Props for talking about durability. I think durability is the next frontier and needs focus from reviewers. As more companies race to bottom prices, what is being sacrificed? Are they all created equal? In some industries, torture testing is a popular way to compare products. Imagine someone had a machine and could strike a paddle 15,000 times for example and take measurements of deflection, exit velocity, X-ray, etc. then open them up after the cores fail. Then we would really know who is making premium paddles!
Love my J2K!! Now full disclosure mine core crushed after nearly exactly 2 months of play (3-4 2.5+ hour sessions a week). I notified Honolulu Pickleball, they emailed me a shipping label, I shipped it to them and they sent a new one. I am almost 2 months into this one and it is perfectly fine. I honestly love this paddle and can definitely recommend it.
Tried other paddles, but always go back to my J2K. Did core crush at 3 months, HPC quickly replaced it with desired weight (8.0). Purchased another J2K at 14mm, but I still prefer the 16mm. HPC has excellent customer service, and are also accommodating about weight preference, unlike some other companies like Six Zero.
I had the same experience, but mine crushed after 2 months. Same great customer service!! Also my go to paddle right now. I so like the Hudef Mage 2, but had to modify it some with some weight near the lower portions of the paddle. I will play with both, but just love the feel of the J2K and wonder why I even have the Mage 2 in my bag.
How different does the 14mm feel from the 16mm for you? In the video he described the 16mm as stiff-feeling which was a surprise to me. I've never played with the 16mm, but the 14mm is definitely a stiff/hard surface playing paddle.
@@ccbowers 14mm felt way too stiff. Only thing you are gaining with the 14mm is pop. The J2K has more powerful drive, better control and bigger sweet spot .
Totally agree with you on your conclusions. I've been playing mainly with the J2K since early May. I received a J2Ti 3 weeks ago. I mostly played with it for 2 weeks straight and really liked the plush feel and extra dwell time initially. However, in the last week, I determined that the J2K is still my baby because it leans more towards the power end than the Ti. I realized my drives weren't quite as accurate and cutting and my volleys weren't as crisp with the Ti. I also found myself leaving more drops and resets short (on the tape). In all, these were very subtle differences, but they mattered enough that I noticed. The J2K just fits my aggressive all-court style more. As for the core issues, I've heard of a few examples in the social media sphere, but no one I know has had an issue. My J2K feels the same as it did when I got it six months ago. I wouldn't hesitate to get another one.
My two favorite paddles of the year! Great video :) Love that we agree that they are top tier and at a great price. When people recognize me at my local courts and ask what paddle I recommend I say the J2K or the J2Ti and break them down almost exactly as you did :)
The ti has a softer feel. Note: The J2k felt soft on initial sale but then a few months later I bought a second J2k and it felt way harder. Hopefully Honolulu doesn't change the feel of the J2ti later.
How does the J2 compare to the J2K and J2Ti? All 3 appear to be the same shape and construction, but with different face materials. It looks like you can still get the J2 for significantly less money at $100. Is there a $55 performance difference?
From what I’ve seen in other reviews on UA-cam, I don’t think the difference in performance is worth the $55 difference. Moreover the J2 has more power (similar to the J2K Pro) than the J2K and J2Ti. They are all great paddles though.
The Kevlar is supposed to give it softer feel at the net but retain power and pop with harder swings. That’s what it seems to do for me but I haven’t tried the J2.
Interesting analysis. I have both paddles. I have been playing with J2k 16mm for a month and the Ti for a week now. After playing with the Ti for a few sessions, I have a different impression from the main point in the video-the Ti feels more responsive and "poppy" compared to the J2k. The J2K is softer in my hands. I am more familiar with the J2k and thus more confident in what it will do under pressure. The J2k resets beautifully, and blocks drives effortlessly. The Ti feels more aggressive in my hands. It is newer, so the bite on spins is more dramatic (grittier surface). I play with a lot of slice and backspin, and a few opponents have commented that my ball seems "heavier" with the Ti. The slice shot with the Ti is harder to get under and return. I don't feel like I've lost control, however, with the Ti-it just plays more lively. I use a 1 oz. Slyce butt cap on both paddles, and i put 6 grams of tungsten tape on the top corners of each paddle, so the setup is identical. I prefer the Ti because I get a more dynamic spin game with it, and the sweet spot is just as large as on the J2k. I'd be curious what the RPM spin comparison is between the two paddles. I agree they are both superior all-court paddles-it is a matter of what you are looking for, and trying to execute that might push you toward one paddle over the other.
