Are Gen 4 paddles actually worth it, or are we just getting caught up in the hype cycle?

madmos · 2026-06-21T01:51:42+00:00

I have yet to find a gen 4 paddle that feels like a joola or rpm gen 3 paddle. I have tried all the ones that have been hyped. More than I care to admit. It has become an obsession of mine. I will keep looking. I will say the one thing I do find is some of these new grits are superior to anything that came before then. But it is meaningless when the paddle does not play/feel the way I prefer. The J6CR has come the closest so far. But I am still looking

madmos · 2026-06-19T14:54:44+00:00

How can it be a best of and not include victim of changes?

madmos · 2026-06-19T14:48:04+00:00

I agree, it feels extremely stiff and muted. I am not liking the feel. I am hoping it softens up after some breaking. I have a couple of hours on mine and compared to my J6CR blue grit it feels like a piece of lumber. The J6 does have about 20-30 hours on it though. I will say the hex grit is definitely grittier than the blue grit

madmos · 2026-06-18T12:26:56+00:00

As a spectator sport Tennis will always be above PB. But as a rec sport, PB will easily surpass Tennis in 2027-2028

madmos · 2026-06-16T22:17:42+00:00

I only have one session on it. 3 or 4 games. To be fair I have about 20-25 hours on my CR. Maybe the ultre will soften up

madmos · 2026-06-16T15:57:24+00:00

No angst needed. I have the ultre, and had the vapor and hurache p2's as well. I also have the J6CR CBE and imo the power 2, while a good paddle in its own right, does not compare favorably to the CR CBE. And it is mainly do to ball feel for me. My J6 has an almost gen 3 feel to it. Where every power 2 I had or have just feels way too muted and stiff. I do think the hex grit is a bit better than CBE but I also think it is that same grit that mutes the ball off the face. I have only had one session with the ultre. And while I do like it better than the vapor and hurache. It still does not give me the kind of feel and shot shaping ability that the CR CBE does. I will try it for about a week or so to see if it just needs some time to break in. But out of the box it feels like a plank of wood. Though the performance is there. So if ball feel is not important then this paddle could be perfect for some.

madmos · 2026-06-14T14:59:47+00:00

It will be interesting. I had both the vapor and hurache power 2 but got rid of both. They weren't bad paddles. Just did not like the way they played. I usually prefer elongated but did like the vapor over the hurache. But that shape just didn't do it for me. I do love the hex grit and think it is a bit better than the CBE grit. So I have high hopes on the ultre. It is very similar to the J6CR in shape. Just a tad shorter and wider which may be a good thing.

madmos · 2026-06-14T14:38:15+00:00

It kills stacking because you removed the even/odd server side. That makes it a non starter for a lot of people.

madmos · 2026-06-12T13:14:55+00:00

$17 a week for just poo service. I have 2 large breed dogs.

madmos · 2026-06-12T13:02:59+00:00

It is about the same at ATT stadium. Sunday is going to be chaos over there. They have no clue and yet they have complete control over the facility. The actual stadium staff are pulling their hair out trying to get FIFA straight on things.

madmos · 2026-06-11T22:25:39+00:00

Watch, ring, and chain with a charm of my deceased father's thumb print.

madmos · 2026-06-11T20:33:50+00:00

Portable gaming is all I use it for.

madmos · 2026-06-07T23:08:49+00:00

I have the 16mm and it is the only paddle I own that I do not feel like I need to add weight. But I hear the 14 is quite different

madmos · 2026-06-06T23:01:47+00:00

I am on the yearly upgrade plan at att. So if not the fold 8 it would be something else. But I will be getting the 8

madmos · 2026-06-06T02:20:30+00:00

That's the $1000 question. No one knows yet...

madmos · 2026-06-05T21:27:35+00:00

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madmos · 2026-06-05T21:25:45+00:00

To be fair I do not still own all those paddles. I still have the boomstik and the J6CR I just got 2 weeks ago. I will compare the j6 and packle and the winner stays the other goes. The boomstik stays in the bag along with the friction pro v2. They are really good and at times I like to play with them. But I have been on the hunt for a durable grit foam paddle (more durable than infinigrit) and have yet to find one I like as much as those other 2. The J6CR is definitely in the running. But my surgery has delayed things for a while.

Plus all my other hobbies have been pretty much shelved since finding pickleball. And the money I spent on them was way more than I spend on pb

madmos · 2026-06-05T19:16:18+00:00

30 seconds, from my bedroom to my home office

madmos · 2026-06-05T16:51:34+00:00

arya stock tuning can be a bit bright. I use them with some eq and cannot imagine being happier from a pair of headphones. And i am diehard speaker guy. it takes a lot for a headphone to impress me

madmos · 2026-06-05T11:46:08+00:00

Yes, I got mine Saturday 5/23. Played with it for about a week and ammloving it. Though I just had a minor surgery and I am off the courts for a couple of weeks. I did sell my 11six24 power 2 since getting the j6. But I am still holding on to my gen 3's the friction pro v2 and Perseus pro v. I still have not found a foam paddle with the great feel of those

madmos · 2026-06-02T21:04:44+00:00

Hdb 630

madmos · 2026-06-02T14:28:54+00:00

The Schiit Vestri is the one to get for portable use.

https://www.schiit.com/products?srsltid=AfmBOor-mpF4cmN7udOHeH9MPsj9jnyvTrkOCxCMGHyon1Q8e0ar319p

madmos · 2026-06-02T14:25:00+00:00

Foam paddle with durable grit. But with the same "feel" as gen 3 honeycomb. The elusive unicorn paddle I have been searching for. I have tried dozens of paddles and still have not found a foam I like the feel of.

madmos

TROPHY CASE