Paddle Showdown Episode 7: Mark Kinetic vs Thrive Azul

Episode 7 of Paddle Showdown comparing the Mark Pickleball Kinetic Paddle against the new Thrive Azul
Use code DMVPBALL on both the Mark and Thrive websites for a discount at checkout:
Mark: bit.ly/3IM5E4E
Thrive: bit.ly/3W4N8MI

[@cwarner5909]

Power is gained at the cost of control, I think the majority of rec player benefit more from the control. I see a lot of rec player buying hot paddles and then struggling with their control by hitting long and missing drops and resets.

[@paulelkins425]

Love the paddle comparison series! They are very helpful since there are so many paddle offerings and some are very similar. I'd agree that the extra $50 is hard to justify for the minor differences in these paddles. Unless a player really knows that they want more power/pop and want to guarantee their SW the Kinetic is the better option. Also, the higher degree of control is probably a better choice for the vast majority of players up to around 4.5 level.
I would love to see a comparison video on the M2F 16 against the Spartus Apollo.

[@TickleMyPickleball]

That one might be the next episode 👀👀

[@1Chieftain]

I'm going to get the Azul in the future, but I love the Kinetic. It does everything great with control.

[@ajfloresii]

I’d love to see more comparisons! Power of the azul could help my game much more

[@trex1448]

You can change swingweight by adding weight to paddle at head or on butt of grip. It's really easy

[@TickleMyPickleball]

That's true you can increase the swingweight with tape on the paddle but if you do care about specific swingweight numbers, unless you own a machine, you'd have to rely on numbers from the manufacturer.
Also swingweight cannot be decreased by adding weight down there, you can change the balance point but the swingweight itself will not decrease so if it comes in too high that could be an issue

[@49pickles]

Great comparison.

[@NOT_A_TOP_FAN]

TMP: when you’re not playing with a review paddle, what’s your go-to paddle?

[@TickleMyPickleball]

Unfortunately I'm always reviewing a paddle so no paddle that I really switch to. For leagues I just bring whatever I'm using at the time 😅

[@cindydarling6315]

Is there a big reach difference between an elongated versus the hybrid?

[@TickleMyPickleball]

Personally I think it's a noticeable difference. Especially if you're comparing a rectangular shaped elongated to a curved hybrid. Because then it's not just the length of the paddle itself, but the overall weight distribution is more head focused which gives you a sweet spot closer to the top

[@MLe-bc3ql]

Did you have a lead set up for the azul?

[@TickleMyPickleball]

I did a basic 0.1 g each at 4 and 8 positions

[@andrewreichel5907]

Dude in the orange was baking a cake in the kitchen

[@TickleMyPickleball]

So the white line isn't the kitchen, there's a hard to see blue line in front

[@kimleith1378]

Liking my MARK, but the face really get dirty fast.