Great video once again! I also really appreciate that you are one of the only reviewers that is calling “titanium” what it actually is. I know the term doesn’t change the performance but for the sake of accuracy, I like that you do that. Thanks! You’re awesome!
Agree. It's even more confusing for a skier because Ti is used extensively to abbreviate titanal (aluminum/titanium alloy). Eg I ski Declivity 92Ti skis ;-)
I delaminated my J2k in 2 or 3 months, and i bought two at once as a gamer and a practice paddle. They replaced it no questions asked. My replacement J2k feels more poppy and powerful than the first 2 i bought.
Imo the J2K/TI are the pinnacle of what paddles should be. Have played my j2k for months and love it. And yet I feel pressure to pick up and get used to a gen3 style paddle even though I think it’s terrible for the game and I hate playing against them. The advantage they offer is frustrating
I purchased the j2k , power typically isn't my issue, my soft shots were inconsistent. I'm a 3.5 - 4.0 player and am on j2k #2. Paddle #1, found to be too low swing weight, after experimenting put 2" lead at the top corners. It played different after about 15 hrs of play, shoft shots where much improved but hard shots were disappointing. Around 20hrs of play the handle broke at its mid point. After 3 weeks of back and forth with the company I received a replacement. Paddle #2, I immediately set it up like #1, again out of the box it didn't play to my liking. It took about 10 plus hrs of play and it broke in nicely. Soft shots nice and controllable, great sweet spot that helped off center returns and power shots where what I expected ( I'm 73 so power is a relative term). Ver please with this Paddle. Durability? Unfortunately I'm not playing until some back issues improve (not from PB). Also bought a Mark paddle to compare but , only used it a few times so far. Thanks for your reviews, I find your podcasts informative and entertaining. John F.
Both of my J2k's have core crushed in about two months of heavy use (14 hours a week). I have gotten a warranty replacement on one and the second is going though the process now. That being said, the spin is also significantly diminished by that time so even if it didn't core crush I'd still probably want to replace it, and unlike core crushing, spin loss isn't covered under warranty. And like you said, this isn't an issue that buying a more expensive paddle will solve, so i might as well keep buying the reasonably priced one. But man do I wish paddles would last longer...
@@mr.mr.3301 hold the sides of the paddle with your hands and press on the sweet spot with your thumbs. If you hear a lot of crunching, the core is crushed. It'll also have a lot more give under your thumb than a new paddle.
The J2 platform is excellent. The differences among the variants are minor as it is just the face material employed. In terms of poppi-ness it goes in this order ... J2H > J2K Pro > J2K > J2 (basic carbon fiber face) > J2 Ti. I have played them all. All are outstanding all arounders.
My J2K and my friend's delaminated pretty quickly. Not a full delamination, but enough to lose a lot of control. Bummer, really liked the paddle at first
Ok - so maybe I'm not crazy. I didn't even play with it for very long...but I hit HARD...and now I can't even control it with a service return. It's in my closet now for my 9 year old to play with. How does one check if its full delaminated, because mine truly feels unplayable now?
@@Bsteiny42 Put the paddle up against your ear and press into the paddle face with your fingers. If you hear any crunching, that would be delamination. Did your paddle also start sounding louder on impact? Noticed mine was making a louder smacking sound when hitting the ball.
So I have both of these paddles. I agree there is not a huge difference between the two and the preference just comes down to how they feel. My complaints with the paddles are quality issues. Both of the paddles edge guard ends were cut crooked. You won’t see this unless you remove the grip. The edge guard on the J2 K was so crooked that I had to trim both ends up. Yes I’m a bit OCD but I have not seen this on any other paddles that I have owned and I’ve probably purchased 20 paddles over the past couple of years. Also the J2 TI that I received only weighed 7.7 ounces out of the box. The weight range of both paddles is supposed to be 8.0-8.4 ounces. I was very disappointed with the lighter weight of the J2 TI. I like the paddles overall but with all the hype I expected better and have not had any of these type of problems with any other brands.
