Played with mine the first time this weekend. We have a very similar take and I too had issues with my serve going long during my first session with it. I'm sure I'll dial it in over the next session. I think what you found regarding the better performance on off-center hits can be attributed to the 'Hyperfoam Edge Wall' as it should increase MOI. And what you are seeing under the top of the grip is most likely related to what Joola refers to as the 'CX forged handle'; hopefully this is a true molded handle which is big upgrade from pieces of balsa wood many mfgs use to shape the handle. I'll be regripping mine tonight so I should know for sure then. I'm surprised you didn't mention either of these at all in your review as they are 2 features that are unique to the CFS line (hyperion and solaire shapes only).
These are primarily things I wanted to save for a full review because it was too early for me to really be able to tell when making this video. Another reason is I'm headed out of town for 11 days tomorrow, so I had to really rush to get this one up. Appreciate you mentioning those things!
Webster, can you provide any insight about the CX forged handle from when you did your re-wrap, per above. You can see my question to Chris below on this topic.
@@roberthowell9918 Unfortunately, I can't post pictures to a youtube reply, but the handle is molded carbon fiber. All "forged CF" means is that pieces of CF and resin are mixed together and then vacuum molded while the resin cures. If you've ever removed the grip of a tennis racket you can see the hard foam molded handles. It's the same look here but with CF.
@@webstermiller7765 So, it's not two pieces of Three-side material stapled on, like most other manufacturers (and on my Joola Radius). Was very underwhelmed with the Radius Handle build. Same old. Was hoping for better.
Thanks for this review! I really find your analytical approach to the reviews super helpful and refreshing. By far the best reviews and insight on the net right now. I did just get this paddle and played with it last night. It is amazing! It really is like the Engage Pursuit and the Electrum E got together and had a baby. It has the handle of the Pursuit, the control and spin of the Electrum E, but the power of the Electrum Pro (yes the Electrum Pro). It really is what I think the most well balanced and effective paddle out there right now. Looking forward to seeing how the other brands will react and push the tech forward.
Decided to get one and love it. Find I hit the baseline on serves and returns consistently while my soft game is much, much better. Love the handle style. Spin is great.
Chris, this was amazing. My only critique is the B-roll you used. You had so many amazing plays that it distracted me from the review 😉 10/10 bro. keep it up!
would love a follow up and long term review on this paddle :D. Just picked up the hyperion, love the soft touch with some nice spin and power from the base line. How would you say this paddle holds up long term? Thank you, keep killing the videos
Chris, can you do a reveal/breakdown of Joola's CX-FORGED ELONGATED HANDLE that comes with your Ben Johns CFS 16MM and Solaire CFS 14MM. Maybe you could film this the next time you re-wrap. I stripped my Radius to rewrap everything, and I was underwhelmed. Same old, same old. Honeycomb extended into handle with a couple of shims, in this case, Octogon shaped which I prefer. Would love to see what's going on underneath the wrap of the carbon forged handle. More manufacturers should put time and effort into this area of paddle design as this is where we connect with the paddle, and any shock from hits/strokes is sent into the arm. Thx for your great work
Thank you kind sir for squeezing this very helpful first impressions review into your tight schedule before you take a little well deserved time away!!
Would like to see how the Joola surfaces all hold up durability wise. If the less expensive Joola paddles surfaces will hold up and not be like the Franklin paddle. Nice review
After seeing Jay Dev. announce his new paddle and looking at the technology used, I'm curious as to how their V-Strut affects that paddle, and Prolite's new weave, and… So many new paddles. So little time to do your extensive reviews. Keep up the good work!
I think the seam at the top of the handle is there because it has a CX carbon forged handle that is said to provide flex for additional power and comfort. Only the CFS Joola paddles have this handle.
Looking forward to the comparison between this and the CRBN 1 16mm. Using a Selkirk Invikta Hybrid now (Gen 1) and could use a bit more spin but same face dimensions as the Selkirk.
