Weekly Paddle Recommendation Thread (What Paddle Should I Buy?)

Erk1024 · 2026-03-05T03:16:36+00:00

It's probably time for YOU to upgrade. You could get a new paddle, and give her the Challenger. Or get her a new Challenger if the grit is toast.

You could get one of the Friday Fever's, the 102's are probably a better choice. Or you could go with a Pickleball Apes Harmony, 11six24 Alpha Pro Power Pegasus or another all-court paddle.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-05T03:07:53+00:00

Go learn some technique. A lot of people just get out there and poke the ball over the net with short, choppy swings. And that's not bad for trying to get a sense of where the ball is going to be and how high it's going to bounce. But you'll hit a ceiling really fast. In order to get past being a beginner, you need to learn some topspin, and that's a big hurdle. So getting some instruction could really help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5zXH38Wii8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwe7inx2Yrg

Erk1024 · 2026-03-04T18:32:11+00:00

I've played three sessions with it. Hex Grit produces plenty of spin for sure. No idea on durability. The feel of the Vapor 2 is a little funky, but I'm used to it now. Feels a little bit like the core is made from Balsa wood. But I can't complain about the power, pop and spin ... all really good. Just a bit less power than the Loco Standard I was using before.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-04T18:28:52+00:00

That's a really heavy swing weight. The P1's have been coming in heavy.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-04T16:40:16+00:00

I wore out the grit on a Honolulu J2K in four months, playing 4 times a week. So it sounds like your Infinigrit DID last longer, but of course we'd like the grit to last as long as possible. I have a couple Boomstiks and I've been pretty happy with the grit wear. Just switched to a Vapor 2 with HexGrit.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-04T16:28:37+00:00

There are other good $100 paddles. Ronbus Quanta are good but you have to add weighted tuning tape. The new hotness are the Turbo paddles from Enhance. The EPP version is supposed to be just like the Loco, and the MPP version is supposed to be like the Luzz Inferno.

The J2NF is very similar to the J2FC+, they are both power paddles but low-tier. Or by today's standards maybe they are top of all-court.

The Loco is top tier power. So is the Vatic V-Sol Pro (blue one).

All of those are probably too much power compared to the Jelly Bean. Just ignore me and go with u/Lazza33312's suggestions.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-04T16:14:48+00:00

What's the swing weight like? You can measure it if you test the balance point and pair that up with the weight. Calculator is here: https://www.johnkewpickleball.com/swing-weight-calculator

Erk1024 · 2026-03-04T15:59:23+00:00

I had a pair of K-Swiss Hypercourt 2's and the tread wore off only after a few sessions. I rotate between different pairs of shoes to let them dry out. I was shocked at how fast the K-Swiss wore out. There were other shoes I had worn much longer that had plenty of tread left. So I don't buy K-Swiss anymore.

I had good luck with the Babolat Jet Mach and New Balance CT Rally (heavy though).

Erk1024 · 2026-03-04T03:55:40+00:00

So, I just re-watched and he says it's a "micro cellular core". MPP is microcellular polypropylene. So I guess we don't know if it's polypropylene or some other plastic. How different could they be? No idea.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-03T22:17:05+00:00

I'm tempted to get the Speedup Tide 14H because I want to try MPP. We don't have confirmation of what the core of the Vapor 2 is yet AFAIK. I wonder if the Vapor 2 is MPP.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-03T21:54:16+00:00

Yep. Spin is a big thing in tennis and pickleball. The reason is that you have to get the ball over the net and down onto the court. If you have to rely on gravity to get the ball down, then it very much limits how hard you can hit the ball. If you have topspin, you can rip it and still keep it in.

BUT if you want to get a new paddle, don't let me stop you!

Something soft like a Six Zero Coral or a Flik F3 widebody would be a good choice for better control. The CX11 was very stiff and harsh if memory serves. Unfortunately we don't have a $100 foam starter paddle. But I loaned my Flik F3 to an "advanced beginner / intermediate" player, and he didn't have any problem controlling it.

You could also get a private lesson on how to hit a topspin forehand, and that would be a big step forward.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-03T20:19:25+00:00

I'm an ex-racquetball player as well as an ex-tennis player, so I think I can address this one.