I luv the J2kTI. Took just enough pop off to make my drops to drop. Amazing spin and power when you want to hit it. Just enough pop for hand battles. Also its just not another black paddle. If you can get your drops to drop with a hot paddle, this is not the paddle for you. I requested an 8 oz and they sent an 8 oz. No lead tape no endcap!
The J2K 14mm Pro is substantially firmer and livelier compared to the 16mm. A skilled plar can adjust to the pro, but i felt like i had to hold back and i was less confident with my shots with the pro. On the other hand, the pro has a different weave that creates more spin and grips the ball noticeably. The pro also seemed easier to move quickly - more agile at the kitchen in hands battles. But once the ball is on the oaddke surface the 16mm is mire muted and easier to control. I never got to use the J2K pro long enough to see if it toned down at all as it was broken in -- that is mainly because i was always reaching for the 16mm for overall vo rudeness and stability.
@PickleballStudio How do you measure the swing weight of your paddles? I want to try to do the same to mine as I apply weight to them so that I can track the number, but yeah, I don't know how 😅
I played today with the J2Ti for the first time coming from the J2K and I feel all my power is gone :( The plushness is amazing for dinking and drops, but for serves drives and smashes it feels so muted :( Will give it a week before I decide to keep it. I have the same lead strips config on both, just below middle on both sides. Maybe my J2K was getting delaminated?
I had received J2K and J2Ti this week and played for two days. The J2Ti feels better than my current Shogun and J2K feels a little bit stiffer, both paddles are equal or better than most of other paddles I had tried, however, I felt that the handle is a bit shorter compared to the Shogun, maybe due to the way I hold the paddle like tennis racket, The handle length is ~1/8 inch shorter and neck area is wider than Shogun.
What specifically do you like better about the J2Ti vs Shogun? I really like the Shogun and waiting for delivery of the J2Ti…looking forward to trying it!
@@BH-qd4yb For me, both almost same, Shogun is like 97- or 98-inch head size tennis racket and J2Ti is 100- or 105-inch tennis racket. Both of them are great paddles, but with J2Ti I could generate a little bit more power and top spin easily, however, when I had blocked/punched strong fast balls, I could control the ball with Shogun better. And dink/reset were almost same.
Just get a Muvn Guvn and you will feel groovy. Guaranteed Started playing in 2016 and probably have owned over 3 dozen paddles. Go get you a Muvn or one of the newest Paddleteks and forget the rest. It will save you tons of paddle angst.
I was waiting your review to decide. I play with my DBD for over 1 year and I see so many reviews for those paddles I was wondering the possibility to change for it or go with Ruby or with a new DBD. What is your suggestion? Tks and I started to use DBD because of your reviews!
Props for talking about durability. I think durability is the next frontier and needs focus from reviewers. As more companies race to bottom prices, what is being sacrificed? Are they all created equal? In some industries, torture testing is a popular way to compare products. Imagine someone had a machine and could strike a paddle 15,000 times for example and take measurements of deflection, exit velocity, X-ray, etc. then open them up after the cores fail. Then we would really know who is making premium paddles!
💯 agree.
Love my J2K!! Now full disclosure mine core crushed after nearly exactly 2 months of play (3-4 2.5+ hour sessions a week). I notified Honolulu Pickleball, they emailed me a shipping label, I shipped it to them and they sent a new one. I am almost 2 months into this one and it is perfectly fine. I honestly love this paddle and can definitely recommend it.
How does the grippy surface last?
Tried other paddles, but always go back to my J2K. Did core crush at 3 months, HPC quickly replaced it with desired weight (8.0). Purchased another J2K at 14mm, but I still prefer the 16mm. HPC has excellent customer service, and are also accommodating about weight preference, unlike some other companies like Six Zero.
I had the same experience, but mine crushed after 2 months. Same great customer service!! Also my go to paddle right now. I so like the Hudef Mage 2, but had to modify it some with some weight near the lower portions of the paddle. I will play with both, but just love the feel of the J2K and wonder why I even have the Mage 2 in my bag.
How different does the 14mm feel from the 16mm for you? In the video he described the 16mm as stiff-feeling which was a surprise to me. I've never played with the 16mm, but the 14mm is definitely a stiff/hard surface playing paddle.
@@ccbowers 14mm felt way too stiff. Only thing you are gaining with the 14mm is pop. The J2K has more powerful drive, better control and bigger sweet spot .
