Great review! Seems like the J2K will be the paddle of the year for many reviewers! Happy HPC is getting some love across the board because they have some darn good paddles for everyone!
I have owned many top tier paddles and several based on your reviews. I currently own a Spartus Apollo based on your review and it is the best of the bunch. Thanks.
You rock!! Yeah you just can’t go wrong with any of these. If you have one of these paddles there’s no need to feel like you’re missing out because they are the best of the best.
Love the list. I have a Hudef Viva Pro Gen3 very similar to your fifth Ronbus Fx R3, but woven from a blend of Kevlar and T700 raw carbon fiber. And there is a 30% off discount.
@@stspickleball I have seen the spartan apollo and the J2k on pretty much every lost though! Makes me want to try them, wish it was easier to demo paddles near me
Hello I know it’s late, but between the Perseus 3 Ben Johns and the B&B Filth, if I’m getting the Perseus for $130 and the Filth $100, what’s the better paddle in terms of performance and value? Both are slightly used
I recently ordered the SLK Halo Control XL 16mm as my first real paddle. Been borrowing since I started. That in mind, the J2K peaks my interest with the Kevlar tech and feel to the ball without sacrificing many other categories. Do you believe this would be a good paddle to go back and forth with? I was looking at the Mach 2 forza as well but not sure if the wide body is right for my game
From this it looks like you're essentially looking for an Apollo with more dwell time and a really nice plush feel off the face. I would strongly urge you to try out the 16mm Mach 2 Forza. I have been gaming that a tone lately along with the J2K and Apollo and I love it. It's the biggest dwell time of the bunch!
Is the M2F that much better than the Spartus Apollo? I’ve heard so many back and forth reviews between the 2. I went with the Apollo based on all the reviews but always wondered if I’m missing out on the M2F.
No I didn’t say it was that much better and being 1 spot higher isn’t massive. Don’t overthink it! The Apollo is an incredible paddle. If you have any paddle on this list you have what you need to be a great pickleball player. No need to have fear of missing out! Just enjoy your amazing paddle!
Thanks for your great reviews and your wonderful voice 😀. I do have a question and hopefully someone out there will answer it for me… I bought the j2 k and immediately found better control at the net but after a few hours of playing things started changing.. the sound was different and the shots were not consistent..some were awesome and then others were horrible.. I am not an expert player but consider myself an intermediate..could this racket be too technical and sensitive for me or does it have to be broken in? Thanks for ANY advice! Appreciate your videos and help…
Very interesting! It shouldn’t change. I’d email them and see maybe if it could be a defect paddle? It should be very consistent and fairly control oriented on all shots!
I've been watching your videos for a long time and this is the first time I comment. I really appreciate how much value you provide to all your viewers. I'm conflicted between the J2K or the Apollo. I was previously a tennis player. I tend to use a lot of spin on my serves and i usually go for a lot of kills. Ive been focusing on using the sidelines a lot more for placement. Playing defense at the net is probably my biggest area for improvement. Considering this will be my first expensive paddle, which one do you see being a better fit for my play style and which one will be a better investment?
I would say for you the J2K. I think it lends itself shape and playstyle better for someone with a tennis background. It will feel really nice with your drives being softer and plush. Thank you very much for the kind words by the way I appreciate it!
My wife has the J2K and I thought it felt a little head heavy. I bought the Apollo and much prefer that. it is my first wide body paddle and I really enjoy it.
i love all of my Ronbuses so far. can you please elaborate on the pop for the Ronbuses? is the pop on the RFX2 noticeably higher than the others?? pop is the one area i need a bit more of at the NVZ. tia!
I’ve had the Six Zero Ruby for about 4 months now. I am absolutely in love with the paddle, but I am keeping my eye out for my next, I’ve had my eye on the thrive Azul for awhile since I can pick my exact swing weight to match my Ruby. Would the J2K be a better fit coming from the Ruby?
I love my Spartus Apollo so thanks for your review on that. It's my first standard/wide body paddle and I'm loving the low swing weight and big sweet spot. Any plans to review the Pikkl Huricane Pro?
Thanks for your honest evaluations! wondering if any of these paddles are soft feeling for tennis/pickleball elbow? or do you have another high-spin candidate for someone with elbow problems?
The J2K is solid as it has that very plush and soft feeling off the face, but I would say the Mach 2 Forza is the best paddle here for someone with tennis elbow. It has a lower swing weight and a super plush feeling off the face. That would be my recommendation for you! :)
Great Video. I've been playing with a 16mm Prism Flash for the past year. I've been itching to get a new paddle all of these have been on my list. I think I'm leaning towards the Apollo.
