
Quieter would be nice. HATE that sound.
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Bobby Riggs club here is making changes due to complaints from neighbors. Big city meeting soon. The owner has proposed to let the club remain open at full capacity while he mandates quiet paddles on certain courts as he starts soundproofing work. He is also making and giving quiet paddles for free and will later sell them.
 
sureshs said:
Bobby Riggs club here is making changes due to complaints from neighbors. Big city meeting soon. The owner has proposed to let the club remain open at full capacity while he mandates quiet paddles on certain courts as he starts soundproofing work. He is also making and giving quiet paddles for free and will later sell them.
Click to expand...


Two local retirement communities who built PB courts post establishment are facing some of those noise challenges.

I live about a mile away from the Surprise PB courts, but when they have tourneys and such there I can hear it still.
 
ChaelAZ said:
Two local retirement communities who built PB courts post establishment are facing some of those noise challenges.

I live about a mile away from the Surprise PB courts, but when they have tourneys and such there I can hear it still.
Click to expand...
AI will solve the problem by catching the sound waves replacing the sounds in real time with pleasant sounds like birds chirping.
 
ChaelAZ said:
Oooooofff! $$$ But nice slab!
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The mod TA-15 will be banned on July 1st, 2025, due to excessive power and excellent control. The old PB geysers are very upset that tennis players turned Pballers are killing them on the PB courts. When my son and I play against them, we drive the ball really at them with offensive dinks.

I guess that’s why they ban the mod ta-15 in a few months for that reason, in the name of safety, which I call BS.
 
ChaelAZ said:
I still play with 1 hand on the BH, so haven't found a use for the longer handle personally, but makes sense.

My son has the Franklin Target special too, and that thing weighs a ton compared the the azon ones I had bought.

Hit with a friend's Vatic Pro the other night, and that felt amazing really. My buddy at his tennis shop wants me to demo some, so I might start down that long road. Need to see what the different feels are with each type, but probably like tennis I'll end up in some kind of all-court, Wilson Blade equivalent type paddle.

Edit to add: Someone mentioned a purple ape paddle, so going to search that one too. But every time someone mentions a paddle they are over $100 and I am not THAT into PB...yet.
Click to expand...

After a lot of paddles in two years (including most of the Vatics and use a Vatic bag 8-B ) … now using that purple pickleball apes paddle (Pulse S), and love it. Wife has Pulse S also.

Here is my input after 2 years of play (as a tennis player to a tennis player), just talking doubles. Power matters more in singles, not so much in doubles, I don’t play singles.

- Unlike racquets, many paddle tradeoffs … the best at baseline and overheads won’t necessarily be the best for you at the kitchen. From good intermediate on, kitchen and transition skills will matter more than your baseline drives. Sucks … pickleball is more fun for tennis players at lower level pickleball because you can hit tennis shots through/past opponents.

So … that part was important. If you want to play tennis on a pickleball court (I did for first 6 months), you will want the longer, heavier swingweight paddle and not care about hand speed at kitchen.

Paddle shapes:
1) extended (16.5 x 7.5)
2) hybrid (16.2-3 x 7.7-8)
3) standard/wide (15.8-16.0 x 8ish)

Paddle power:
1) control
2) all court
3) power

Standard shaped paddles fast at kitchen, big sweet spots, … I liked my Apollo on everything except overheads, and reach which is weird talking about 1/2”. But it’s more than that, standard shaped paddles tend to have sweet spots toward center, hybrids and extended more toward tip.

Extended … played early 6 months with Vatic Pro V7 … probably never hit my drives and overheads better. Started playing better players, they would invite me to the kitchen where I found out head heavy, and sluggish (for me) was a slow death. I said “for me”, because some players hands are still fast at kitchen with extended paddles (most of the pros, but I have noticed many choke up on grip at the kitchen.

I settled on hybrids, good at baseline, transition, kitchen if not best at all.

Power … interesting thing happened. After months with V7 (good power when it came out, now would be considered all court), I bought a Vatic Prism Flash (control hybrid). I started beating players I had been losing to. Lesson … defense and control (blocks, transition resets, dinks, etc) matter much more in this stupid game than a tennis player would think. The Vatic Prism Flash 16mm is a no-brainer $100 paddle … it’s now my backup.