Hi Bob. I haven’t yet played with any of the Joola paddles (yet) but I do play regularly with the Electrum “E” and got a CRBN1 16mm 2 days ago to try out. I use a ton of top spin on my serves and I try out most of the paddles that claim “heavy spin” and can judge pretty quickly whether the are spin-strong or not. The surface look, feel and grit of the CRBN1 is exactly like that on the “E”. The surfaces are identical. The top spin generated on my serves were also nearly identical. The only difference I could detect, after about 5 hours of solid drilling and a few games, were the sweet-spot on the CRBN1 may be a little better, or more forgiving, than the “E”. If I don’t pay hyper attention on watching the ball to the paddle, I can mis-hit some of my shots. If I didn’t already have the “E” I’d def be keeping the CRBN1 but since I do, I’ll probably return the CRBN1 and work on doing better at keeping my eye on the ball.
Very nice review. The Pickleball world is a buzz with the BJ paddle. It’s reviewers like yourself that help you decide if this paddle is worth. A try. I would love to see a review for the Solaire 14 mm which is more like my Icon than the Hyperion series. I definitely would like to give the Hyperion model a try for sure. Thanks for doing this for us equipment geeks.
Someone in one of the facebook groups I follow bought both the Hyperion CFS and the Solaire CFS. They prefer the Solaire over the Hyperion although they love both.
I bought one and like it also. It's got good pop and control. But the grip is not as good as it is on my Gearbox paddles and there also is a little less paddle-face area, not much but a little. I prefer the shape of the elongated Gearbox paddles. But the main thing is the grip. Too much depth in the grooving even though I covered it with a single Tourna Grip. This is probably because I'm accustomed to the Gearbox grips which I cover with two Tourna Grips beause they are a quarter inch smaller.
Any updated thoughts on the CFS paddle Chris? Have you had any time to play with any of the other Joola paddles like the 16mm CAS? I bought the CRBN1 a few days before the SHTF ban and I just ended up returning it so I'm searching for a replacement. Wondering if I should hold out for the newly released CRBN1 (which should happen in early June, they have the new batch in for testing and approval right now) or move over to something else and the CFS is on the lists. Going to sell off the Enguage Pursuit MX 6.0 also so I'm looking for a good replacement. Spin is top on the list with Control a close 2nd feature. How's the edge guard holding up on the CFS 16mm? Thanks for another great review!
Hopefully doing a full review by mid June or early June! CFS has become my main paddle and I’ve loved it. Spin is an interesting topic, I recently retested and noticed the numbers dropped a lot. From 1584 to 1200. But I want to do more testing since I have another brand new one. Edge guard came very loose, but I just superglued it and now it is fine. It seems mine was just defective and this isn’t a common issue. Overall I think the Hyperion is a pretty amazing paddle.
Although not as popular, I think you should review the Players Rogue2 (carbon and fiberglass). I’ve loved both of mine and I think they’re really a “sleeper” paddle. Would love to see how they stack up with your thorough reviews.
You think there's a chance Joola might make a 13mm Variant of this Hyperion CFS paddle? I played with it recently, it feels great, but I'm not a fan of 16mm anymore 😅
Hi Chris, do the joola paddles have an octagon handle, or just the end cap that looks that way like other manufacturers. Thx as always for your terrific pickle reporting & reviews.
Just picked one up today from my local store after reading and watching some videos. I read a lot of complaints that it felt too heavy/head heavy. After getting it home, I weighed mine at 8.1 oz out of the box. Is this too light where it may effect the performance of the paddle? Or did I just get lucky to find one that light?
Hoping you’ll follow up with durability soon. I heard you on The Dink say it’s your paddle of choice right now. Has there been any other issues with the edge guard? Great vids and content!
I super glued my edge guard and it’s been great! Joola said mine was defective and sent a second one as well. They said only a small batch had the edge guard issue that mine did.
Thanks for the review. Liking your channel a lot. Any chance you'd review a Players Pickleball Rogue 2 Carbon. I play the hybrid version and it's been great, but would be awesome for someone who has tried a ton of paddles to see how it compares.
In no particular order I think it would be: Diadem Warrior Electrum Model E Hyperion CFS I would need to hit with a few others to remember what I think the last two would be. A rough ball park might be an Engage Pursuit and an Invikta.
