The new Engage Pro seems to be making some noise (in a good way) which was announced after this video. I'll see if I can get one to check it out. Might bump Engage up a few slots.
But the price of that new Engage paddle tho and I currently play MX Pursuit 6.0 & Volair Mach 1. Even with discounts it’s still a pricey paddle, which would prevent me from getting one. Got big discount on my MX
Love the list Chris. It is amazing to see how the paddle landscape has changed in the last year. Three small, grass roots companies beating out the giants. You love to see it!
Bought a Vatic Pro Prism V7 and I love it. The quality and performance is absolutely outstanding. Of course the price is bananas. Need to support companies like this.
Agree 100% - used this one 100% of the 3x I played this past weekend, and was pleased with the spin, touch, feel and overall performance... for sub $100??? NO brainer....
Love the list and 100% agree! I've tried or owned pretty much all of them in the S and A tiers and when it was all said and done... I went back and bought a Joola Hyperion. We may need to start a discord support group for people like myself who just can't break away. They may be stuck manufacturing that model for the next 10 years. :-)
Been using a Joola paddle for a year but now have the R3 pulsar 16mm which has been an eye opener on how it’s changed my game. Lisa at Ronbus has been supportive and accessible….great customer service and responsive.. Great paddle for the price , great control, and power when needed
The more stories you hear about Ronbus' paddle and their excellent customer service, the more you are inclined to become a customer of theirs. I think with many new manufacturers coming out with great paddles (Bison, Pickleball Apes, etc.) what will eventually keep these manufacturers at the top, is how they react to customer service issues, not just product development. The development of new tech means nothing if they do not stand behind their product. You only get one chance to keep a customer.
I completely agree with your S group as I now play with the Vatic Pro Prism Flash and my wife plays with the Ronbus R1 Pulsar and these are both great paddles that have held up quite well through lots of hours of play. I have also tried the Six Zero DBD and it felt nice, they just don't have enough supply. On the other hand, I would not keep Selkirk or Joola in the A group. Selkirk has not introduced anything new at the consumer (versus Lab) level in almost a year and is really falling behind the market and the prices for Selkirk's top paddles are much too high given all the competition. Joola at least has introduced some new and seemingly good quality paddles recently, but again, the prices are just too high given the competition. In any case, good presentation as usual.
Great video Chris! I think you have nailed this and while some may argue the position of a few, it is very accurate to me. You have done a great job of demoting those manufacturers who have not maintained their previous year's growth both in terms of paddle technology, but also reliability, performance, and price points. I am very happy to see that some of the paddle manufacturers who have struggled with quality issues were demoted, as they should be. Your channel gets many views, so if I were one of those companies I might pay a bit more attention at nailing down quality or at the very least, providing superb customer service because I really think that some of these manufacturers have lost customers - not because their paddle does not perform, but because of all the issues with a new paddles (sometimes in only a week or two - unacceptable). I also like that you noted those manufacturers who are taking shortcuts or "cheaping-out" on handles, etc. Finally, I am very happy to see great paddles being made for around $100-120 which hold up and which contain all of the benefits of a Gen 1 paddle. While everyone seems bent out of shape chasing power, these paddles offer a better blend of control and power.
Great presentation. I have two ideas for you to consider. During reviews, disclose warranty and return policies and add a column to your spreadsheet to select individual paddles across brands and then filter on the list as most of us are trying to narrow down specs to 4-5 paddles and this would make it easy. Thanks
I have a few of the $200 plus paddles from Engage and Selkirk....but now i am loving my Vatic Prism and Ronbus for $100. No need to spend more for me at least. (The prism is a revelation!)
the way joola tries to throw its weight around to bully other companies like legacy for example out of the scene should be enough to lower them to C at least in my opinion. They should be advocates for the game, helping it grow, not trying to kill competition by getting them trapped in legal battles
To be fair, what was Legacy thinking with their logo? It's obviously a riff on the Joola logo, there's no way it's a coincidence. They kind of brought it on themselves.
@@randyhanna1954not trying to argue one way or the other, only want to point out that you saying "it would be the legacy mistook for a joola...joola is t losing anything" that's actually exactly why joola would be upset. New customers may purchase a different brand thinking it's joola and or in the wild someone may mistake a paddle they might not like as a joola both of which affect their brand
I love all of your videos and reviews! You gave out some caveats to some brands for good reason. It is worth noting that Selkirk has THREE different lines of paddles for a reason. Entry, middle, and advanced. I personally separate the price point of Labs because it reflects that the paddles are not mass produced and part of early R&D. You even have to apply to purchase a Labs paddle, which gives you an out unless you REALLY want the Labs paddle. May be my brand-washed opinion but I think Selkirk has offerings at all levels
I think one thing missing in your evaluations of companies is warranty support. Anecdotally, Six Zero has not been responsive to my friend's delaminated double black, whereas CRBN has a 1 year warranty and sent out a replacement that landed on my doorstep 1 week after I filed a claim. Most others are 3-6 months.
Just FYI, I bought a Vatic V7 at the end of March 2023 and it is pretty delaminated at this point. So got about 4 months out of it with pretty heavy use. Lots of spin and power. Contact with the ball doesn't feel super plush but control comes from getting used to it. Wish the handle was a tiny bit longer and the swing weight a tiny bit lower.
Thanks for sharing! Though, I think March may have still been the original batches. I'd have to ask them when the updates came. I thought it was post March.