Is the $200 Pulse S better for me now than the Prism Flash? Yes, because I’m getting the same control with more power. Also … feel is subjective, and it’s a wiffle so even saying “feel” is lol … but Pulse S is best feel so far (I’ve hit a lot of paddles.

Power … what I have found out in doubles is any paddle that makes me shorten my swing is not for me. It means less control, and precision counts more than a few extra mph. You come with your own power from tennis, where others might want power help with short poppy swings. This shows up most on return of serve, and 3rd shot drives for me. I am starting to go for returns to tight spots (backhands hard to find), ironically more opportunity to affect outcomes on returns than serving. When I demoed JOOLA Mod 15, Magnus 3S … not for me ... had to back off baseline strokes.

What else … 16mm for me, no more 14mm, no more standard shape paddles.

Difference between power (baseline drives, overheads) and pop (kitchen flicks, rolls, counters, speedups).

I haven’t hit J2K, but it’s highly ranked by most top paddle reviewers. Hybrid, 16mm, forgiving, stable, not that expensive … checks of a lot of boxes. There is also a J2TI (poly, fake titanium :p ) that is supposed to be a softer feeling J2K. Also power versons of both just now coming out.

Oh … 5.5” is all you need for 2hbh. What you gain in grip length, you lose in paddle surface a balance. I have found although weird at first, it works out better to put off hand index finger behind paddle face. It’s not a 27” lever, and the finger behind paddle helps more than hurts (2hbh dinks, 2hbh topspin 3rd shot drops).

Ask away … I have killed as much time on paddle reviewer channels as watching Fed’s forehand in a previous life.
 
sureshs said:
@ByeByePoly What do you think of the Owl Quiet paddles?
Click to expand...

I have never hit it, but the paddle review channels all have it rated at top in power. Silent and power beyond reaction speed might make neighbors happy, but not your opponent’s eye.

I had 3 wiffle marks on my body in last 6 weeks … all JOOLA paddles. One to chest (Mod 15), one to thigh (Mod 15), and one made my knee bleed (Perseus 3S).
 
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ByeByePoly said:
After a lot of paddles in two years (including most of the Vatics and use a Vatic bag 8-B ) … now using that purple pickleball apes paddle (Pulse S), and love it. Wife has Pulse S also.

Here is my input after 2 years of play (as a tennis player to a tennis player), just talking doubles. Power matters more in singles, not so much in doubles, I don’t play singles.

- Unlike racquets, many paddle tradeoffs … the best at baseline and overheads won’t necessarily be the best for you at the kitchen. From good intermediate on, kitchen and transition skills will matter more than your baseline drives. Sucks … pickleball is more fun for tennis players at lower level pickleball because you can hit tennis shots through/past opponents.

So … that part was important. If you want to play tennis on a pickleball court (I did for first 6 months), you will want the longer, heavier swingweight paddle and not care about hand speed at kitchen.

Paddle shapes:
1) extended (16.5 x 7.5)
2) hybrid (16.2-3 x 7.7-8)
3) standard/wide (15.8-16.0 x 8ish)

Paddle power:
1) control
2) all court
3) power

Standard shaped paddles fast at kitchen, big sweet spots, … I liked my Apollo on everything except overheads, and reach which is weird talking about 1/2”. But it’s more than that, standard shaped paddles tend to have sweet spots toward center, hybrids and extended more toward tip.

Extended … played early 6 months with Vatic Pro V7 … probably never hit my drives and overheads better. Started playing better players, they would invite me to the kitchen where I found out head heavy, and sluggish (for me) was a slow death. I said “for me”, because some players hands are still fast at kitchen with extended paddles (most of the pros, but I have noticed many choke up on grip at the kitchen.

I settled on hybrids, good at baseline, transition, kitchen if not best at all.

Power … interesting thing happened. After months with V7 (good power when it came out, now would be considered all court), I bought a Vatic Prism Flash (control hybrid). I started beating players I had been losing to. Lesson … defense and control (blocks, transition resets, dinks, etc) matter much more in this stupid game than a tennis player would think. The Vatic Prism Flash 16mm is a no-brainer $100 paddle … it’s now my backup.

Is the $200 Pulse S better for me now than the Prism Flash? Yes, because I’m getting the same control with more power. Also … feel is subjective, and it’s a wiffle so even saying “feel” is lol … but Pulse S is best feel so far (I’ve hit a lot of paddles.