After watching BJ at the Red Rock, there seems to be a period of adjustment he is going through. He missed some shots he never misses. There is a sizable difference between the BJ Franklin and a carbon faced paddle. I have a Franklin for doubles and a MX 6.0 for singles. I believe J.W. Johnson uses two separate paddles for each also. I understand why. I will not pay $220 for a Joola or $330 for a Smiling Selkirk. When Joola puts rubber on the face of their pickleball paddles, I might consider one.
If Rubber ever became a legal hitting surface for Pickleball (which it could be, since it technically doesn't have any grit)... Joola about to go in lol
@@PickleballStudio He took of and replaced the grip and edge weighted his paddle. Along with replacing the paddle at any sign of the surface texture wearing out.
The technical parameters of this paddle are, like you said, similar to the "E" and the CRBN1. The fact that BJs is using it and endorsing it means absolutely nothing to me - his Franklin paddle was a piece of dung and wore out VERY quickly getting a smooth paddle surface in about a month or two of play - definitely not worth the price, IMO. Personally, I think he's a good enough player he could play with just about any paddle and went with the vendor offering him the biggest payday.
I think a big portion is Joola has much better manufacturing prowess compared to other companies and their unique position in Asian markets which I assume if he is getting a percentage is a massive deal
Thanks for the review, really nailed every question I was wondering about how the Joola stacked up. Any chance you have played with or reviewed any of the ProXR paddles? They have a Blackout XR (14mm and 16mm) that have similiar specs to some of these "classic" elongated paddles, but has a fiberglass face. Thanks
Do not buy Joola paddle unless you are wealthy enough to change paddle every few months. As an amateur player ,I do expect a paddle to last for at least a year. I have a Joola 14 mm Hyperion paddle with delamination and surface carbon fiber peel-off issues very early after purchase, Joola said it is normal.
It really depends. I think for more serious competitors, the extra $20-40 compared to Electrum, Engage and CRBN is negligible. If money is a giant concern, I don’t immediately think this is leaps and bounds better. More incremental upgrades that are nice to have. More casual players probably won’t care too much and that extra money may not be worth it. More time with it will tell though.
Could you check if it’s true. I post in comment a video with the test for the surface of the Ben Johns paddle and I seems that the paddle failed the test like CRNB paddle. Could you verify this information
Played with mine the first time this weekend. We have a very similar take and I too had issues with my serve going long during my first session with it. I'm sure I'll dial it in over the next session. I think what you found regarding the better performance on off-center hits can be attributed to the 'Hyperfoam Edge Wall' as it should increase MOI. And what you are seeing under the top of the grip is most likely related to what Joola refers to as the 'CX forged handle'; hopefully this is a true molded handle which is big upgrade from pieces of balsa wood many mfgs use to shape the handle. I'll be regripping mine tonight so I should know for sure then. I'm surprised you didn't mention either of these at all in your review as they are 2 features that are unique to the CFS line (hyperion and solaire shapes only).
These are primarily things I wanted to save for a full review because it was too early for me to really be able to tell when making this video.
Another reason is I'm headed out of town for 11 days tomorrow, so I had to really rush to get this one up. Appreciate you mentioning those things!
Webster, can you provide any insight about the CX forged handle from when you did your re-wrap, per above. You can see my question to Chris below on this topic.
@@roberthowell9918 Unfortunately, I can't post pictures to a youtube reply, but the handle is molded carbon fiber. All "forged CF" means is that pieces of CF and resin are mixed together and then vacuum molded while the resin cures. If you've ever removed the grip of a tennis racket you can see the hard foam molded handles. It's the same look here but with CF.
@@webstermiller7765 So, it's not two pieces of Three-side material stapled on, like most other manufacturers (and on my Joola Radius). Was very underwhelmed with the Radius Handle build. Same old. Was hoping for better.
Thanks for this review! I really find your analytical approach to the reviews super helpful and refreshing. By far the best reviews and insight on the net right now. I did just get this paddle and played with it last night. It is amazing! It really is like the Engage Pursuit and the Electrum E got together and had a baby. It has the handle of the Pursuit, the control and spin of the Electrum E, but the power of the Electrum Pro (yes the Electrum Pro). It really is what I think the most well balanced and effective paddle out there right now. Looking forward to seeing how the other brands will react and push the tech forward.