As a tennis player, I find pickleball paddles very lightweight and not able to generate a comfortable enough top spin. Any suggestions to what would be a good option for a heavy paddle? Tried Joola Seneca and it's really light
I actually agree with this! That’s one of the big benefits of starting with a lower swing weight is you can make a paddle better than it could be stock with weighting around the perimeter!
How do the Mach 2 and J2k compare to the SK Luxx as far as control? I keep going back to my Luxx because I just have the most control with it. The only reason I am looking for another paddle is due to the spray on grit wearing down, so my sweet spot is smoothening out.
I’d give the edge to the Mach 2 Forza as it’s the best control paddle I’ve ever used. I did pull out the Luxx of course to compare before doing this top 5 and I just really prefer the J2K and the Mach 2 Forza feel and play wise and durability wise given the spray on grit of the Luxx.
For me I would grab a Mach 2. But the CRBN 3X is CRBN's best paddle for sure. You just get more spin and a larger sweet spot and better control with the Mach 2 which is why I like it so much :)
Oof…. I had two of these paddles on my final list when it came time for a new paddle. Ultimately I went with a newer paddle on market, the Pickln Alecto. Hope I don’t regret it! May have to go back and also get the Apollo &/or the J2k also!
@@douglasmurdoch7247 They both are great control paddles, but the Mach 2 may be slightly better in that respect because of it being wider with huge sweet spot. The J2K, being longer may have the edge on power.
Just wanted to ask why no Joola, Selkirk, gearbox made the list? Is it because they truly aren’t better than the ones you listed? Trying to decide on what paddle to splurge on and am seeing tons of reviews on best paddles and there’s a ton of differences 😟. Help I’m lost
Selkirk is way behind and keeps producing the same things over and over with no real added tech. Joolas gen 3 paddles are banned and their gen 2 paddles have mediocre spin and tight sweet spots. Gearbox is solid but after analysis just too inconsistent for most players with the insanity amount of power and pop they provide. Gearbox would be the only contender out of the companies you mentioned but even then I’d only get one if you know you can handle the most powerful legal paddle on the market. I’d rather have easy drops, resets, dinks, and consistency than have crazy power and pop, and after speaking to tons of others lately and analyzing most of the paddles in the space this was my list! 😊
I was curious if the BALLR Heat would sneak into your Top 5 since you raved about it when it first came out. I'm still playing with mine and rotating with my J2K. I feel like my soft game is a little bit more consistent with the Heat vs. the J2K, but I recently added a 28g Slyce Speed Cap to the J2K so we will see if that changes the performance.
Yeah tbh the Heat is a wonderful paddle for a great price. So like I’ve told others in the comments if you have a top tier paddle like that there’s no need for any sort of fear of missing out etc. the only reason it’s not on the list is because it didn’t do anything special shape or tech wise to standout. Otherwise it’s absolutely top tier and a paddle I could play with in a tournament tomorrow with ease.
@@stspickleball Definitely. I find that the Heat's use of foam creates more consistency on those softer shots at the net. Not sure if you have tried the Slyce Speed Caps. I've got a 28g on my J2K that I'm still trying to play around with for the optimal set-up. It's worth experimenting with.
Looking for a new paddle I currently have the hooks Ben johns Hyperion gen 2 I believe. So looking for an upgrade would the J2k be an upgrade? And is the j2k pro better or would you go with j2k
J2K pro is a more power oriented paddle and is very poppy. I would go with the J2K 😊 you’re gonna love it. Solid upgrade from your current paddle. The sweet spot and the spin will be noticeably better.
Great review of the top 5. I'm not surprised to see J2k in the top. I'm also not surprised the Volair is in the top. it's been the #1 wide body for a long time. It is the king of control! Can't wait tor their next soon to be announced paddle leaks showed a controll + version of what looks like the Mach 2 forza!
J3k is more pop, relative control (due to a slightly more rigid face) and relative spin, and a slightly larger sweet spot. Less reach and a good bit less power for me 😊
Great review, 3 out of the 4 paddles I’m considering purchasing next are on your list with only the paddletek bantam alw 12.7 missing out. I basically want the largest sweet spot and the highest pop. Could you please recommend a paddle?
Good line up! any thoughts on the Hurachi paddles from 11Six24? Im really impressed.l with the Hurachi x control Kevlar 16mm. A buddy getting the monarch this week.
The original paddles didn’t wow me. 1900rpm spin and just good paddles nothing great. I’ll be checking out the Monarch though! Great company and a great owner just haven’t wowed me yet.
I’m playing with the Ruby, love it, but I feel like sometimes it just is dead outside the sweet spot and often even well-prepped soft dinks go nowhere. I’m a 4.0 all court player leaning to control, focusing on drops and placement. I’m wondering if Kevlar is just not for me in the end? Is the J2K appreciably different than the Ruby in this regard? Or should I try the much 2 forza? Thank you for any thoughts! And PS, you are THE BEST! Everyone in my hitting group is now tuned into your channel and using your codes!