I totally agree with you on your picks. I absolutely love my Ronbus R3Pulsar and patiently waiting for the new Ronbus paddle "the Ripple ". Great review 😊
Love all your tier lists and reviews! You should do a pickleball shoe review or tier list! I have now gone thru a pair of ASICS and new balance both extremely quick. The tred just doesn’t last and I only play 2-3 times a week albeit I am 180lbs but $150 for a pair of shoes that only lasts a years worth of play is kinda nuts
You’re lucky, I recently had the dilemma of finding the right shoe and from what I was reading, people are going through shoes in a few months! I can’t buy a 100 dollar pair of shoes every few months lol
I'm working on a Selkirk shoe review! I probably won't go too deep into shoes though. I love my Head Revolt 4.0s and I'd rather not risk my feet for reviews. 😂
I've been using the heads since your announcement of the deal. I like them and the uppers have held up really well, but the soles have worn fast. Significant holes in the outer layer and the ridges completely worn away in a lot of the sole I'm only 150 pounds and 64.
Yeah, I have noticed the soles wear quickly too. That's the one thing I'd say is a bummer, but I guess it's made up by the warranty. I'm hoping on the next model they fix that.
Agree with your placements. It’s a shame that Selkirk has really fallen behind. The prices they were asking when the power air/002/003 came out were already a stretch, but now with all these companies making awesome paddles for cheap, it’s pretty unreasonable. I’d say the only thing that’s really “S” tier worthy of them is their QC and warranty.
@@Aaron-mn2roand? Lol Does nothing for the average player. They’re just another Nike or adidas if not a “luxury” brand like Gucci for the pickleball world lmfao.
Maybe Yonex and Wilson can actually sit down (they way they have historically with tennis pros) with players and recraft some quality offerings! Wouldn't this be a dream for pballers all over?!
If you are one of the many who paid a premium for this paddle and got a dud. And Gearbox won't stand behind the warranty. Simply file a claim in your community small claims court to hold them accountable. Not sure what is worse their quality control or their customer service.
Thank you, I use the Legacy and Legacy Pro and love it so far but haven't tried anything else yet. If you were to recommend an upgrade in feel and equal or more power what would you suggest.
Feel is a bit subjective. Your options would probably be a CRBN1X, Vatic Pro Flash 16mm. Power is also a bit tough, because with core crushing, some paddles have been more powerful out of the box without people necessarily noticing.
@pickleballstudio I recently purchased the vatic pro flash (orange logo) and just saw this video and you seemed to like the prism flash (purple logo) more. I was curious if they were both the same price which paddle do you think is better overall? Appreciate your feedback!
Of the paddles I own and play with....(1st thru 5th), my go-to is the Forza 16mm, then DBD 14mm, Forza 14mm, 11six24 YSF, and lastly the Model E Elite. My Forza 16mm and DBD 14mm are very similar with regards to power/spin/control, just prefer the slightly longer handle on the Forza for my 2 handed backhands.
At 22:33 you said you were gonna review the Ballista V2 next month. Did that fall through? Would love to see a review on it! From what I hear, it's very comparable to a Luxx but at a much better price point.
Because their customers keep buying them. These companies have the marketing budget to hit the mainstream markets or be sold in big box stores and major retail websites. Vatic, Ronbus and 6.0, which are pretty unanimously the best paddles on the market, are cheaper but don't have the means to get as many eyes on their product.
Because they keep selling them. I loved my Engage until I tried some other less expensive (ronbus) paddles but I see engage paddles everywhere. As long as they sell they will keep making them.
Tried the Slinger and the Tutor Plus . While the Slinger wins in convenience, some what, the Tutor wins in ball flight and control. I purchase a carrying strap with handle ($12 Amazon) and that took care of the awkward handle location of the Plus. The small wheels are an issue when rolling thru grass or gravel which seldom occurs. Because I converted my tennis ball hopper to pickup pickleball balls carrying balls isnt a problem. So for most part the convenience is taken care of. (you didnt mention that the oscillator on the slinger has to be carried and the bag mounted on of it and then connected. Pretty inconvenient). But the spins, speed, elevation control, 2 line and random control on the Plus is superior. The addition $200 the Plus costs is worth the money. Especially when the 3 year warranty and customer support of the plus is considered.
Looking forward to a Maverix Havik-16 and Zenith C7/C8 review. I'm pretty confident the C7 C8 four titles under $100. And the Havik-16 4125 shipped with the hat and pedal cover! My opinion the best deal best value for a modern paddle. And I dig the shape and the swing weight.
Cool video - but I would recommend defining your criteria a little more. Some times you're ranking paddles high based on price-quality ratio (Vactic). That's fine - but for someone who plays tournaments every month, I'm more curious in pure quality. Perhaps that's two videos...but you get my point.
Yeah, I feel you. I can’t please everyone haha. You could rank companies on quality, performance, price, warranty, customer service, what they do for the sport, variety, etc. there’s a never ending amount of ways you could rank them.
Thanks Chris for taking the time to update this list. I'm hoping that Pickleball Apes puts out more options soon. Standard head shape with shorter handle for me. Really hope the Kevlar blend with carbon fiber helps with the "delam" issues. Adhesives used by all these companies, seem to be "secret". Maybe you know different????
The "delam", or core corruption issues are in the core, not the paddle face material. So it's unlikely that a kevlar/carbon blend will make a difference. It's caused by the core material becoming brittle during the hot molding process.
@@douglasmurdoch7247 Delamination and core crush are NOT the same thing. The face material can "separate" from the core if the "adhesive" process is not done right, or is affected by the heating process.
@@kimleith1378 I’m well aware of that, but actual delamination almost never happens. It’s just the name that stuck, because it’s what people thought was happening when it was actually core corruption. True delam is a rare issue.
Have you done a detailed review of the Bison Rampage paddle? I would be curious as to your thoughts about how it compares to say the Gearbox CX14H or the Joola Radius.
Hi Chris. Every time I see an updated video on your Paddle ratings the list of companies grows which requires more of your time but I wonder if you have tested any paddles from TMPR?
