I didn't request a weight and got a 8.7 oz. It did feel a bit heavy at first but I got used to it pretty quick. It is a beast. Power, control and spin are all top end. I won't be using anything else for a while.
I drilled and played with it for 8 days straight before I wrote this review and still didn't get a hang of the weight with certain parts of my game like backhand volleys and still felt a little slower in fast hand battles but for the most part I adjusted to it pretty well like you said you did. I guess it just depends on the person. The weight will effect some more than others.
Great review! I noticed the same things with it as you noted - coming from a Gearbox GX5, it took some getting used to at the net. It’s certainly a bit slower in the hand to hand combat situations, but I’m starting to find the speed with it now. I thought that part of it might be a dealbreaker for me when using it for doubles, but I think it’s going to work out great. The added power and control with everything else more than makes up for any of the shortcomings for me. It’s amazing for singles matches.
Great comment. I like the feel and playability of it so much that I’m going to keep it in my hands a while longer see if the hand speed comes back once I get more time with it like you have.
@@pickleballeffect Quick update - after playing with the paddle for almost 4 weeks, the hand speed did come back to a degree, but I went back Gearbox just to compare and I definitely notice the additional speed I get with that paddle. I think it comes down to the style you prefer-the BJ paddle is amazing at drives and keeping players back, it also has tons of control with drops and dinks, and putaways are thundering-BUT it's not as fast as a thinner paddle that isn't as head-heavy. I've been experimenting with the Gearbox CX11E and the CX14E and I've noticed I get the same amount of control as the BJ, but I lost some confidence to blast drives deep to keep players back (more so with the CX14E than the CX11E). But at the net, I see a significant advantage in staying ahead of the ball, so much so, that I can decide to return back with pace, redirect at a more aggressive angle, or reset. Of the two, the CX14E has a bit more control and feel, but takes more effort to hit deep due to its head-light nature. The CX11E is a bit more balanced in that regard, giving up some control for more power to hit deep. I'm going to test out adding lead tape to the CX14E to see if I can dial it in to have more power for driving deep while keeping lighting fast speed, soft touch, and control. I feel that paddle is easier to modify since it's thicker at 14mm vs 11mm for the other. At the end of the day, the BJ paddle is amazing-for singles especaily. For doubles, I think it might be a touch too head-heavy (for me) and while you can compensate for that, I don't think it's worth it to give up hand speed for deep drives in doubles.
Great review, always a big fan of your reviews. Have you tried the Johns CFS 14mm standard weight model? Debating which of the two to get... I like the idea of the Swift models, but online consensus seems to be they cut some important corners on all the Swift models to get weight down and end result is not very good for performance, so I am looking at Johns CFS 14mm, or 16mm. Or even the Simone CFS 16. Thanks!
Yes, I’ve tried the Johns CFS 14 and am a fan. It’s the best 14mm paddle I’ve played. It’s not as forgiving at the 16mm but it’s more forgiving than other 14s and it has a softer, more pleasant feel to it compared to other 14s that have a firmer feels.
nice review I played the Hyperion paddle and found it to be a very comfortable and easy to adjust to. maybe the best feeling paddle to date. I have 5 different gearbox paddles and really like those but these new joola may change my mind!
Your comment about Vanguard must be why I picked one of these up and just played with it with no problem/feel issues. Never happened with any other paddle I’ve tried. I’ve been using various Vanguard paddles almost since they were released. I did sell my first one (8.6 oz) to a guy that uses a 9.5 oz paddle. Even he said it was a bit too head heavy. I now have an 8.25 oz -about 8.5 with overgrip. Doesn’t feel nearly as head heavy.
Glad to hear you agree with how they feel. I like the feel of Vanguards so it was an easy transition for me too. Ben's paddle does have a large weight range. Mine was 8.5 oz, maybe the lower 8 range isn't as bad.
Thanks for another good review. I too notice a bit of pop on my dinks when I hit dead center. And yah, my forearm is sore from the backhand flicks with this thing. I like it, plays well, but I think I need something softer. I can crush the ball with my own effort, so I appreciate that point you made on the Electrum review. Also, tough to watch a serial lobber in rec play on this video....
