Mad props to Paddletek for keeping it real with a G1, made in USA paddle. I went to Paddletek today and they were so fun and awesome to work with, but they were super busy. Picked up a TKO-CX and man, it is so crisp and snappy! No thermoform delam, no foam and no G3 trampoline effect. Paddletek for the W!
Really happy to see Engage getting more of the spotlight. I think the Pursuit Pro MX and MX 6.0 are incredible paddles for power, pop, and spin. Thanks for another great video!
Great stuff! I play with the Scorpeus Collin Johns Gen 2 and absolutely love it! I was going to get the Scorpeus Gen 3 but after hearing how some are having trouble resetting, I plan on getting the same paddle when it wears out. Bby the way, I did purchase a Volair Forza Mach 2 16mm. It has ever so slightly power than the Scorpeus Gen 2, but the control is incredible. Resets and dinks are awesome. With discounts and memorial sale, the cost was $120. Keep up the great reviews
It worked out in your favor to hold off on the Gen 3 ha. And yeah, that Memorial Day sale on the M2F paddles was a great deal, I'm glad you snagged one.
Many paddle companies will see an flux of customers browsing their site searching for a replacement paddle. I am glad I got a refund last week and already got 2 replacement paddles before folks go out of stock or timeline of deliveries expanded.
As a 4.0 - 4.5 player using the JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion for 6 months and looking for an upgrade, I was hoping that the JOOLA Gen 3 paddles would be approved so I could get my hands on the Tyson McGuffin Magnus 3, but since they're banned for the foreseeable future, I went paddle shopping elsewhere. Yesterday I ordered the Paddletek TKO-C after watching this video and a few other paddle reviewers talking about the newest in the Bantam lineup. I'm confident in what Paddletek has been doing with their paddle technology and focusing purely on quality for the consumer. Thanks for providing alternatives for people that are jumping ship from the whole debacle JOOLA and USAP are going thru 👍
I bought a TKO C 12.7 to replace my Magnus without having tried one… this makes me feel better about the purchase. Paddletek are going to make a fortune off Joola 😅
@@bobdole-be7zg Gearbox doesn't have the spin of the Joolas to consistently hit hard. The Gen 3s were making Pickleball more like tennis, in a bad way, IMO.
This power thing is off the chart crazy. I have a GB Pro Pwr and a VICE. I want the spin restrictions to be changed so I can hit a ATP from the baseline. i.e. ping pong curve shot. Smart Braydon to give these options. This mess is not going away anytime soon.
I just saw on Facebook that the soon to be released Ronbus Ripple power paddle was also delisted this week. I imagine the Vatic Oni might be affected too. Not sure.
Yep, Ronbus posted a statement about it this morning saying that their originally approved Ripple model was delisted due to it not passing USAP's new power testing method. The Ripple hadn't hit the market yet so I wonder if that's why they got hit while we haven't heard news of others like the Vatic Oni or the Gearbox Pro powers which are already in the market. Or maybe the Oni and Pro Powers passed the new test. I'm sure we'll hear more over the next few days.
Hey Braydon, you don't find that with the 16mm Gen 3s it has more of a trampoline affect? In turn doesn't that make lets say the 12.7 tko's play more like the 16mm than the 14mm Gen 3s?
In terms of power and pop the 12.7 is closer to the gen 3 16s but in terms of forgiveness the 14.3 model is closer to the 16s so its some give and take there.
Love this, but also hoping nobody moves to the paddletek’s, those things are so hot with gen 1 tech 😂 every company will have to copy if this foam core isn’t approved
Thank you for your 2c advice but could you please explain the criteria for matching Gen 3 to some listed models. This must be based on objective marker measurements like grit or roughness and restitution or other power rating specs. For instance grit/ roughness is measured by taking texture reading from instruments measuring average maximum height , peak to valey ( limited to 30 µm on the Rz scale) . So could you please provide objective measures showing how close is the match between models?
Braydon great short podcast. Super useful information Sir. Thank you. With regards to this, I was planning on purchasing the Joola CJ Scorpeus 16mm Gen 3, thankfully decided to wait a while and obviously now the best decision made. I also have an enjoy very much the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 6.0 ( unfortunately small 5 inch handle not 5.5 inches ) and just bought the Volair Mach 2 Forza 16mm. Heard that Six Zero from Australia is going to come out with a Standard Shape ( 16x8 inches ) model. Did you get a chance to demo it and use it in Dallas at the Grove ? Should I wait for this model ? Would really appreciate your expert opinion. Thank you, Sir, and keep up the great work.
I did try out the standard model that Six Zero is coming out with. It's very control oriented and has a medium length handle. It will be a less expensive paddle though and fills a nice need for players getting into the game. For some reason there aren't many less expensive standard shaped, control paddles so I think it will do well.