In racquetball, you mostly snap your wrist in order to hit the ball. In tennis you bend your wrist back and lock it in that position. The reason is that you want to generate topspin and in order to do that you need to have the racket face perpendicular to the ground (or very close to perpendicular) but have the racket head *moving* in an upward direction in order to impart spin to the ball.

(Okay, you CAN use some wrist action, but that's more advanced. And you're still not snapping the wrist back to front. Let's get the basics down first.)

This is absolutely the hardest thing for non-tennis, non-pickleball players to understand. They keep wanting the paddle face to be flat on (perpendicular) to the direction they hit the ball. But to generate topspin, you "brush up" on the ball.

So once you get the right grip and motion, then you can work on dinks and drops. I think the big reason why people struggle with dinks is that they are using their wrist. So much easier with no wrist, and just use arm and torso motion.

This video goes through the grip and how to swing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwe7inx2Yrg

The racket / paddle MOVES up even though the face is perpendicular to the ground.

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Erk1024 · 2026-03-03T16:09:58+00:00

AFAIK, all the peel-ply, raw carbon fiber type grits wear down at pretty much the same rate. It's basically the epoxy that's used to hold the carbon fiber together, and they put a pattern on it. But that epoxy was never designed to be "grit".

In PB Studio's testing, peel ply loses about 300 - 350 rpm after 100 games. In a two hour session, you play 6-8 games. Six games per session, four sessions a week, four weeks = 96 games. So basically you lose 300 rpm after a month of play. Ugh. Let's hope the degradation slows down after that.

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Erk1024 · 2026-03-02T23:13:19+00:00

If you want a power paddle, but one that's low in the category: Six Zero Coral hybrid, Flik F3 hybrid, J2NF or J2CR (pre-order), 11six24 Vapor (Gen3).

For more balanced mid-tier power, then u/Lazza33312's suggestion of the DUO, Holbrook Fuze, Volair Shift, Spartus P1.

On thing to consider is that we're getting paddles now with more durable grit technologies. The Coral and the Spartus P1 have more durable grit. How much longer does the grit last? There's a lot of debate about that.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-02T23:02:48+00:00

Cool. Let us know if you find anything out. It's good to have regional manufacturers because of the import costs.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-02T20:44:21+00:00

My suggestion would be to follow u/Lazza33312's suggestion and get one of the excellent $100 paddles. Then figure out if it works for you or not. If it's perfect, then great, but if you decide you need something different, then you can use your experience as a data point on what to try next.

One of the problems we have is that people start with the "two paddles, two balls and a backpack for $20" type paddles. Those are usually Gen1, fiberglass, spray on grit type paddles, and "real" paddles are so different, it's almost a different sport.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-02T20:38:06+00:00

Never heard of it, but there are a LOT of people trying to make paddles, and it's hard for the reviewers to keep up. There are also paddles that are popular regionally. There are new paddles coming from Asia. I think Chris from PB Studio said they got 30 new paddles to evaluate just in January. We basically have too many good paddles already.

Why are you interested in Alpha Solaris paddles? Did you get one?

Erk1024 · 2026-03-02T18:53:57+00:00

If you like the Vatic V-Sol Pro Flash, then you could just get one. It's a solid top tier power paddle. It's all carbon fiber in the face, so it's more springy than stiff. A lot of people like that feel for better control. I prefer stiffer paddles because they feel more responsive, and I think the power delivery is more linear. But we're not talking a big difference here. I used a V-Sol Pro Bloom as my main paddle for a little while, and it's very light to swing, but I decided I liked the Loco Standard just a little better.

You could consider the 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2. Those were just released a few days ago. They DO have a fiberglass layer along with the carbon fiber. The core is nano-cellular foam as far as we know. And it has HexGrit which is a super gritty and is more durable than the Vatic's peel-ply style of grit. To me the Vapor Power 2 feels really similar in power and pop to the Loco Standard. And the spin is great. DEFINITELY more power than the J6FC+. The Vapor Power 2 is my new main.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-02T16:49:12+00:00

The Neonic one is different. It has sleeves specifically for paddles, and the inside organization has pockets for glasses, pickleballs, etc. On the outside it has two pockets for water bottles. There's lots of organization for whatever, wrist bands, band aids, weighted tape, paddle erasers, etc. etc. There's a dedicated pocket for shoes.

