Funny that I'm trending to check here for new vids as much as I look to Instagram as I'm really enjoying the reviews. Thank you for your honest feedback based on what YOU like. You don't say one is necessarily better than the other, it's just that you're giving your opinion on what works for you based on your experiences and your style of play. Thank you~
@@lesterma1608 You know that there are 'erasers' for carbon fiber paddles. CRBN has one, but you can get generic 'erasers' for about half the price and there is a significantly larger amount of surface on the generic erasers.
Bought the Ronbus 3.16 largely based on your descriptions. Used it three times in REV play. Love it so far. Spin is excellent, with plenty of power, will check back in a month.
Want to thank you for highlighting Ronbus, got my 3.16 two months ago, it's REALLY solid, the spin is sick, and playing tennis flicks is really easy. And Dong is really awesome in his customer service
@@26realmc There is definitely an adjustment period needed but it did not take me long to make the transition. You have to be much more conscious of grip pressure and swing speed with the Legacy. In my opinion the benefits you gain with the paddle out weight any drawbacks.
Thank you for your time and posting. I bought a Legacy Pro a few weeks ago, when it gets here it gets here, don't care. What I really liked was the company care they showed their customers when there was a wait. And always great videos.
Priced at $220 I wouldn't put Engage in B tier. Also I hope you get to play with and review the Kiwi Labs Slice paddle. Very interested in your opinion on it.
Just got the R1 Pulsar yesterday. Played with it for 2 hours. I was amazed at the level of control. Plenty of power as well. Definitely upped my game. I bought the paddle based on your review. I couldn’t be happier I would love to see if Ronbus comes out with a 14mm Thank you!!
Really an excellent tier list with good rationale for each. I bet this is will become one of your top viewed videos. Looking forward already to the update in 3-6 months :)
I've been using my Legacy Pro for 2 weeks now with no delam. problems. It's an incredible paddle and deserving of a top rating. Thanks for your overall reviews.
The main concern here is that Ronbus, 6.0 and almost everyone else here (with a few rare exceptions) do not provide a try-and-buy option. Additionally, their return policy is excessively strict, preventing the return of used paddles. This is a significant drawback for me and acts as a major obstacle to my decision-making process.
I have one of the very early Six Zero DBD and here's the deal - I originally bought it because of some of its specs & they were customer friendly. Four months later and I LOVE Dale - he's is responsive to questions and willing to explain stuff about the paddles. As for the paddle - sometimes when you go with your gut, it works out and sometimes it doesn't. This paddle was a good choice - can't wait to see what they do next
My Filth arrived last week. I previously played with the original Engage Elite Pro Maverick. Before I bought my Filth, I purchased a Joola Hyperion 16MM. I didn’t like the Hyperion. Good control & spin, weak on sweet spot and power (IMO). Once my Filth arrived and I played with it once, I returned the Hyperion. The Filth has power, control, spin, feels great in my hand and after one week I LOVE IT.
I have one of the original legacy pros and have probably over 100 and some games on it. I’m about 210 pounds and I hit pretty freaking hard. I’m a banger baby and no delamination yet and even left it in my car in South Floridain the middle of the heat waves still holding up.
I would really like to see somebody play with and review one of Jamie Fox’s new paddles from the best paddle company. I noticed that a lot of celebrities and star tennis pros are endorsing it and it’s infuriating to think that they’re just shilling for a friend rather than recommending a decent paddle.
THIS. I really like Jamie Fox but naming your paddle "Best Paddle Company" just feels so corny and generic to me. Never seen one in the wild (outside a celeb event video where I'm pretty sure everyone was gifted one) and the marketing just feels like an attempt at "manifesting." Earn your place in the market like CRBN, SixZero, Legacy, Joola, Gearbox, etc. did; serious players will gravitate to results not marketing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Gearbox has super solid construction will outlast all if not most of these paddles making their price more reasonable. Instead of having to buy a new paddle more often. Almost indestructible has been said many times about their paddle. Plus their paddles are full Carbon and not just a surface texture.
Electrum Pro 1 was probably the first mainstream paddle with delamination issues. We just didn't know that's what it was called back then. One of the local 5.0 players in my area goes through one every month; that's how often they break. And Electrum chose not to fix this issue; they still have horrible durability with the Electrum Pro 1.
Bought both the Legacy and the Ronbus. Love the Legacy. Does everything well. Much more plush than I anticipated. Ronbus is a dinking machine and will take your soft game to the next level. The issue with the Ronbus is the huge grip size! Hopefully their next gen model will have a reduced size.
I have the Ronbus and the xspak and the both play the same but agree with you that the Ronbus grip is a little big and for that reason prefer the xspac
Good review! Obviously people may have a personal preference, but I think your assessment is quite fair. Hudef came out with a $99 RCF paddle which you can get for $85 with discounts. Thermoformed and foam edging but not unibody. Gen 1.5?? Would be interesting to review it.
you won't regret it. I have a DBD, Legacy Pro, and have played for months with a Hyperion and it's my favorite paddle. There's something about the shape...I used to play with 'traditional elongated' paddles, but now they feel slow to be when I use them.
@@JustinPowellConsulting also picked up a double black diamond based on Chris review coming from Hyperion. Wondering if my drops and soft game will be the same 🤞. I'm sure, with anything and time.