Thanks Brayden. The AB14 Gen 3 was certainly a unique mix with the long handle and very low swing weight. I hope someone else comes out with something close to replicate that. For now I am back to my Black Diamond Infinity, though I am going to try out a Gen 2 AB14 as well after my tournament this weekend.
I just recently got the Spartus Apollo and have previously played with the Gen 2 AB 14mm. The Apollo is very comparable. Incredibly light, with top tier spin, and as stable as any paddle I've used. Also it's very affordable.
@@mantispickleball you are not the first I have heard make that comparison, I should probably try checking that one out. Any idea if anyone has demos available?
@richhughes5784 not off the top of my head. I think they're still catching up on their production to the demand for them. I haven't even looked to see if pickleball central or any of the distributors have them yet. If I see anything today I'll reply back!
@@richhughes5784 just looked around and didn't see any demos available. The only thing I saw on their website is a used/blemished paddle for $65, but you have to be an ambassador. They have 10% off code for any paddle so your total would be $116.99 which is so cheap compared to any of the other big name brands. Worth a shot!
such a bummer, its so crazy, as the Joola gen 3s aren't faster than a Gearbox PPE and everyone is thinking they are. I played with an Anna Bright Gen 3 and loved it, it's not a power paddle like the others but it's illegal? crazy
Joola intentionally broke the intention of the rules, and advertised they were doing so. Their Gen 3s not only had the power of the Gearboxes, but also had the highest spin. I'd like to see regulation updates so that both top-tier speed and top-tier spin are reduced significantly. This would increase patience and strategy required in the game.
Thanks for your advice. These alternative paddles are very good. I've seen a lot of reviews saying the Hudef Viva Pro Gen 3 is pretty good. Can you do a review of it?
I have the gen 2 but not their gen 3 model. They were supposed to send me one but I never got it :/. If it plays anything like the gen 2 it plays nice and has some decent power to it though it's on the heavy side of things. Great value overall.
Are all of the Gen 2's that different that if you really liked the Gen 3 versions you would recommend these Paddletek's and Engage's over using the Gen 2 versions?
The Paddletek and Engage paddles give you more power and pop so if you wanted to get something that is as close as possible to the power and pop level of the Gen-3s then I think those are the best options. Otherwise, the Gen-2 versions of those would be the next best option since they are the same shapes and whatnot.
I thought about that one and it does match up well shape/handle length wise but I didn't think it gave you a close enough power and pop profile as the ones I recommended. If matching the shape/handle length is more important than what I was prioritizing then the R2FX would one of the best options in the all-court category.
Yes, those are other good ones. I do think the Paddletek's give you more power and pop that's closer to the Magnus 3 than the Power Air models but 002 is right there.
That one will give you a little less pop and power than the alw paddletek but it isn’t far off, it would be a good one to transition to. It does have a short handle so just be aware of that.
Given all of the very good options, I was surprised that all of the best alternatives were either Paddeltek of Engage. Those brands are fine. However, There are many other good options with similar playing characteristics available!!!
I was trying to match paddle performance, shape, and weight as best I could and felt the paddles I mentioned offered the closest amount of power and pop as the JOOLA Gen-3 paddles without using some sort of "Gen-3" style construction. There are certainly other options out there and would love to hear your take on it. It's good to have multiple opinions.
@@pickleballeffect I understand. I just thought there were other paddles that could have been included. With so many good paddles out there, I think more than just the two brands could have been included. I am the Pickleball director at the Barnes center in San Diego. We are a 19 Ct facility. I have had the opportunity to hit with almost every paddle on the market.
Paddletek and Engage are the closest in terms of shape and power to the Joola Gen 3s. Maybe the Pulsar R1 FX and the R3 FX but still not alot comes close to that level of power from the Gen 3.
Yea but no other paddles come even close to hitting like the gen 3’s. This isnt just a paddle recommendation video this is a what plays like gen 3 joola video and the paddletek and engage paddles are the only the gen 2 or gen 1 paddles with the same poppy face, great power, and ultra crisp feel
Thank you for the alternative options. I was looking to buy a Scorpeus if it was going to be reapproved but not anymore. You mentioned other paddles potentially being delisted. Is it safe to assume you mean the Gearbox? Reason I ask is because I have some demos arriving Friday to test out the pro control but don’t want to be in the same Joola situation
Ronbus announced this morning that their new paddle, the Ripple (a gen-3 style paddle), was delisted though it was previously approved. In their statement they said their paddle didn't pass the new exit velocity test. Though the Ripple was previously approved it wasn't in the market and available for purchase yet. The Gearbox has been in the market for quite some time so the situation is a little different and it's unknown if they passed the new exit velocity test. In the case with the JOOLA Gen 3 paddles, seems like USAP took the chance with the recertification process to cancel them for what I'm guessing was a failed result on the exit velocity test though that's still unknown. This is all to say that I don't know what will happen to Gearbox which is why I didn't recommend them in my video. But if you're only testing the Pro Control versions then I bet you're good. The Pro Control paddles don't hit as hard as the Pro Power models.