YOU ROCK!! So for me given what you said here I would recommend the 16mm Mach 2 Forza and if you want to add some power to it play around with some lead tape. It's the king of drops and placement right now :)
@@stspickleball awesome! Thanks for the quick reply and your always solid advice. I was so psyched when I was watching a review by Luca at Racquets and runners, and he referenced you as an authority and agreed with your pov. I can try to find the reference if you need - you prob heard it long ago. Was just nice to see. :)
For me it doesn’t rival the M2F but it is a solid paddle for a good price indeed! I like it. Highly maneuverable. Reminds me of a Selkirk 006 for much cheaper. 😊
I had an issue with the Shogun handle large size. I took the stock grip off and I actually filed down the top of the grip area and then put 2 tightly wound Bohdi over-grips on it and now I cant put it down, it makes it feel more octagon then rectangle! I would highly recommend it!
Liked. Don't quite agree with your deemphasis of power in favor of control. This is player dependent. One way to win point is great placement so one will return a shot weak or miss completely. Well, another way to force weak or missed returns is to have balls that are faster in pace. This is power. Of course, the pros combine both. But there is more than one way to skin a cat for lower level players.
Agreed. It is subjective to people's perspective on the game. Both can be used to set up your next shot or win you the point (and both power and control type shots should be used, it's just a matter of when you choose which shot). But which would say is more effective or has a higher success rate? Idk, It's just fun to think about... Pickleball is so situational and there's so many ways to play the game and score points. Gotta love this sport man!😂
Absolutely love this sport man. I’ve been playing with a lot of 4.5’s and a few 5.0’s lately and I just get slaughtered if I drive often. It just gets sent back to my feet. When I drop I can creep up, get through the mid court, and make my way to the kitchen way more often these days playing with these higher caliber players. And it goes both ways. In rec when people drive especially if the drive isn’t shallow and close to the net I rip it back at their feet, and when they drop they tend to make it to the kitchen more often. Drives start to feel kind of silly at a certain point. Not useless of course, especially if you can conceal your shot choice and send the drive down the line, down the middle, or at their body for an easy third. But consistency wise dropping yield me far more kitchen play than driving does these days.
I play my best pickleball with the Apollo. I entered a local Men's 4.0 tournament and got gold using the Apollo. My partner and I were seeded 6th. Unfortunately, my wife likes the paddle so much I had to give it to her XD
Great video. I'm going to get two paddles for sure getting the j7k pro but then l'm not sure if I should get the j2k or the j7k...thoughts/recommendations?
If you’re getting the J7K pro, then the J2K would be a good second paddle to have that allows you to have an all around paddle while the J7K pro is your power paddle. The differences between the J7K and its pro variant seem to be marginal besides the stiffness and the pro having a bit more power based on what other reviewers have said these past couple of months. I’m sure STS could shine more light here given he has the J7K though
I have the J2k. Previous to that I was using a Rombus 3.16. I felt after playing with the J2K that I would sometimes hit balls on the tip of the paddle. Turns out, it is about 1/2 inch shorter than my Rombus. Now I really wished I got the J7k instead for the extra length. Love the paddle, but not the length. Just my 2 cents.
@@dtseng19I have the J7k Pro will primarily use for singles play. You will lose some control and sacrifice sweet spot with J7k Pro, but gain more power and slightly longer handle. I use the Hurachi x control Kevlar for doubles and that paddle has a ton of control and good spin. great in fire fights.
The disrespect to the RUBY is wild lol should Ruby users even bother getting the J2K? Ive seen in most videos the J2K is just a copycat of the RUBY at a way better pricepoint.
No disrespect at all. The J2K is simply cheaper and has held up better than my Ruby and plays really well in all scenarios. Love the Ruby and 6.0 very much. I’m quite a fanboy of 6.0 and am friends with the owner. But it’s not about maintaining friendships or playing a social game. It’s about being brutally honest as to what I’d recommend right now in 2024. And you can’t beat the j2k’s sweet spot, control, and the fact that people can get newer tech which is fun and rather cool (100% Kevlar) for $135. It has it all right now and deserves praise.
@@teflonlbrn3434 Honestly if you already have the Ruby you have one of the best paddles in the space. I would enjoy your amazing paddle and just focus on the game and such! :) No need for any sort of fear of missing out. The only reason the J2K is #1 instead of the Ruby is that they play extremely similar, the J2K is cheaper, and seems more durable. You have a wonderful paddle 100%
It may!! Or it may not. We shall see! And this list isn’t saying these will be the best all year. I just want people to have a list for now because I get the question all the time what are the best paddles currently 😊
For those that are not christian, just an FYI: The Honolulu paddles have a reference to a bible scripture at the top of the paddle. Seems a strange thing to do, but stranger that it is never mentioned by reviewers or by the Company itself on its website. The vast majority of people will buy and receive it without knowing.
