It was great to meet you today at WPT! You were very gracious to answer my questions and talk shop. Appreciate your perspective and this review is great as always! Hope to meet you on the courts again soon!
I’ve had the shapeshifter for 3 months and love it. I’ve been looking forward to your review because I absolutely love this paddle and i think you nailed it in your description. As usual, well done, we appreciate you, and like you, I’m loving the shapeshifter!
Using weight in the butt cap to shift the balance point does make a difference I needed to do that with a couple of my paddles one being the J2K. I can't justify adding another $30 to the cost of the paddle so I remove the stock cap and add a few layers of lead tape in the bottom of the cap.
Got my Shape Shifter and added 4 grams to the 4 and 8 o’clock positions but still tinkering. I have a slyce cap so debating whether to add that as well. Coming from my Vatic Prism Flash so all this change is a bit extreme but looking for more power and pop while trying to maintain control we shall see how it goes. Thanks for your fantastic work reviewing paddles it’s much appreciated.
I'm in the same exact boat. I have a Vatic Prism Flash and thinking of switching to the Shapeshifter for more power and pop while maintaining control. I would love to hear how it's going for you so far and if the mods helped. Do you recommend the switch and mods? Thx!
I wonder if the addition of weight changes the frequency or tone of the chorus? I doubt anyone is buying it for the optimization of tone until he proves some science behind that but im still curious about if the sound changes.
Your specs are almost exact of your review of Thrive Azul. Spin 2155 Azul, 2139 Shapeshifter. Power 55.6 Azul vs 55.7 SS. Pop 36.4 Azul vs 35.3 SS. Twist 6.62 Azul vs. 6.61 SS. Swing weight 116 Azul vs 117 SS. It sounds like the only difference is in the materials, but the stats say they perform the same. Is there really much difference in the play between these two paddles?
When will the hand speed index be introduced? You talked about it months ago and it sounded like it was progressing well and going to be really useful. However, you haven't referenced it in the last few podcasts or reviews?
Hey John. Thanks for all you do. I have a question about swing weight. Where is the center of rotation when you calculate/measure the swing weight? And just to confirm, while you can get the balance point to near zero, and not adversely affect or even improve swing weight by adding weight at the butt of the handle, doesn’t adding any weight make the paddle harder to swing through the air when the center of rotation is, say, at your shoulder or elbow?
I’ve thought about it, but it’s so subjective that I don’t want to mislead anyone. I did mess around with quantifying it with an accelerometer, but it’s too cost prohibitive
@@johnkewpickleballso it’s subjective, that’s okay. Maybe give it a try even with only 5 scores from very stiff to very soft (or plush)? It at least tells us something, which is better than nothing.
Thanks so much for the Firepower metric, I've been trying to sort of approximate that myself based on your database for a year or so, so I super appreciate your thinking and work there!
@johnkewpickleball - I love the Shapeshifter unmodded. Like you've stated- it is strong in every aspect. Coming from a Ruby 16mm, I was a little alarmed at the stiffer feel but this paddle just works. It may well be the best power/control blend out there and it seems the fiberglass layer is big contributor. I'd like to mod mine and you stated you're using the half gram per inch tungsten tape but which Slyce end cap? I remember you using the 1gram end cap in the so that is my guess (?).
All credit goes to Pickleball Studio on that. Chris was kind enough to let me borrow the footage. Ive been obsessing about shooting an ultra high speed video of a paddle hitting the ball for a while now, and I brought it up to Chris a few weeks ago, and he was like “yeah I did that already but I’ve just been sitting on the footage” 😂
Great Review as I expected . Can you do a similar review of the Mark 1 x as well. I think it will be very similar to this paddle across the board but with more power and pop
It’s public. It’s on his website. Very easy to find and he mentions it on his videos often. He serves with a radar gun and averages the speed for power. Pop is same except he does a punch volley from his chest. Also in the videos he shows him getting balance point and swing weight quite often.
I enjoyed your paddle review, especially the modifications you made. I modified my Shapeshifter, but I am still in the experimental stage. I will need to tryout your setup for comparison. Thank you.