NICE WORK CHRIS. Look forward to challenging you again at the Bloomington, MN courts. My doubles partner Nate (Fabio of PB) will soon be back from Vietnam after 6 mo. of gorilla training. We have a stack of powerful delaminated paddles with added grit sprayed on the surfaces, plus 2 pair of banned Nike Vaporfly shoes for added speed. To continue our 9 game series for car titles and internet bragging rights. All to get you ready for your 6.0 pro entry in KC PPA this summer. Wild Cowboy 🤠
I can make a comment about the beads in the Prokennex paddle. My wife had a bad case of tendinitis, and she couldn’t sleep at night. I got her a Prokennex paddle, and within a couple of weeks she was much improved, and then it completely went away. She also convinced a few of her playing partners to switch, and their tendinitis also went away. For me, I have an Electrum Pro and Electrum 16 E and also a Gruvn 16e. I no longer play with the Electrum pro and my go to paddle right now is the Gruvn 16 E. Anyone looking at the Gruvn or the Electrum E, I would advise to just buy the Gruvn and save $20. FWIW I’m a 3.5 at best 😂
Diadem doesn’t just have a warrior edge??? They have basically the same raw carbon fibre paddle in the Icon which is a good price point. They do have many other options too.
I have an idea for a test I would like to see you do. The market is starting to be flooded (eight I last counted) with balls. I live in Lake Havasu, AZ and we have one of the finest outdoor facilities you will find anywhere. 16 fairly new courts and flour brand new challenge courts. Most everyone here uses the Franklin, but some use the Dura ball. We used the Dural ball several times and it seemed to be more lively, but we broke two of them in a matter of days, so we went back to Franklin. I would like to see you do a pickleball test and get your thoughts. I have not seen any good reviews. We are over 50 age players but we have a good power game. We enjoy watching your channel, and you have recommended two paddles that we purchased and they have been great, so we trust you opinion.
Your S category has great paddles (just switched from BJ Hyperion to Legacy Pro) , but I question the CRBN placement. It’s WAY more expensive than the other three. You say that’s part of your criteria, but it doesn’t add up.
Good review. Enjoyed the video. We were super stoked to see Chris review our paddle but we decided to have a new youtuber review the Bread & Butter Filth. He looks like Chris, sounds like Chris, and is arguably a better pickleballer than Chris. His name is Peter. Stand by folks PETER'S PADDLE REVIEWS is coming and it's gonna be off the chain.
Got tired of waiting for my Legacy Pro, so I ordered a SixZero Double Black. They both came the same week. So now I'm alternating between the two and trying to decide which I like better. It's surprising that so much fun is legal.
@@26realmc I found the Double Black had a little more power and I had to adjust so that I wasn't hitting the ball out. The Legacy was my favorite at first, but I'm still making up my mind.
Thanks for doing the video on the raw carbon paddles. I appreciate the thought you put into your presentation. I think it was both entertaining and informative. My only suggestion, and I'm not a computer person by any means, is that you either use a white background or some other light color behind the logos of some of the companies that have a black symbol for their product. When you put the logos on your list, they disappear. By the way, I have recommended the Ronbus and the Bison paddles for my friends who are just starting out playing. I think they have the best combination of price and features. Also, some other person on UA-cam did a spin test on the Ronbus and other paddles. The Ronbus came out 2nd in spin, but he recommended another paddle that just a bit 'spinier' (I think it had 30 rpm more than the Ronbus) but cost a good bit more. Go figure.
The real question is... what is the better value at 100 usd, the Vatic v7 or the ronbus??? Not sure which one to go with.... I'm thinking the vatic just because it is thermoformed. Let me know what you think. Thanks
@@claycc79 I spoke to them a few days ago. They’re completely overwhelmed. I ordered a Legacy Pro on 3/11 and they think it’ll ship next week. They were a small business that blew up and they seem like they are still adjusting. Don’t even try emailing them, you have to call.
@@claycc79 ?!? I've had my Legacy Pro since mid-January. The face doesn't degrade - it's just that the raw carbon fiber is extremely grippy and literally bites into and takes pieces of the ball. A quick swipe of the hand or occasional eraser to it and it looks back to new. And while I have no first-hand experience with their customer support, I can say that that the owner is very active responding on social media and I have heard nothing but positives re customer support.
@@claycc79 no affiliation whatsoever with him or the company. Nor do I have some strange axe to grind or agenda like you seem to. Sounds to me like you're just salty that you didn't get your paddle shipped as fast as you wanted it and/or you can't control it. It is a very poppy paddle. Wouldn't recommend it to a beginner.
I would just like to receive my Legacy paddle. I ordered mine on March 6. As someone above me said, they are obviously overwhelmed and are obviously very small with only a couple of people running the entire business. They definitely need some customer service personnel because they don’t respond to anything.
Also just played a guy with a Legacy Pro. Ball curved 90° straight down after going over the net. USA pickleball should send an apology to CRBN for banning their paddle.
Thanks for all your great reviews, will you be reviewing any of the new Onix carbon paddles? I play onix premier and wonder if their are advantages with the new paddles? Thamks, Dixom
Based on your review of the Legacy Pro. I decided to purchase one. The only unfortunate thing about this purchase was the 67 day wait for it to arrive. After approximately 24 hours of playing with the Legacy Pro it has taken my game from a 3.5 at best to a 4+. Spin and pop - WOW!