Power … what I have found out in doubles is any paddle that makes me shorten my swing is not for me. It means less control, and precision counts more than a few extra mph. You come with your own power from tennis, where others might want power help with short poppy swings. This shows up most on return of serve, and 3rd shot drives for me. I am starting to go for returns to tight spots (backhands hard to find), ironically more opportunity to affect outcomes on returns than serving. When I demoed JOOLA Mod 15, Magnus 3S … not for me ... had to back off baseline strokes.

What else … 16mm for me, no more 14mm, no more standard shape paddles.

Difference between power (baseline drives, overheads) and pop (kitchen flicks, rolls, counters, speedups).

I haven’t hit J2K, but it’s highly ranked by most top paddle reviewers. Hybrid, 16mm, forgiving, stable, not that expensive … checks of a lot of boxes. There is also a J2TI (poly, fake titanium :p ) that is supposed to be a softer feeling J2K. Also power versons of both just now coming out.

Oh … 5.5” is all you need for 2hbh. What you gain in grip length, you lose in paddle surface a balance. I have found although weird at first, it works out better to put off hand index finger behind paddle face. It’s not a 27” lever, and the finger behind paddle helps more than hurts (2hbh dinks, 2hbh topspin 3rd shot drops).

Ask away … I have killed as much time on paddle reviewer channels as watching Fed’s forehand in a previous life.
Click to expand...


lol. Thanks for the info amigo. And this kind of detail I have also done in tennis is exactly what I am trying to avoid in PB, which I am truly just playing for social reasons with my wife and other couples. The Ape Pulse S is exactly that "purple ape" paddle I was wondering about above that was recommended highly, but again that is a bit of $$$ for me...kind of I guess. I would love the play-ability I am sure, but my wife would just love the color. :laughing:

Between the Vatic Prism and the J2k/J2Ti, those hit around that $100 mark and might fit the bill. Remember, coming from a azon $30 composite graphite xmas deal, it will be like DC to light waves in terms of improvement. Trying to get out to hit this weekend, so will see how it goes! And trying elongated over stanard as well, since I have only hit standard for far.

Thanks again.

Interestingly, my I switch my table tennis paddle from the Yasaka Ma Link wood to a the soft Carbon version/blend years ago, and actually think that feel and experience translate to PB paddle testing for me. I see Titanium and Carbon versions so will be interesting to see where I go there. TI versions always have to much 'pop' for me, where Carbon blends tend to be that control feel I like. And I am not a small dude, so I can always generate my own power.
 
ByeByePoly said:
I have never hit it, but the paddle review channels all have it rated at top in power. Silent and power beyond reaction speed might make neighbors happy, but not your opponent’s eye.

I had 3 wiffle marks on my body in last 6 weeks … all JOOLA paddles. One to chest (Mod 15), one to thigh (Mod 15), and one made my knee bleed (Perseus 3S).
Click to expand...
Those are illegal man
 
ByeByePoly said:
After a lot of paddles in two years (including most of the Vatics and use a Vatic bag 8-B ) … now using that purple pickleball apes paddle (Pulse S), and love it. Wife has Pulse S also.

Here is my input after 2 years of play (as a tennis player to a tennis player), just talking doubles. Power matters more in singles, not so much in doubles, I don’t play singles.
Click to expand...
This is not accurate. Power has mattered more in doubles now. What how Quang Duong play doubles.
 
ChaelAZ said:
lol. Thanks for the info amigo. And this kind of detail I have also done in tennis is exactly what I am trying to avoid in PB, which I am truly just playing for social reasons with my wife and other couples. The Ape Pulse S is exactly that "purple ape" paddle I was wondering about above that was recommended highly, but again that is a bit of $$$ for me...kind of I guess. I would love the play-ability I am sure, but my wife would just love the color. :laughing:

Between the Vatic Prism and the J2k/J2Ti, those hit around that $100 mark and might fit the bill. Remember, coming from a azon $30 composite graphite xmas deal, it will be like DC to light waves in terms of improvement. Trying to get out to hit this weekend, so will see how it goes! And trying elongated over stanard as well, since I have only hit standard for far.

Thanks again.