Totally agree with you on your conclusions. I've been playing mainly with the J2K since early May. I received a J2Ti 3 weeks ago. I mostly played with it for 2 weeks straight and really liked the plush feel and extra dwell time initially. However, in the last week, I determined that the J2K is still my baby because it leans more towards the power end than the Ti. I realized my drives weren't quite as accurate and cutting and my volleys weren't as crisp with the Ti. I also found myself leaving more drops and resets short (on the tape). In all, these were very subtle differences, but they mattered enough that I noticed. The J2K just fits my aggressive all-court style more.
As for the core issues, I've heard of a few examples in the social media sphere, but no one I know has had an issue. My J2K feels the same as it did when I got it six months ago. I wouldn't hesitate to get another one.
My two favorite paddles of the year! Great video :) Love that we agree that they are top tier and at a great price. When people recognize me at my local courts and ask what paddle I recommend I say the J2K or the J2Ti and break them down almost exactly as you did :)
Do u play stock or do u have weights to them?
@stspickleball
Perfect round up IMO. Thank you so much. Been waiting for a in depth comparison on these!
The ti has a softer feel.
Note: The J2k felt soft on initial sale but then a few months later I bought a second J2k and it felt way harder. Hopefully Honolulu doesn't change the feel of the J2ti later.
Fun to see you talk about these! My favorite paddles of the year!
See how he calls it polyester threads and not titanium….. lol jk. Just messing with you 😅
@@JflipJedi 👍
Great job Chris. Did u see the small core compression marks on the J2TI you cut open as well?
J2K vs J2Ti the battle of the best performance and value paddles on the market
Out of curiosity, how does the J2Ti compare to the DBD? Thanks for the review!
How does the J2 compare to the J2K and J2Ti? All 3 appear to be the same shape and construction, but with different face materials. It looks like you can still get the J2 for significantly less money at $100. Is there a $55 performance difference?
From what I’ve seen in other reviews on UA-cam, I don’t think the difference in performance is worth the $55 difference. Moreover the J2 has more power (similar to the J2K Pro) than the J2K and J2Ti. They are all great paddles though.
The Kevlar is supposed to give it softer feel at the net but retain power and pop with harder swings. That’s what it seems to do for me but I haven’t tried the J2.
This was so informative! I appreciate you for this❤
Interesting analysis. I have both paddles. I have been playing with J2k 16mm for a month and the Ti for a week now. After playing with the Ti for a few sessions, I have a different impression from the main point in the video-the Ti feels more responsive and "poppy" compared to the J2k. The J2K is softer in my hands. I am more familiar with the J2k and thus more confident in what it will do under pressure. The J2k resets beautifully, and blocks drives effortlessly. The Ti feels more aggressive in my hands. It is newer, so the bite on spins is more dramatic (grittier surface). I play with a lot of slice and backspin, and a few opponents have commented that my ball seems "heavier" with the Ti. The slice shot with the Ti is harder to get under and return. I don't feel like I've lost control, however, with the Ti-it just plays more lively. I use a 1 oz. Slyce butt cap on both paddles, and i put 6 grams of tungsten tape on the top corners of each paddle, so the setup is identical.
I prefer the Ti because I get a more dynamic spin game with it, and the sweet spot is just as large as on the J2k. I'd be curious what the RPM spin comparison is between the two paddles.
I agree they are both superior all-court paddles-it is a matter of what you are looking for, and trying to execute that might push you toward one paddle over the other.
The ti is definitely not more poppy than the J2k
Ti spins like crazy and i like that soft feel.
Great video once again! I also really appreciate that you are one of the only reviewers that is calling “titanium” what it actually is. I know the term doesn’t change the performance but for the sake of accuracy, I like that you do that. Thanks! You’re awesome!
Agree. It's even more confusing for a skier because Ti is used extensively to abbreviate titanal (aluminum/titanium alloy). Eg I ski Declivity 92Ti skis ;-)
I delaminated my J2k in 2 or 3 months, and i bought two at once as a gamer and a practice paddle. They replaced it no questions asked. My replacement J2k feels more poppy and powerful than the first 2 i bought.
Imo the J2K/TI are the pinnacle of what paddles should be. Have played my j2k for months and love it. And yet I feel pressure to pick up and get used to a gen3 style paddle even though I think it’s terrible for the game and I hate playing against them. The advantage they offer is frustrating
Totally agree. The Gen 3s seems neutered but the Mod-TA is still insane. J2K can still hold my own but for how long?