Decided to get one and love it. Find I hit the baseline on serves and returns consistently while my soft game is much, much better. Love the handle style. Spin is great.
Chris, this was amazing. My only critique is the B-roll you used. You had so many amazing plays that it distracted me from the review 😉
10/10 bro. keep it up!
would love a follow up and long term review on this paddle :D. Just picked up the hyperion, love the soft touch with some nice spin and power from the base line. How would you say this paddle holds up long term? Thank you, keep killing the videos
Chris, can you do a reveal/breakdown of Joola's CX-FORGED ELONGATED HANDLE that comes with your Ben Johns CFS 16MM and Solaire CFS 14MM. Maybe you could film this the next time you re-wrap. I stripped my Radius to rewrap everything, and I was underwhelmed. Same old, same old. Honeycomb extended into handle with a couple of shims, in this case, Octogon shaped which I prefer. Would love to see what's going on underneath the wrap of the carbon forged handle. More manufacturers should put time and effort into this area of paddle design as this is where we connect with the paddle, and any shock from hits/strokes is sent into the arm. Thx for your great work
Thank you kind sir for squeezing this very helpful first impressions review into your tight schedule before you take a little well deserved time away!!
Always great info! Thank you kind sir.
Would like to see how the Joola surfaces all hold up durability wise. If the less expensive Joola paddles surfaces will hold up and not be like the Franklin paddle. Nice review
After seeing Jay Dev. announce his new paddle and looking at the technology used, I'm curious as to how their V-Strut affects that paddle, and Prolite's new weave, and… So many new paddles. So little time to do your extensive reviews. Keep up the good work!
Loved the highlight where you seemed to get excited to go ATP and then getting hit with the deeeeeeep corner atp by ur opponent a minute later lol
I think the seam at the top of the handle is there because it has a CX carbon forged handle that is said to provide flex for additional power and comfort. Only the CFS Joola paddles have this handle.
Thank you very much for posting and for your time. Great review as always.
Check out the Solaire 14 CFS too. Loving it right now
Looking forward to the comparison between this and the CRBN 1 16mm. Using a Selkirk Invikta Hybrid now (Gen 1) and could use a bit more spin but same face dimensions as the Selkirk.
Would like to see those two along with Electrum and Engage Pursuit MX 6.0. 👍🏼
The electum model e has the exact dimension as the invicta so thats your best alternative. I’m an invicta player myself and i just ordered the model e
Hi Bob. I haven’t yet played with any of the Joola paddles (yet) but I do play regularly with the Electrum “E” and got a CRBN1 16mm 2 days ago to try out. I use a ton of top spin on my serves and I try out most of the paddles that claim “heavy spin” and can judge pretty quickly whether the are spin-strong or not. The surface look, feel and grit of the CRBN1 is exactly like that on the “E”. The surfaces are identical. The top spin generated on my serves were also nearly identical. The only difference I could detect, after about 5 hours of solid drilling and a few games, were the sweet-spot on the CRBN1 may be a little better, or more forgiving, than the “E”. If I don’t pay hyper attention on watching the ball to the paddle, I can mis-hit some of my shots. If I didn’t already have the “E” I’d def be keeping the CRBN1 but since I do, I’ll probably return the CRBN1 and work on doing better at keeping my eye on the ball.
@@sudipb7467 If there is, it’s not enough to notice and def not enough to keep the CRBN1 (and I do like it a lot) if you already have the “E”.
Good and thorough review. I saw the edge guard has issues already. May just have been a fluke.
Compared this Joola paddle and the Selkirk INVICTA Air , and have to say the Selkirk was my choice. The spin rate and control was just a step above.
Thx I was looking for someone who had tried both for their feedback.
Mine came in at 8.7 out of the box. After adding an over grip 8.9. Coming from a Mach6 weighted at 8.6 the weight hasn’t bothered me too much.
Thank you for the great review!