Are you using the 1 oz or 1/2 oz Slyce cap? I’ve ordered both and looking fwd to trying. To me adding another 28 grams seems excessive but David the owner states it’s not. It gives your paddle more of a sword effect… what’s your thoughts on this ?
Another great content and review John is the Shapeshifter being an all court paddle leaning towards control or power w/o modifications, by the way I love the new orange colorway of the Shapeshifter
John- Great reviews. One observation: Nothing in the database for Onix (unless I missed it). Played today locally. Maybe 40 players of all ages but skills of 2.5-4.0 IMO. The #1 paddles used by all ages? Onix Z5. By far. Maybe its because it is readily available at local sporting goods stores, or maybe because it’s actually a good, durable paddle that hits hard, which seem s to be the direction the game is going. Any thoughts to adding this popular paddle to the database?
Something I noticed in your database: Pulsar FX R1 has more power and less pop, R3 has more pop and less power. This is the reverse of what I would expect based on inference and on the results recorded by you and Braden for the other R1/R3s. Some kind of error?
wait, is this 'the perfect blend of power and control?" lol. For real, this sounds very close to a perfect all-court: pop when you need it, but feel on drives (spin and accuracy) yet, plush on drops & not overly heavy. comparing to the j2k is great, as that might be the torchbearer at this point. i always go back to my DbD bc what i lose with its lack of pop i always make up with its stability and reset/touch. the new paddles with a combo of materials kev/carbon / titanium (shogun) seem to be the future in achieving 'perfect balance of control with power', its just a matter of preference & almost impossible to pick one without trying them. envy of paddle testers is real.
Great review - thorough, informative, and generally useful as always. I'm curious, however, why is the Shapeshifter the only paddle that has multiple entries in the general database (i.e. one fully stock, one with lead tape, and one with the Slyce + lead tape)? I would think (and it is my experience) that many paddles benefit from similar modifications. Thanks!
Liked. May we have a picture of how you grip the paddle? Do you hold it so that the butt cap is inside the palm so that your palm's edge OVERHANG the butt cap's edge? This matters to understand the impact of your adding 1 oz of weight to the end cap. Thanks!
Can you (or have you already in a previous video) gone over exactly what the slyce butt cap added weight (and thus shifting the balance point) is doing for the paddle? I understand the idea of it making the paddle feel more maneuverable, but is it actually increasin hand speed for everything, or just certain motions?
I really like this paddle. Drops are so natural with it out of the box. The only area where I struggle is the serve - I have an issue where the serve sails a foot long sometimes. I feel like it's when I connect with the fiberglass layer but without the topspin you get from a higher spin paddle. Really reining in a good serve has evaded me (as compared to the Diadem 18k or other more powerful paddles) and I feel like I have given up that edge a bit in favor of soft serves with the Shapeshifter.
Its really nice that pickleball effect started offering 0.5 grams per inch tape so now we finally have an alternative to selkirk tungsten tape which is 0.35 grams to per inch
He literally compares the two near the end of this video. Just watch it? Ok I’ll tell you anyways. J2K when modified leans control; Chorus leans more power. Both stock so everything solid without any crazy outlier in any single metric.
Since you were a Ruby guy John for so long , (I am still) can you do a super fast compare ? is it just the lack of pop the Ruby has and the rest is pretty much the same , they seem very close.
They are close, but with subtle differences. The Ruby feels softer and has less pop and overall firepower. And I’d say the Shapeshifter is a little more nuanced, with its ability to play muted and controlled with the soft game, but also tap into more firepower with harder strokes
I use a DBD and the new Shapeshifter. They play very similar, but I find myself grabbing the Shapeshifter from my bag about 80% of the time. I realize you asked about BD-Power, but this may give you some idea on how the Shapeshifter plays.
I flattened out a 3/4 oz lead sinker and then cut it to the shape of the butt cap. I removed the domed logo sticker from the butt cap and then glued the lead sheet to it. I covered that with carbon fiber vehicle wrap and then added an overgrip. Now I have a carbon fiber look butt cap that adds almost 3/4 oz at the extreme bottom of the grip. It cost me $0.94 for that mod.