Just curious - why is Niupipo an F? I know they don’t have a big brand, but I own a Niupipo T700 CF myself, and I cannot tell the difference between this Niupipo and my other paddles (Vatic Pro prism flash, Spartus, CRBN 1X, etc). In fact, I feel my Niupipo sometimes outperforms my other paddles, but maybe I am just not good at assessing paddle quality…
Will you ever do a review of the Ballr Pro paddle? Gen 1 raw carbon fiber but 6" handle. Similar to Hyperion imo but for less than half the price. Plus I like the company's mission. Would love to hear your opinions.
Agree with your comments on ProDrive Ghost (needs lead weight) and Drive carbon (heavy); however, I'd rate them an "A" now that they have a full lineup of offerings & price points, and especially because the original (non-carbon) drive paddle is a phenomenal blend of power and control.. a much better version of a Diadem Warrior.
Of course can't comment on many of these but... Vulcan I feel dropped the ball, I have played the V570, V740 (new JD paddle) and expected more from the V900 series, but my game has moved on. I got a 6.0 and loved it until I got the Ronbus right after I now have to give the R1 Pulsar a go, as my new fave is the Ronbus R3. For me as a bigger guy who wants a bit of control it seems to fit me better than the 6.0 which I have in the bag but the Ronbus R3 Pulsar seems to be the one I go to...
If you want to know about what Gamma is up to, please reach out. I am in product development for paddles and can let you know what has been in development
Im switching to Ace, but I’m spending $50 on it. Using a discount code and selling my old paddle. I’ve seen nothing but great reviews for ACE including a friend who used it.
What do you mean when you say that your friend has "broken" three legacy pro paddles? I know when you first reviewed a Legacy Pro, one of your main points was that you could not break it at the handle (probably because it is one piece thermoformed). I have warranteed my first Pro due to delamination but "broken" ? Does your friend actually break them or is it something else like edgeguard or delamination? I really respect your opinions and bought my legacy after watching many of your reviews.
Have you heard of Cheetah Predion E16 Af Cf 3K carbon fiber face, core made out Aramid fiber product involved in making Kevlar, let me know. I do own and play with Vatic pro, 6.0 Double Black Diamond, Ronbus, and Volair Forza great paddles. great review. thanks for the information.
I like the list but I feel like Legacy is getting a bit of a bad rep here. I know you’ve seen a lot of delams but around where I am there aren’t any. And I’m on your discord and I rarely really hear anything about that there either. I think they should be an A until some of their new stuff comes out! Also, in all your talks with various companies do you know what the next ‘thing’ is? Thermoformed paddles took the world by storm it seemed like and I wonder what the next industry disruption will be and when we can expect it
haha even if I knew, I wouldn't be able to say anything publicly ;) Glad to hear your experience has been different. It just seems to be a very mixed bag of experiences. The guy I know who has broken 3 or so of them isn't that hard of a hitter, so it's crazy to me how fast he's breaking them.
@pickleball studio Respectfully, from a business owners perspective, one friend, or for that matter word of mouth, is hardly a scientific methodology/reason for classifying or labeling Legacy Pro paddles in such a negative light. Just out of curiosity, when did you last speak to the owner of Legacy, giving him the chance to respond to your "hearsay/rumour/word of mouth" claims. I'm not sure you understand that entrepeneurs put their heart, passion, soul, money, savings and homes on the line to help uplift, expand and positively contribute to the pickleball community. Words matter, and words should not be based on hearsay and rumours.
@@PickleballStudio yeah I figure there is variation. I wonder if there are more delams during summer or winter due to people leaving their paddles in their car or playing in extreme temps. Have you heard of any swells in delams or anything like that?
I bought 2 Legacy Pro recently. One has already delaminated. Lousy odds..if you asked me. To add on , the business owner has terrible service support...Try dealing with him if you have any delivery issues....
@@WisdomInsightReality What hearsay and rumors though? He's not hearing this through the grapevine, he actually knows people where this is the case. You're acting like he's making it up.
17:50 A paddle with a 7" long handle having a low swing weight should not be a surprise at all. The face is larger and thus heavier than the handle, so that longer handle eats away from the face length and thus eats away from the swing weight. Pretty straightforward.
I was basing this off elongated vs standard shaped paddles where more often than not the longer handle also meant a higher swing weight. Your reasoning makes perfect sense.
@@goldenchildtheater The more sound way to phrase it would be "less weight at the top makes the head feel lighter". I know what you meant, but it's important to note that you can never decrease the swing weight by adding weight anywhere on a paddle (i.e. swing weight can only increase unless material is removed).
In this specific video, return policies aren’t factored. Warranties can definitely gain some points, but the primary focus for me in these is performance and cost. Warranty+CS+return policy as the primary would be a totally different result
@@PickleballStudio thanks for the clarification. For me as a player I also factor in warranty, return policy, and customer support. With that in mind I'd drop Vatic to an A at best given their weak 90 day warranty and worthless return policy (you can only return it if it's still new and in the original packaging). Gruvn also has a 90 day warranty so that would drop them as well. I'd still keep Ronbus at S but dock some points for the return policy. Their 6 month warranty is standard but given the durability testing they put their paddles through it brings additional peace of mind. I've found their customer support to be excellent, always heard back from Dong and/or Lisa when reaching them. I'd keep Pickleball Apes at A with a strong leaning towards S but it's too early to see how the Pro Line Energy plays out. They definitely get props for a true no-risk 30 day return policy and a 1-year warranty. I've contacted Waiman several times at Pickleball Apes and like Ronbus I get a prompt response.
I've seen multiple comments from Six Zero players that the 2022 DBD plays noticeably different from the new batch which is now softer. @Chris, have you heard of this?
