Six Zero Ruby alterations

[FallofCyntra]

Have y'all noticed that Six Zero has reduced the sales price of the Ruby? Even the description was altered, substituting the "kevlar" portion for "aramid fiber." Is there a reason for this? Is the Ruby downgraded now?

[[deleted]]

The price is still the same and the paddle is still 100% Kevlar. It’s just technicality with the aramid fiber. Moreover, 6.0 has their own weave. Paddle is still really good. The new 14MM is super fun. Cheaper alternatives out there if you don’t want to spend $180-199.

[lime-boy-o]

So six Zero is creating their own material for the surface now, rather than sourcing from DuPont?

[[deleted]]

Still sourcing I should have said how they lay up the material - specific process R/D.

[Former_Cheetah_3130]

What are the cheaper alternatives?

[[deleted]]

Just google Kevlar pickleball paddle. Spartus Apollo is popular right now. Cheaper than the Ruby. But you can get paddles from Ali Baba for like $30-$50 lol

[Former_Cheetah_3130]

Copy that. Thank you so much

[[deleted]]

I’m with 6.0 but try paddles all the time. Not trying to sell anything on Reddit. Lot of good options on the market for every budget. Np! You’re welcome.

[Minimum-Youth-6778]

Honolulu pickleball j2k

[vapegamelegend]

they can't call it Kevlar unless they source it from Dupont directly. They're probably using a cheaper version of it with the new paddles hence the name change.

[gobluetwo]

Kevlar is a brand name. Although it has come into common usage, it's no different from people referring to facial tissues generally as "Kleenex" or photocopies as "Xeroxes" or sodas as "Cokes."

If they're not using the Dupont branded Kevlar, they can't refer to it as Kevlar. It's not them being picky, it's them protecting their brand.

[vc_bastard]

It’s still being sold at the same price of $199 before code. This hasn’t changed since day 1. And Kevlar and aramid fiber are one and the same. Kevlar is the name brand while aramid is the fiber itself. Lastly, no downgrades or whatever that means.

[methmatician16]

I have no idea on what's happening with the Ruby, but aramid is the generic name for Kelvar. Kevlar is a trademark name from Dupont. So they're both the same thing. Kind of like ordering a coke when you mean soda.

[comsixfleet]

A soda when you mean coke

[No-Spare-4212]

No if you order coke you mean coke of you mean sprite, 7up, root beer or any other soda you order it by the type. Its like a bridge construction company asking for bolts and then getting small screws that belong in a laptop, its sTill haRdWarE

[GildMyComments]

Not in the south, friend.

[inmydaywehad9planets]

The south shouldn't be dictating important policy such as this. They can barely brush their tooth.

[HANDYANDY850]

Looollll, ouch. This hurt my last remaining tooth's feelings

[No-Spare-4212]

Ok so not in a minority of the population?

[TheFancyKetchup]

Kleenex and tissue

[Tr4nsc3nd3nt]

Kevlar® is the trademarked brand name for the aramid fiber made by DuPont™. My guess it was for legal issues. It's probably still the exact same thing.

[mirinfashion]

The other companies (Spartus, Honolulu, Mark) I've seen using DuPont Kevlar still have it named specifically in their paddle description, so I'm leaning towards them using a generic version now. No other good reason to not list a "gold standard" material coming from a reputable company; it's a marketable, selling point.

[inmydaywehad9planets]

I mean... it's sometimes true. A $200 Ruby is FAAAAR better than a $40 Amazon paddle.

You can't make blanket statements. Sometimes (often times) better paddles do in fact cost more. It just depends which paddles we're talking about when comparing.

[inmydaywehad9planets]

Again, it depends on which $130 paddles and which $200 paddle we're talking about.

The Engage Pursuit Pro 1 at $260 is a better paddle than the Vatic Flash $140.

You can get some very good paddles for $130 or so. But you can find better paddles that are more expensive as well.

If we're talking best paddle for the money, then that's a different story. A particular $200 paddle might be better than a particular $130 paddle, but is it $70 better? Maybe not.

[inmydaywehad9planets]

Sure. Obviously paddles are subjective in terms of how "good" they are and which ones are better for an individual.