Does your gruvn placement still stand after being able to test the gruvn muvn 13s? I’m looking for a good review on this paddle before I dive into it and lead tape suggestions if so
Got mine 2 weeks ago. It’s definitely not as poppy as the reviews made it sound. Which is kinda good, there was no learning curve with it. Really like it. I feel it plays really similar to the Hyperion. Good spin, able to dink well. For the price there isn’t much better
I would definitely move gearbox up especially because from your reasoning, you dropped them due to the price. Sellkirk sells a $333 paddle and most people seem to agree to make that a viable paddle you have to add weight to it.
For the S-tier thermoformed paddles, now that they come with the glue enhancements / new assembly process, does anyone have a revised ranking which hits the hardest to least hard?
Really good analysis. My only major disagreements would be over ranking Joola, Engage, and ProKennex. Never really been a Joola fan because I felt they just used the clout of Ben Johns to ride to the top of pickleball without proving anything other than they could land a big contract with the man. I've never been a bandwagon guy, so that's just not appealing to me. Then there's the fact they've been bullying smaller companies like Legacy with spurious trademark infringement claims. The only thing Joola really has going for it is the playability of the Hyperion CFS. But the premium price, poor quality, and unknown CF provider (not Toray) are simply too much for Joola to be in the A tier. Personally, I'd put them in B class at best and wouldn't argue with C. The only thing giving them an edge over C companies like Electrum and Diadem is their diverse offerings. Only if the Perseus is a great paddle should Joola be anything over a B. On to Engage. The Pursuits are good paddles but not outstanding. The Ultra failed to raise the bar and has had an ambivalent reception at best. I don't see them as deserving more than C tier. I think they're pretty even with Diadem and Electrum. As for ProKennex, the Black Ace is an interesting paddle, but it's simply too niche to be considered A tier. It doesn't have enough market to make PK a top player in the CF space. I haven't seen an actual one in my area, and I play a lot with a lot of players, many of whom use PK's other models. I haven't even heard anyone mention a Black Ace. So, I couldn't give them better than a B or C. Noteworthily, Hudef just released two CF paddles - the Viva Pro and the Apex Pro - both at great price points. I'd be interested in your take on them and where they will put Hudef in the CF tiers. Overall, I love the trend of better prices on paddles. It's interesting that these smaller companies seem to be producing great paddles at far more reasonable prices. Sure seems like the game's changing. I hope the big boys will start to lower their prices to be more competitive because now there are better paddles at lower prices.
Pretty sure I've mentioned it in every single one of my reviews. This video isn't a review. It's just a ranking of my personal favorite paddles for performance.
Do you plan to rank the S tiers against each other in a specific order? It seems you favor the Six Zero the most, being your personal paddle. But which do you recommend for what type of player? I'm between the Six Zero and Vatic Pro, as an outdoor doubles player. Likely the 16mm variants.
It always becomes a matter of preference when paddles are in the same tier. You have to find out which paddle fits your play style. I played with all four thermoformed paddles (crbn1x14mm, vatic flash 16mm, double black diamond 16mm, legacy pro), and after multiple sessions with each paddle, I loved the legacy pro and fits my play style the best. As for your specific situation, my gf plays with both Six Zero DBD16mm and Flash 16mm and difference is negligble. DBD 16mm (new glue) is much softer than the vatic flash 16mm in both of our opinons though.
Hey it’s a very informative comparison, thank you for the information. You know you have a good collection of caps. Will appreciate if you can share the name of the brand and where to buy it online. Keep up the great work 😊
It's a company called Melin. Heavily advertised in social media ads. I have a few of their hats. They seem to fit round skulls better than my oval skull. Feels tight at the forehead and loose at the sides of the head. They're kind of heavy and hot, too. Very expensive for a baseball hat also.
Love your reviews. Can't wait to see your review of the new Electrum Model E Elite. I've played with the traditional Model E for awhile and thought it was a solid performer.
Any opinions on picking between the CRBN power series vs CRBN original series vs either 6.0 diamond paddle? Intermediate player coming from tennis and table tennis here
I was an A level player for tabletennis at my peak. What you would probably call around 2200 now. I favor more spin. I have none of these as I bought Players Pickleball which is direct to consumer. I got their Carbon Rogue Max Face. Great blend of control, spin and power. Slightly less power than my fiberglass face. It is not thermoformed, however, but it has great handle reinforcing and gel that spreads sweetspot well (I suspect not quite as well as thermoformed, however) I would recommend the 6.0 Double Diamond if you value spin. You won't give up much power and if you decide you want more power you can add lead tape to the edges like so many pros do. Probably others that are S here too but the DD is getting consistently great reviews.
Disclaimer: I use a Gearbox CX14H. That said, while I understand price can be weighted more heavily for some people, there are those that simply want the to know how you would rate carbon fiber paddles without price. For the Gearbox "C" rating you gave, while you mentioned that it's mainly the high price compared to other carbon fiber paddles that made you make that rating, I wonder how you would've rated them without price considerations, because once on a court the cost of a paddle has no bearing on its effectiveness. Btw, I am a subscriber and do enjoy your candid opinions.
