Small correction! (Thanks to Louis at Pickleball Pursuit for pointing this out). It looks like the ALW is actually 16x7.9" and the ESQ is 15.9x8". So there is slightly more difference than what was advertised on the PaddleTek website. Still wish they would have made the difference between them larger, but it is a little larger than I initially thought.
Nice review. Thank you. Agree that for me the price increase just took these and the tko c out of the running. Really anything over $200 IMO is a big hesitation when paddle buying especially with so many excellent lower priced offerings out there with more to come.
Honestly, they are all really good for different reasons. For me, I’d probably feel best overall with the Olympus right this second. However, give me enough time and I’m sure I could adjust to any of them.
I play w the TKO-CX 12.7 - I do love it for a lot of reasons but am curious if the ESQ -C would be a little easier to control than the TKO-CX in the soft game?
I play the 12.7 TKO-cx too. The swing weight is high at 123. I ordered the ESQ 12.7mm because the swing weight is 103. I was looking for a power paddle with a low swing weight and a solid twist weight (6.7). I plan on adding lead in four corners of the paddle to expand the sweet spot and enlarge the twist weight. Hopefully, this will provide exactly what im looking for in a paddle. I really like the TKO-CK 12.7 too, however, i when i play the young 5.0+ the paddle feels slow, hence the 103 swing weight for the Esq.
It seems common sense to me and I emailed Paddletek the suggestion but why not just add flat tungsten weights built into the edge guard? It seems odd that they put round weights directly into the edge of the polycom. Even if they just lined the inner part of the guard with tunsten tape they wont come loose and rattle. Integrating into the rubber would be the best option and they could offer it as custom setup options with weighting the several common configurations.
how would you compare these paddles (14.3mm) to the olympus? I'm rocking the olympus now, but hoping for something lighter for hands battles with a tad more control
So what paddles do you play better pickleball with than these? and is the 12.7 noticeably smaller sweetspot and more power/pop than 14.3? like a big difference? im coming from a monarch all court and trying to decide
The increase in price makes it really difficult to recommend the ESQ over the neonic prime x releasing in a month or so. Very similar paddles but the ESQ is quite literally almost twice the price
@PickleballStudio Thanks to the guidance from your reviews and podcast, i finally took the leap and ordered my first real performance paddle, and tungsten tape to boot. However, i wanted to ask you about the light hesacore grip you use. I've never had any particular issues with my grips for either my raquets or paddles, but i also dont have any other point of reference (I've never used anything like that b4) How can i figure out if i would benefit from ordering the hesacore grip? Or is this just one of those situations where you just kinda need to try it to see if it's for you?
Does the subjective feel differ between the two models? Seems like the more perpendicular neck could theoretically flex more and have a sweet-spot that extends lower in those bottom corners.
I played one of these paddles the other night coming from my vanguard control epic weight to around 8.5oz and the paddletek was about the same be it more head heavy feeling. The paddletek had more power for sure and almost as good control. People knock Selkirk and paddletek for sticking with gen 1 tech but why change what works and it works well at that.
@@Talaria567 played with the ALW C tonight and after listen to the reviews I expected to struggle with control. That was absolutely not the case sweet spot felt great. Drops and resets after a couple of games were not a problem.
The shorter handle on the ALW for women was quite nice, wish they kept what features it specialized in instead of making everything the same as other paddles
Small correction! (Thanks to Louis at Pickleball Pursuit for pointing this out).
It looks like the ALW is actually 16x7.9" and the ESQ is 15.9x8". So there is slightly more difference than what was advertised on the PaddleTek website.
Still wish they would have made the difference between them larger, but it is a little larger than I initially thought.
Quick babe pickleball studio dropped a new video
Thank you Chris, for your honest evaluation of paddletek’s weighting system & what they actually advertise.
Nice I’ve been waiting for this review 💪
I just want this paddle in full hybriddd shapeee pleasee someone make it
12.7mm too
This.
Nice review. Thank you. Agree that for me the price increase just took these and the tko c out of the running. Really anything over $200 IMO is a big hesitation when paddle buying especially with so many excellent lower priced offerings out there with more to come.
Which of these Bantam is similar or better than my current Engage Pursuit EX Pro? (I personally prefer lite weight) Thanks!