@joem6010 .... now this mod needs a video tutorial. Tennis rackets often have empty cavities under the butt cap, so it's easy to add weight; PB paddles are not so easy.
Instead of doing a ton of work with the lead, once I got the cap off there was plenty of room to put in four quarters which is just shy of 1oz. I did this to just try out how the weight feels. If it works out maybe do a more permanent job.
The owner of 6.0, Dale, has been pretty transparent about the situation. Is there a reason you're upset about this, specifically? Sincerely trying to understand.
Great review as usual, John! Do you know if you can use a carbon fiber rubber eraser to clean this paddle with the 18K weave? Thank you and keep the exceptional reviews coming! 🥊
Here is my biggest issue. Lots of paddles are great and are “my new favorite paddle”. But what happens after 2-3 months of consistent play. My Ruby was amazin, now it’s lost about 25-30% of the spin and it’s not the same paddle anymore.
It was great to meet you today at WPT! You were very gracious to answer my questions and talk shop. Appreciate your perspective and this review is great as always! Hope to meet you on the courts again soon!
Hey Peyton, thanks for coming up and chatting with me! It’s always fun to talk shop, ha
I’ve had the shapeshifter for 3 months and love it. I’ve been looking forward to your review because I absolutely love this paddle and i think you nailed it in your description. As usual, well done, we appreciate you, and like you, I’m loving the shapeshifter!
Thanks John for another comprehensive, informative paddle review. They just keep getting better and better!
Using weight in the butt cap to shift the balance point does make a difference I needed to do that with a couple of my paddles one being the J2K. I can't justify adding another $30 to the cost of the paddle so I remove the stock cap and add a few layers of lead tape in the bottom of the cap.
Got my Shape Shifter and added 4 grams to the 4 and 8 o’clock positions but still tinkering. I have a slyce cap so debating whether to add that as well. Coming from my Vatic Prism Flash so all this change is a bit extreme but looking for more power and pop while trying to maintain control we shall see how it goes. Thanks for your fantastic work reviewing paddles it’s much appreciated.
4 grams tungsten to each side so total of 8 grams
I'm in the same exact boat. I have a Vatic Prism Flash and thinking of switching to the Shapeshifter for more power and pop while maintaining control. I would love to hear how it's going for you so far and if the mods helped. Do you recommend the switch and mods? Thx!
Any update on the modifications you found to work?
i was so disappointed when i tried the shapeshifter! provides no power and no pop whatsoever. leans heavily to control
Did you add lead tape?
I wonder if the addition of weight changes the frequency or tone of the chorus? I doubt anyone is buying it for the optimization of tone until he proves some science behind that but im still curious about if the sound changes.
Your reviews are next level...
Your specs are almost exact of your review of Thrive Azul. Spin 2155 Azul, 2139 Shapeshifter. Power 55.6 Azul vs 55.7 SS. Pop 36.4 Azul vs 35.3 SS. Twist 6.62 Azul vs. 6.61 SS. Swing weight 116 Azul vs 117 SS. It sounds like the only difference is in the materials, but the stats say they perform the same. Is there really much difference in the play between these two paddles?
And after this review, good luck trying to get one. I have a feeling that stock he was talking about will last long.
Enjoy your reviews, Thanks. When will you review the STANDOUT paddles?
When will the hand speed index be introduced? You talked about it months ago and it sounded like it was progressing well and going to be really useful. However, you haven't referenced it in the last few podcasts or reviews?
Still in the testing phase, haha. Part of using the Slyce caps was to get data to test the hand speed index
Hey John. Thanks for all you do. I have a question about swing weight. Where is the center of rotation when you calculate/measure the swing weight? And just to confirm, while you can get the balance point to near zero, and not adversely affect or even improve swing weight by adding weight at the butt of the handle, doesn’t adding any weight make the paddle harder to swing through the air when the center of rotation is, say, at your shoulder or elbow?
Ahhhhh! still waiting for my J2k from your other review!
Same here brother!
every time John does a video, it looks like it was ARMS day at the gym...LOL
If I use your mods on my Thrive Azul, would I get a similar result?