@@PickleballStudio Okay, thanks. Yeah, while I haven't played with very many other paddles at all, I get the sense it (CX14H) is a bit too stiff and very different feel than almost all other paddles, probably due to the different construction method. One of my playing colleagues, who is better than me, told me that I need more pop to my game. After some researching, including your spreadsheet, which is awesome btw, I found it has a very low swing weight which is mostly why it doesn't have that pop like most other paddles have. It's nice for faster hands, generally, but when more pop is needed for punch volleys it is lacking. It's durable, uses the Toray carbon fiber, and is decent for soft game, the reality is I have to do all the power generation. I am now considering the 6.0 Black Diamond, though I do wonder if the Gearbox CX14H Ultimate is a good idea, simply because it is similar to the CX14H, yet has more swing weight / pop, etc. Hey, you got a good channel going...keep 'er going!
I play with a the Halo and love it! I want a better paddle. As much as I play and my style of play budget is a big factor for me. Rombus sounds like a good paddle I might have to try it out
I would prefer the review that compares everything else but cost...cost should be left to us to decide...Maybe chart at end...1-10 in each category and for cost "$-$$$$$"
Are you just ranking based on your singular favourite paddle from each manufacturer? You chose to rank Ronbus based on the R1.16/R3.16 and ignore their thermoformed Pulsar and Nova, then later discuss thermoformed paddles basically being all in S-Tier, and also have a disclaimer about thermoforming and the delamination and other issues (core crushing) when Ronbus thinks they have solved that with their Nova line. I don't have a Ronbus (though I would love to get my hands on a Nova) but I am struggling to understand why Ronbus seems only to have been evaluated based on their .16 line, with their Nova being the same price as the 6.0 DBD.
Funny that I'm trending to check here for new vids as much as I look to Instagram as I'm really enjoying the reviews. Thank you for your honest feedback based on what YOU like. You don't say one is necessarily better than the other, it's just that you're giving your opinion on what works for you based on your experiences and your style of play. Thank you~
My only issue with the Legacy Pro is that the ball spins so fast that my opponents have a hard time hitting it back to me.
Same with the Double Black Diamond
And this is a problem......
@@donald138 humour alert. He was being facetious.
Forgot to say it gets dirty fast!!!
@@lesterma1608 You know that there are 'erasers' for carbon fiber paddles. CRBN has one, but you can get generic 'erasers' for about half the price and there is a significantly larger amount of surface on the generic erasers.
Bought the Ronbus 3.16 largely based on your descriptions. Used it three times in REV play. Love it so far. Spin is excellent, with plenty of power, will check back in a month.
Idk about the new line of Vatics resistance to delamination, but I just passed the break-in threshold and am absolutely loving my V7
Want to thank you for highlighting Ronbus, got my 3.16 two months ago, it's REALLY solid, the spin is sick, and playing tennis flicks is really easy. And Dong is really awesome in his customer service
Good to hear, looking at ordering mine soon!
Dong is great with communication
I have had the CRBN 1x since January with no evidence of degradation. Play about 3 to 4 times/week.
Just ordered the 6 -0 Double black diamond yesterday with mid-May delivery. Can't wait
Hudef has the Viva Pro thermoformed paddles for $99. If ever you get a chance to give first impressions or review in the future.
This man moves the market.
Still using my vatic v7 I’ve had since November… still not delaminated
Love my Legacy Pro! 1 month of playing and still performing perfect.
Any issues adjusting to the power for the soft game? I’m reading quite a few reviews of people struggling to adjust.
@@26realmc There is definitely an adjustment period needed but it did not take me long to make the transition. You have to be much more conscious of grip pressure and swing speed with the Legacy. In my opinion the benefits you gain with the paddle out weight any drawbacks.
Thank you for your time and posting. I bought a Legacy Pro a few weeks ago, when it gets here it gets here, don't care. What I really liked was the company care they showed their customers when there was a wait. And always great videos.
Thanks for the stat spreadsheet! Really helpful in whittling down paddles that fit my criteria. 🤙🏾
Priced at $220 I wouldn't put Engage in B tier. Also I hope you get to play with and review the Kiwi Labs Slice paddle. Very interested in your opinion on it.
Just got the R1 Pulsar yesterday. Played with it for 2 hours. I was amazed at the level of control. Plenty of power as well. Definitely upped my game.
I bought the paddle based on your review. I couldn’t be happier
I would love to see if Ronbus comes out with a 14mm
Thank you!!
Really an excellent tier list with good rationale for each. I bet this is will become one of your top viewed videos. Looking forward already to the update in 3-6 months :)
I've been using my Legacy Pro for 2 weeks now with no delam. problems. It's an incredible paddle and deserving of a top rating. Thanks for your overall reviews.
hey, I’m interested in buying an LP. any delay after a month?
Delam**
My paddle is still solid. No issues! It's an exceptional paddle. You won't be disappointed.
The main concern here is that Ronbus, 6.0 and almost everyone else here (with a few rare exceptions) do not provide a try-and-buy option. Additionally, their return policy is excessively strict, preventing the return of used paddles. This is a significant drawback for me and acts as a major obstacle to my decision-making process.
Well, hence the price, when you try to give the best value for the money, they need to cut overhead costs….