Is Honolulu using "oversized" cores? Squeezing them to fit into the molds like Ive been hearing.
I purchased the j2k , power typically isn't my issue, my soft shots were inconsistent. I'm a 3.5 - 4.0 player and am on j2k #2.
Paddle #1, found to be too low swing weight, after experimenting put 2" lead at the top corners. It played different after about 15 hrs of play, shoft shots where much improved but hard shots were disappointing. Around 20hrs of play the handle broke at its mid point. After 3 weeks of back and forth with the company I received a replacement.
Paddle #2, I immediately set it up like #1, again out of the box it didn't play to my liking. It took about 10 plus hrs of play and it broke in nicely. Soft shots nice and controllable, great sweet spot that helped off center returns and power shots where what I expected ( I'm 73 so power is a relative term). Ver please with this Paddle. Durability? Unfortunately I'm not playing until some back issues improve (not from PB). Also bought a Mark paddle to compare but , only used it a few times so far.
Thanks for your reviews, I find your podcasts informative and entertaining.
John F.
Did you add weight to the paddle and if so, where and what were the specs after?
I think John Kew covered this in his video.
Both of my J2k's have core crushed in about two months of heavy use (14 hours a week). I have gotten a warranty replacement on one and the second is going though the process now. That being said, the spin is also significantly diminished by that time so even if it didn't core crush I'd still probably want to replace it, and unlike core crushing, spin loss isn't covered under warranty. And like you said, this isn't an issue that buying a more expensive paddle will solve, so i might as well keep buying the reasonably priced one.
But man do I wish paddles would last longer...
How did you know the core was crushed.
@@mr.mr.3301 hold the sides of the paddle with your hands and press on the sweet spot with your thumbs. If you hear a lot of crunching, the core is crushed. It'll also have a lot more give under your thumb than a new paddle.
Paddle of the Year
The J2 platform is excellent. The differences among the variants are minor as it is just the face material employed. In terms of poppi-ness it goes in this order ... J2H > J2K Pro > J2K > J2 (basic carbon fiber face) > J2 Ti. I have played them all. All are outstanding all arounders.
My J2K and my friend's delaminated pretty quickly. Not a full delamination, but enough to lose a lot of control. Bummer, really liked the paddle at first
Ok - so maybe I'm not crazy. I didn't even play with it for very long...but I hit HARD...and now I can't even control it with a service return. It's in my closet now for my 9 year old to play with. How does one check if its full delaminated, because mine truly feels unplayable now?
How long did it take, within the warranty period? I've read the owner is a decent guy but have read mixed reviews on their warranty claims.
@@Bsteiny42 Put the paddle up against your ear and press into the paddle face with your fingers. If you hear any crunching, that would be delamination.
Did your paddle also start sounding louder on impact? Noticed mine was making a louder smacking sound when hitting the ball.
@@Bsteiny42return it for an exchange.
@@af02271 yup, just setting on a table , gentle press into the middle….cheerios crunch. Waaay less than 25 hours played.
@pickleball studio have you tried the elongated j7k?? How do you like compared to the j2k?
So I have both of these paddles. I agree there is not a huge difference between the two and the preference just comes down to how they feel. My complaints with the paddles are quality issues. Both of the paddles edge guard ends were cut crooked. You won’t see this unless you remove the grip. The edge guard on the J2 K was so crooked that I had to trim both ends up. Yes I’m a bit OCD but I have not seen this on any other paddles that I have owned and I’ve probably purchased 20 paddles over the past couple of years. Also the J2 TI that I received only weighed 7.7 ounces out of the box. The weight range of both paddles is supposed to be 8.0-8.4 ounces. I was very disappointed with the lighter weight of the J2 TI. I like the paddles overall but with all the hype I expected better and have not had any of these type of problems with any other brands.
Use some lead or tungsten tape then
I luv the J2kTI. Took just enough pop off to make my drops to drop. Amazing spin and power when you want to hit it. Just enough pop for hand battles. Also its just not another black paddle. If you can get your drops to drop with a hot paddle, this is not the paddle for you. I requested an 8 oz and they sent an 8 oz. No lead tape no endcap!