Thank you for the feedback. I like a longer handle or else I would look into the recommendations you made. I don’t want to go with a Gen2 Scorpeus because of the low RPM numbers out of the gate. I have another tournament coming up in 2 months so I was hoping to find a new paddle by now to get used to before then. I was debating on the new Selkirk Amped but I am not a fan of the paint grit. It wore off on my LUXX pretty fast
IMO, playing an Engage paddle vs. a Joola is like driving a Kia vs. a Lexus, I played all of the pursuits and wanted to like it, sweet spot is the size of a ball only.
The Engage Pro1 6.0 or the Paddletek TKO-CX 14.3. They both will give you more power than your Filth though the Paddltek will give you more power than the Engage and picking between the two just depends on what you're looking for.
Rombus put out a press release that their previously approved alpha paddle was now delisted due to USAP going back and using the new exit velocity test on it.. I would bet any amount of money that is what happened to the gen3 Joolas on retesting.. Gearbox next?
I agree, that's what I'm thinking too. USAP didn't say why the Gen-3s failed but I imagine JOOLA sent in paddles that they tested themselves for deflection and grit before sending them in which in combination with the recent Ronbus statement leads me to conclude what you said.
How can the USAP retroactively apply a new standard to paddles they already approved, are on the market, and many tens of thousands of people use??? Seems like they are wilting to "political" pressure from some of the manufacturers.
@@trumpisastump9382The Rombus paddle wasn't sold yet.. They can claim the Joolas were never approved as they sent in the wrong paddles which were approved.. Now they are using current testing on the Joolas.. That's what USAP will say..
@@trumpisastump9382 Their prior testing methodology didn't rule out paddles that were too fast. The fastest paddles are not good for the game, IMO (and I personally benefit from playing Bangers).
In tennis, they have at most 10 manufacturers of tennis rackets. In Pickleball there seems to be 10 times that amount what do you think is the cause of this. I think it’s because they can all be manufactured overseas at least most of them with a common manufacturer or a lot of willing people willing and able to make paddles to custom specifications. And the fact that we’re in the Internet now, tennis wasn’t in the Internet age so that it’s a lot easier to advertise and talk about panels so get interested in it whereas in tennis the big names are so big you’ll never start a small brand that easily Comments
Great points. I agree that the internet era and low barrier to entry play a role. I also think that paddle tech is changing so rapidly that it better suits smaller players who can change things up fast while it takes bigger players longer to introduce new paddles and new technology. Once paddle technology more or less reaches parity then I think we see the consolidation of brands and big investments from legacy brands like Wilson, Babolat, and others that have more resources which will squash out a lot new entrants and smaller brands.
It is also interesting to note that tennis only has restrictions of the racquet length and size of the head. There is no limitations placed on the composition or weight of the racquet, nor any restrictions on the composition of the strings, the stringing pattern, or the tension, much less any "deflection" or "spin" limitations. Come on pickleball, are we really this sensitive???
Ah true. To be fair, not very many people I've seen with Gen 3 paddles were able to pull out next-gen power, and the Scorpeus was the least powerful of the bunch, I think
Yeah, there are a couple of options with the same shape in that all-court category. You have the original Gen2 paddles from JOOLA of course and then you have the new Ronbus FX Pulsar R2. Then in the control category you have the Volair Mach 2 Forza, PIKKL Hurricane, and the Spartus Apollo.
@@pickleballeffectI ended up going with the Ronbus per your recommendation and I really like it! Feels a lot like scorpeus, definitely good for those with 2 handed back hand who liked the scorpeus gen 3
The Azul gives you more power and pop than the J2K but the J2K is more forgiving and feels a touch softer. Unless you really need help generating power then I think J2K gives you enough, I have personally really been liking the J2K recently and will posting a full review for it soon.
Might you be doing an infomercial for Paddletek? All the paddles you recommend are made by them. I was hoping for an objective alternative to the Perseus 3
I am not affiliated with any specific brand. I recommend Engage and Paddletek paddles as top options with a similar level of power and pop to JOOLA, without utilizing "gen-3" style technology that incorporates foam into the core.
They have a different impact feel than the JOOLAs but as far as power and pop output I felt like the Engage and Paddletek options were the closest to them that aren't using some sort of "gen3" style foam core.
While the Apollo matches up shape and handle length wise, it's a control paddle. I was trying to match paddle performance, shape, and weight as best I could and didn't think the Apollo had enough power and pop to match up well to the Scorpeus Gen 3 paddles. But if paddle shape and handle length are more important than the power and pop then the Apollo is a good alternative.
The paddles I recommend are closer to the power and pop level of the gen 3s but the Joola gen 2s would be the best route if you are okay with an all-court style paddle and want the same shape and weight balance you had with the gen 3s.