I have 10 of the top tier paddles and so far the best remains Selkirk Invikta project 003. The control is unmatched by the rest
I have one of the very early Six Zero DBD and here's the deal - I originally bought it because of some of its specs & they were customer friendly. Four months later and I LOVE Dale - he's is responsive to questions and willing to explain stuff about the paddles. As for the paddle - sometimes when you go with your gut, it works out and sometimes it doesn't. This paddle was a good choice - can't wait to see what they do next
So you love a paddle that last only two games but you don’t take that as a factor in your review?
My Filth arrived last week. I previously played with the original Engage Elite Pro Maverick. Before I bought my Filth, I purchased a Joola Hyperion 16MM. I didn’t like the Hyperion. Good control & spin, weak on sweet spot and power (IMO). Once my Filth arrived and I played with it once, I returned the Hyperion. The Filth has power, control, spin, feels great in my hand and after one week I LOVE IT.
Don't sleep on the ProDrive. I love this paddle
I just got the Vatic Pro Prism Flash. Hopefully it's good
Thanks for your thoughts. Please summarize the prices for the S and A tiers. Can’t see many of the logos on the black background
I have one of the original legacy pros and have probably over 100 and some games on it. I’m about 210 pounds and I hit pretty freaking hard.
I’m a banger baby and no delamination yet and even left it in my car in South Floridain the middle of the heat waves still holding up.
I would really like to see somebody play with and review one of Jamie Fox’s new paddles from the best paddle company. I noticed that a lot of celebrities and star tennis pros are endorsing it and it’s infuriating to think that they’re just shilling for a friend rather than recommending a decent paddle.
THIS. I really like Jamie Fox but naming your paddle "Best Paddle Company" just feels so corny and generic to me. Never seen one in the wild (outside a celeb event video where I'm pretty sure everyone was gifted one) and the marketing just feels like an attempt at "manifesting."
Earn your place in the market like CRBN, SixZero, Legacy, Joola, Gearbox, etc. did; serious players will gravitate to results not marketing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Gearbox has super solid construction will outlast all if not most of these paddles making their price more reasonable. Instead of having to buy a new paddle more often. Almost indestructible has been said many times about their paddle. Plus their paddles are full Carbon and not just a surface texture.
I’m not talking about their CX line. This was about their GBX which is RCF.
@@PickleballStudio Ah. Thanks for the clarification.
Can you make a video explaining delamination, when to know when a paddle breaks, how to know when a paddle started core crush?
Electrum Pro 1 was probably the first mainstream paddle with delamination issues. We just didn't know that's what it was called back then. One of the local 5.0 players in my area goes through one every month; that's how often they break. And Electrum chose not to fix this issue; they still have horrible durability with the Electrum Pro 1.
Would love your thoughts on ProDrive paddles. I have 4 ProDrive paddles, Ghost, Encounter, Drive, and Carbon. I tend to favor the Carbon paddle.
Bought both the Legacy and the Ronbus. Love the Legacy. Does everything well. Much more plush than I anticipated. Ronbus is a dinking machine and will take your soft game to the next level. The issue with the Ronbus is the huge grip size! Hopefully their next gen model will have a reduced size.
I have the Ronbus and the xspak and the both play the same but agree with you that the Ronbus grip is a little big and for that reason prefer the xspac
Good review! Obviously people may have a personal preference, but I think your assessment is quite fair. Hudef came out with a $99 RCF paddle which you can get for $85 with discounts. Thermoformed and foam edging but not unibody. Gen 1.5?? Would be interesting to review it.
Hoping to have it soon!
Interested in your opinion of the Hudef Viva Pro 16 & 14 mm !! thx for your time
Just bought the double black diamond last night. Can’t wait!
you won't regret it. I have a DBD, Legacy Pro, and have played for months with a Hyperion and it's my favorite paddle. There's something about the shape...I used to play with 'traditional elongated' paddles, but now they feel slow to be when I use them.
@@JustinPowellConsulting also picked up a double black diamond based on Chris review coming from Hyperion. Wondering if my drops and soft game will be the same 🤞. I'm sure, with anything and time.
@@sTeBoski yeah…my 16mm has gotten softer as it’s been broken in. After 3 months of playing with it, it now feels like my Hyperion did on day 1! Haha
@@JustinPowellConsulting nice! Thank you for the insight. Grit still feeling alright
Which carbon paddle do you think is closest to the paddletek reign??
NICE WORK CHRIS. Look forward to challenging you again at the Bloomington, MN courts. My doubles partner Nate (Fabio of PB) will soon be back from Vietnam after 6 mo. of gorilla training. We have a stack of powerful delaminated paddles with added grit sprayed on the surfaces, plus 2 pair of banned Nike Vaporfly shoes for added speed. To continue our 9 game series for car titles and internet bragging rights. All to get you ready for your 6.0 pro entry in KC PPA this summer. Wild Cowboy 🤠
Whwre's Paddletek fall on your list?
I can make a comment about the beads in the Prokennex paddle. My wife had a bad case of tendinitis, and she couldn’t sleep at night. I got her a Prokennex paddle, and within a couple of weeks she was much improved, and then it completely went away. She also convinced a few of her playing partners to switch, and their tendinitis also went away. For me, I have an Electrum Pro and Electrum 16 E and also a Gruvn 16e. I no longer play with the Electrum pro and my go to paddle right now is the Gruvn 16 E. Anyone looking at the Gruvn or the Electrum E, I would advise to just buy the Gruvn and save $20. FWIW I’m a 3.5 at best 😂
Can you show us where you put the tape on your double black diamond
Now that the Ronbus has the Pulsar Gen2 paddles, would you rank them in the S category?