Very nice review. The Pickleball world is a buzz with the BJ paddle. It’s reviewers like yourself that help you decide if this paddle is worth. A try. I would love to see a review for the Solaire 14 mm which is more like my Icon than the Hyperion series. I definitely would like to give the Hyperion model a try for sure. Thanks for doing this for us equipment geeks.
Appreciate you watching! Hopefully I'll be able to get the others to try.
Someone in one of the facebook groups I follow bought both the Hyperion CFS and the Solaire CFS. They prefer the Solaire over the Hyperion although they love both.
Now that you have had this paddle for a month or so, what are your impressions? How is it holding up? Are you doing a follow up video on it.?
Thanks for the review. Any plans for a review on the JOOLA BEN JOHNS HYPERION CAS 16MM Pickleball Paddle?
Eventually! It’ll take some time though since I’m going out of town.
@@PickleballStudio Working on it?
@@kento1957 Still haven't managed to get any of the others.
I bought one and like it also. It's got good pop and control. But the grip is not as good as it is on my Gearbox paddles and there also is a little less paddle-face area, not much but a little. I prefer the shape of the elongated Gearbox paddles. But the main thing is the grip. Too much depth in the grooving even though I covered it with a single Tourna Grip. This is probably because I'm accustomed to the Gearbox grips which I cover with two Tourna Grips beause they are a quarter inch smaller.
Any updated thoughts on the CFS paddle Chris? Have you had any time to play with any of the other Joola paddles like the 16mm CAS? I bought the CRBN1 a few days before the SHTF ban and I just ended up returning it so I'm searching for a replacement. Wondering if I should hold out for the newly released CRBN1 (which should happen in early June, they have the new batch in for testing and approval right now) or move over to something else and the CFS is on the lists. Going to sell off the Enguage Pursuit MX 6.0 also so I'm looking for a good replacement. Spin is top on the list with Control a close 2nd feature. How's the edge guard holding up on the CFS 16mm? Thanks for another great review!
Hopefully doing a full review by mid June or early June! CFS has become my main paddle and I’ve loved it.
Spin is an interesting topic, I recently retested and noticed the numbers dropped a lot. From 1584 to 1200. But I want to do more testing since I have another brand new one.
Edge guard came very loose, but I just superglued it and now it is fine. It seems mine was just defective and this isn’t a common issue.
Overall I think the Hyperion is a pretty amazing paddle.
Do most pros use elongated paddles?
Although not as popular, I think you should review the Players Rogue2 (carbon and fiberglass). I’ve loved both of mine and I think they’re really a “sleeper” paddle. Would love to see how they stack up with your thorough reviews.
I’ve actually tried to contact them several times about it! I haven’t gotten any response from them.
@@PickleballStudio oh dang it! I’ve got both, I’ll send you one at a time haha
You think there's a chance Joola might make a 13mm Variant of this Hyperion CFS paddle? I played with it recently, it feels great, but I'm not a fan of 16mm anymore 😅
Check out the solaire. Same surface just different head shape
Hi Chris, do the joola paddles have an octagon handle, or just the end cap that looks that way like other manufacturers. Thx as always for your terrific pickle reporting & reviews.
Thankfully it’s a true octagon!
Just picked one up today from my local store after reading and watching some videos. I read a lot of complaints that it felt too heavy/head heavy. After getting it home, I weighed mine at 8.1 oz out of the box. Is this too light where it may effect the performance of the paddle? Or did I just get lucky to find one that light?
Hoping you’ll follow up with durability soon. I heard you on The Dink say it’s your paddle of choice right now. Has there been any other issues with the edge guard? Great vids and content!
I super glued my edge guard and it’s been great! Joola said mine was defective and sent a second one as well. They said only a small batch had the edge guard issue that mine did.
Thanks for the review. Liking your channel a lot. Any chance you'd review a Players Pickleball Rogue 2 Carbon. I play the hybrid version and it's been great, but would be awesome for someone who has tried a ton of paddles to see how it compares.
I’ve actually reached out to then a few times, but they never respond :(
@@PickleballStudio good to know…and bummer
Thanks for the review, did you weight the paddle at all with lead tape? If so where?
Haven’t weighted it yet!