How does it compare to the Enhance Sweet-Spot Pro Pickleball Paddle 🤔
I swear! Every time a new paddle comes out it becomes “the favorite” or best thing out there! Too much! Smh 🤦
John! Your stuff keeps getting better and better! Great review.
Your work just keeps getting better. New stats, better graphics and thoughtful dialogue. Really appreciate your modifications discussions. Bravo!!!
Thanks for the review, John. Have you considered adding a rating for "plushness" or "feel"?
Personally this is what I'd love to see. Not enough reviewers talk about this.
I’ve thought about it, but it’s so subjective that I don’t want to mislead anyone. I did mess around with quantifying it with an accelerometer, but it’s too cost prohibitive
@@johnkewpickleballso it’s subjective, that’s okay. Maybe give it a try even with only 5 scores from very stiff to very soft (or plush)? It at least tells us something, which is better than nothing.
Thanks so much for the Firepower metric, I've been trying to sort of approximate that myself based on your database for a year or so, so I super appreciate your thinking and work there!
How has your game changed by switching from the Ruby to the Shapeshifter? Thinking of making this switch myself and would appreciate your reflections!
@johnkewpickleball - I love the Shapeshifter unmodded. Like you've stated- it is strong in every aspect. Coming from a Ruby 16mm, I was a little alarmed at the stiffer feel but this paddle just works. It may well be the best power/control blend out there and it seems the fiberglass layer is big contributor. I'd like to mod mine and you stated you're using the half gram per inch tungsten tape but which Slyce end cap? I remember you using the 1gram end cap in the so that is my guess (?).
Thx John for your thorough review and info on the modifications you made. I love my Shapeshifter! 🔥🔥❤️
Been following John for a while and for John and Eddie to be maining the same paddle is pretty wild
Good stuff John! Love that you showing off the Nen abilities of all these paddles
That HxH reference with Nen broski. We gotta nerd out!
@@halohawkxx clearly you been to the higher levels of Heavens arena for catching that haha 🐐
@@PickleballWill I try😅 I'm actually gonna be in Texas around early-ish September for a day or two.
@@halohawkxx I unfortunately won’t be around but enjoy!
Great review as always. Rather than replacing the butt cap, I add lead tape around the butt cap to achieve similar effect.
How much lead tape did you add around butt cap? Tia.
John, did you ever go back and add the 1 gram per inch PBE T Tape ?
John that super slo mo was amazing. That was quite a bit of compression.
All credit goes to Pickleball Studio on that. Chris was kind enough to let me borrow the footage.
Ive been obsessing about shooting an ultra high speed video of a paddle hitting the ball for a while now, and I brought it up to Chris a few weeks ago, and he was like “yeah I did that already but I’ve just been sitting on the footage” 😂
The face still looks a lot like the latest Diadem. Is there something different about the face on the Shapeshifter?
Great Review as I expected . Can you do a similar review of the Mark 1 x as well. I think it will be very similar to this paddle across the board but with more power and pop
I've never seen you do stats for the double black diamond. I would love to see those to compare these two
I love your channel, but I would love to see if your database is public and also more details on how you get your stats
It’s public. It’s on his website. Very easy to find and he mentions it on his videos often.
He serves with a radar gun and averages the speed for power. Pop is same except he does a punch volley from his chest. Also in the videos he shows him getting balance point and swing weight quite often.
Would you recommend this the J2k or the azul?
I was hoping when you said you updated the database the Mark oneX was going to be there hopefully soon
I enjoyed your paddle review, especially the modifications you made. I modified my Shapeshifter, but I am still in the experimental stage. I will need to tryout your setup for comparison. Thank you.
Thank you John, I bought one and love it. I appreciate your comprehensive but concise videos and channel.
John your reviews are just next level. Absolute banger video.
Thanks Jordan!
Too bad they don’t ship to Canada 🙃
That’s why ppl love the hesacore so much cause it adds weight to the paddle without it feeling heavy
What weight endcap did you add?
Those Slyce handle weights are AWESOME!
I’ll never not have one on my paddle again.