I hear Joola may be filing a $45 million dollar lawsuit against the USAP. I hope so, this is long overdue!. What independent body is overseeing the USAP testing model, holding them accountable, making them more timely, more responsive to their clients? The USAP is the problem! They have no transparency, and no accountability, they're a black hole. Who is the third party tester, what scientific equipment are they using, where are their detailed, published, scientific test results for each paddle tested? The USAP collects too much money, tens of millions of dollars, to be shrouded in such secrecy. Sunlight is the best disenfectant. Pickleball is going soft with all this talk about injury, liability etc. There's a simple solution, wear protective eyewear, when compared to paddle prices, this is a simple, cheap solution. Don't dumb down pickleball more then it is. Be progressive, continue to evolve, keep an open mind, remember your fans/viewers.
I'm not affiliated with any brand. I wanted to give the best alternatives that don't use "gen-3" style tech that incorporates foam into the core somehow and are close to the power and pop level of the JOOLAs and Engage and Paddltek paddles are what I thought to be the best options with that criteria. While you can find a lot of good all-court style paddles that have the same shape and weight profile as the JOOLAs, I felt like Engage and Paddletek are the two brands that offer the most power and pop that will get you close to the JOOLAs.
@@bobbyknight9709 It's when the core degrades and gets crushed in from all the abuse of the repetitive ball strikes. It happens over time but some paddles more so and sooner than others.
I was trying to match paddle performance, shape, and weight as best I could and felt the paddles I mentioned offered the closest amount of power and pop as the JOOLA Gen-3 paddles without using some sort of "Gen-3" style construction. There are certainly other options out there and would love to hear your take on it. It's good to have multiple opinions.
Yea? The only paddles that play like gen 3’s are also expensive. If you want a cheaper paddle that will stay legal then get an all court or control paddle. If there was a paddle that played like the joola gen 3 paddles but was cheaper then everyone would already have been using it
The man is trying to help people make an informed decision when purchasing a paddle. If you don’t like the solution then don’t listen. Guess you can’t please everyone can you? No need to bash a guy that’s only trying to help people like you and me not waste our money.
Mad props to Paddletek for keeping it real with a G1, made in USA paddle. I went to Paddletek today and they were so fun and awesome to work with, but they were super busy. Picked up a TKO-CX and man, it is so crisp and snappy! No thermoform delam, no foam and no G3 trampoline effect. Paddletek for the W!
He did a great service for some people. Thank you.
Really happy to see Engage getting more of the spotlight. I think the Pursuit Pro MX and MX 6.0 are incredible paddles for power, pop, and spin. Thanks for another great video!
Great stuff! I play with the Scorpeus Collin Johns Gen 2 and absolutely love it! I was going to get the Scorpeus Gen 3 but after hearing how some are having trouble resetting, I plan on getting the same paddle when it wears out. Bby the way, I did purchase a Volair Forza Mach 2 16mm. It has ever so slightly power than the Scorpeus Gen 2, but the control is incredible. Resets and dinks are awesome. With discounts and memorial sale, the cost was $120. Keep up the great reviews
It worked out in your favor to hold off on the Gen 3 ha. And yeah, that Memorial Day sale on the M2F paddles was a great deal, I'm glad you snagged one.
Many paddle companies will see an flux of customers browsing their site searching for a replacement paddle. I am glad I got a refund last week and already got 2 replacement paddles before folks go out of stock or timeline of deliveries expanded.
That saved you a big headache this week! Good on you. What paddle did you get to replace yours?
As a 4.0 - 4.5 player using the JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion for 6 months and looking for an upgrade, I was hoping that the JOOLA Gen 3 paddles would be approved so I could get my hands on the Tyson McGuffin Magnus 3, but since they're banned for the foreseeable future, I went paddle shopping elsewhere.
Yesterday I ordered the Paddletek TKO-C after watching this video and a few other paddle reviewers talking about the newest in the Bantam lineup.
I'm confident in what Paddletek has been doing with their paddle technology and focusing purely on quality for the consumer.
Thanks for providing alternatives for people that are jumping ship from the whole debacle JOOLA and USAP are going thru 👍
I bought a TKO C 12.7 to replace my Magnus without having tried one… this makes me feel better about the purchase. Paddletek are going to make a fortune off Joola 😅
They are ha I think the Paddltek's are the closest to the JOOLAs in terms of power and pop and don't have foam incorporated into the core.
Thank you USA Pickleball for protecting rec players. Keep it up!
Gearbox hits harder. Has nothing to do with power
Did someone hit you with a ball and you got an owie???Hope you are ok and not too traumatized and scared to play again.
You can still use it for rec play.
@@bobdole-be7zg Gearbox doesn't have the spin of the Joolas to consistently hit hard. The Gen 3s were making Pickleball more like tennis, in a bad way, IMO.
The Hudef viva pro gen 3 is my favorite paddle.
Thanks for this Braydon - a lotta people wanna know this so gonna route them here
Thanks for this! I want to try the MX pro and bantam!