Interestingly, my I switch my table tennis paddle from the Yasaka Ma Link wood to a the soft Carbon version/blend years ago, and actually think that feel and experience translate to PB paddle testing for me. I see Titanium and Carbon versions so will be interesting to see where I go there. TI versions always have to much 'pop' for me, where Carbon blends tend to be that control feel I like. And I am not a small dude, so I can always generate my own power.
Click to expand...

Very hard to find a bad paddle these days … $100 in 2025 buys you a better paddle than $250 a couple of years ago.

Other consideration is tech has changed fast over last couple of years:

Gen 1 - sandwich, edge guard glues two sides together

Gen 2 - thermoformed edges, paddle still has structure even if you pulled edge guard off

Gen 3 - foam enhanced, foam edges around plastic core (JOOLA Mod 15, 3S, some stuck foam in plastic honeycomb cells (Spartus Olympus))

Gen 4 - hopefully 2025 will be the year of getting rid of polypropylene plastic cores

The practical implications of all that for you just having fun is:

Gen 1 will feel more plush (Vatic Prism gen 1.5 because added perimeter foam weighting in edge guard channel)

Gen 2 - generally stiffer but we gained bigger sweet spots (also reason to go 16mm instead of 14mm … bigger sweet spots)

Gen 3 - plastic core should become legacy tech … in the meantime paddle companies trying to to put lipstick on that pig. JOOLA created plastic core diving board propulsion by replacing top edges with foam. I’m for propulsion/trampoline … but plastic core crushes constantly if you hit some power. JOOLA Mod 15 constantly breaking.

Pickleball Apes Pulse series did Gen 3 a little different … floated plastic core with edge foam, but prevented most of the trampoline breaking the Mods.

Good paddle reviews out there on categories like best $100ish paddle. Let me know if you want links.

New companies mentioned most lately in affordable and great:

- 11six24
- Neonic (purple choices)
- Honolulu Pickleball (J2K)

- Vatic (not new, but still great value, new paddle out called Saga)
 
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ByeByePoly said:
I am giving brother @ChaelAZ advice for his rec pickleball. You being wrong about pro doubles has no effect on his paddle choice. 8-B
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Polymer, I am still using the Onyx Z5 with lead tape all around. Now, this move in a local club to mandate quiet paddles has me thinking if I should get one of those. An Owl, or the one which the owner of the club is supposedly going to sell.

Do quiet paddles have any cons because they are quiet? I can't believe that there are no tradeoffs.
 
sureshs said:
Polymer, I am still using the Onyx Z5 with lead tape all around. Now, this move in a local club to mandate quiet paddles has me thinking if I should get one of those. An Owl, or the one which the owner of the club is supposedly going to sell.

Do quiet paddles have any cons because they are quiet? I can't believe that there are no tradeoffs.
Click to expand...

I haven’t played against a quiet paddle yet. Oh … you said Owl. I was thinking Diadem Hush which is rated so high for power. The reviewers say playing against the Hush is weird because it turns out you rely on sound off your opponents paddle more than you think.

I continue to think changing the ball is a better/cheaper solution … everyone gets to keep their overpriced paddles.

I only play indoors, and you can’t hear the score called unless you say it very loudly. I’m used to it now … might be like casinos removing slot machine noise.
 
ByeByePoly said:
I am giving brother @ChaelAZ advice for his rec pickleball. You being wrong about pro doubles has no effect on his paddle choice. 8-B
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I was in Orlando Florida during Christmas for three weeks to play golf and Pickleball training with my 22 years old and 13 years old nephew. My 22 years old got trained everyday with a group of 5.x PB players who are former tennis players. Their games, in both singles and doubles, were heavily relied on powers. Those dinks at the NVZ are mostly offensive dinks. The game has changed so much in the past twelve months that the "conventional" dink is just a small part of the game. The game is much more powerful and faster now.

www.instagram.com

Dayne Gingrich on Instagram: "There’s a decision to be made in 2025 and beyond: Remain emotionally attached to the past or embrace, accept, and adapt to the future. Like it or not, your soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. It’ll

209 likes, 29 comments - dayne_gingrich on December 9, 2024: "There’s a decision to be made in 2025 and beyond: Remain emotionally attached to the past or embrace, accept, and adapt to the future. Like it or not, your soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. It’ll be a piece of...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

There’s a decision to be made in 2025 and beyond: Remain emotionally attached to the past or embrace, accept, and adapt to the future.