@pickleball studio From a business owners perspective, one friend, or for that matter word of mouth, is hardly a scientific methodology for classifying or labeling Legacy Pro paddles in such a negative light. Just out of curiosity, when did you last speak to the owner of Legacy, giving him the chance to respond to your "hearsay/rumour/word of mouth" claims. I'm not sure you understand that entrepeneurs put their heart, passion, soul, money, savings and homes on the line to help uplift, expand and positively contribute to the pickleball community.
haha that's been in the back of my last few videos (I think) or at a bare minimum, I've had it on my shelf for a week or two. I just put paddles back there that I think will show up on camera. 😂
Interested in what Chris means by "break" on CRBN. I've tried about 10 different paddles and have constantly gone back to my CRBN (5 months no breaking). Slightly reduced spin and others but I just can pick it up and control without issues. If mine is "broken" then so be it lol
@@matthewandkristenturvin9049 I figured it was something along those lines, but "breaking" is a vague term (could be handle, core, edge, etc). I've had my 1x with no issues but always store it in optimal conditions so always interesting to hear others breaking.
@@webstermiller7765 Where do you and your friend live/play? I've had the 1X forever and have had zero issues and I play with plenty of bangers and hit pretty hard myself (unless I just happened to get a decent batch)
@@ryanterracino Dallas, TX and this was in the late Spring so it wasn't like the temps were extremely low or high. They were all the 1X and I wouldn't classify my friend as a banger at all. While he can hit as hard as anyone, he generally plays more of a control game.
Legacy Pro pedal by itself is okay but support team is horrible. I emailed them for two diferent reasons and never heard from them. It has been like 3 months now. Do not recommend
I bought 2 Legacy Pro recently. One has already delaminated. Lousy odds..if you asked me. To add on , the business owner has terrible service support...Try dealing with him if you have any delivery issues....
We got to drop Paddletek down to F after the "new" paddle drop. Lmao that stuff is just embarrassing to drop just minimal gen 1 carbon paddles after nothing new for probably seven years or so. Also, my hot take is that if these carbon tempest reign pros are or have been approved, who's to say that the paddletek pros currently and past haven't been using them over some time.....hmmm paddlegate potentially?
![OhGeesy x Lefty Gunplay - What It Iz [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/L0yzW9t2ixk/mqdefault.jpg)
The new Engage Pro seems to be making some noise (in a good way) which was announced after this video. I'll see if I can get one to check it out. Might bump Engage up a few slots.
But the price of that new Engage paddle tho and I currently play MX Pursuit 6.0 & Volair Mach 1. Even with discounts it’s still a pricey paddle, which would prevent me from getting one. Got big discount on my MX
The engage pro gets incredible spin
the big sell
has to be the warranty
Looks like Engage gave up on the LX paddles
Any word on this review in the future. Really looking forward to it
Love the list Chris. It is amazing to see how the paddle landscape has changed in the last year. Three small, grass roots companies beating out the giants. You love to see it!
Bought a Vatic Pro Prism V7 and I love it. The quality and performance is absolutely outstanding. Of course the price is bananas. Need to support companies like this.
Agree 100% - used this one 100% of the 3x I played this past weekend, and was pleased with the spin, touch, feel and overall performance... for sub $100??? NO brainer....
Love the list and 100% agree! I've tried or owned pretty much all of them in the S and A tiers and when it was all said and done... I went back and bought a Joola Hyperion. We may need to start a discord support group for people like myself who just can't break away. They may be stuck manufacturing that model for the next 10 years. :-)
Been using a Joola paddle for a year but now have the R3 pulsar 16mm which has been an eye opener on how it’s changed my game. Lisa at Ronbus has been supportive and accessible….great customer service and responsive..
Great paddle for the price , great control, and power when needed
The more stories you hear about Ronbus' paddle and their excellent customer service, the more you are inclined to become a customer of theirs. I think with many new manufacturers coming out with great paddles (Bison, Pickleball Apes, etc.) what will eventually keep these manufacturers at the top, is how they react to customer service issues, not just product development. The development of new tech means nothing if they do not stand behind their product. You only get one chance to keep a customer.
But the prices are so high... some of the priciest of all paddles out there.
@@gaiusgracchus7475 Joola paddles and Selkirk are among the pricier paddles. Doesn't mean they are tbe best. Many other options are great.
Yes the update! I love how this video needs to be redone every few months because of how fast the paddle space is moving
I completely agree with your S group as I now play with the Vatic Pro Prism Flash and my wife plays with the Ronbus R1 Pulsar and these are both great paddles that have held up quite well through lots of hours of play. I have also tried the Six Zero DBD and it felt nice, they just don't have enough supply. On the other hand, I would not keep Selkirk or Joola in the A group. Selkirk has not introduced anything new at the consumer (versus Lab) level in almost a year and is really falling behind the market and the prices for Selkirk's top paddles are much too high given all the competition. Joola at least has introduced some new and seemingly good quality paddles recently, but again, the prices are just too high given the competition.
In any case, good presentation as usual.
What does the "S" mean in the S Group? Thanks RJ
I play with Ronbus, 6.0, and Vatic Pro. I approve this list.
lol
Great video Chris! I think you have nailed this and while some may argue the position of a few, it is very accurate to me. You have done a great job of demoting those manufacturers who have not maintained their previous year's growth both in terms of paddle technology, but also reliability, performance, and price points. I am very happy to see that some of the paddle manufacturers who have struggled with quality issues were demoted, as they should be. Your channel gets many views, so if I were one of those companies I might pay a bit more attention at nailing down quality or at the very least, providing superb customer service because I really think that some of these manufacturers have lost customers - not because their paddle does not perform, but because of all the issues with a new paddles (sometimes in only a week or two - unacceptable). I also like that you noted those manufacturers who are taking shortcuts or "cheaping-out" on handles, etc.