This power thing is off the chart crazy. I have a GB Pro Pwr and a VICE. I want the spin restrictions to be changed so I can hit a ATP from the baseline. i.e. ping pong curve shot.
Smart Braydon to give these options. This mess is not going away anytime soon.
I just saw on Facebook that the soon to be released Ronbus Ripple power paddle was also delisted this week.
I imagine the Vatic Oni might be affected too. Not sure.
Yep, Ronbus posted a statement about it this morning saying that their originally approved Ripple model was delisted due to it not passing USAP's new power testing method. The Ripple hadn't hit the market yet so I wonder if that's why they got hit while we haven't heard news of others like the Vatic Oni or the Gearbox Pro powers which are already in the market. Or maybe the Oni and Pro Powers passed the new test. I'm sure we'll hear more over the next few days.
Hey Braydon, you don't find that with the 16mm Gen 3s it has more of a trampoline affect? In turn doesn't that make lets say the 12.7 tko's play more like the 16mm than the 14mm Gen 3s?
In terms of power and pop the 12.7 is closer to the gen 3 16s but in terms of forgiveness the 14.3 model is closer to the 16s so its some give and take there.
Braydon, for the Paddleteks, they are called TKO, not TOK. It stands for Technical Knock Out.
I know ha, and this isn’t my first offense. I kept saying that in the review I did of them too. Not sure what my deal is, that’s just what comes out.
Love this, but also hoping nobody moves to the paddletek’s, those things are so hot with gen 1 tech 😂 every company will have to copy if this foam core isn’t approved
Thank you for your 2c advice but could you please explain the criteria for matching Gen 3 to some listed models. This must be based on objective marker measurements like grit or roughness and restitution or other power rating specs. For instance grit/ roughness is measured by taking texture reading from instruments measuring average maximum height , peak to valey ( limited to 30 µm on the Rz scale) . So could you please provide objective measures showing how close is the match between models?
Braydon great short podcast. Super useful information Sir. Thank you. With regards to this, I was planning on purchasing the Joola CJ Scorpeus 16mm Gen 3, thankfully decided to wait a while and obviously now the best decision made. I also have an enjoy very much the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 6.0 ( unfortunately small 5 inch handle not 5.5 inches ) and just bought the Volair Mach 2 Forza 16mm. Heard that Six Zero from Australia is going to come out with a Standard Shape ( 16x8 inches ) model. Did you get a chance to demo it and use it in Dallas at the Grove ? Should I wait for this model ? Would really appreciate your expert opinion. Thank you, Sir, and keep up the great work.
I did try out the standard model that Six Zero is coming out with. It's very control oriented and has a medium length handle. It will be a less expensive paddle though and fills a nice need for players getting into the game. For some reason there aren't many less expensive standard shaped, control paddles so I think it will do well.
Thanks Brayden. The AB14 Gen 3 was certainly a unique mix with the long handle and very low swing weight. I hope someone else comes out with something close to replicate that. For now I am back to my Black Diamond Infinity, though I am going to try out a Gen 2 AB14 as well after my tournament this weekend.
I just recently got the Spartus Apollo and have previously played with the Gen 2 AB 14mm. The Apollo is very comparable. Incredibly light, with top tier spin, and as stable as any paddle I've used. Also it's very affordable.
@@mantispickleball you are not the first I have heard make that comparison, I should probably try checking that one out. Any idea if anyone has demos available?
@richhughes5784 not off the top of my head. I think they're still catching up on their production to the demand for them. I haven't even looked to see if pickleball central or any of the distributors have them yet. If I see anything today I'll reply back!
@@richhughes5784 just looked around and didn't see any demos available. The only thing I saw on their website is a used/blemished paddle for $65, but you have to be an ambassador. They have 10% off code for any paddle so your total would be $116.99 which is so cheap compared to any of the other big name brands. Worth a shot!
I could see the Ronbus Pulsar FX in the R2 shape as a good replacement for the Scorpius
Braydon - aren't the TKO-CXs also not approved?
They are approved, you can see it here - equipment.usapickleball.org/paddle-list/?filter_55=tko-cx&filter_5=sixzero&mode=any
Very nice thanks!
such a bummer, its so crazy, as the Joola gen 3s aren't faster than a Gearbox PPE and everyone is thinking they are. I played with an Anna Bright Gen 3 and loved it, it's not a power paddle like the others but it's illegal? crazy
Gearbox was smart and didn't advertise the break in period.
Gearbox paddles have much much more tech involved and produce power through an entirely different mechanism
Joola intentionally broke the intention of the rules, and advertised they were doing so. Their Gen 3s not only had the power of the Gearboxes, but also had the highest spin. I'd like to see regulation updates so that both top-tier speed and top-tier spin are reduced significantly. This would increase patience and strategy required in the game.
I don’t want to give mine up. 😢
Thanks for your advice. These alternative paddles are very good. I've seen a lot of reviews saying the Hudef Viva Pro Gen 3 is pretty good. Can you do a review of it?