Like it or not, your soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. It’ll be a piece of the puzzle, but no longer the fundamental principle of how to construct winning points.

Yes, it also happens in rec pickleball.
 
bobleenov1963 said:
I was in Orlando Florida during Christmas for three weeks to play golf and Pickleball training with my 22 years old and 13 years old nephew. My 22 years old got trained everyday with a group of 5.x PB players who are former tennis players. Their games, in both singles and doubles, were heavily relied on powers. Those dinks at the NVZ are mostly offensive dinks. The game has changed so much in the past twelve months that the "conventional" dink is just a small part of the game. The game is much more powerful and faster now.

www.instagram.com

Dayne Gingrich on Instagram: "There’s a decision to be made in 2025 and beyond: Remain emotionally attached to the past or embrace, accept, and adapt to the future. Like it or not, your soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. It’ll

209 likes, 29 comments - dayne_gingrich on December 9, 2024: "There’s a decision to be made in 2025 and beyond: Remain emotionally attached to the past or embrace, accept, and adapt to the future. Like it or not, your soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. It’ll be a piece of...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

There’s a decision to be made in 2025 and beyond: Remain emotionally attached to the past or embrace, accept, and adapt to the future.

Like it or not, your soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. It’ll be a piece of the puzzle, but no longer the fundamental principle of how to construct winning points.

Yes, it also happens in rec pickleball.
Click to expand...

Well we can agree on one thing for sure … my soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. 8-B

I will leave predicting the future to you and Gingrich … I will just predict what happened two weeks ago at the PPA tournament (The Masters) in California. Brother Ben and Collin won doubles gold yet again dinking all opponents to death. Same as it was two years ago. I hope your future prediction happens fast because dinkarama is booooring.
 
ByeByePoly said:
Well we can agree on one thing for sure … my soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. 8-B

I will leave predicting the future to you and Gingrich … I will just predict what happened two weeks ago at the PPA tournament (The Masters) in California. Brother Ben and Collin won doubles gold yet again dinking all opponents to death. Same as it was two years ago. I hope your future prediction happens fast because dinkarama is booooring.
Click to expand...
The Johns brothers won the 2025 Masters gold medal, why aren't they staying together? Ben decided to partner with a younger player in ****io after that tournament. Things are not the same as it was even twelve months ago.
 
bobleenov1963 said:
I was in Orlando Florida during Christmas for three weeks to play golf and Pickleball training with my 22 years old and 13 years old nephew. My 22 years old got trained everyday with a group of 5.x PB players who are former tennis players. Their games, in both singles and doubles, were heavily relied on powers. Those dinks at the NVZ are mostly offensive dinks. The game has changed so much in the past twelve months that the "conventional" dink is just a small part of the game. The game is much more powerful and faster now.

www.instagram.com

Dayne Gingrich on Instagram: "There’s a decision to be made in 2025 and beyond: Remain emotionally attached to the past or embrace, accept, and adapt to the future. Like it or not, your soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. It’ll

209 likes, 29 comments - dayne_gingrich on December 9, 2024: "There’s a decision to be made in 2025 and beyond: Remain emotionally attached to the past or embrace, accept, and adapt to the future. Like it or not, your soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. It’ll be a piece of...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

There’s a decision to be made in 2025 and beyond: Remain emotionally attached to the past or embrace, accept, and adapt to the future.

Like it or not, your soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. It’ll be a piece of the puzzle, but no longer the fundamental principle of how to construct winning points.

Yes, it also happens in rec pickleball.
Click to expand...


Posted a video around here the other day about some of the changes, but also like tennis where associations are also changing equipment to moderate play more. Paddle restrictions this year were a start, but again like tennis you may see changes balls and such. And I think just like a resurgence of all-court players like Alcaraz in tennis, you will still see dinks and such develop in the game.

For Pro level, younger players are always who dominates anyway, so that isn't anything new and really doesn't effect rec side play.
 
I go back and forth between the Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C and TKO-C, both 12.7mm. These are considered a 'power' paddle. I play (or prefer) singles mostly. Not much of a team / social player so doubles in both PB and tennis are no fun for me.

Paddletek Pros:
- Made in USA.
- No thermoforming. So core-crushing is less likely to happen.
- Great power.

Paddletek Cons:
- Price.
- Soft game will take some adjustments.