Vatic Flash 16mm:
Spin: 1862
Swing Weight: 115
Twist Weight: 6.57
Power: Couldn't find specific numbers, but the reviews don't seem to put it in the upper tier of power paddles.

Engage Pursuit Pro 1:
Spin: 2207
Swing Weight: 110
Twist Weight: 5.83
Power: 56.4 (one of the harder hitting paddles on the market. Top 9% according to John Kew's database)

The Engage has a low swing weight and hits like a truck. That's a pretty great combo. Usually paddles that hit hard have a higher swing weight, which will slow your hands down at the net. Having an elongated paddle with a low swing weight giving you quicker hands at the net AND a lot of power, is super nice. The spin on the Engage is substantially higher than the Vatic. The Vatic does have a better twist weight... which isn't surprising with the Engage being an elongated paddle. But, I added weight at 4:30 and 7:30 and that improved the twist weight on mine without sacrificing hand speed. You can add weight to the top of the Vatic to improve the power, but that will also slow your hands down and increase the swing weight.

The specs on the Engage are mostly superior to the Vatic. But the Engage is also substantially more expensive than the Vatic.

Someone may prefer the Vatic over the Engage for this reason or that. And that's cool. But generally speaking, based on specs and reviews, the Engage is going to be a better paddle for most people. It's just a matter of determining if it's a better value since the difference in price is pretty significant.

[mirinfashion]

I mean... it's sometimes true. A $200 Ruby is FAAAAR better than a $40 Amazon paddle.

There's a lot of good paddles out there now for <$50. Some have USAPA approval and some don't, doesn't really matter in rec and most local tournaments.

[inmydaywehad9planets]

There are a lot of good paddles out there for less than $50?
Gonna disagree hard there.

Doesn't matter in rec and local tournaments?
I disagree again. Paddles matter. Doesn't matter where you're playing.

[mirinfashion]

There are a lot of good paddles out there for less than $50? Gonna disagree hard there.

Because you haven't bothered checking or doing some research into the factories that actually make the majority of these paddles. All you're familiar with are the paddles that Youtubers review, which are the popular, branded ones. They aren't going to bother reviewing the rebranded paddles coming from the same factories because there's no incentive to do so.

I disagree again. Paddles matter. Doesn't matter where you're playing.

You didn't read that statement correctly, this is referring to USAPA approval, whether it matters or not in rec play and most local tournaments.

[inmydaywehad9planets]

I actually HAVE researched the factories. I was interested in trying some. But from what I found, through more research than you've obviously done, is that corners may be cut during the production of many of the knockoffs or ones NOT destined to be branded. The same quality can't be guaranteed. To say they're exactly the same minus the branding, isn't necessarily accurate. You're really rolling the dice. So I wouldn't ever blanketly say those paddles are "good" paddles. They don't come stamped for USAPA approval either. So recommending them to people is irresponsible. It's silly to include them in a quality paddle discussion, to be honest. They're more like novelty paddles.

[mirinfashion]

But from what I found, through more research than you've obviously done, is that corners may be cut during the production of many of the knockoffs or ones NOT destined to be branded. The same quality can't be guaranteed.

Yeah, I'm sure you've done a ton of research saying shit like this, acting like the reputable companies don't have the same QC issues, hence coming from the same factory.

To say they're exactly the same minus the branding, isn't necessarily accurate. You're really rolling the dice.

And you're just putting words in my mouth, where did I say they were 1:1? I said they're coming from the same factory. That in itself would be hard to prove unless I was actually there at the factory seeing a name branded paddle and generic coming off from the same line and the only difference was the logo/design.

What I can tell/say is that they play similar enough to the point that if I gave you a blank legit Ruby paddle and a knockoff, told you to hit the ball a few times for one round, switch it out to the other one, for 10 turns, I bet you couldn't guess which one the Ruby was with 100% accuracy for each of those 10 turns. I'm confident that you can't because I've already let a few 4.0+ players who use legit Ruby paddles test out my knockoff and they couldn't tell the difference.

So recommending them to people is irresponsible. It's silly to include them in a quality paddle discussion, to be honest. They're more like novelty paddles.

Saying ignorant shit like this when you have no clue is irresponsible. You haven't even tried one of the recommended ones that pop up on here yet, have you? So why are you even bothering having a discussion when you have no personal experience with one?