Finally, I am very happy to see great paddles being made for around $100-120 which hold up and which contain all of the benefits of a Gen 1 paddle. While everyone seems bent out of shape chasing power, these paddles offer a better blend of control and power.
Great presentation. I have two ideas for you to consider. During reviews, disclose warranty and return policies and add a column to your spreadsheet to select individual paddles across brands and then filter on the list as most of us are trying to narrow down specs to 4-5 paddles and this would make it easy. Thanks
I have a few of the $200 plus paddles from Engage and Selkirk....but now i am loving my Vatic Prism and Ronbus for $100. No need to spend more for me at least. (The prism is a revelation!)
the way joola tries to throw its weight around to bully other companies like legacy for example out of the scene should be enough to lower them to C at least in my opinion. They should be advocates for the game, helping it grow, not trying to kill competition by getting them trapped in legal battles
To be fair, what was Legacy thinking with their logo? It's obviously a riff on the Joola logo, there's no way it's a coincidence. They kind of brought it on themselves.
@@randyhanna1954not trying to argue one way or the other, only want to point out that you saying "it would be the legacy mistook for a joola...joola is t losing anything" that's actually exactly why joola would be upset. New customers may purchase a different brand thinking it's joola and or in the wild someone may mistake a paddle they might not like as a joola both of which affect their brand
@@rbb2114no one mistakes a Joola for a Legacy or vice versa.
I love all of your videos and reviews! You gave out some caveats to some brands for good reason. It is worth noting that Selkirk has THREE different lines of paddles for a reason. Entry, middle, and advanced. I personally separate the price point of Labs because it reflects that the paddles are not mass produced and part of early R&D. You even have to apply to purchase a Labs paddle, which gives you an out unless you REALLY want the Labs paddle. May be my brand-washed opinion but I think Selkirk has offerings at all levels
True, but you can argue that what they are putting out in the Selkirk Labs series has been duplicated by others for a third of the price.
Good point, but a replica is a replica. I can build a 1,000 HP Honda civic for $10k, but it's still not a Ferrari@@danpiedra3910
I think one thing missing in your evaluations of companies is warranty support. Anecdotally, Six Zero has not been responsive to my friend's delaminated double black, whereas CRBN has a 1 year warranty and sent out a replacement that landed on my doorstep 1 week after I filed a claim. Most others are 3-6 months.
Loving the S tier paddles - currently have the R3.16 and looking to move onto the Ronbus R1 Pulsar!
Love Vatic. Just delaminated my V7. Took about 2 months of play 5 days a week. Incredible customer service though.
Just FYI, I bought a Vatic V7 at the end of March 2023 and it is pretty delaminated at this point. So got about 4 months out of it with pretty heavy use. Lots of spin and power. Contact with the ball doesn't feel super plush but control comes from getting used to it. Wish the handle was a tiny bit longer and the swing weight a tiny bit lower.
Thanks for sharing! Though, I think March may have still been the original batches. I'd have to ask them when the updates came. I thought it was post March.
I totally agree with you on your picks. I absolutely love my Ronbus R3Pulsar and patiently waiting for the new Ronbus paddle "the Ripple ". Great review 😊
I'd love to talk about CRBN more. I haven't heard much about them breaking. What have you heard?
Love all your tier lists and reviews! You should do a pickleball shoe review or tier list! I have now gone thru a pair of ASICS and new balance both extremely quick. The tred just doesn’t last and I only play 2-3 times a week albeit I am 180lbs but $150 for a pair of shoes that only lasts a years worth of play is kinda nuts
You’re lucky, I recently had the dilemma of finding the right shoe and from what I was reading, people are going through shoes in a few months! I can’t buy a 100 dollar pair of shoes every few months lol
I'm working on a Selkirk shoe review! I probably won't go too deep into shoes though.
I love my Head Revolt 4.0s and I'd rather not risk my feet for reviews. 😂
I've been using the heads since your announcement of the deal. I like them and the uppers have held up really well, but the soles have worn fast. Significant holes in the outer layer and the ridges completely worn away in a lot of the sole I'm only 150 pounds and 64.
Yeah, I have noticed the soles wear quickly too. That's the one thing I'd say is a bummer, but I guess it's made up by the warranty. I'm hoping on the next model they fix that.
Great Job. Thanks for the time to put all this together for the New B's. keep up the good work. T MO
Great video Chris. Your rankings are very solid.
Agree with your placements. It’s a shame that Selkirk has really fallen behind. The prices they were asking when the power air/002/003 came out were already a stretch, but now with all these companies making awesome paddles for cheap, it’s pretty unreasonable. I’d say the only thing that’s really “S” tier worthy of them is their QC and warranty.
Don't forget all the money they inject back into the game with sponsorships and outreach programs
@@Aaron-mn2roand? Lol
Does nothing for the average player. They’re just another Nike or adidas if not a “luxury” brand like Gucci for the pickleball world lmfao.
I dunno - seems like a lot of expensive (and frequently overwrought) television advertising that customers are subsidizing...but that's just me....
Great video Chris :) Interesting comparing this to last years list to see some of the movers.
Maybe Yonex and Wilson can actually sit down (they way they have historically with tennis pros) with players and recraft some quality offerings! Wouldn't this be a dream for pballers all over?!
I look forward to these. Thank you!
If you are one of the many who paid a premium for this paddle and got a dud. And Gearbox won't stand behind the warranty. Simply file a claim in your community small claims court to hold them accountable. Not sure what is worse their quality control or their customer service.
Can't go wrong with Ronbus, that's an easy decision all day
Thank you, I use the Legacy and Legacy Pro and love it so far but haven't tried anything else yet. If you were to recommend an upgrade in feel and equal or more power what would you suggest.
Feel is a bit subjective. Your options would probably be a CRBN1X, Vatic Pro Flash 16mm.