One question please. Where would you rank the new "king of spin? " The Legacy Pro?
It’s in the video.
Diadem doesn’t just have a warrior edge???
They have basically the same raw carbon fibre paddle in the Icon which is a good price point. They do have many other options too.
Just got a Icon V2 love it.
I have an idea for a test I would like to see you do. The market is starting to be flooded (eight I last counted) with balls. I live in Lake Havasu, AZ and we have one of the finest outdoor facilities you will find anywhere. 16 fairly new courts and flour brand new challenge courts. Most everyone here uses the Franklin, but some use the Dura ball. We used the Dural ball several times and it seemed to be more lively, but we broke two of them in a matter of days, so we went back to Franklin. I would like to see you do a pickleball test and get your thoughts. I have not seen any good reviews.
We are over 50 age players but we have a good power game. We enjoy watching your channel, and you have recommended two paddles that we purchased and they have been great, so we trust you opinion.
Your S category has great paddles (just switched from BJ Hyperion to Legacy Pro) , but I question the CRBN placement. It’s WAY more expensive than the other three. You say that’s part of your criteria, but it doesn’t add up.
Performance > price in my tier list. The CRBN is an awesome paddle. A high price doesn’t necessarily force it to be dropped down.
Good review. Enjoyed the video. We were super stoked to see Chris review our paddle but we decided to have a new youtuber review the Bread & Butter Filth. He looks like Chris, sounds like Chris, and is arguably a better pickleballer than Chris. His name is Peter. Stand by folks PETER'S PADDLE REVIEWS is coming and it's gonna be off the chain.
Are there different manufacturers that make t700 carbon fiber and are there any differences?
Where would the new Franklin Tempo/Dynasty paddles sit on this list?
Any chance of a Hudef gen 2 paddle review?
Picked up my pursuit mx for $118 , before they raised the price with a discount code. It's a great paddle for that price.
Got tired of waiting for my Legacy Pro, so I ordered a SixZero Double Black. They both came the same week. So now I'm alternating between the two and trying to decide which I like better. It's surprising that so much fun is legal.
I have both on order. No issues adjusting between the two?
@@26realmc I found the Double Black had a little more power and I had to adjust so that I wasn't hitting the ball out. The Legacy was my favorite at first, but I'm still making up my mind.
Thanks for doing the video on the raw carbon paddles. I appreciate the thought you put into your presentation. I think it was both entertaining and informative. My only suggestion, and I'm not a computer person by any means, is that you either use a white background or some other light color behind the logos of some of the companies that have a black symbol for their product. When you put the logos on your list, they disappear.
By the way, I have recommended the Ronbus and the Bison paddles for my friends who are just starting out playing. I think they have the best combination of price and features. Also, some other person on UA-cam did a spin test on the Ronbus and other paddles. The Ronbus came out 2nd in spin, but he recommended another paddle that just a bit 'spinier' (I think it had 30 rpm more than the Ronbus) but cost a good bit more. Go figure.
Your picture photo looks just like my cat.
Thanks for the informative video! Have you tried the A11N Zenith C8 paddle? Thank you!
Would love to know if the A11N Zenith is legit or not
Agreed on vulcan, I paid for the 900 series. Would not recommend to a friend for 230, open core in the handle, however less dead spots on the face.
The real question is... what is the better value at 100 usd, the Vatic v7 or the ronbus??? Not sure which one to go with.... I'm thinking the vatic just because it is thermoformed. Let me know what you think. Thanks
I have a 6 month old CRBN 2x. Love it....but it started making a hollow sound this week...have you heard of these delaminating?
Legacy getting all the love! Best combination of performance and value!! #betonyourself
@@claycc79 I spoke to them a few days ago. They’re completely overwhelmed. I ordered a Legacy Pro on 3/11 and they think it’ll ship next week. They were a small business that blew up and they seem like they are still adjusting. Don’t even try emailing them, you have to call.
@@claycc79 ?!? I've had my Legacy Pro since mid-January. The face doesn't degrade - it's just that the raw carbon fiber is extremely grippy and literally bites into and takes pieces of the ball. A quick swipe of the hand or occasional eraser to it and it looks back to new. And while I have no first-hand experience with their customer support, I can say that that the owner is very active responding on social media and I have heard nothing but positives re customer support.
@@claycc79 haters gonna hate, he said a nonthermoformed paddle hits harder than a thermoformed one which is objectively wrong lol
@@claycc79 no affiliation whatsoever with him or the company. Nor do I have some strange axe to grind or agenda like you seem to. Sounds to me like you're just salty that you didn't get your paddle shipped as fast as you wanted it and/or you can't control it. It is a very poppy paddle. Wouldn't recommend it to a beginner.
I would just like to receive my Legacy paddle. I ordered mine on March 6. As someone above me said, they are obviously overwhelmed and are obviously very small with only a couple of people running the entire business. They definitely need some customer service personnel because they don’t respond to anything.
Hey Chris, another great video...what do you think of the 14mm vs 16mm DBD?
Also just played a guy with a Legacy Pro. Ball curved 90° straight down after going over the net. USA pickleball should send an apology to CRBN for banning their paddle.