If I did why would most of these paddles be cheap price wise? And also keep in mind I have a code for every company in the space from Selkirk to 6.0 to essentially every talked about brand available. If I cared about the money I’d have a more expensive paddle as #1 because I’d make more off of that. The kickbacks help the channel for sure but if I’m not transparent I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
@@stspickleball I recall Braydon in a podcast mentioning that affiliate bumps are icing on the cake - so I'm with you. your picks are on par with others so it's not like you stacked the deck -good job. Waiting for you to get the call and join the other reviewers !!!
![Eminem - Somebody Save Me (feat. Jelly Roll) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vwa0HenQMi4/mqdefault.jpg)
Ive bought 4 j2k's, 2 for me, 2 for my wife. Ive used your code all 4xs. Thanks for the great review
You rock!! I appreciate you! Thank you for the good vibes!
Great review! Seems like the J2K will be the paddle of the year for many reviewers! Happy HPC is getting some love across the board because they have some darn good paddles for everyone!
100% agree. It’s just such a solid pick and it gives a lot of people a chance to try out Kevlar and see what it’s like. Win win.
The J2K now has a 14mm version. What kind of player would want the 14 vs the 16?
Someone who prefers more pop for more aggression at the kitchen, but with the drawback of a bit of a smaller sweet spot.
Love the J2K. Picked it up after your reviews. I have an effortless banana serve now and I am only a 3.5 on my best day
Right on!!! Love this. Kick some butt out there!
I have owned many top tier paddles and several based on your reviews. I currently own a Spartus Apollo based on your review and it is the best of the bunch. Thanks.
You rock!! Yeah you just can’t go wrong with any of these. If you have one of these paddles there’s no need to feel like you’re missing out because they are the best of the best.
Loving the Apollo that I got because of your review. Paddle is great for everything. The pop really surprises people also.
Yeah the pop is solid on the Apollo! Glad you’re loving it 😊
@@stspickleball Are you gonna get your hands on the new gearbox soon?
I've had one!! :)
Love the list. I have a Hudef Viva Pro Gen3 very similar to your fifth Ronbus Fx R3, but woven from a blend of Kevlar and T700 raw carbon fiber. And there is a 30% off discount.
Got this as my first legit paddle and love it. My serves improve so much and the plushness on dinks is great
A wonderful paddle. Don’t worry about this list if you have that one you have a great paddle!
@@stspickleball I have seen the spartan apollo and the J2k on pretty much every lost though! Makes me want to try them, wish it was easier to demo paddles near me
Fair enough! Trust me though the Hudef Gen 3 is a great paddle don’t overthink it too much 😊🙏
The disc jockey-level compression you put on your voice in these videos still cracks me up.
lol as long as it brings a smile to your face I’m happy
Hello I know it’s late, but between the Perseus 3 Ben Johns and the B&B Filth, if I’m getting the Perseus for $130 and the Filth $100, what’s the better paddle in terms of performance and value? Both are slightly used
If you’re ok with using a banned paddle the gen 3 is the best deal of course. Filth is a solid paddle and is legal to play with though! 😊
I recently ordered the SLK Halo Control XL 16mm as my first real paddle. Been borrowing since I started. That in mind, the J2K peaks my interest with the Kevlar tech and feel to the ball without sacrificing many other categories. Do you believe this would be a good paddle to go back and forth with? I was looking at the Mach 2 forza as well but not sure if the wide body is right for my game
I do indeed! The J2K is a wonderful paddle to go back and forth with for sure 😊
What would you say is the best paddle that is:
Biggest dwell time, with plush feel.
Speed and pop maybe somewhere like Apollo or up to 25% lower
SW:
From this it looks like you're essentially looking for an Apollo with more dwell time and a really nice plush feel off the face. I would strongly urge you to try out the 16mm Mach 2 Forza. I have been gaming that a tone lately along with the J2K and Apollo and I love it. It's the biggest dwell time of the bunch!
Is the M2F that much better than the Spartus Apollo? I’ve heard so many back and forth reviews between the 2. I went with the Apollo based on all the reviews but always wondered if I’m missing out on the M2F.
No I didn’t say it was that much better and being 1 spot higher isn’t massive. Don’t overthink it! The Apollo is an incredible paddle. If you have any paddle on this list you have what you need to be a great pickleball player. No need to have fear of missing out! Just enjoy your amazing paddle!
