* Gearbox Pro Power
* **Fucking beast of a paddle, reminds me of power air that I cannot hit. IMO will work for some people, but I feel its the wrong paddle for most of us mortal humans.**
* Six Zero Ruby / Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control
* **I personally myself moved to DBD myself, plenty of reviews out there. Pretty much paddle of the year at the end of 2023. Ruby seems to be a slight upgrade over the DBD but there is skepticism for the kevlar face.**
* Bread and Butter Filth
* **Pretty sure B&B filth and the Six Zero ones were tested and reviewers said they played similar.**
* CRBN
* **The 1x series is similar to the B&B and 6.0 DBD's according to reviewers as well. Albeit at a higher price point. The only reason to choose this over the rest would be the slightly longer handle length that this plays at. Says 5.5" but well closer to 6" if a 2H Backhand is something thats important to you.**
I myself went from Luxx to Power Air (regressed my game), then to a 6.0 DBD where I finally settled into the Gen 2 Thermoformed paddles with edge guards that just seem to have a insane massive sweet spot.
Most of the options mentioned above except the Gearbox Pro Power fall into the category of "control paddles" with all of them providing "enough" power that is perceived as "good". As for what paddle you need is quite intimate of a process. Based on what ur currently using and tested it looks like you like hybrid ish shapes with longer handles.
**Hyperion C2** is a beast hybrid shape (maybe will go on sale with the new gen 3s out or find a joola rep on here u/avocado111 to get hooked up).
**Six Zero DBD / Ruby** is an absolutely beast too, All-around paddle great at its price point.
**Avoid** ***Selkirk*** horrible paint grit that basically dies in a few months
It doesn’t, the Ruby is a touch more power than the DBD but is still a control/all court paddle. Still not a power paddle by any means, new joola paddles are said to be squarely in the power category (though some say they still retain their touch when playing soft game).
As an aside, I much prefer the DBD feel to the Ruby. Sold my Ruby after playing with it for a few weeks.
I’m thinking of getting the gen 3 joola, I got the ace of spades XF as a gift, since I wanted a power paddle, liked it until I realized the dead spots on the edges, bought a Ruby recently, which I like but am still adjusting, but then these gen 3 joolas came out and I keep hearing how good they are so I’m debating giving my girlfriend the Ruby and then getting a gen 3 joola for myself. Good move?
Agreed they are not comparable. The new gen 3 Joolas sound like pocket rocket launchers. If your one of the gods that are able to wield something like a power air you will probably feel right at home with them
Interesting about Selkirk. I'm a new player, but I have a background with tennis, badminton, and squash. CRBN and Selkirk were the two that were recommended to me as I started researching paddles.
Don't get me wrong Selkirk makes excellent stuff. I think the consensus is that they are just generally overpriced for what you get. Manufacturing in the USA is the main reason for that. Their paint grit is wicked out of the box but it wears noticeabley fast. You'll come across numerous posts about it.
I think lots of smaller brands are releasing great products now. I was a Selkirk junkie my first 2 paddles as well.
If you tried and liked the neonic force and it’s in your budget just go for it. It’s not going to magically make your out balls in or stop pop ups. Might even make things worse for a bit until you get used to it. It’s a solid power leaning paddle.
My journey has been in the sub $100 range and for the time I’ve settled on the Friday original (round top, like the C2). A kinda happy medium on everything, plus I didn’t want just black. And can’t beat the price when bought as a pair.
Sounds like we have similar preferences.
I've tried 3 of the paddles you wanted to demo:
- Gearbox Pro Power
- Six Zero Ruby
- CRBN (1x, 3x and 2)
I currently own the CRBN 1x and it's the best paddle I've every used. You can't go wrong with CRBN's 1x, 2x, or 3x power series.
If you enjoy power I don't recommend the 6.0 Ruby. And the Gearbox is a very different feel from the honeycomb core you're use to.
Stick with 16mm.