Great review! Have you tried pulling off the butt cap to see if the end of the carbon forged handle has a hollow space to add a small lead weight? That would be the easiest way to shift the balance away from the head. I've played with a friend's CFS 16 and it was definitely head heavy.
Great review, and I appreciate your comment regarding the effect it had on your backhand volleys. I've been playing a Prince Response Pro (8 oz) for a couple years and I may enjoy the CFS's equally long handle. The heavier weight would take some time to get used to.
Yeah, with the handle being so long and the weight far away from your hand I definitely felt it there. Getting power there is harder for me so that was a drawback. Vincent made a comment below that he got used to the extra weight pretty quickly so I guess it depends on the person.
Great review! How do you compare it to the crbn 2 16mm? Which one would you personally recommend. I can generate power on my own if needed (for context)
I preferred the feel of Ben's paddle over the crbn 2, but liked the weight balance of the crbn 2 more. Personally, I would go with the crbn because the paddle was too head heavy for me, but if weight is not an issue for you then I'd go with Ben's paddle. And yes, the crbn paddles did get removed from the usapa approved list of paddles for tournament play. Crbn issued a recall of a bad batch and I imagine they'll get back on the list once they get it sorted out.
I purchased this paddle when it came out. I played with it for a while, but now it sits untouched and unused in my bag. First off, and probably most importantly, I do not enjoy playing with this paddle. It seems heavy and slow and I do not like how it feels in my hand. I did notice improved consistency in my drop shots and dinks when playing with this paddle, but at expense of quickness and the other areas of my game.
I've been dying to hear your comments on the paddle. I'm very intrigued by this paddle for obvious reasons. I like that you consider it an all court with pop. Good touch with the soft game and not too bouncy. However, I'm a little concerned about the weight and the head heavy design. Two paddles ago I played with a Gearbox that all in weighed 9 ounces which played a bit heavy for me. The question I have for you, is it going in your bag? Also, what are your thoughts on the CRBN announcement?
I really enjoyed the feel and pop of the paddle but the weight is going to be hard to get past for a lot of people I think, including me. It's not going in my bag for now. I want to try out their Solaire CFS 14. It's essentially the same paddle but has a classic shape and a 14 mm core. If that one is a little lighter then I might really like it. As for the CRBN announcement, that was wild. From what I understand it sounds like CRBN is doing a recall of a bad batch. Once they get that sorted out they will go back on the approved list.
@@pickleballeffect How does the balance of the BJ Joola compare to the Electrum E which also weighs around 8.5 oz? I do find the handle on my Electrum E to be too bulky but all other attributes are ideal. Also, the PPA Tour announced today it will no longer allow the use of CRBN paddles in its amateur or professional events.
That would be excellent. Getting a new paddle and wondered how good these might be. And your reviews are excellent, because they also get into the playability of the paddle, which is so important, and not just the tech details. Thanks again
I love the Joola, but the head weight is definitely what will make people love it or hate it. Any chance you'll take a look at the new Stiga paddle? Table tennis companies getting into pickleball super intrigues me. The Nomex core seems like a headscratcher but what do I know haha
I didn't even know Stiga made paddles ha. I just looked them up, they are not the prettiest of paddles lol. Yeah, Nomex? Seems like a step back rather than a step forward there. I wasn't too impressed by just looking at the specs of the paddle. I have a few others in line to review so I probably won't get to these for while if I even decide to do it.
I haven’t hit it yet, but have one coming in the mail. I’ve reviewing Six Zero right now and then the CRBN X series which both use the same or similar tech. Mostly good things to say about them so far.
Great review as always. Unrelated question. Is the Gamma Hellbender more of a head heavy or handle heavy paddle? Thanks as always. Best reviewer on UA-cam!