Thanks for your great reviews and your wonderful voice 😀. I do have a question and hopefully someone out there will answer it for me… I bought the j2 k and immediately found better control at the net but after a few hours of playing things started changing.. the sound was different and the shots were not consistent..some were awesome and then others were horrible.. I am not an expert player but consider myself an intermediate..could this racket be too technical and sensitive for me or does it have to be broken in? Thanks for ANY advice! Appreciate your videos and help…
Very interesting! It shouldn’t change. I’d email them and see maybe if it could be a defect paddle? It should be very consistent and fairly control oriented on all shots!
Great review. I appreciate the emphasis on shot placement and control over raw power. I couldn’t agree more.
Glad you agree. I’m not usually too opinionated as a reviewer but I wanted to share something like that and see what the response would be.
Thank you for great research bud. I just purchase the Mach 2 Forza. =). And I did add your code... thx for the discount as well!
@@kylengo416 you’re very welcome my friend! Love comments like this. You made my day.
I've been watching your videos for a long time and this is the first time I comment. I really appreciate how much value you provide to all your viewers.
I'm conflicted between the J2K or the Apollo.
I was previously a tennis player. I tend to use a lot of spin on my serves and i usually go for a lot of kills. Ive been focusing on using the sidelines a lot more for placement. Playing defense at the net is probably my biggest area for improvement.
Considering this will be my first expensive paddle, which one do you see being a better fit for my play style and which one will be a better investment?
I would say for you the J2K. I think it lends itself shape and playstyle better for someone with a tennis background. It will feel really nice with your drives being softer and plush. Thank you very much for the kind words by the way I appreciate it!
My wife has the J2K and I thought it felt a little head heavy. I bought the Apollo and much prefer that. it is my first wide body paddle and I really enjoy it.
Happy you found what you like!
i love all of my Ronbuses so far. can you please elaborate on the pop for the Ronbuses? is the pop on the RFX2 noticeably higher than the others?? pop is the one area i need a bit more of at the NVZ. tia!
It is noticeably more than the others yes!
I’ve had the Six Zero Ruby for about 4 months now. I am absolutely in love with the paddle, but I am keeping my eye out for my next, I’ve had my eye on the thrive Azul for awhile since I can pick my exact swing weight to match my Ruby. Would the J2K be a better fit coming from the Ruby?
Yes it would. I would definitely recommend the J2K :)
In your opinion, besides the Luxx or prism, what paddle makes good drops the most easy to achieve?
I think the J2K and the Forza are fairly equal here. Just choose the shape and the aesthetic you like better. Both of them are drop kings.
I love my Spartus Apollo so thanks for your review on that. It's my first standard/wide body paddle and I'm loving the low swing weight and big sweet spot. Any plans to review the Pikkl Huricane Pro?
Looking into it for sure! Yeah the Apollo is a freaking awesome paddle.
Thanks for your honest evaluations! wondering if any of these paddles are soft feeling for tennis/pickleball elbow? or do you have another high-spin candidate for someone with elbow problems?
The J2K is solid as it has that very plush and soft feeling off the face, but I would say the Mach 2 Forza is the best paddle here for someone with tennis elbow. It has a lower swing weight and a super plush feeling off the face. That would be my recommendation for you! :)
@@stspickleball thanks I will try it
16 vs 14 for tennis elbow on the mach 2 ?
16 if you value more of a plush feel and 14 if you value a lighter weight paddle 😊
Great Video. I've been playing with a 16mm Prism Flash for the past year. I've been itching to get a new paddle all of these have been on my list. I think I'm leaning towards the Apollo.
Great choice! The Apollo is definitely the best bang for the buck here 😊
As a tennis player, I find pickleball paddles very lightweight and not able to generate a comfortable enough top spin. Any suggestions to what would be a good option for a heavy paddle? Tried Joola Seneca and it's really light
Find a shape and surface you like and add lead tape around the whole perimeter
I actually agree with this! That’s one of the big benefits of starting with a lower swing weight is you can make a paddle better than it could be stock with weighting around the perimeter!
How do the Mach 2 and J2k compare to the SK Luxx as far as control? I keep going back to my Luxx because I just have the most control with it. The only reason I am looking for another paddle is due to the spray on grit wearing down, so my sweet spot is smoothening out.
I’d give the edge to the Mach 2 Forza as it’s the best control paddle I’ve ever used. I did pull out the Luxx of course to compare before doing this top 5 and I just really prefer the J2K and the Mach 2 Forza feel and play wise and durability wise given the spray on grit of the Luxx.
@@stspickleball uggg, spray on grit... NEXT !!
Originally was thinking about buying the CRBN 3X after watching your video. But now I’m torn. CRNN 3X or Mach 2?
For me I would grab a Mach 2. But the CRBN 3X is CRBN's best paddle for sure. You just get more spin and a larger sweet spot and better control with the Mach 2 which is why I like it so much :)
Oof…. I had two of these paddles on my final list when it came time for a new paddle. Ultimately I went with a newer paddle on market, the Pickln Alecto. Hope I don’t regret it! May have to go back and also get the Apollo &/or the J2k also!