Owner Dave is a good dude too
I use quarters
Wheres the orange grip, and edge guard?
Are you using the 1 oz or 1/2 oz Slyce cap? I’ve ordered both and looking fwd to trying. To me adding another 28 grams seems excessive but David the owner states it’s not. It gives your paddle more of a sword effect… what’s your thoughts on this ?
Is there a $190 paddle you don’t have to modify? That must mean the paddles not good enough. I’ll just buy a cheaper paddle if I’m going to modify it
Another great content and review John is the Shapeshifter being an all court paddle leaning towards control or power w/o modifications, by the way I love the new orange colorway of the Shapeshifter
John- Great reviews. One observation: Nothing in the database for Onix (unless I missed it). Played today locally. Maybe 40 players of all ages but skills of 2.5-4.0 IMO. The #1 paddles used by all ages? Onix Z5. By far. Maybe its because it is readily available at local sporting goods stores, or maybe because it’s actually a good, durable paddle that hits hard, which seem s to be the direction the game is going. Any thoughts to adding this popular paddle to the database?
Something I noticed in your database: Pulsar FX R1 has more power and less pop, R3 has more pop and less power. This is the reverse of what I would expect based on inference and on the results recorded by you and Braden for the other R1/R3s. Some kind of error?
Great review , currently playing Diadem V2. Could you please tell me the differences between that and Shapeshifter? Looking for change. Thanks
wait, is this 'the perfect blend of power and control?" lol. For real, this sounds very close to a perfect all-court: pop when you need it, but feel on drives (spin and accuracy) yet, plush on drops & not overly heavy. comparing to the j2k is great, as that might be the torchbearer at this point. i always go back to my DbD bc what i lose with its lack of pop i always make up with its stability and reset/touch. the new paddles with a combo of materials kev/carbon / titanium (shogun) seem to be the future in achieving 'perfect balance of control with power', its just a matter of preference & almost impossible to pick one without trying them. envy of paddle testers is real.
I’d be curious on the same shape review: Shapeshifter, Azul and Ruby 14mm. Question would be, why should one buy one of these paddles over the other?
Great review - thorough, informative, and generally useful as always. I'm curious, however, why is the Shapeshifter the only paddle that has multiple entries in the general database (i.e. one fully stock, one with lead tape, and one with the Slyce + lead tape)? I would think (and it is my experience) that many paddles benefit from similar modifications. Thanks!
Liked. May we have a picture of how you grip the paddle? Do you hold it so that the butt cap is inside the palm so that your palm's edge OVERHANG the butt cap's edge? This matters to understand the impact of your adding 1 oz of weight to the end cap. Thanks!
Can you (or have you already in a previous video) gone over exactly what the slyce butt cap added weight (and thus shifting the balance point) is doing for the paddle? I understand the idea of it making the paddle feel more maneuverable, but is it actually increasin hand speed for everything, or just certain motions?
Enjoy your reviews, Thanks. When will you review the STANDOUT paddles?
I really like this paddle. Drops are so natural with it out of the box. The only area where I struggle is the serve - I have an issue where the serve sails a foot long sometimes. I feel like it's when I connect with the fiberglass layer but without the topspin you get from a higher spin paddle. Really reining in a good serve has evaded me (as compared to the Diadem 18k or other more powerful paddles) and I feel like I have given up that edge a bit in favor of soft serves with the Shapeshifter.
Looks exactly like the Diadem edge 18k..? Are they the same or look only carbon layer deep..?
Have you tried the new Hurache X Control Kevlar? If so, how does it compare to this. I prefer Control and sweet spot, low swing weight over Power.
Love the Firepower addition! Just wish your database had the Paddletek TKO-C’s to compare.
Its really nice that pickleball effect started offering 0.5 grams per inch tape so now we finally have an alternative to selkirk tungsten tape which is 0.35 grams to per inch
What color end cap is that? They have orange and Hermes orange. Trying to figure out which one matches the shapeshifter best.
John, should I get the 28 oz or the 15 oz Slyce end cap? Seems like a big difference!
John what about the Thrive Azul you voted to #1? Vs your current paddle ?
kinda sad its still kinda exppensive for people from outside of the US
Which weight Slyce end cap did you use? They make 2 different weights.