It seems to me that since the release of this, there doesnt seem to be another paddle that comes close to the control/forgiveness of this paddle that also has decent power (you rated it as an 85 on power which is very high for anything with this level of control) -- Is there a newer more modern paddle that is lighter that you could interchange with this? I know in your prism series you sort of compared them but the prism has way less power IMO
I should update the ratings I gave this paddle. It still has great control but the release of thermoformed paddles changed things up. I wouldn’t say it’s an 85 power anymore. Probably more like an 80 or 81. I think it has more power than the prism flash and maybe a touch more than the prism v7 but I wouldn’t say it’s a ton.
I think they are just testing the paddle, not playing a game. The server (white hat) serves to the wrong court. The server's partner is up when he should be back. Both players on the receiving team are back when one should be up. The guy with the white hat volleys the return of serve.
I didn't request a weight and got a 8.7 oz. It did feel a bit heavy at first but I got used to it pretty quick. It is a beast. Power, control and spin are all top end. I won't be using anything else for a while.
Thanks for the comment. That's a good point. The more you play with it the more your game will adjust and get used to the extra weight.
I drilled and played with it for 8 days straight before I wrote this review and still didn't get a hang of the weight with certain parts of my game like backhand volleys and still felt a little slower in fast hand battles but for the most part I adjusted to it pretty well like you said you did. I guess it just depends on the person. The weight will effect some more than others.
Great review!
I noticed the same things with it as you noted - coming from a Gearbox GX5, it took some getting used to at the net. It’s certainly a bit slower in the hand to hand combat situations, but I’m starting to find the speed with it now. I thought that part of it might be a dealbreaker for me when using it for doubles, but I think it’s going to work out great. The added power and control with everything else more than makes up for any of the shortcomings for me. It’s amazing for singles matches.
Great comment. I like the feel and playability of it so much that I’m going to keep it in my hands a while longer see if the hand speed comes back once I get more time with it like you have.
@@pickleballeffect Quick update - after playing with the paddle for almost 4 weeks, the hand speed did come back to a degree, but I went back Gearbox just to compare and I definitely notice the additional speed I get with that paddle. I think it comes down to the style you prefer-the BJ paddle is amazing at drives and keeping players back, it also has tons of control with drops and dinks, and putaways are thundering-BUT it's not as fast as a thinner paddle that isn't as head-heavy.
I've been experimenting with the Gearbox CX11E and the CX14E and I've noticed I get the same amount of control as the BJ, but I lost some confidence to blast drives deep to keep players back (more so with the CX14E than the CX11E). But at the net, I see a significant advantage in staying ahead of the ball, so much so, that I can decide to return back with pace, redirect at a more aggressive angle, or reset. Of the two, the CX14E has a bit more control and feel, but takes more effort to hit deep due to its head-light nature. The CX11E is a bit more balanced in that regard, giving up some control for more power to hit deep. I'm going to test out adding lead tape to the CX14E to see if I can dial it in to have more power for driving deep while keeping lighting fast speed, soft touch, and control. I feel that paddle is easier to modify since it's thicker at 14mm vs 11mm for the other.
At the end of the day, the BJ paddle is amazing-for singles especaily. For doubles, I think it might be a touch too head-heavy (for me) and while you can compensate for that, I don't think it's worth it to give up hand speed for deep drives in doubles.
@@HardyHarz thanks, that was really good! Great assessment and thoughts. I need to get you reviewing paddles for Pickleball Effect ha.
Great review, always a big fan of your reviews. Have you tried the Johns CFS 14mm standard weight model? Debating which of the two to get... I like the idea of the Swift models, but online consensus seems to be they cut some important corners on all the Swift models to get weight down and end result is not very good for performance, so I am looking at Johns CFS 14mm, or 16mm. Or even the Simone CFS 16.
Thanks!
Yes, I’ve tried the Johns CFS 14 and am a fan. It’s the best 14mm paddle I’ve played. It’s not as forgiving at the 16mm but it’s more forgiving than other 14s and it has a softer, more pleasant feel to it compared to other 14s that have a firmer feels.