Paddletek has excellent customer service. Plus, their paddles are manufactured in Michigan. I supposed that factors into the price.
Yesss! Thank you for doing this video!!
@PickleballStudio how is the PaddleTek ESQ-C compared to the Spartus Olympus and the Joola 3S Scorpeus ? Which one do you prefer?
^!!!
Honestly, they are all really good for different reasons.
For me, I’d probably feel best overall with the Olympus right this second.
However, give me enough time and I’m sure I could adjust to any of them.
how do these compare to the TKO-CX?
I play w the TKO-CX 12.7 - I do love it for a lot of reasons but am curious if the ESQ -C would be a little easier to control than the TKO-CX in the soft game?
I play the 12.7 TKO-cx too. The swing weight is high at 123. I ordered the ESQ 12.7mm because the swing weight is 103. I was looking for a power paddle with a low swing weight and a solid twist weight (6.7). I plan on adding lead in four corners of the paddle to expand the sweet spot and enlarge the twist weight. Hopefully, this will provide exactly what im looking for in a paddle. I really like the TKO-CK 12.7 too, however, i when i play the young 5.0+ the paddle feels slow, hence the 103 swing weight for the Esq.
It seems common sense to me and I emailed Paddletek the suggestion but why not just add flat tungsten weights built into the edge guard? It seems odd that they put round weights directly into the edge of the polycom. Even if they just lined the inner part of the guard with tunsten tape they wont come loose and rattle. Integrating into the rubber would be the best option and they could offer it as custom setup options with weighting the several common configurations.
How much does lead tape actually increase the sweet spot?
How do you compare those paddle to the Ronbus Ripple?
how would you compare these paddles (14.3mm) to the olympus? I'm rocking the olympus now, but hoping for something lighter for hands battles with a tad more control
So what paddles do you play better pickleball with than these? and is the 12.7 noticeably smaller sweetspot and more power/pop than 14.3? like a big difference? im coming from a monarch all court and trying to decide
So looking forward to your thoughts on the Ronbus R2 Nova. How does it compare to the Paddle Tex ESQ-C and the ALW-C? Thanks
Anyone have any advice on paddles SIMILAR to the esq-c?
The increase in price makes it really difficult to recommend the ESQ over the neonic prime x releasing in a month or so. Very similar paddles but the ESQ is quite literally almost twice the price
Wish they had actually made the alw 5.25 like they did but made the ESQ 5.75 like the tko-cx
@PickleballStudio
Thanks to the guidance from your reviews and podcast, i finally took the leap and ordered my first real performance paddle, and tungsten tape to boot.
However, i wanted to ask you about the light hesacore grip you use. I've never had any particular issues with my grips for either my raquets or paddles, but i also dont have any other point of reference (I've never used anything like that b4)
How can i figure out if i would benefit from ordering the hesacore grip?
Or is this just one of those situations where you just kinda need to try it to see if it's for you?
Kind of have to try it IMO.
They are polarizing. People either love them or hate them.
Co-host gameplay starts at 6:32
How much weight is actually in there? 3 grams,6,9?
Braydon from Pickleball Effect told me his was 3g on each side. However, I don't know if that varies by model.
@@PickleballStudio I believe he said 3g on the 12.7 and 1g on the 14.3
Does the subjective feel differ between the two models? Seems like the more perpendicular neck could theoretically flex more and have a sweet-spot that extends lower in those bottom corners.
I played one of these paddles the other night coming from my vanguard control epic weight to around 8.5oz and the paddletek was about the same be it more head heavy feeling. The paddletek had more power for sure and almost as good control. People knock Selkirk and paddletek for sticking with gen 1 tech but why change what works and it works well at that.
@@Talaria567 played with the ALW C tonight and after listen to the reviews I expected to struggle with control. That was absolutely not the case sweet spot felt great. Drops and resets after a couple of games were not a problem.
The shorter handle on the ALW for women was quite nice, wish they kept what features it specialized in instead of making everything the same as other paddles
Women more commonly use a two handed backhand than even men do. A longer handle should be good for women.
Great paddles but sincerely should be priced $180 or below.
P.T. must have some patent money to recoup.Hearing good things about the RIPPLE.
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