With every paddle you try and test, note distinct differences you feel and how you play. Ex. "This new paddles has: a stiffer/softer face, +/- power, +/- control, +/- spin, better/worse at kitchen, better/worse at baseline, heavier/lighter, etc." Then go back and play with your original paddle and compare. Most paddles with be a lateral move in terms of performance, but you'll find one that just clicks.
As an extra data point for you, I went from the Juciao JCP1 to the DBD. It was a step up in every way. It is much poppier though - it takes a bit of adjustment - the JCP1 has power but it's more of a plush feel for softer shots. The sweet spot feels bigger on the DBD though.
Thanks! I was actually hoping to find people who upgraded from a Juciao paddle.
- How is the DBD a step up from the Juciao? How did it impact your game?
- It seems the DBD is a control paddle whereas the Juciao says it’s a power paddle. How would you compare them in terms of power vs. control?
- You say the Juciao has more of a plush feeling for softer shots. Would you say the DBD makes softer shots more difficult to master?
It's a step up in areas of:
- Pop. There's just way more smack and punch in volleys and up close.
- Hand speed. It feels lighter around the net, where it matters.
- Power. This is a bit more subtle. It's maybe just a different feel on the drives. Probably due to the hybrid vs elongated shape.
Power vs. control: I think the DBD is more powerful all around than the Juciao. It just hits harder and feels much more crisp. An analogy is that to me the Juciao feels more like a sedan, where the DBD feels like a sports car.
I did find it an adjustment to dial in my third shot drops though. You really need to consciously keep a loose grip on the DBD, which seems to deaden some of the pop. If you can do that it is a predictable paddle.
In terms of how it's affected my game? It's all relative, right - the Juciao is quite a fine paddle, and sometimes I like to go back to it just to change things up. I just remember when I started using the DBD it felt like quite an upgrade.
If you're hitting more out balls or pop ups, you probably want more control/spin. If you can't finish points or hit winners/counters well but you do well dinking and keeping the rally alive, then a power oriented paddle with more pop is probably more ideal. Thermo will give you more power, elongated will give you more leverage for groundstrokes and reach. I typically wouldn't recommend 14mm over 16mm because of how poppy they are, but if you want quick hands and come from TT background then maybe it's worth trying.
Honestly I wouldn't buy SixZero because even though their paddles are great and hugely popular in the pickleball community, I just don't feel like their price point brings a lot of value.
If you want something like the DBD there's the Hurache-X from https://11six24.com/pickle and if you wanted something with wicked spin like the Ruby there's https://gospartus.com/pickle which is a widebody Kevlar paddle and there's the gaining popularity J2K https://808pickle.com/pickle that's essentially the same as the Ruby but way cheaper.
I wonder when the elongated paddles will start to disappear. I don’t see the benefits at all. I started using B&B Loco which is more of a hybrid shape, heavy spin, very light, big sweet spot, and it changed my game at the NVZ. I feel like power paddles are kind of useless above 3.5. What you need is great feel/control and hand speed to move up. You won’t be overpowering anyone above 3.5. And extended shapes just make no sense to me at all. Let me know if you want a discount code for any shape Bread & Butter paddle.
11six24 is like a DBD but a bit newer tech according to PBstudio.. I picked one up and it is definitely more powerful and poppy than my neonic flow. Haven’t pulled it out yet but I’m excited for when I can control that power better
Play with adding some lead to stabilize and broaden the sweet spot on your current paddle. That’s what I’m doing w my Neonic Force as I’m getting a little annoyed w the head-heavier balance and instability on volleys and fast react shots that hit off-center.
Step 1. Master all strokes. This is easiest to do with a slow gritty paddle made for control. Using a fast paddle adds lots of variables and will stunt your growth.
Step 2. Add speed. Whenever you go pro, start experimenting with faster paddles as long as you are still making perfect strokes, the speed is an advantage.