Thanks for all your great reviews, will you be reviewing any of the new Onix carbon paddles? I play onix premier and wonder if their are advantages with the new paddles? Thamks, Dixom
I try really hard to play in a controlled,safe way during Rec. Body-bagged✌️in my 1st match with the Legacy Pro. It should be renamed 007.
Great video. Just bought the Double Black Diamond. Thanks for the discount code!
Could you tell me the discount code, final price, and your take on the paddle? Thanks.
Can you review the Summit 2 by NorCal and the Rogue 2 Gel Core? Just bought both and wanted your opinion.
Based on your review of the Legacy Pro. I decided to purchase one. The only unfortunate thing about this purchase was the 67 day wait for it to arrive. After approximately 24 hours of playing with the Legacy Pro it has taken my game from a 3.5 at best to a 4+. Spin and pop - WOW!
I doubt it
Solid list. Just got Legacy and it’s amazing
Thanks for making this! Great content. I’m curious, how you would rate Rokne?
Using a Pro Drive and very nice paddle
Same this is a great paddle. Even came with the cover
You should create a Z category below F for Zanes paddle
Does your gruvn placement still stand after being able to test the gruvn muvn 13s? I’m looking for a good review on this paddle before I dive into it and lead tape suggestions if so
Looks like or logo went black on black. Thanks for the mention!
I heard that Legacy changed factories for manufacturing. If true, do their newer paddles play the same as their original version?
Got mine 2 weeks ago. It’s definitely not as poppy as the reviews made it sound. Which is kinda good, there was no learning curve with it. Really like it. I feel it plays really similar to the Hyperion. Good spin, able to dink well. For the price there isn’t much better
No, not at all. First GEN very different from the second GEN legacy.
@@hopeklein4976 that’s not true at all.
@Legacy Pickleball Could you elaborate? Some folks think the new glue has softened the paddle some.
I would definitely move gearbox up especially because from your reasoning, you dropped them due to the price. Sellkirk sells a $333 paddle and most people seem to agree to make that a viable paddle you have to add weight to it.
GBX is in the right spot. Making it $200, they deserve to be there. And I have one, btw.
I went to Dick's Sporting Goods today and they had a ton of Monarch paddles and gear. WHO? What category would they fit into? File 13?
great video, thanks for the quality content
I wish Kiwi Labs would have gotten you their new Slice.
Any spin stats on the Holbrook Mav Pro?
Thank you for all your work and info! You are an awesome resource for information!
Very solid tier list. Mine would look the exact same
What are your thoughts on the difference of the Ronbus R1 16 versus the Ronbus R1 Pulsar gen 2
For the S-tier thermoformed paddles, now that they come with the glue enhancements / new assembly process, does anyone have a revised ranking which hits the hardest to least hard?
Do you know if any of the S-tier options has international shipping? (to Mexico)
Really good analysis. My only major disagreements would be over ranking Joola, Engage, and ProKennex.
Never really been a Joola fan because I felt they just used the clout of Ben Johns to ride to the top of pickleball without proving anything other than they could land a big contract with the man. I've never been a bandwagon guy, so that's just not appealing to me. Then there's the fact they've been bullying smaller companies like Legacy with spurious trademark infringement claims. The only thing Joola really has going for it is the playability of the Hyperion CFS. But the premium price, poor quality, and unknown CF provider (not Toray) are simply too much for Joola to be in the A tier. Personally, I'd put them in B class at best and wouldn't argue with C. The only thing giving them an edge over C companies like Electrum and Diadem is their diverse offerings. Only if the Perseus is a great paddle should Joola be anything over a B.
On to Engage. The Pursuits are good paddles but not outstanding. The Ultra failed to raise the bar and has had an ambivalent reception at best. I don't see them as deserving more than C tier. I think they're pretty even with Diadem and Electrum.
As for ProKennex, the Black Ace is an interesting paddle, but it's simply too niche to be considered A tier. It doesn't have enough market to make PK a top player in the CF space. I haven't seen an actual one in my area, and I play a lot with a lot of players, many of whom use PK's other models. I haven't even heard anyone mention a Black Ace. So, I couldn't give them better than a B or C.
Noteworthily, Hudef just released two CF paddles - the Viva Pro and the Apex Pro - both at great price points. I'd be interested in your take on them and where they will put Hudef in the CF tiers.
Overall, I love the trend of better prices on paddles. It's interesting that these smaller companies seem to be producing great paddles at far more reasonable prices. Sure seems like the game's changing. I hope the big boys will start to lower their prices to be more competitive because now there are better paddles at lower prices.
What paddle is the 6.0? Is it one of the engage brand paddles? I can’t find a brand called 6.0
six zero
They’re out of Australia.
When discussing durability, why does no review consider the indescructability of Gearbox SST?
Pretty sure I've mentioned it in every single one of my reviews.
This video isn't a review. It's just a ranking of my personal favorite paddles for performance.
I have about 16 hours on a CRBN 1X 14mm and it looks/feels brand new still. I’m over 200 lbs and swing hard.
Do you plan to rank the S tiers against each other in a specific order? It seems you favor the Six Zero the most, being your personal paddle. But which do you recommend for what type of player?
I'm between the Six Zero and Vatic Pro, as an outdoor doubles player. Likely the 16mm variants.