Power is also a bit tough, because with core crushing, some paddles have been more powerful out of the box without people necessarily noticing.
@pickleballstudio I recently purchased the vatic pro flash (orange logo) and just saw this video and you seemed to like the prism flash (purple logo) more. I was curious if they were both the same price which paddle do you think is better overall? Appreciate your feedback!
Love the honesty. Great video
It should be interesting to see what's coming next from Electrum.
This is pure comedic gold. Thank you.
Why’s that?
Would love to see your tier list as well. Get on it!
Of the paddles I own and play with....(1st thru 5th), my go-to is the Forza 16mm, then DBD 14mm, Forza 14mm, 11six24 YSF, and lastly the Model E Elite. My Forza 16mm and DBD 14mm are very similar with regards to power/spin/control, just prefer the slightly longer handle on the Forza for my 2 handed backhands.
How's the 11six24 paddle? I ordered it recently due to a good discount.
Was waiting for this one !!
At 22:33 you said you were gonna review the Ballista V2 next month. Did that fall through? Would love to see a review on it! From what I hear, it's very comparable to a Luxx but at a much better price point.
I don’t understand why companies are still charging 200 bucks for a new paddle when there’s so many 100 dollar options that are better
Because their customers keep buying them. These companies have the marketing budget to hit the mainstream markets or be sold in big box stores and major retail websites. Vatic, Ronbus and 6.0, which are pretty unanimously the best paddles on the market, are cheaper but don't have the means to get as many eyes on their product.
Big money sponsorships for players and tournaments
@@matthewandkristenturvin9049 makes sense. Only the hardcore players that keep up with new tech are going to see these types of paddles.
Because they keep selling them. I loved my Engage until I tried some other less expensive (ronbus) paddles but I see engage paddles everywhere. As long as they sell they will keep making them.
Because people are willing to buy them? Lmao
Tried the Slinger and the Tutor Plus . While the Slinger wins in convenience, some what, the Tutor wins in ball flight and control. I purchase a carrying strap with handle ($12 Amazon) and that took care of the awkward handle location of the Plus. The small wheels are an issue when rolling thru grass or gravel which seldom occurs. Because I converted my tennis ball hopper to pickup pickleball balls carrying balls isnt a problem. So for most part the convenience is taken care of. (you didnt mention that the oscillator on the slinger has to be carried and the bag mounted on of it and then connected. Pretty inconvenient). But the spins, speed, elevation control, 2 line and random control on the Plus is superior. The addition $200 the Plus costs is worth the money. Especially when the 3 year warranty and customer support of the plus is considered.
What issues do you see with the Vulcan V570s? Have one now and enjoy the touch and feel with no issues so far (I’m a beginner few months into playing)
yeah same. I can't find mention of issues anywhere. It's a very solid control paddle imo.
Looking forward to a Maverix Havik-16 and Zenith C7/C8 review. I'm pretty confident the C7 C8 four titles under $100. And the Havik-16 4125 shipped with the hat and pedal cover! My opinion the best deal best value for a modern paddle. And I dig the shape and the swing weight.
I love my XSPAK! Got it for $80 on Amazon! No one can beat that!!
Cool video - but I would recommend defining your criteria a little more. Some times you're ranking paddles high based on price-quality ratio (Vactic). That's fine - but for someone who plays tournaments every month, I'm more curious in pure quality. Perhaps that's two videos...but you get my point.
Yeah, I feel you. I can’t please everyone haha. You could rank companies on quality, performance, price, warranty, customer service, what they do for the sport, variety, etc. there’s a never ending amount of ways you could rank them.
Thanks Chris for taking the time to update this list. I'm hoping that Pickleball Apes puts out more options soon. Standard head shape with shorter handle for me. Really hope the Kevlar blend with carbon fiber helps with the "delam" issues. Adhesives used by all these companies, seem to be "secret". Maybe you know different????
The "delam", or core corruption issues are in the core, not the paddle face material. So it's unlikely that a kevlar/carbon blend will make a difference. It's caused by the core material becoming brittle during the hot molding process.
@@douglasmurdoch7247 Delamination and core crush are NOT the same thing. The face material can "separate" from the core if the "adhesive" process is not done right, or is affected by the heating process.
@@kimleith1378 I’m well aware of that, but actual delamination almost never happens. It’s just the name that stuck, because it’s what people thought was happening when it was actually core corruption. True delam is a rare issue.
Hi Chris! I was wondering if you’d heard anything about the Holbrook Power Pro paddle? Appreciate all of your content and advice!
Haven't been able to check it out!
Have you done a detailed review of the Bison Rampage paddle? I would be curious as to your thoughts about how it compares to say the Gearbox CX14H or the Joola Radius.
Hi Chris. Every time I see an updated video on your Paddle ratings the list of companies grows which requires more of your time but I wonder if you have tested any paddles from TMPR?
I haven't gotten to try TMPR yet. I have one high level player here who uses the new raw carbon one though.
Just curious - why is Niupipo an F? I know they don’t have a big brand, but I own a Niupipo T700 CF myself, and I cannot tell the difference between this Niupipo and my other paddles (Vatic Pro prism flash, Spartus, CRBN 1X, etc). In fact, I feel my Niupipo sometimes outperforms my other paddles, but maybe I am just not good at assessing paddle quality…
Will you ever do a review of the Ballr Pro paddle? Gen 1 raw carbon fiber but 6" handle. Similar to Hyperion imo but for less than half the price. Plus I like the company's mission. Would love to hear your opinions.
Did I hear Prince? My local tennis shop has Prince paddles, never seen anyone with one.
I wish Ronbus, Vatic & SixZero would have some lighter weight options for women.