Was hoping you would compare the 14mm to the 16mm
The most striking differences are always the exact same across all paddles.
He barely answer ppl comments that’s why i dont like him much
The J2K 14mm Pro is substantially firmer and livelier compared to the 16mm. A skilled plar can adjust to the pro, but i felt like i had to hold back and i was less confident with my shots with the pro. On the other hand, the pro has a different weave that creates more spin and grips the ball noticeably. The pro also seemed easier to move quickly - more agile at the kitchen in hands battles. But once the ball is on the oaddke surface the 16mm is mire muted and easier to control. I never got to use the J2K pro long enough to see if it toned down at all as it was broken in -- that is mainly because i was always reaching for the 16mm for overall vo rudeness and stability.
@PickleballStudio
How do you measure the swing weight of your paddles? I want to try to do the same to mine as I apply weight to them so that I can track the number, but yeah, I don't know how 😅
He has a device where he puts the paddle into it and it swings it and measures the swing weight
Ive been debating about getting the j2kti or the neonic flare. which one do you recommend? Im currently playing with shogun. Thanks!!!!
if you want your drops to drop, get the TI
I played today with the J2Ti for the first time coming from the J2K and I feel all my power is gone :( The plushness is amazing for dinking and drops, but for serves drives and smashes it feels so muted :( Will give it a week before I decide to keep it. I have the same lead strips config on both, just below middle on both sides. Maybe my J2K was getting delaminated?
Thoughts on the J2Ti vs the BnB Shogun?
I had received J2K and J2Ti this week and played for two days. The J2Ti feels better than my current Shogun and J2K feels a little bit stiffer, both paddles are equal or better than most of other paddles I had tried, however, I felt that the handle is a bit shorter compared to the Shogun, maybe due to the way I hold the paddle like tennis racket, The handle length is ~1/8 inch shorter and neck area is wider than Shogun.
What specifically do you like better about the J2Ti vs Shogun? I really like the Shogun and waiting for delivery of the J2Ti…looking forward to trying it!
I got mine and get to play with it. I like it a lot. Also have a shogun.
@@BH-qd4yb For me, both almost same, Shogun is like 97- or 98-inch head size tennis racket and J2Ti is 100- or 105-inch tennis racket. Both of them are great paddles, but with J2Ti I could generate a little bit more power and top spin easily, however, when I had blocked/punched strong fast balls, I could control the ball with Shogun better. And dink/reset were almost same.
Is there any pros playing with this paddle?
How does it compare to the Selkrik Vulcan paddle?
Yes, Jamie Haas.
What shorts (brand/model) are you wearing toward the end of the video where you hit the tweener?
American eagle
hi i dont know if you are going to see this but can you review the company nicol its really good
My j2k is stiff at all. I bought it 4 months ago.
The J2ti is noticeably softer feel than the J2K! I think there is a noticeable difference.
Yep the ti can make your drops drop.
Just get a Muvn Guvn and you will feel groovy. Guaranteed
Started playing in 2016 and probably have owned over 3 dozen paddles. Go get you a Muvn or one of the newest Paddleteks and forget the rest. It will save you tons of paddle angst.
3 doz, I got about 12 over 12 years.
Thank you Chris
J2K doesn’t feel that stiff and need that pop to battle the Mod-TA so I don’t think I’d change anything about it. The soft game is still really good.
I was waiting your review to decide. I play with my DBD for over 1 year and I see so many reviews for those paddles I was wondering the possibility to change for it or go with Ruby or with a new DBD. What is your suggestion? Tks and I started to use DBD because of your reviews!
The twist weight on my j2k is 7.15
Is that you or your brother playing in the video? 🔥🔥🔥
Lol why is the owner of Pikkl playing with a Thrive paddle?
Kevlar hits soft when hitting soft and hardens up when driving the ball. I love my j2k and my j7k pro
@4:49 nice
Kevlar is heavier muted, Titanium is lighter and poppier
Ti but no actual Titanium, kinda like a Taycan Turbo doesn't have a turbo.
its the color!
Rubiks cube prodigy jumpscare
Wish you guys had told me there was bible verse at the top of the paddle. I usually don't support religious zealotry.
Vanilla is better than chocolate, I thought everybody knows that!
I love my shiny plastic being advertised as titanium
Polyester you mean?