I heard the Ben Johns paddle failed also like the CRBN.
Did you replace the grip to get rid of the ribbing? Then overgrip?
I love my Engage I have it at 20
I have seen several people say they have had trouble with the handles breaking apart on these paddles, has anyone had trouble with that?
How does this compare to the Electrum Pro and Crbn 2?
Electrum Pro is quite different since it’s 13mm. Those are also both wide body paddles that I haven’t hit much so I can’t give a direct comparison.
Is the grip shape like a Wilson tennis racquet? Thanks
Is that Patrick in shorts!?!
If you were to rank the top five paddles you've tested based on sweet spot alone, what would they be? Does this paddle make the list?
In no particular order I think it would be:
Diadem Warrior
Electrum Model E
Hyperion CFS
I would need to hit with a few others to remember what I think the last two would be. A rough ball park might be an Engage Pursuit and an Invikta.
After watching BJ at the Red Rock, there seems to be a period of adjustment he is going through. He missed some shots he never misses.
There is a sizable difference between the BJ Franklin and a carbon faced paddle.
I have a Franklin for doubles and a MX 6.0 for singles.
I believe J.W. Johnson uses two separate paddles for each also. I understand why.
I will not pay $220 for a Joola or $330 for a Smiling Selkirk.
When Joola puts rubber on the face of their pickleball paddles, I might consider one.
If Rubber ever became a legal hitting surface for Pickleball (which it could be, since it technically doesn't have any grit)... Joola about to go in lol
@@halohawkxx There are rules that tests the cohesion of a surface too.
can we get that spin test on this one, dying to know after getting screwed with my crbn
I mention the spin results in the video :)
Great review, is it Made in the USA? Thanks.
China
Did Ben Johns really use the Franklin paddle on store shelves? Or was his a players’ custom with a fancy paint job?
There wasn't ever anything that hinted towards his being special or different than the stuff on shelves.
@@PickleballStudio He took of and replaced the grip and edge weighted his paddle. Along with replacing the paddle at any sign of the surface texture wearing out.
The technical parameters of this paddle are, like you said, similar to the "E" and the CRBN1. The fact that BJs is using it and endorsing it means absolutely nothing to me - his Franklin paddle was a piece of dung and wore out VERY quickly getting a smooth paddle surface in about a month or two of play - definitely not worth the price, IMO. Personally, I think he's a good enough player he could play with just about any paddle and went with the vendor offering him the biggest payday.
He literally designed this one, so i imagine the pay cheque and the freedom of design was appealing
I think a big portion is Joola has much better manufacturing prowess compared to other companies and their unique position in Asian markets which I assume if he is getting a percentage is a massive deal
Thanks for the review, really nailed every question I was wondering about how the Joola stacked up. Any chance you have played with or reviewed any of the ProXR paddles? They have a Blackout XR (14mm and 16mm) that have similiar specs to some of these "classic" elongated paddles, but has a fiberglass face.
Thanks
I haven’t tried it! Hoping to eventually.
Do not buy Joola paddle unless you are wealthy enough to change paddle every few months. As an amateur player ,I do expect a paddle to last for at least a year. I have a Joola 14 mm Hyperion paddle with delamination and surface carbon fiber peel-off issues very early after purchase, Joola said it is normal.
Do you think it's worth the extra $'s Chris?
It really depends. I think for more serious competitors, the extra $20-40 compared to Electrum, Engage and CRBN is negligible. If money is a giant concern, I don’t immediately think this is leaps and bounds better. More incremental upgrades that are nice to have.
More casual players probably won’t care too much and that extra money may not be worth it.
More time with it will tell though.
Could you check if it’s true. I post in comment a video with the test for the surface of the Ben Johns paddle and I seems that the paddle failed the test like CRNB paddle. Could you verify this information
Joola has made statements saying their paddles are fully legal.
@@PickleballStudio thanks to let me know. I will check the link you send to me.
What was the spin RPM on it?
Mentioned at 2:29. 1584 RPM
Methinks you're not a 3.5, sir.
You think he's higher or lower?
@@JamesKmosko HIGHER.
First!!!!!!
Made in China :(