28 grams/1 ounce
Johnkew, debating between the J2k and Chorus… what’s your recommendation?
He literally compares the two near the end of this video. Just watch it? Ok I’ll tell you anyways. J2K when modified leans control; Chorus leans more power. Both stock so everything solid without any crazy outlier in any single metric.
Will you be reviewing the paddletek bantams?
Diadem also has 18K facial surface?
Since you were a Ruby guy John for so long , (I am still) can you do a super fast compare ? is it just the lack of pop the Ruby has and the rest is pretty much the same , they seem very close.
How long before the 14mm ruby review? 👀
How has Eddie modified his paddle? Thanks!
I bought one and returned it! Is not for everyone.
what white handle wrapping is that?
In the video at the 1:29 mark it shows the handle length and handle circumference stats inverted. A 7.75" handle would be wild ;)
That table is just a little hard to read. It’s correct, but the measurements are below the lines. It keeps tripping me up too
Thanks John. Have you ever thought about adding a percentile grid to your radar charts? It might make them easier to interpret at a glance.
They are close, but with subtle differences. The Ruby feels softer and has less pop and overall firepower. And I’d say the Shapeshifter is a little more nuanced, with its ability to play muted and controlled with the soft game, but also tap into more firepower with harder strokes
Good video. Still love my Hudef Mage Pro.
what weight was your ruby?
Enjoy watching your video. John
Love the Viva Gen 3 👌🏼
How do you compare this to black diamond power 16mm in terms of power and pop? thanks
I use a DBD and the new Shapeshifter. They play very similar, but I find myself grabbing the Shapeshifter from my bag about 80% of the time. I realize you asked about BD-Power, but this may give you some idea on how the Shapeshifter plays.
@@rickprange1265 Thank you
I wish it was offered with a regular CFC face and orange edge guard.
Orange edge guard is coming!
I slapped an orange overgrip and edge guard tape on mine. It's looking pretty badass!
I flattened out a 3/4 oz lead sinker and then cut it to the shape of the butt cap. I removed the domed logo sticker from the butt cap and then glued the lead sheet to it. I covered that with carbon fiber vehicle wrap and then added an overgrip. Now I have a carbon fiber look butt cap that adds almost 3/4 oz at the extreme bottom of the grip. It cost me $0.94 for that mod.
Great idea!
@joem6010 .... now this mod needs a video tutorial. Tennis rackets often have empty cavities under the butt cap, so it's easy to add weight; PB paddles are not so easy.
You should make a tutorial! Great idea
Instead of doing a ton of work with the lead, once I got the cap off there was plenty of room to put in four quarters which is just shy of 1oz. I did this to just try out how the weight feels. If it works out maybe do a more permanent job.
@@RichM3215yeah but you wasted 6 cents!
GREAT review John, per uzhe! Keep em coming 👊🏼
6.0 is supposedly sending a C&D order to Chorus because of the shape. 6.0 is such a joke. I’ll never recommend their paddles ever again.
The owner of 6.0, Dale, has been pretty transparent about the situation. Is there a reason you're upset about this, specifically? Sincerely trying to understand.
Source of this news?
The shape isn’t patented though…
If the owner’s been transparent, what do you know about the situation that doesn’t sound as ridiculous as suing over paddle shape?
Like this if you love pickleball!
Great review as usual, John! Do you know if you can use a carbon fiber rubber eraser to clean this paddle with the 18K weave? Thank you and keep the exceptional reviews coming! 🥊
Yes, you can use an eraser on this paddle. Thanks!
Just ordered one. Thanks John.
Here is my biggest issue. Lots of paddles are great and are “my new favorite paddle”. But what happens after 2-3 months of consistent play. My Ruby was amazin, now it’s lost about 25-30% of the spin and it’s not the same paddle anymore.
That’s going to be true of every paddle…
Dude...That chart is a mess and makes no sense. You need something different.
Disagree. I think it’s great.
Too many modifications you have to make with this paddle. Will stick with my paddles at 8.3 ounces without having to make modifications.