Love it, thanks for the reply! Ordered the CFS 14mm standard 😁
@@level27xrock sweet, I’m glad I could help.
nice review I played the Hyperion paddle and found it to be a very comfortable and easy to adjust to. maybe the best feeling paddle to date. I have 5 different gearbox paddles and really like those but these new joola may change my mind!
Agree, they found something good with this one.
@@pickleballeffect had a 69 yo buddy buy the cfs16 1 month handle came off the head! I'm glad I didn't put out the $$$ yet!
@@patricksnyder3446 sheesh ha I hope they replaced it. I haven't heard that one yet.
Your comment about Vanguard must be why I picked one of these up and just played with it with no problem/feel issues. Never happened with any other paddle I’ve tried. I’ve been using various Vanguard paddles almost since they were released. I did sell my first one (8.6 oz) to a guy that uses a 9.5 oz paddle. Even he said it was a bit too head heavy. I now have an 8.25 oz -about 8.5 with overgrip. Doesn’t feel nearly as head heavy.
Glad to hear you agree with how they feel. I like the feel of Vanguards so it was an easy transition for me too. Ben's paddle does have a large weight range. Mine was 8.5 oz, maybe the lower 8 range isn't as bad.
Thanks for another good review. I too notice a bit of pop on my dinks when I hit dead center. And yah, my forearm is sore from the backhand flicks with this thing. I like it, plays well, but I think I need something softer. I can crush the ball with my own effort, so I appreciate that point you made on the Electrum review. Also, tough to watch a serial lobber in rec play on this video....
Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you can confirm a similar experience to mine. And yeah ha the lob can be deadly...if you're good at it lol.
Great review! Have you tried pulling off the butt cap to see if the end of the carbon forged handle has a hollow space to add a small lead weight? That would be the easiest way to shift the balance away from the head. I've played with a friend's CFS 16 and it was definitely head heavy.
I haven't done that though I'm pretty sure it's hollow in there.
Great review, and I appreciate your comment regarding the effect it had on your backhand volleys.
I've been playing a Prince Response Pro (8 oz) for a couple years and I may enjoy the CFS's equally long handle. The heavier weight would take some time to get used to.
Yeah, with the handle being so long and the weight far away from your hand I definitely felt it there. Getting power there is harder for me so that was a drawback. Vincent made a comment below that he got used to the extra weight pretty quickly so I guess it depends on the person.
Great review! How do you compare it to the crbn 2 16mm? Which one would you personally recommend. I can generate power on my own if needed (for context)
Well as of now CRBN is banned, it’s no longer an approved paddle
I preferred the feel of Ben's paddle over the crbn 2, but liked the weight balance of the crbn 2 more. Personally, I would go with the crbn because the paddle was too head heavy for me, but if weight is not an issue for you then I'd go with Ben's paddle. And yes, the crbn paddles did get removed from the usapa approved list of paddles for tournament play. Crbn issued a recall of a bad batch and I imagine they'll get back on the list once they get it sorted out.
I purchased this paddle when it came out. I played with it for a while, but now it sits untouched and unused in my bag. First off, and probably most importantly, I do not enjoy playing with this paddle. It seems heavy and slow and I do not like how it feels in my hand. I did notice improved consistency in my drop shots and dinks when playing with this paddle, but at expense of quickness and the other areas of my game.
I've been dying to hear your comments on the paddle. I'm very intrigued by this paddle for obvious reasons. I like that you consider it an all court with pop. Good touch with the soft game and not too bouncy. However, I'm a little concerned about the weight and the head heavy design. Two paddles ago I played with a Gearbox that all in weighed 9 ounces which played a bit heavy for me. The question I have for you, is it going in your bag? Also, what are your thoughts on the CRBN announcement?
I really enjoyed the feel and pop of the paddle but the weight is going to be hard to get past for a lot of people I think, including me. It's not going in my bag for now. I want to try out their Solaire CFS 14. It's essentially the same paddle but has a classic shape and a 14 mm core. If that one is a little lighter then I might really like it. As for the CRBN announcement, that was wild. From what I understand it sounds like CRBN is doing a recall of a bad batch. Once they get that sorted out they will go back on the approved list.