I have the gen 2 but not their gen 3 model. They were supposed to send me one but I never got it :/. If it plays anything like the gen 2 it plays nice and has some decent power to it though it's on the heavy side of things. Great value overall.
@@pickleballeffect Maybe you'll get it soon. Looking forward to your video.
Are all of the Gen 2's that different that if you really liked the Gen 3 versions you would recommend these Paddletek's and Engage's over using the Gen 2 versions?
The Paddletek and Engage paddles give you more power and pop so if you wanted to get something that is as close as possible to the power and pop level of the Gen-3s then I think those are the best options. Otherwise, the Gen-2 versions of those would be the next best option since they are the same shapes and whatnot.
I would think the Ronbus R2FX would be good alternative to the Scorp.
Not as powerful though. I almost wouldn’t consider them power paddles, they’re more all court
@@zeruth467 would it be a better replacement than a GEN two Scorpeus?
@@thinkboro8378 possibly yeah
I thought about that one and it does match up well shape/handle length wise but I didn't think it gave you a close enough power and pop profile as the ones I recommended. If matching the shape/handle length is more important than what I was prioritizing then the R2FX would one of the best options in the all-court category.
@@zeruth467 You're not going to find a true power paddle in that 16x8 shape. The R2FX is as close as it gets.
I think the Tyson Selkirk models are the pretty obvious Magnus comparison. 002 for the 16. Power air for the 14.
Yes, those are other good ones. I do think the Paddletek's give you more power and pop that's closer to the Magnus 3 than the Power Air models but 002 is right there.
The 002 is 16mm?
What are your thoughts on transitioning from the AB Scorp. 14mm to the CRBN 2x 14mm ? Are they similar enough?
That one will give you a little less pop and power than the alw paddletek but it isn’t far off, it would be a good one to transition to. It does have a short handle so just be aware of that.
Hi, great job. Do you know if if Ashton's paddle by PaddleTek is still on the naughty list?
They are approved - equipment.usapickleball.org/paddle-list/?filter_55=tko-cx&mode=any
Given all of the very good options, I was surprised that all of the best alternatives were either Paddeltek of Engage. Those brands are fine. However, There are many other good options with similar playing characteristics available!!!
I was trying to match paddle performance, shape, and weight as best I could and felt the paddles I mentioned offered the closest amount of power and pop as the JOOLA Gen-3 paddles without using some sort of "Gen-3" style construction. There are certainly other options out there and would love to hear your take on it. It's good to have multiple opinions.
@@pickleballeffect I understand. I just thought there were other paddles that could have been included. With so many good paddles out there, I think more than just the two brands could have been included. I am the Pickleball director at the Barnes center in San Diego. We are a 19 Ct facility. I have had the opportunity to hit with almost every paddle on the market.
Paddletek and Engage are the closest in terms of shape and power to the Joola Gen 3s. Maybe the Pulsar R1 FX and the R3 FX but still not alot comes close to that level of power from the Gen 3.
Yea but no other paddles come even close to hitting like the gen 3’s. This isnt just a paddle recommendation video this is a what plays like gen 3 joola video and the paddletek and engage paddles are the only the gen 2 or gen 1 paddles with the same poppy face, great power, and ultra crisp feel
Thank you for the alternative options. I was looking to buy a Scorpeus if it was going to be reapproved but not anymore.
You mentioned other paddles potentially being delisted. Is it safe to assume you mean the Gearbox? Reason I ask is because I have some demos arriving Friday to test out the pro control but don’t want to be in the same Joola situation
Ronbus announced this morning that their new paddle, the Ripple (a gen-3 style paddle), was delisted though it was previously approved. In their statement they said their paddle didn't pass the new exit velocity test. Though the Ripple was previously approved it wasn't in the market and available for purchase yet. The Gearbox has been in the market for quite some time so the situation is a little different and it's unknown if they passed the new exit velocity test. In the case with the JOOLA Gen 3 paddles, seems like USAP took the chance with the recertification process to cancel them for what I'm guessing was a failed result on the exit velocity test though that's still unknown. This is all to say that I don't know what will happen to Gearbox which is why I didn't recommend them in my video. But if you're only testing the Pro Control versions then I bet you're good. The Pro Control paddles don't hit as hard as the Pro Power models.
Thank you for the feedback. I like a longer handle or else I would look into the recommendations you made. I don’t want to go with a Gen2 Scorpeus because of the low RPM numbers out of the gate. I have another tournament coming up in 2 months so I was hoping to find a new paddle by now to get used to before then. I was debating on the new Selkirk Amped but I am not a fan of the paint grit. It wore off on my LUXX pretty fast
J3K Pro best new paddle alternative for standard shape Honolulu Pickleball
I just got that one in, excited to try it out.
IMO, playing an Engage paddle vs. a Joola is like driving a Kia vs. a Lexus, I played all of the pursuits and wanted to like it, sweet spot is the size of a ball only.