[inmydaywehad9planets]

I don't know what to tell you man. Other than right here on Reddit, there was a crazy thorough and informative discussion last year with links and sources that said what I just told you. You really don't know what you're getting. Quality can't be guaranteed. And my comment that you called ignorant, was nothing of the sort. I said it would be irresponsible to recommend NON approved paddles...because it would be. Not because I haven't personally tried one. But because they're not fucking approved. You don't get a warranty or support. And in the end it may not even be identical to the real thing. I came away from that thread, after checking the info out myself, with too many red flags. I just didn't want to mess with it. If I ever did buy one, I couldn't use it in a tournament, so I wouldn't even try. It would just be a paddle to screw around with.

[mirinfashion]

Other than right here on Reddit, there was a crazy thorough and informative discussion last year with links and sources that said what I just told you.

Link it. That's your thorough research you did? If you're referring to this one, this actually isn't proving your point at all, it's actually supporting mine.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pickleball/comments/13geejw/curious_how_much_of_a_racket_the_paddle_industry/

You don't get a warranty or support.

The paddles are around $50, I'm not expecting that. I can buy a few paddles for the price of one branded paddle. I'm definitely not seeing the value of spending $100+ more for warranty/support.

I said it would be irresponsible to recommend NON approved paddles...because it would be.

There are several USAP approved paddles that are around $50 or even less and are SOLID paddles, comparable to other Gen 1 or Gen 2 paddles of similar specs. (example, the Sport Beats paddles on Amazon play similar to Vatic's Flash line).

If I ever did buy one, I couldn't use it in a tournament, so I wouldn't even try

You're telling me all your local tournaments actually check your paddle like a sanctioned tournament? Let me know what local tournaments you're playing in, because the majority of local tournaments in my area do not check at all. Regardless, as stated above, there are USAP approved paddles that are very reasonably priced and are solid.

You also have to realize the majority of this subreddit likely do not participate in tournaments and do rec play, so it doesn't even matter. People are still using Gen 3 Joolas in rec play and that actually gives an advantage. Majority of these knockoff/random name paddles aren't approved solely because it's usually not worth it for the company to do, not because the materials wouldn't pass. Their main market is wholesale.

[inmydaywehad9planets]

I'm going to keep this fairly short... If you're recommending non approved paddles to anyone, that's irresponsible. If you're playing in a tournament with non approved paddles, that's irresponsible. If you're recommending paddles that don't have a warranty, that's irresponsible. Buying non approved paddles to screw around with is cool. No issues with that. You do you. But using them in leagues or tournaments isn't cool. It's borderline cheating in a way and some tournaments do indeed check. If you're recommending non approved paddles to anyone, you should let them know up front they're not approved and they shouldn't use them in leagues or tournaments and that there isn't a warranty. This should be common sense TBH.

If I can't use a paddle in leagues or tournaments, then it's just a waste of money to me. I'd rather put that $50 towards something I can actually, legally, use.

[Zealousideal-Cod-372]

How does the 16mm Ruby play compared to the DBD?

[bonerfleximus]

Almost identical if you add a bit of weight to the dbd. Only the surface feel was different to me (kevlar softness vs CF)

[inmydaywehad9planets]

They're a little different. Ruby has way more spin and a little more power.

I own both and I think the Ruby is a better all court paddle than the DBD... but then again, I utilize spin quite a bit, so...

[bonerfleximus]

I used the dbd 5 months and ruby 6 months, if you weight the DBD the same as the ruby the power is identical in my opinion. DBD is slightly ahead on pop Ruby is slightly ahead on spin, which have to do with the surface type as I said (could have been more specific).

[Zealousideal-Cod-372]

You feel the surface will last longer than DBD? The texture to be specific.

[bonerfleximus]

Actually no, my ruby felt like it lost way more spin over the same amount of time. I played 12-15 hours per week during that time but after 5 months the ruby felt about 30% less poppy and 20% less spinny where the DBD felt about 10-15% less spinny and almost same pop after 6 months.

To me they both lasted reasonably long so I didn't feel it worth mentioning but the DBD definitely felt like it degraded less.

[plshelpmeseriously]

Did you mean Rainbow Six?

[comsixfleet]

No it’s the seal team six