@@pickleballeffect How does the balance of the BJ Joola compare to the Electrum E which also weighs around 8.5 oz? I do find the handle on my Electrum E to be too bulky but all other attributes are ideal. Also, the PPA Tour announced today it will no longer allow the use of CRBN paddles in its amateur or professional events.
Put some lead on the handle under the grip if you want to change the balance to more head light.
Is the Vision head heavy also?
No
Why joola made the weight range from 7.9,8.0-8.9? It’s a big different in weight. They shipped mine 8.0
Yeah, it’s not the best. You don’t see stuff around 8.9 anymore though. Most of them are closer to 8.3-8.4 so you got a really light one.
I tried this and the CAS, ended up liking the CAS more due to the lighter weight.
How do you feel about this paddle vs the CRBN 1 16mm?
The CAS surface where’s out really fast so I like the Vision 16 more. And I like the Vision 16 over the crbn 1 16 because it’s more forgiving.
@@pickleballeffect did you notice any issues with the handle? Heard sometimes the connection with the paddle is fragile.
@@kwikstah I’ve personally never had any issues with that but I’ve heard around the web that it’s not uncommon. Especially for big hitters.
Would be interested to hear if the responsive version played dramatically different or not
I’ve got the other two Hyperion paddles as well. I need to spend some more time with them but I’ll be doing a comparison review of all three.
That would be excellent. Getting a new paddle and wondered how good these might be. And your reviews are excellent, because they also get into the playability of the paddle, which is so important, and not just the tech details. Thanks again
I love the Joola, but the head weight is definitely what will make people love it or hate it.
Any chance you'll take a look at the new Stiga paddle? Table tennis companies getting into pickleball super intrigues me. The Nomex core seems like a headscratcher but what do I know haha
I didn't even know Stiga made paddles ha. I just looked them up, they are not the prettiest of paddles lol. Yeah, Nomex? Seems like a step back rather than a step forward there. I wasn't too impressed by just looking at the specs of the paddle. I have a few others in line to review so I probably won't get to these for while if I even decide to do it.
any advice on Legacy pro paddle--not much info out their
I haven’t hit it yet, but have one coming in the mail. I’ve reviewing Six Zero right now and then the CRBN X series which both use the same or similar tech. Mostly good things to say about them so far.
@@pickleballeffect thks for the reply..looking forward to your reviews
How would you compare this paddle to the Engage Pursuit MX6.0?
The MX 6.0 has more power while the CFS 16 offers a little more control. Both great paddles.
Great review as always. Unrelated question. Is the Gamma Hellbender more of a head heavy or handle heavy paddle? Thanks as always. Best reviewer on UA-cam!
Thanks! I'll accept the title ha. The Hellbender is more evenly balanced I think and is just very light overall.
@@pickleballeffect thank you as always
It seems to me that since the release of this, there doesnt seem to be another paddle that comes close to the control/forgiveness of this paddle that also has decent power (you rated it as an 85 on power which is very high for anything with this level of control) -- Is there a newer more modern paddle that is lighter that you could interchange with this? I know in your prism series you sort of compared them but the prism has way less power IMO
I should update the ratings I gave this paddle. It still has great control but the release of thermoformed paddles changed things up. I wouldn’t say it’s an 85 power anymore. Probably more like an 80 or 81. I think it has more power than the prism flash and maybe a touch more than the prism v7 but I wouldn’t say it’s a ton.
how many points head heavy is it
I have the paddle on loan with a friend right now or I'd measure it for you. I'll comment again once I get the paddle back.
Franklin makes a better paddle, I use the Ben Johns and the centre by Franklin is my favorite
I'm glad you found your paddle!
Has no one realized the fault at 5:06 ?
I think they are just testing the paddle, not playing a game. The server (white hat) serves to the wrong court. The server's partner is up when he should be back. Both players on the receiving team are back when one should be up. The guy with the white hat volleys the return of serve.