Which alterative plays like the Filth? I actually think B&B filth is an all court paddle, only cause the soft game was so easy to dial in on this one.
The Engage Pro1 6.0 or the Paddletek TKO-CX 14.3. They both will give you more power than your Filth though the Paddltek will give you more power than the Engage and picking between the two just depends on what you're looking for.
Can we expect the Vatic oni and gearbox to face similar fates in the near future? (Foam core paddles)
It's possible, which is why I recommend paddles that don't use foam cores.
Rombus put out a press release that their previously approved alpha paddle was now delisted due to USAP going back and using the new exit velocity test on it.. I would bet any amount of money that is what happened to the gen3 Joolas on retesting.. Gearbox next?
I agree, that's what I'm thinking too. USAP didn't say why the Gen-3s failed but I imagine JOOLA sent in paddles that they tested themselves for deflection and grit before sending them in which in combination with the recent Ronbus statement leads me to conclude what you said.
How can the USAP retroactively apply a new standard to paddles they already approved, are on the market, and many tens of thousands of people use??? Seems like they are wilting to "political" pressure from some of the manufacturers.
@@trumpisastump9382The Rombus paddle wasn't sold yet.. They can claim the Joolas were never approved as they sent in the wrong paddles which were approved.. Now they are using current testing on the Joolas.. That's what USAP will say..
@@trumpisastump9382 Their prior testing methodology didn't rule out paddles that were too fast. The fastest paddles are not good for the game, IMO (and I personally benefit from playing Bangers).
In tennis, they have at most 10 manufacturers of tennis rackets. In Pickleball there seems to be 10 times that amount what do you think is the cause of this. I think it’s because they can all be manufactured overseas at least most of them with a common manufacturer or a lot of willing people willing and able to make paddles to custom specifications. And the fact that we’re in the Internet now, tennis wasn’t in the Internet age so that it’s a lot easier to advertise and talk about panels so get interested in it whereas in tennis the big names are so big you’ll never start a small brand that easily Comments
Great points. I agree that the internet era and low barrier to entry play a role. I also think that paddle tech is changing so rapidly that it better suits smaller players who can change things up fast while it takes bigger players longer to introduce new paddles and new technology. Once paddle technology more or less reaches parity then I think we see the consolidation of brands and big investments from legacy brands like Wilson, Babolat, and others that have more resources which will squash out a lot new entrants and smaller brands.
It is also interesting to note that tennis only has restrictions of the racquet length and size of the head. There is no limitations placed on the composition or weight of the racquet, nor any restrictions on the composition of the strings, the stringing pattern, or the tension, much less any "deflection" or "spin" limitations. Come on pickleball, are we really this sensitive???
May Volair Mach 2 Forza in place of Scorpeus ?
I was gonna say the Spartus Apollo instead of the Scorp also feels great
Yeah ALW-C and Apollo would be great alternatives
No, Mach2 and Apollo control oriented. The Ronbus R2FX would be closer with great pop.
He’s mentioning power paddles
Ah true. To be fair, not very many people I've seen with Gen 3 paddles were able to pull out next-gen power, and the Scorpeus was the least powerful of the bunch, I think
I know it’s not same but any paddles with longer lengths to replace scorpeus? What is the closest?
Yeah, there are a couple of options with the same shape in that all-court category. You have the original Gen2 paddles from JOOLA of course and then you have the new Ronbus FX Pulsar R2. Then in the control category you have the Volair Mach 2 Forza, PIKKL Hurricane, and the Spartus Apollo.
@@pickleballeffect thanks so much. For now I’m going back to my gen 2 Perseus but want to try some others .
@@pickleballeffectI ended up going with the Ronbus per your recommendation and I really like it! Feels a lot like scorpeus, definitely good for those with 2 handed back hand who liked the scorpeus gen 3
In your opinion, what's the better paddle?
PaddleTek Bantam TKO-CX 14.3 or Engage Pursuit Pro 1
The Paddltek 14.3 is closer in power and pop to the Joola’s than the Engage and I personally like the way it plays more.
do you recommend the azul over j2k just dont know if spending that extra $50 is really worth it
The Azul gives you more power and pop than the J2K but the J2K is more forgiving and feels a touch softer. Unless you really need help generating power then I think J2K gives you enough, I have personally really been liking the J2K recently and will posting a full review for it soon.
Just make your paddle10oz... free power LOL
Which would you recommend: TKO-c 12 vs Pursuit pro1 6.0 light weight? Thank you! Great video!
Those are 2 very different paddles in comparison. 16mm vs 12.7
What were you using before? I'd base my recommendation off what you were using and liking before.
GRUVN muvn 16x and Ronbus Pulsar R1 with lead at 4/8 + 12 for power. I am looking for something with high power and lower swing weight. Thanks!
Thanks @zeruth467, I know.