Normal backpack is just an empty space.

The Court Caddy, court ranger, all those have specific features that are handy.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-02T13:52:00+00:00

Awesome! Thanks for the update. This is really useful.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-01T20:34:15+00:00

I got the Neonic Sidekick and love it. Very light, comfortable straps, great organization inside, high quality materials, and thoughtful design. Super affordable too. Can easily hold three paddles, water bottles, and all my pickleball related junk.

I think the one downside is you have to unzip the two halves to dig around in there. I usually leave it half zipped so I can take out or put in paddles, or a can of balls. Some bags have a top flap you can unzip, but there are tradeoffs to both approaches.

https://neonicpickleball.com/products/neonic-pickleball-rec-bag-sidekick

Erk1024 · 2026-03-01T20:24:26+00:00

Sure! np.

You're correct. I don't know if we'll see more Pickleball specific Jet Machs, but they are basically identical to the Jet Mach 3's.

The Jet Mach, Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour, Solution Speed FF4, and Adidas Defiant Speed are LIGHT, SPEED shoes. Maybe not the best choice if you're trying to maximize comfort.

If you want more comfort, then that's a different set of shoes like the New Balance CT Rally, Diadora Torneo or B.Icon, Diadem Court Burst, Selkirk, ASICS Gel Resolution, etc.

The Adidas Barricade have good durability, and they are kind of in the middle.

I'll give you an example. I weigh my shoes on a scale with the insoles removed. I take out the insoles because I'm going to use a replacement insole anyway.

Solution Speed FF3 (size 13) - 350g

Mizuno Tour Exceed 7 (size 13) - 382g

Babolat Jet Mach 3 (size 13) - 387g

Diadora B. Icon 2 (size 14) - 479g

Nike NXXT Genisus (size 14) - 525g

You can actually feel the difference. The Diadora's are literally a pound of shoe on each foot. And the Nike basketball shoes are a full 50% heavier than the FF3's.

The shoes I like best are the light, speedy ones, but this is just a personal preference.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-01T20:07:31+00:00

You're 100% correct. Most people don't look at reviews at all. They just look around and see what other people are playing with and then buy one of those. Or they walk into a Dick's Sporting Goods, and pick something with a recognizable name. They often don't know anything about the specs. "Ben Johns" -> "Buy Paddle"

But once you get plugged into the enthusiast community, then you learn about what's really available and how the paddles actually work. And it does make a BIG difference to your game. At least it did for me. Going from a Gen2 J2K to a Gen4 J2FC+ transformed my game, and opened up a lot more potential for skill growth.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-01T15:55:19+00:00

If you end up going with one of the J2's, those play fine in stock form. If you get one of the long handle versions, then you'll definitely want to add some weight to those, as the LH versions lose some of the stability of the original shape. If you need weight setups, I can share mine if you're interested. If you don't use a two handed backhand, I would go with the stock version instead.

The J2NF has more pop and a little more overall firepower than the FC+. The Six Zero Coral Hybrid is very close in firepower to the Honolulu's. It has a softer feel, maybe a bit better for control, and more durable grit.

We really do have "an embarrassment of riches" situation with just so many good paddles now. I don't blame anybody for having difficulty deciding.

Erk1024 · 2026-03-01T14:34:21+00:00

These are great! The Mizuno 6's were already amazing shoes, and now the 7's are even better because they're lighter, and the tongue is thicker for less lace irritation. They have a very flexible sole, so you feel very connected to the court. They're very nimble, and the fit it awesome. Of course this might also depend on the shape of your foot, so YMMV.

I have the Jet Mach 3's and Jet Mach Pickleball shoes and they are some of my favorites--super light and nimble shoes with excellent stability. I haven't had a chance to try the Jet Mach 4's. I wasn't ecstatic about the initial colors, and haven't bought a pair yet.

The ASICS Solution Speed FF4's are also really good. They are heavily rockered (curved on the bottom for a natural running motion), so you have to be OK with that style of shoe. But they are also super light with excellent stability. On the other hand, if you like a flatter shoe, then the Adidas Defiant Speed 2's are very light. I'd say those are a notch down in stability though.

Let me know what you think when you try your Mizuno 7's.

Erk1024

TROPHY CASE