It always becomes a matter of preference when paddles are in the same tier. You have to find out which paddle fits your play style. I played with all four thermoformed paddles (crbn1x14mm, vatic flash 16mm, double black diamond 16mm, legacy pro), and after multiple sessions with each paddle, I loved the legacy pro and fits my play style the best. As for your specific situation, my gf plays with both Six Zero DBD16mm and Flash 16mm and difference is negligble. DBD 16mm (new glue) is much softer than the vatic flash 16mm in both of our opinons though.
When did "gen one" end and "gen two" begin?
I wonder about the Hudef Viva Pro... 100 dollar price tag BEFORE coupon code... Claims to be thermoformed too.
Hey it’s a very informative comparison, thank you for the information. You know you have a good collection of caps. Will appreciate if you can share the name of the brand and where to buy it online. Keep up the great work 😊
It's a company called Melin. Heavily advertised in social media ads. I have a few of their hats. They seem to fit round skulls better than my oval skull. Feels tight at the forehead and loose at the sides of the head. They're kind of heavy and hot, too. Very expensive for a baseball hat also.
Love your reviews. Can't wait to see your review of the new Electrum Model E Elite. I've played with the traditional Model E for awhile and thought it was a solid performer.
Any opinions on picking between the CRBN power series vs CRBN original series vs either 6.0 diamond paddle? Intermediate player coming from tennis and table tennis here
I was an A level player for tabletennis at my peak. What you would probably call around 2200 now. I favor more spin. I have none of these as I bought Players Pickleball which is direct to consumer. I got their Carbon Rogue Max Face. Great blend of control, spin and power. Slightly less power than my fiberglass face. It is not thermoformed, however, but it has great handle reinforcing and gel that spreads sweetspot well (I suspect not quite as well as thermoformed, however)
I would recommend the 6.0 Double Diamond if you value spin. You won't give up much power and if you decide you want more power you can add lead tape to the edges like so many pros do. Probably others that are S here too but the DD is getting consistently great reviews.
How can I tell from your reviews and spreadsheets whether or not a paddle has a sandpaper-like face ir is smooth to the touch?
The texture to the touch doesn’t matter. Use my RPM measurement as the guide. If it’s over 1,500, it’s solid for spin.
Great video Chris. Curious to see your thoughts on the new Ronbus Pulsars coming out.
Where does Legacy’s fit in
Disclaimer: I use a Gearbox CX14H. That said, while I understand price can be weighted more heavily for some people, there are those that simply want the to know how you would rate carbon fiber paddles without price. For the Gearbox "C" rating you gave, while you mentioned that it's mainly the high price compared to other carbon fiber paddles that made you make that rating, I wonder how you would've rated them without price considerations, because once on a court the cost of a paddle has no bearing on its effectiveness. Btw, I am a subscriber and do enjoy your candid opinions.
Regardless of price it would still be roughly C for me. It would *maybe* move up to B.
I wasn't a huge fan of how it played. Too clunky.
@@PickleballStudio Okay, thanks. Yeah, while I haven't played with very many other paddles at all, I get the sense it (CX14H) is a bit too stiff and very different feel than almost all other paddles, probably due to the different construction method. One of my playing colleagues, who is better than me, told me that I need more pop to my game. After some researching, including your spreadsheet, which is awesome btw, I found it has a very low swing weight which is mostly why it doesn't have that pop like most other paddles have. It's nice for faster hands, generally, but when more pop is needed for punch volleys it is lacking. It's durable, uses the Toray carbon fiber, and is decent for soft game, the reality is I have to do all the power generation. I am now considering the 6.0 Black Diamond, though I do wonder if the Gearbox CX14H Ultimate is a good idea, simply because it is similar to the CX14H, yet has more swing weight / pop, etc. Hey, you got a good channel going...keep 'er going!
Just fyi, his ranking didn't include the cx line, just the raw carbon gbx. I don't know where he would rank the cx line
Seems like a good list that said you run the show why stick with the weird coloring scheme?
Several of the logos completely disappeared when dragged into the black background of the tier list. Legacy Pro was completely invisible on my screen.
Is the black ace teara formed? or is heat molding something different?
Have you ever rated Players?
I play with a the Halo and love it! I want a better paddle. As much as I play and my style of play budget is a big factor for me. Rombus sounds like a good paddle I might have to try it out
I would prefer the review that compares everything else but cost...cost should be left to us to decide...Maybe chart at end...1-10 in each category and for cost "$-$$$$$"
I have the Legacy and Ronbus. They are both excellent. Had the legacy for about a month and have played a good bit. No issues so far
Are you just ranking based on your singular favourite paddle from each manufacturer? You chose to rank Ronbus based on the R1.16/R3.16 and ignore their thermoformed Pulsar and Nova, then later discuss thermoformed paddles basically being all in S-Tier, and also have a disclaimer about thermoforming and the delamination and other issues (core crushing) when Ronbus thinks they have solved that with their Nova line. I don't have a Ronbus (though I would love to get my hands on a Nova) but I am struggling to understand why Ronbus seems only to have been evaluated based on their .16 line, with their Nova being the same price as the 6.0 DBD.
The Pulsar and Nova didn’t exist when this video came out.
@@PickleballStudio oh jeez. Apologies. I saw it in my feed and didn't pay attention to the date.
no Hisk?