I haven’t heard much about the Alecto. Might have to check it out. Definitely love the J2K and Apollo though!
I recently bought both the Volair Mach 2 Forza and the J2K. Best paddles I have ever owned, for sure.
I just ordered a Mach 2 Forza, and also interested in the J2K. How do they compare? Does one stand out?
@@douglasmurdoch7247 They both are great control paddles, but the Mach 2 may be slightly better in that respect because of it being wider with huge sweet spot. The J2K, being longer may have the edge on power.
@@gao57009 thanks!
Love this! Glad my picks are in line with yours!
Agreed
Just wanted to ask why no Joola, Selkirk, gearbox made the list? Is it because they truly aren’t better than the ones you listed? Trying to decide on what paddle to splurge on and am seeing tons of reviews on best paddles and there’s a ton of differences 😟. Help I’m lost
Selkirk is way behind and keeps producing the same things over and over with no real added tech. Joolas gen 3 paddles are banned and their gen 2 paddles have mediocre spin and tight sweet spots. Gearbox is solid but after analysis just too inconsistent for most players with the insanity amount of power and pop they provide. Gearbox would be the only contender out of the companies you mentioned but even then I’d only get one if you know you can handle the most powerful legal paddle on the market. I’d rather have easy drops, resets, dinks, and consistency than have crazy power and pop, and after speaking to tons of others lately and analyzing most of the paddles in the space this was my list! 😊
@@stspickleball you’re the best thank you!!!!
🙏🙏
yup,keep doing your excellent reviews,i too have the Mach 2 forza and J2K both totally awesome
Thank you so much! Glad they are working well for you 😊
I was curious if the BALLR Heat would sneak into your Top 5 since you raved about it when it first came out. I'm still playing with mine and rotating with my J2K. I feel like my soft game is a little bit more consistent with the Heat vs. the J2K, but I recently added a 28g Slyce Speed Cap to the J2K so we will see if that changes the performance.
Yeah tbh the Heat is a wonderful paddle for a great price. So like I’ve told others in the comments if you have a top tier paddle like that there’s no need for any sort of fear of missing out etc. the only reason it’s not on the list is because it didn’t do anything special shape or tech wise to standout. Otherwise it’s absolutely top tier and a paddle I could play with in a tournament tomorrow with ease.
@@stspickleball Definitely. I find that the Heat's use of foam creates more consistency on those softer shots at the net. Not sure if you have tried the Slyce Speed Caps. I've got a 28g on my J2K that I'm still trying to play around with for the optimal set-up. It's worth experimenting with.
Great video! Any suggestions on lead tape setup on the Mach 2 Forza?
I love either .5g per inch tape all the way around or 4 precut 3g strips at the top and bottom of the flat side edges!
Looking for a new paddle I currently have the hooks Ben johns Hyperion gen 2 I believe. So looking for an upgrade would the J2k be an upgrade? And is the j2k pro better or would you go with j2k
People seem to like the J2K over the pro.
J2K pro is a more power oriented paddle and is very poppy. I would go with the J2K 😊 you’re gonna love it. Solid upgrade from your current paddle. The sweet spot and the spin will be noticeably better.
Great review of the top 5. I'm not surprised to see J2k in the top. I'm also not surprised the Volair is in the top. it's been the #1 wide body for a long time. It is the king of control! Can't wait tor their next soon to be announced paddle leaks showed a controll + version of what looks like the Mach 2 forza!
Thanks man! Yeah I love the J2K and the Mach 2 Forza very very much. Excited to see what Volair does next!
Where do I see this Volair leak 😱
How does the J2K compare with Hudef Mage Pro Gen2? Looking to upgrade my paddle to one of those.
Definitely more plush off the face and also has more spin. Mage pro is more rigid off the face in my experience.
Great video! personally I use the carbon 3x just because it fits my hybrid playstyle.
Love it. CRBN 3X is a wonderful paddle!
I love the pulsar paddles. I have the R2 and wonder if I should get the R1.
Do it! They play so differently.
I purchased a J2K with you info. Used your code and thank you very much
Awesome! Thank you! I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for this top 5 list. Will you be reviewing the HPC J3k at all? Curious how it compares to the J2k
J3k is more pop, relative control (due to a slightly more rigid face) and relative spin, and a slightly larger sweet spot. Less reach and a good bit less power for me 😊
I would like to make a distinction for me. I have a Pulsar FX and J2k ....I like the j2k for doubles play but I think the Pulsar is better for singles
I would agree 😊
Anything in the j1 and j5?
J2K, J3k, and J7K are my favs by far
Thanks for the video!! How would you compare the J7k with hudef viva gen3? Which would be a better pick? Any thoughts?