@@pickleballeffect Ronbus Pulsar R1 (weighted 4/8 and 12), Gruvn muvn 16x. Wanna something with higher power and still low swing weight. Prefer hybrid shaped paddles. Thank you!
Might you be doing an infomercial for Paddletek? All the paddles you recommend are made by them. I was hoping for an objective alternative to the Perseus 3
I am not affiliated with any specific brand. I recommend Engage and Paddletek paddles as top options with a similar level of power and pop to JOOLA, without utilizing "gen-3" style technology that incorporates foam into the core.
You really feel the engage paddles feel like the gen 3 or close? I felt the engage paddles felt horrid.
They have a different impact feel than the JOOLAs but as far as power and pop output I felt like the Engage and Paddletek options were the closest to them that aren't using some sort of "gen3" style foam core.
Is the Ben Johns Hyperion 16mm the same as the Simone 16mm?
Same total length and handle length but Simone’s is quite a bit lighter by about 6 Swingweight points.
Deal Joola Users, You've waited long enough. It's time to COME TO SELKIRK!
Bahaha
Spartus Apollo is best match for scorpious. I’m coming from engaged pursuit ex 6.0.
While the Apollo matches up shape and handle length wise, it's a control paddle. I was trying to match paddle performance, shape, and weight as best I could and didn't think the Apollo had enough power and pop to match up well to the Scorpeus Gen 3 paddles. But if paddle shape and handle length are more important than the power and pop then the Apollo is a good alternative.
or just use the gen 2 paddles?
The paddles I recommend are closer to the power and pop level of the gen 3s but the Joola gen 2s would be the best route if you are okay with an all-court style paddle and want the same shape and weight balance you had with the gen 3s.
He been calling it the TOK-C since the original TKO-C review. Lol
I know ha I don't know why I can't say TKO-C
This whole USAP sounds very political!!! No one is stating why these GEN 3 Paddles are not acceptable. Give out better information please
I agree
I hear Joola may be filing a $45 million dollar lawsuit against the USAP. I hope so, this is long overdue!. What independent body is overseeing the USAP testing model, holding them accountable, making them more timely, more responsive to their clients? The USAP is the problem! They have no transparency, and no accountability, they're a black hole. Who is the third party tester, what scientific equipment are they using, where are their detailed, published, scientific test results for each paddle tested? The USAP collects too much money, tens of millions of dollars, to be shrouded in such secrecy. Sunlight is the best disenfectant. Pickleball is going soft with all this talk about injury, liability etc. There's a simple solution, wear protective eyewear, when compared to paddle prices, this is a simple, cheap solution. Don't dumb down pickleball more then it is. Be progressive, continue to evolve, keep an open mind, remember your fans/viewers.
Nice Paddletek ad
Thank you
Looks like he is promoting certain brands. More brands out there.
I'm not affiliated with any brand. I wanted to give the best alternatives that don't use "gen-3" style tech that incorporates foam into the core somehow and are close to the power and pop level of the JOOLAs and Engage and Paddltek paddles are what I thought to be the best options with that criteria. While you can find a lot of good all-court style paddles that have the same shape and weight profile as the JOOLAs, I felt like Engage and Paddletek are the two brands that offer the most power and pop that will get you close to the JOOLAs.
TOK 😂
I can’t say TKO to save my life 😑
I was hoping for an unbiased assessment, not a Paddletek/Engage commercial.
A lot of people clearly missed the point of this video. He doesn’t get paid by any companies to make reviews
Joola should just stick to ping pong 😂
Get your refunds people, these paddles are susceptible to core crushing more so than even the gen 2's. Do not use these paddles.
I’ve used one since its release. It’s still good.
What is core crushing exactly?
@@bobbyknight9709 It's when the core degrades and gets crushed in from all the abuse of the repetitive ball strikes. It happens over time but some paddles more so and sooner than others.
Joola should stick with ping pong 😂
sir, they rule the market and industry, especially with pro's. They failed on this huge, but just like the CRBN failure - they will still rule.
Still saying tok? lol
I know lol I’ve just embraced it at this point.
So your solution is to buy another expensive paddle.
If you do your research the substitutes are cheaper.
Yea I mean if you were willing to buy the Joola then these alternatives make sense
I was trying to match paddle performance, shape, and weight as best I could and felt the paddles I mentioned offered the closest amount of power and pop as the JOOLA Gen-3 paddles without using some sort of "Gen-3" style construction. There are certainly other options out there and would love to hear your take on it. It's good to have multiple opinions.
Yea? The only paddles that play like gen 3’s are also expensive. If you want a cheaper paddle that will stay legal then get an all court or control paddle. If there was a paddle that played like the joola gen 3 paddles but was cheaper then everyone would already have been using it
The man is trying to help people make an informed decision when purchasing a paddle. If you don’t like the solution then don’t listen. Guess you can’t please everyone can you? No need to bash a guy that’s only trying to help people like you and me not waste our money.