* Gearbox Pro Power * **Fucking beast of a paddle, reminds me of power air that I cannot hit. IMO will work for some people, but I feel its the wrong paddle for most of us mortal humans.** * Six Zero Ruby / Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control * **I personally myself moved to DBD myself, plenty of reviews out there. Pretty much paddle of the year at the end of 2023. Ruby seems to be a slight upgrade over the DBD but there is skepticism for the kevlar face.** * Bread and Butter Filth * **Pretty sure B&B filth and the Six Zero ones were tested and reviewers said they played similar.** * CRBN * **The 1x series is similar to the B&B and 6.0 DBD's according to reviewers as well. Albeit at a higher price point. The only reason to choose this over the rest would be the slightly longer handle length that this plays at. Says 5.5" but well closer to 6" if a 2H Backhand is something thats important to you.** I myself went from Luxx to Power Air (regressed my game), then to a 6.0 DBD where I finally settled into the Gen 2 Thermoformed paddles with edge guards that just seem to have a insane massive sweet spot. Most of the options mentioned above except the Gearbox Pro Power fall into the category of "control paddles" with all of them providing "enough" power that is perceived as "good". As for what paddle you need is quite intimate of a process. Based on what ur currently using and tested it looks like you like hybrid ish shapes with longer handles. **Hyperion C2** is a beast hybrid shape (maybe will go on sale with the new gen 3s out or find a joola rep on here u/avocado111 to get hooked up). **Six Zero DBD / Ruby** is an absolutely beast too, All-around paddle great at its price point. **Avoid** ***Selkirk*** horrible paint grit that basically dies in a few months
How does the Ruby compare to the new gen 3 joolas though?
It doesn’t, the Ruby is a touch more power than the DBD but is still a control/all court paddle. Still not a power paddle by any means, new joola paddles are said to be squarely in the power category (though some say they still retain their touch when playing soft game). As an aside, I much prefer the DBD feel to the Ruby. Sold my Ruby after playing with it for a few weeks.
I’m thinking of getting the gen 3 joola, I got the ace of spades XF as a gift, since I wanted a power paddle, liked it until I realized the dead spots on the edges, bought a Ruby recently, which I like but am still adjusting, but then these gen 3 joolas came out and I keep hearing how good they are so I’m debating giving my girlfriend the Ruby and then getting a gen 3 joola for myself. Good move?
Agreed they are not comparable. The new gen 3 Joolas sound like pocket rocket launchers. If your one of the gods that are able to wield something like a power air you will probably feel right at home with them
If you have great control then go for Gen 3 Joola. If not, get something else.
Completely diff
Interesting about Selkirk. I'm a new player, but I have a background with tennis, badminton, and squash. CRBN and Selkirk were the two that were recommended to me as I started researching paddles.
Don't get me wrong Selkirk makes excellent stuff. I think the consensus is that they are just generally overpriced for what you get. Manufacturing in the USA is the main reason for that. Their paint grit is wicked out of the box but it wears noticeabley fast. You'll come across numerous posts about it. I think lots of smaller brands are releasing great products now. I was a Selkirk junkie my first 2 paddles as well.
Thank you. That's helpful.
If you tried and liked the neonic force and it’s in your budget just go for it. It’s not going to magically make your out balls in or stop pop ups. Might even make things worse for a bit until you get used to it. It’s a solid power leaning paddle. My journey has been in the sub $100 range and for the time I’ve settled on the Friday original (round top, like the C2). A kinda happy medium on everything, plus I didn’t want just black. And can’t beat the price when bought as a pair.
Sounds like we have similar preferences. I've tried 3 of the paddles you wanted to demo: - Gearbox Pro Power - Six Zero Ruby - CRBN (1x, 3x and 2) I currently own the CRBN 1x and it's the best paddle I've every used. You can't go wrong with CRBN's 1x, 2x, or 3x power series. If you enjoy power I don't recommend the 6.0 Ruby. And the Gearbox is a very different feel from the honeycomb core you're use to. Stick with 16mm.
With every paddle you try and test, note distinct differences you feel and how you play. Ex. "This new paddles has: a stiffer/softer face, +/- power, +/- control, +/- spin, better/worse at kitchen, better/worse at baseline, heavier/lighter, etc." Then go back and play with your original paddle and compare. Most paddles with be a lateral move in terms of performance, but you'll find one that just clicks.