@@stspickleball yea definitely thinking about picking up the J7K
I have the Mach 2 was thinking about getting the j2k and the apollo…. Now I may get both lol
😂😂 fair enough I don’t blame you I love a new paddle
Have you hit the Ruby? Any thoughts on comparison Ruby vs Mach 2?
@@bullfrogribbit I have hit the rubby, they’re two different paddles but play similar. Control and spin oriented but they lack power
Great review, 3 out of the 4 paddles I’m considering purchasing next are on your list with only the paddletek bantam alw 12.7 missing out.
I basically want the largest sweet spot and the highest pop. Could you please recommend a paddle?
Engage is having a slightly used paddle sale. If you can get a military/govt discount, you can get the Engage Pursuit Pro/Pro1 for $70.
For me the paddle that fits this the best is the Ronbus R2 FX, so much pop while having one of the highest sweet spots on the market
As others have said the FX R2 is a wonderful idea or the Mach 2 Forza 14mm are both huge sweet spots with top tier pop 😊
Seriously great content! Keep it up🤙🏽
Thank you!!
Good line up! any thoughts on the Hurachi paddles from 11Six24? Im really impressed.l with the Hurachi x control Kevlar 16mm. A buddy getting the monarch this week.
The original paddles didn’t wow me. 1900rpm spin and just good paddles nothing great. I’ll be checking out the Monarch though! Great company and a great owner just haven’t wowed me yet.
Great list. My top one is Hudef Mage Pro Gen2.
Solid!
I’m playing with the Ruby, love it, but I feel like sometimes it just is dead outside the sweet spot and often even well-prepped soft dinks go nowhere.
I’m a 4.0 all court player leaning to control, focusing on drops and placement.
I’m wondering if Kevlar is just not for me in the end? Is the J2K appreciably different than the Ruby in this regard? Or should I try the much 2 forza? Thank you for any thoughts!
And PS, you are THE BEST! Everyone in my hitting group is now tuned into your channel and using your codes!
YOU ROCK!! So for me given what you said here I would recommend the 16mm Mach 2 Forza and if you want to add some power to it play around with some lead tape. It's the king of drops and placement right now :)
@@stspickleball awesome! Thanks for the quick reply and your always solid advice.
I was so psyched when I was watching a review by Luca at Racquets and runners, and he referenced you as an authority and agreed with your pov. I can try to find the reference if you need - you prob heard it long ago. Was just nice to see. :)
One last question about paddles - have you hit the neonic flow 16mm? Is it a contender to rival Mach 2?
Oh dang I didn’t see that! Which review was it I’d love to check it out 😊
For me it doesn’t rival the M2F but it is a solid paddle for a good price indeed! I like it. Highly maneuverable. Reminds me of a Selkirk 006 for much cheaper. 😊
Wait until you try the Pro Ultimate from Gearbox.
I’ve had one for about a month it’s solid but not top 5 for me 😊
Well done
Thanks!
J2K has plenty of power
Agreed
I got a shogun which I was excited for but high swing weight and think handle I keep going back to my J2k 👍🏻
I had an issue with the Shogun handle large size. I took the stock grip off and I actually filed down the top of the grip area and then put 2 tightly wound Bohdi over-grips on it and now I cant put it down, it makes it feel more octagon then rectangle! I would highly recommend it!
I love the customization you did! Very cool. Not many people would do that. 😊
And fair enough man! J2K is a beast!
J2K baby !
It's just the best. I can't put it down.
Bro great Vid, thanks!!
Thank you you’re very welcome!
Liked. Don't quite agree with your deemphasis of power in favor of control. This is player dependent. One way to win point is great placement so one will return a shot weak or miss completely. Well, another way to force weak or missed returns is to have balls that are faster in pace. This is power. Of course, the pros combine both. But there is more than one way to skin a cat for lower level players.
@@2musiclover534 yeah I’m just saying as a whole I’m not discrediting power entirely.
Agreed. It is subjective to people's perspective on the game. Both can be used to set up your next shot or win you the point (and both power and control type shots should be used, it's just a matter of when you choose which shot). But which would say is more effective or has a higher success rate? Idk, It's just fun to think about...
Pickleball is so situational and there's so many ways to play the game and score points. Gotta love this sport man!😂
Absolutely love this sport man. I’ve been playing with a lot of 4.5’s and a few 5.0’s lately and I just get slaughtered if I drive often. It just gets sent back to my feet. When I drop I can creep up, get through the mid court, and make my way to the kitchen way more often these days playing with these higher caliber players. And it goes both ways. In rec when people drive especially if the drive isn’t shallow and close to the net I rip it back at their feet, and when they drop they tend to make it to the kitchen more often. Drives start to feel kind of silly at a certain point. Not useless of course, especially if you can conceal your shot choice and send the drive down the line, down the middle, or at their body for an easy third. But consistency wise dropping yield me far more kitchen play than driving does these days.