I ordered the CRBN Genesis TruFoam to try out. It's made with all foam core. It's said to feel differently than existing paddles with more dwell time and no core to crush. We'll see.

Also, the 11six24 Power paddle (coming out this week) seems to have good reviews, an all-rounder, and available at a good price. https://11six24.com/collections/pegasus/products/pegasus-power
 
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iLuveKetchup said:
I go back and forth between the Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C and TKO-C, both 12.7mm. These are considered a 'power' paddle. I play (or prefer) singles mostly. Not much of a team / social player so doubles in both PB and tennis are no fun for me.

Paddletek Pros:
- Made in USA.
- No thermoforming. So core-crushing is less likely to happen.
- Great power.

Paddletek Cons:
- Price.
- Soft game will take some adjustments.

I ordered the CRBN Genesis TruFoam to try out. It's made with all foam core. It's said to feel differently than existing paddles with more dwell time and no core to crush. We'll see.

Also, the 11six24 Power paddle (coming out this week) seems to have good reviews, an all-rounder, and available at a good price. https://11six24.com/collections/pegasus/products/pegasus-power
Click to expand...
 
I've been rocking the Six.Zero Triple Black Diamond for when I want to swing like I'm on a tennis court and been having a blast with it. It's the right kind of dead that makes a short angle super satisfying to drive while still having enough mass for put away power. I also flirt on and off with the Owl CX and may try out a CXE one of these days, really feels like you have a paddle-sized sweet spot. Most recent pickup with a Technifibre Blitz which if I'm being real just feels like a more comfortable and gritty Double Black Diamond, one of my main paddles from the past.
 
Vatic Pro Prism v7 with 3 g of tungsten tape at 3 and 9. I have the J2K+ as well, and don’t like it at all. Sure it has power, but when you take a full swing at it, 9 out of 10 times the ball flies out. It’s not good for singles. The Vatic is as soft as it gets for a paddle and underpowered, but I love how I could shape the ball and hit wherever I want it to hit. Gen 3 paddles are analogous to granny sticks for tennis, but the difference is in PB, ppl like overpowered granny sticks.
 
PistolPete23 said:
Vatic Pro Prism v7 with 3 g of tungsten tape at 3 and 9. I have the J2K+ as well, and don’t like it at all. Sure it has power, but when you take a full swing at it, 9 out of 10 times the ball flies out. It’s not good for singles. The Vatic is as soft as it gets for a paddle and underpowered, but I love how I could shape the ball and hit wherever I want it to hit. Gen 3 paddles are analogous to granny sticks for tennis, but the difference is in PB, ppl like overpowered granny sticks.
Click to expand...

What the reviewers have labeled as Gen 3 is broader than power paddles. The MOD 15 is a power paddle, and I didn’t like it during my demo for the same reason you stated. I don’t like having to backoff full swing on drives to keep ball in.

But my Pickleball Apes Pulse S 16 is an all court paddle leaning power. It is considered Gen 3 because floating core with perimeter foam (Gen 3 probably not the best choice as a label). After 50+ hours and weighting it to 8.7 oz, I can hit all the full swing power I want. That is because it has the control of my Vatic Prism Flash 16 that I love, but the added power to keep from swinging too hard.
 
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ByeByePoly said:
What the reviewers have labeled as Gen 3 is broader than power paddles. The MOD 15 is a power paddle, and I didn’t like it during my demo for the same reason you stated. I don’t like having to backoff full swing on drives to keep ball in.

But my Pickleball Apes Pulse S 16 is a control paddle leaning power. It is considered Gen 3 because floating core with perimeter foam (Gen 3 probably not the best choice as a label). After 50+ hours and weighting it to 8.7 oz, I can hit all the full swing power I want. That is because it has the control of my Vatic Prism Flash 16 that I love, but the added power to keep from swinging too hard.
Click to expand...
Interesting that the Pulse S isn’t a power paddle. The J2K+ is also a floating core design, and the ball comes off it like bouncing off a trampoline. It’s not as much as the Mod, but I still don’t like the feel.
 
PistolPete23 said:
Interesting that the Pulse S isn’t a power paddle. The J2K+ is also a floating core design, and the ball comes off it like bouncing off a trampoline. It’s not as much as the Mod, but I still don’t like the feel.
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The Pulse S has carbon tubes wrapping the foam on the outside. The goal was the good feel of a floating core, but prevent the trampoline and core crushing of the Joola Gen 3. I think they succeeded, definitely some break in, mine was a marginal increase in power and then settled, and better feel after break in.