You should review the Versix RAW 6C+
Agree with your comments on ProDrive Ghost (needs lead weight) and Drive carbon (heavy); however, I'd rate them an "A" now that they have a full lineup of offerings & price points, and especially because the original (non-carbon) drive paddle is a phenomenal blend of power and control.. a much better version of a Diadem Warrior.
What’s up guys
Good, looking forward!
Of course can't comment on many of these but... Vulcan I feel dropped the ball, I have played the V570, V740 (new JD paddle) and expected more from the V900 series, but my game has moved on. I got a 6.0 and loved it until I got the Ronbus right after I now have to give the R1 Pulsar a go, as my new fave is the Ronbus R3. For me as a bigger guy who wants a bit of control it seems to fit me better than the 6.0 which I have in the bag but the Ronbus R3 Pulsar seems to be the one I go to...
I have two legacy paddles and neither has broken
6.0, I have a paddle that just received two days ago and I had deformed dent/hole on the face. Not sure how long it will take for them to respond.
If you want to know about what Gamma is up to, please reach out. I am in product development for paddles and can let you know what has been in development
Felt the Obsidian was a let down. Gamma had ages to catch up with the market and the Obsidian was already behind when it made its debut.
Where should I reach out?
@@PickleballStudio I'll send you a message with my email on your website
Look forward to it!
Im switching to Ace, but I’m spending $50 on it. Using a discount code and selling my old paddle. I’ve seen nothing but great reviews for ACE including a friend who used it.
Yeah, you can’t go wrong for $50 haha
What do you mean when you say that your friend has "broken" three legacy pro paddles? I know when you first reviewed a Legacy Pro, one of your main points was that you could not break it at the handle (probably because it is one piece thermoformed). I have warranteed my first Pro due to delamination but "broken" ? Does your friend actually break them or is it something else like edgeguard or delamination? I really respect your opinions and bought my legacy after watching many of your reviews.
Delamination.
What is your main paddle?
I think he said the SixZero Double Black Diamond a while back.
While I was looking at the B&B Filth for my next paddle, this might have swayed me to pick up the Ronbus R3 Pulsar instead.
Switched from Crbn to 6.0. Clear difference and way better
In what way is it better?
Love this content
I’m going to put this video into the C category.
Have you heard of Cheetah Predion E16 Af Cf 3K carbon fiber face, core made out Aramid fiber product involved in making Kevlar, let me know.
I do own and play with Vatic pro, 6.0 Double Black Diamond, Ronbus, and Volair Forza great paddles. great review. thanks for the information.
Thumbs up & subscribed. What does the "S" category mean? GOD, Guns & Gumbo
Would the Diadem Warror v2 be a buy now that is on sale and with code is 160ish?
Anyone heard of any delamination issues with the Ronbus pulsar paddles?
Forgive my ignorance, but what does S stand for ?
PIckleball studio > The dink pickleball
I like the list but I feel like Legacy is getting a bit of a bad rep here. I know you’ve seen a lot of delams but around where I am there aren’t any. And I’m on your discord and I rarely really hear anything about that there either. I think they should be an A until some of their new stuff comes out!
Also, in all your talks with various companies do you know what the next ‘thing’ is? Thermoformed paddles took the world by storm it seemed like and I wonder what the next industry disruption will be and when we can expect it
haha even if I knew, I wouldn't be able to say anything publicly ;)
Glad to hear your experience has been different. It just seems to be a very mixed bag of experiences. The guy I know who has broken 3 or so of them isn't that hard of a hitter, so it's crazy to me how fast he's breaking them.
@pickleball studio Respectfully, from a business owners perspective, one friend, or for that matter word of mouth, is hardly a scientific methodology/reason for classifying or labeling Legacy Pro paddles in such a negative light. Just out of curiosity, when did you last speak to the owner of Legacy, giving him the chance to respond to your "hearsay/rumour/word of mouth" claims. I'm not sure you understand that entrepeneurs put their heart, passion, soul, money, savings and homes on the line to help uplift, expand and positively contribute to the pickleball community. Words matter, and words should not be based on hearsay and rumours.
@@PickleballStudio yeah I figure there is variation. I wonder if there are more delams during summer or winter due to people leaving their paddles in their car or playing in extreme temps. Have you heard of any swells in delams or anything like that?
I bought 2 Legacy Pro recently. One has already delaminated. Lousy odds..if you asked me. To add on , the business owner has terrible service support...Try dealing with him if you have any delivery issues....
@@WisdomInsightReality What hearsay and rumors though? He's not hearing this through the grapevine, he actually knows people where this is the case. You're acting like he's making it up.
Where do the new Babolat paddles rank?
17:50 A paddle with a 7" long handle having a low swing weight should not be a surprise at all. The face is larger and thus heavier than the handle, so that longer handle eats away from the face length and thus eats away from the swing weight. Pretty straightforward.
Yea. More weight at the bottom makes the head feel lighter right?
I was basing this off elongated vs standard shaped paddles where more often than not the longer handle also meant a higher swing weight.
Your reasoning makes perfect sense.
@@goldenchildtheater The more sound way to phrase it would be "less weight at the top makes the head feel lighter". I know what you meant, but it's important to note that you can never decrease the swing weight by adding weight anywhere on a paddle (i.e. swing weight can only increase unless material is removed).
Where would you put the Holbrook at?
I'm curious as to what you would think of the Third Shot Drop paddle at $325.
Haven't seen them. Hard to imagine it's worth it though.
Hey Chris, are your ratings based on the product line or do you factor in variables such as warranty and return policies, customer support, etc?