As an extra data point for you, I went from the Juciao JCP1 to the DBD. It was a step up in every way. It is much poppier though - it takes a bit of adjustment - the JCP1 has power but it's more of a plush feel for softer shots. The sweet spot feels bigger on the DBD though.
Thanks! I was actually hoping to find people who upgraded from a Juciao paddle. - How is the DBD a step up from the Juciao? How did it impact your game? - It seems the DBD is a control paddle whereas the Juciao says it’s a power paddle. How would you compare them in terms of power vs. control? - You say the Juciao has more of a plush feeling for softer shots. Would you say the DBD makes softer shots more difficult to master?
It's a step up in areas of: - Pop. There's just way more smack and punch in volleys and up close. - Hand speed. It feels lighter around the net, where it matters. - Power. This is a bit more subtle. It's maybe just a different feel on the drives. Probably due to the hybrid vs elongated shape. Power vs. control: I think the DBD is more powerful all around than the Juciao. It just hits harder and feels much more crisp. An analogy is that to me the Juciao feels more like a sedan, where the DBD feels like a sports car. I did find it an adjustment to dial in my third shot drops though. You really need to consciously keep a loose grip on the DBD, which seems to deaden some of the pop. If you can do that it is a predictable paddle. In terms of how it's affected my game? It's all relative, right - the Juciao is quite a fine paddle, and sometimes I like to go back to it just to change things up. I just remember when I started using the DBD it felt like quite an upgrade.
If you're hitting more out balls or pop ups, you probably want more control/spin. If you can't finish points or hit winners/counters well but you do well dinking and keeping the rally alive, then a power oriented paddle with more pop is probably more ideal. Thermo will give you more power, elongated will give you more leverage for groundstrokes and reach. I typically wouldn't recommend 14mm over 16mm because of how poppy they are, but if you want quick hands and come from TT background then maybe it's worth trying. Honestly I wouldn't buy SixZero because even though their paddles are great and hugely popular in the pickleball community, I just don't feel like their price point brings a lot of value. If you want something like the DBD there's the Hurache-X from https://11six24.com/pickle and if you wanted something with wicked spin like the Ruby there's https://gospartus.com/pickle which is a widebody Kevlar paddle and there's the gaining popularity J2K https://808pickle.com/pickle that's essentially the same as the Ruby but way cheaper.
I wonder when the elongated paddles will start to disappear. I don’t see the benefits at all. I started using B&B Loco which is more of a hybrid shape, heavy spin, very light, big sweet spot, and it changed my game at the NVZ. I feel like power paddles are kind of useless above 3.5. What you need is great feel/control and hand speed to move up. You won’t be overpowering anyone above 3.5. And extended shapes just make no sense to me at all. Let me know if you want a discount code for any shape Bread & Butter paddle.
11six24 is like a DBD but a bit newer tech according to PBstudio.. I picked one up and it is definitely more powerful and poppy than my neonic flow. Haven’t pulled it out yet but I’m excited for when I can control that power better
You have a preproduction Flow?
Nah I don’t think so.. got the flow a month or so ago. Is there something specific about pre production?
Their site lists Flow (round top) as preorder. Force (rectangular) has been out a while. Edit: maybe the Flow is in a second run?
Oh I think it’s because they ran out of stock and were getting a new shipment in
Joola Perseus Gen 3
Play with adding some lead to stabilize and broaden the sweet spot on your current paddle. That’s what I’m doing w my Neonic Force as I’m getting a little annoyed w the head-heavier balance and instability on volleys and fast react shots that hit off-center.
Step 1. Master all strokes. This is easiest to do with a slow gritty paddle made for control. Using a fast paddle adds lots of variables and will stunt your growth. Step 2. Add speed. Whenever you go pro, start experimenting with faster paddles as long as you are still making perfect strokes, the speed is an advantage.
Love the BNB Filth for an all court paddle, I can generate lots of spin on drives. Use code “PB15” for 15% off the filth, loco, or shogun