The line between lower end of power paddles, and upper end of all court is a bit arbitrary. I said “control” above, meant upper end of “all court”. Reviewers generally divide paddles as control/all court/power. The Pulse S is power compared to a Prism which is definitely a control paddle (awesome, one of the best), but not power compared to Mod 15, or even Joola 3S.

After strings no paddle will feel great, but I have developed preferences. I don’t like trampoline, too stiff, too muted, hollow, 14 mm, standard shape, $280, any soliciting on paddle face. :-D:-D:-D I like to feel the illusion :-D wiffle is staying on paddle face (dwell) longer.
 
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bobleenov1963 said:
The mod TA-15 will be banned on July 1st, 2025, due to excessive power and excellent control. The old PB geysers are very upset that tennis players turned Pballers are killing them on the PB courts. When my son and I play against them, we drive the ball really at them with offensive dinks.

I guess that’s why they ban the mod ta-15 in a few months for that reason, in the name of safety, which I call BS.
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It's banned because the PBCor is above 0.43. No other reason. Joola is also producing better paddles that don't delaminated so easily and aren't core-crushed from the factory for more power.

If you're the original owner of your MTA-15, you can register it and get the new Perseus Pro 4 50% off in 14 or 16mm. No need to send back your Mod to claim the discount.

I received the Joola Perseus Pro 4, 14mm. It's significantly different than the MTA-15. Less power and more control. The swingweight also seems a bit high. I'll keep using it until it breaks in to see if it gets more powerful over time.

There are so many great paddles on the market it's not worth the full price of $280 for the Joola. The new 11six24 power paddles are definitely the best bang for the buck right now. The Pegasus is amazing and is currently my favorite paddle.
 
bobleenov1963 said:
I was in Orlando Florida during Christmas for three weeks to play golf and Pickleball training with my 22 years old and 13 years old nephew. My 22 years old got trained everyday with a group of 5.x PB players who are former tennis players. Their games, in both singles and doubles, were heavily relied on powers. Those dinks at the NVZ are mostly offensive dinks. The game has changed so much in the past twelve months that the "conventional" dink is just a small part of the game. The game is much more powerful and faster now.

www.instagram.com

Dayne Gingrich on Instagram: "There’s a decision to be made in 2025 and beyond: Remain emotionally attached to the past or embrace, accept, and adapt to the future. Like it or not, your soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. It’ll

209 likes, 29 comments - dayne_gingrich on December 9, 2024: "There’s a decision to be made in 2025 and beyond: Remain emotionally attached to the past or embrace, accept, and adapt to the future. Like it or not, your soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. It’ll be a piece of...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

There’s a decision to be made in 2025 and beyond: Remain emotionally attached to the past or embrace, accept, and adapt to the future.

Like it or not, your soft game will not be the foundation of championship PB. It’ll be a piece of the puzzle, but no longer the fundamental principle of how to construct winning points.

Yes, it also happens in rec pickleball.
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Aggressive dinking has become necessary now with the paddle tech advancements in power and spin. A dead dink with no spin, width, depth or pace, most of the time is immediately sped up and usually at your neck or face because of the angle coming from slightly below the net. I've learned to duck down and counter with a scorpion rather than trying to defend near my face. Protective glasses are highly recommended.

I'm going on 2 years of playing soon and the game has changed tremendously since mid 2023 when thermoformed paddles first started showing up at the courts. My first paddle was Gen1. Such a difference between that and the current paddles.
 
iLuveKetchup said:
I go back and forth between the Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C and TKO-C, both 12.7mm. These are considered a 'power' paddle. I play (or prefer) singles mostly. Not much of a team / social player so doubles in both PB and tennis are no fun for me.

Paddletek Pros:
- Made in USA.
- No thermoforming. So core-crushing is less likely to happen.
- Great power.

Paddletek Cons:
- Price.
- Soft game will take some adjustments.

I ordered the CRBN Genesis TruFoam to try out. It's made with all foam core. It's said to feel differently than existing paddles with more dwell time and no core to crush. We'll see.