In this specific video, return policies aren’t factored. Warranties can definitely gain some points, but the primary focus for me in these is performance and cost. Warranty+CS+return policy as the primary would be a totally different result
@@PickleballStudio thanks for the clarification. For me as a player I also factor in warranty, return policy, and customer support. With that in mind I'd drop Vatic to an A at best given their weak 90 day warranty and worthless return policy (you can only return it if it's still new and in the original packaging). Gruvn also has a 90 day warranty so that would drop them as well. I'd still keep Ronbus at S but dock some points for the return policy. Their 6 month warranty is standard but given the durability testing they put their paddles through it brings additional peace of mind. I've found their customer support to be excellent, always heard back from Dong and/or Lisa when reaching them. I'd keep Pickleball Apes at A with a strong leaning towards S but it's too early to see how the Pro Line Energy plays out. They definitely get props for a true no-risk 30 day return policy and a 1-year warranty. I've contacted Waiman several times at Pickleball Apes and like Ronbus I get a prompt response.
When you mention CRBN paddles breaking...are you talking about delamination or actually breaking?
Delamination. Only the X line of paddles.
@@PickleballStudio Yeah, my 2x did after 5 months, but CRBN had a replacement in my hands in 3 days after I filed my claim.
Agree with Spartus gong into A and probably even S in a cpl years.
That Ballista is impressive so far.
Are you recommending the VP Prizm or VP Prizm Flash?
Do you mean the Prism V7 or the Prism Flash? Most people prefer the Prism Flash. The Prism V7 is even heavier than the V7, with a swingweight of 128.
I've seen multiple comments from Six Zero players that the 2022 DBD plays noticeably different from the new batch which is now softer. @Chris, have you heard of this?
Yeah, I’ve been hearing that. It seems to happen to a lot of the thermos. My rainbow is a bit more poppy than my standard.
@pickleball studio From a business owners perspective, one friend, or for that matter word of mouth, is hardly a scientific methodology for classifying or labeling Legacy Pro paddles in such a negative light. Just out of curiosity, when did you last speak to the owner of Legacy, giving him the chance to respond to your "hearsay/rumour/word of mouth" claims. I'm not sure you understand that entrepeneurs put their heart, passion, soul, money, savings and homes on the line to help uplift, expand and positively contribute to the pickleball community.
Commenting after watching for 30 seconds. The Adidias paddle in the background is cracking me up! Please tell me that was intentional
haha that's been in the back of my last few videos (I think) or at a bare minimum, I've had it on my shelf for a week or two. I just put paddles back there that I think will show up on camera. 😂
Pretty sad that Prolite, the og’s of the modern paddle, don’t even get a mention.
You’re breaking Yoda’s heart. IYKYK
Paddletek new tempest v3 is out Chris. So it looks like you’ll have to stop complaining about a paddle that will actually last longer than 3 months
Interested in what Chris means by "break" on CRBN. I've tried about 10 different paddles and have constantly gone back to my CRBN (5 months no breaking). Slightly reduced spin and others but I just can pick it up and control without issues. If mine is "broken" then so be it lol
He is referring to delamination or "core-ruption" as Will calls it. The x series have a well earned reputation for breaking in this way.
It's the X series that keeps have delam/core-crush issues. A friend went through 3-4 before he just finally gave up on them.
@@matthewandkristenturvin9049 I figured it was something along those lines, but "breaking" is a vague term (could be handle, core, edge, etc). I've had my 1x with no issues but always store it in optimal conditions so always interesting to hear others breaking.
@@webstermiller7765 Where do you and your friend live/play? I've had the 1X forever and have had zero issues and I play with plenty of bangers and hit pretty hard myself (unless I just happened to get a decent batch)
@@ryanterracino Dallas, TX and this was in the late Spring so it wasn't like the temps were extremely low or high. They were all the 1X and I wouldn't classify my friend as a banger at all. While he can hit as hard as anyone, he generally plays more of a control game.
Love my vatic prism v7, as of today though the handle broke off after one month of use. /:
:O just from playing?
Yep just from playing.
Dang, that's wild! First I've heard of that happening. Appreciate the heads up.
Legacy Pro pedal by itself is okay but support team is horrible. I emailed them for two diferent reasons and never heard from them. It has been like 3 months now. Do not recommend
I bought 2 Legacy Pro recently. One has already delaminated. Lousy odds..if you asked me. To add on , the business owner has terrible service support...Try dealing with him if you have any delivery issues....
@@greenargon921 That's unfortunate. Mine is still holding strong, bought 3 months ago, so I guess it depends on the batch
THAT CAMERA QUALITY 🥵
why does legacy have the same logo as linkin park
Have you seen a new company called Professor Pickleball?
Just got one and it’s worth a look,,
You need to try Zcebra paddles
Im guessing the shillkirk payment didnt arrive in time. I was expecting S tier!
Are you thinking of Will? Does Chris even have anything to do with Selkirk?
The Diadem rating is a crime. The 18k edge is the highest spin in the market.
I don’t understand why you are knocking the Filth for too high of a SW, but you are talking up the VP Prism which has a higher SW
I like the Prism. Not the V7. Completely different SW
@@PickleballStudio the prism flash?
We got to drop Paddletek down to F after the "new" paddle drop. Lmao that stuff is just embarrassing to drop just minimal gen 1 carbon paddles after nothing new for probably seven years or so. Also, my hot take is that if these carbon tempest reign pros are or have been approved, who's to say that the paddletek pros currently and past haven't been using them over some time.....hmmm paddlegate potentially?
Are you going to be releasing a review for the new Paddletek Paddle with "ICED Carbon Fiber"? It's supposed to be released tomorrow, Aug 10th!
ha yeah, I recorded this last week before the announcement. I'll see if I can get my hands on them.
what does iced carbon fiber mean?
@@marmotdude Sounds like marketing buzzwords to me tbh.
PaddleTek released there new paddles
their*
Omg is it cyotheking?
Gearbox the only one with unique paddles. A tier minimum
Chris does a great job of keeping things transparent. He is one of the best RUclips Vlogers on paddles. Well done son!