Ferrari forehand belongs to Tyson
Yeah his are wicked 😂
Thx to u I got that mach2 and yeah the more I use it the more I like it
Glad to hear! I love it. I’ve been using it a ton lately.
I play my best pickleball with the Apollo. I entered a local Men's 4.0 tournament and got gold using the Apollo. My partner and I were seeded 6th.
Unfortunately, my wife likes the paddle so much I had to give it to her XD
Well grats on the gold! That made me laugh about your wife. Sounds like a good life man!
Great video. I'm going to get two paddles for sure getting the j7k pro but then l'm not sure if I should get the j2k or the j7k...thoughts/recommendations?
If you’re getting the J7K pro, then the J2K would be a good second paddle to have that allows you to have an all around paddle while the J7K pro is your power paddle. The differences between the J7K and its pro variant seem to be marginal besides the stiffness and the pro having a bit more power based on what other reviewers have said these past couple of months.
I’m sure STS could shine more light here given he has the J7K though
This is the same answer I gave this comment on the other video he commented on. Great response! Couldn’t agree more.
I have the J2k. Previous to that I was using a Rombus 3.16. I felt after playing with the J2K that I would sometimes hit balls on the tip of the paddle. Turns out, it is about 1/2 inch shorter than my Rombus. Now I really wished I got the J7k instead for the extra length. Love the paddle, but not the length. Just my 2 cents.
@@dtseng19I have the J7k Pro will primarily use for singles play. You will lose some control and sacrifice sweet spot with J7k Pro, but gain more power and slightly longer handle. I use the Hurachi x control Kevlar for doubles and that paddle has a ton of control and good spin. great in fire fights.
@@Itskjb813 thanks for your input! That's how I was leaning but wanted some reinforcement on that haha.
The disrespect to the RUBY is wild lol should Ruby users even bother getting the J2K? Ive seen in most videos the J2K is just a copycat of the RUBY at a way better pricepoint.
No disrespect at all. The J2K is simply cheaper and has held up better than my Ruby and plays really well in all scenarios. Love the Ruby and 6.0 very much. I’m quite a fanboy of 6.0 and am friends with the owner. But it’s not about maintaining friendships or playing a social game. It’s about being brutally honest as to what I’d recommend right now in 2024. And you can’t beat the j2k’s sweet spot, control, and the fact that people can get newer tech which is fun and rather cool (100% Kevlar) for $135. It has it all right now and deserves praise.
@@stspickleball LOL all good! It is a better price point but I already have the Ruby. Which JK has more pop than the J2K?
@@teflonlbrn3434 Honestly if you already have the Ruby you have one of the best paddles in the space. I would enjoy your amazing paddle and just focus on the game and such! :) No need for any sort of fear of missing out. The only reason the J2K is #1 instead of the Ruby is that they play extremely similar, the J2K is cheaper, and seems more durable. You have a wonderful paddle 100%
Have you tried the Kamikaze?
I have indeed!
Gearbox Ultimate
CRBN Trufoam
Joola Mod
Ronbus Ripple 14
Your list is gonna look totally different in 2 months! Just crazy
It may!! Or it may not. We shall see! And this list isn’t saying these will be the best all year. I just want people to have a list for now because I get the question all the time what are the best paddles currently 😊
@@stspickleball 100%
Glad you understand I appreciate you!
For those that are not christian, just an FYI: The Honolulu paddles have a reference to a bible scripture at the top of the paddle. Seems a strange thing to do, but stranger that it is never mentioned by reviewers or by the Company itself on its website. The vast majority of people will buy and receive it without knowing.
Probably because it really doesn’t matter. It’s a pickleball paddle
Who cares? Are you christophobic? Would you warn someone if a paddle had something Jewish on it?
Who cares?
My thoughts exactly
I bet you take into consideration the amount you get paid for the affiliate link.
If I did why would most of these paddles be cheap price wise? And also keep in mind I have a code for every company in the space from Selkirk to 6.0 to essentially every talked about brand available. If I cared about the money I’d have a more expensive paddle as #1 because I’d make more off of that. The kickbacks help the channel for sure but if I’m not transparent I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
@@stspickleball I recall Braydon in a podcast mentioning that affiliate bumps are icing on the cake - so I'm with you. your picks are on par with others so it's not like you stacked the deck -good job. Waiting for you to get the call and join the other reviewers !!!
Maybe someday man I would love that!! Thanks for the good vibes and the nice comment. I appreciate you!
So which has highest affiliate payout?
It's all fairly relative man. I know you are trying to find some gimmick here but there isn't one.