Also, the 11six24 Power paddle (coming out this week) seems to have good reviews, an all-rounder, and available at a good price. https://11six24.com/collections/pegasus/products/pegasus-power
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How do you like the new CRBN TF? You get the 2?

The Pegasus is currently my favorite paddle. I was using the Ripple 2.14 but afraid I won't be able to obtain any more in the future. The Pegasus is just as good IMO.

I'm rotating around between a number of paddles currently and they are all so good. Also, very easy to change from one to the other. The Sword and Shield J2kTi+, Pegasus, Ripple, Body Helix FLIK, Joola Perseus Pro 4. All great paddles.
 
Bud said:
How do you like the new CRBN TF? You get the 2?

The Pegasus is currently my favorite paddle. I was using the Ripple 2.14 but afraid I won't be able to obtain any more in the future. The Pegasus is just as good IMO.

I'm rotating around between a number of paddles currently and they are all so good. Also, very easy to change from one to the other. The Sword and Shield J2kTi+, Pegasus, Ripple, Body Helix FLIK, Joola Perseus Pro 4. All great paddles.
Click to expand...

I finally did something that seems to have stopped/slowed my “paddle problem”. His and her Pulse S … Ape side out on the wall in open play. ;) I tried a different paddle briefly and wife says “I just didn’t feel right with us not playing that game with same paddle”. :love: My plan is to play with it all of this year (yeah right), even if I need one replacement.
 
I made my paddle 10 oz and now my non power paddle is a power paddle with lead at 9 and 3 and at butt cap. I felt the extra weight on my forearm muscle the first day but now I don't notice the weight, just the extra power and bigger sweetspot. Weight is an advantage and now the PPA has capped the weight at 10 oz while USAP has no weight limit. There are reports that singles specialist Salome Devidze paddle weighs 13 oz. so the PPA doesn't want pickleball to turn into tennis.
 
treo said:
I made my paddle 10 oz and now my non power paddle is a power paddle with lead at 9 and 3 and at butt cap. I felt the extra weight on my forearm muscle the first day but now I don't notice the weight, just the extra power and bigger sweetspot. Weight is an advantage and now the PPA has capped the weight at 10 oz while USAP has no weight limit. There are reports that singles specialist Salome Devidze paddle weighs 13 oz. so the PPA doesn't want pickleball to turn into tennis.
Click to expand...

I am in the process of adding choking up on handle to muscle memory as soon as I get to kitchen. Once there, only time I would un-choke :-D would be an overhead. Only started this a couple of weeks ago after bumping to 8.7 oz, but seems to be working, keeping drive plow through, and more easy paddle movements at kitchen.
 
Bud said:
How do you like the new CRBN TF? You get the 2?

The Pegasus is currently my favorite paddle. I was using the Ripple 2.14 but afraid I won't be able to obtain any more in the future. The Pegasus is just as good IMO.

I'm rotating around between a number of paddles currently and they are all so good. Also, very easy to change from one to the other. The Sword and Shield J2kTi+, Pegasus, Ripple, Body Helix FLIK, Joola Perseus Pro 4. All great paddles.
Click to expand...
Yes I have the TF2. I like it a lot! Although I did have to add a lot of weight to get any kind of power out of it. I find the TF2 to be a control paddle not a power paddle as most have stated.

I also have the Vapor power but can't seem to get along with it. I really don't like the soft foam grip. Even with leather, I cannot feel the bezels. Looking to sell as it just sits unused and I can't play with anything but the TF2 now.

54417503943_cf4d69b01d_b.jpg
 
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PistolPete23 said:
Tennis will always be my number one sport, but PB might be more fun for 40+ year olds. I play more PB now. So does James Blake, Sam Querrey, etc.
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I'm playing Pickleball with my 8 year old nephew most of the time. When weather gets better, I wanna play tennis on a more regular basis, but will for sure be playing Pickleball with friends who just find tennis too demaning.
By the way, two days ago, I played some groundstrokes using Pickleball paddles, but instead of the plastic pickleball balls, I used Stage 2 (Orange) tennis balls. Pretty good introduction for tennis, since you have to use tennis mechanics and full-swings, without the big "shock" on the joints for kids and unathletic people.
Pop tennis uses "Padel" rackets, but next time I'll go and play Pickleball with a tennis hitting partner, I'm gonna also try the Stage 2 balls with him.
 
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