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MANTA WORLD SPORTS LIBERTY 4G EDGELESS
Weight: 7.9 oz. Dimensions: 15.63 " x 8.25 " Core: Nomex Style
Honeycomb Surface: Fiberglass Price: $ 125
PADDLETEK BANTAM
EX-L
Weight: 7.9- 8.3 oz. Dimensions: 15.75 " x 7.75 " Core: Polymer Honeycomb Surface: Polycarbonate Price: $ 90
PBZ PADDLES CUB
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Weight: 6.5 oz. Dimensions: 11.88 " x 7.34 " Core: Polypropylene Core Surface: Epoxy / Vinyl Face Price: $ 70 |
ONIX SPORTS SUMMIT
Weight: 7.9 oz. Dimensions: 16.38 " x 7.5 " Core: Polypropylene Surface: Graphite Price: $ 95
PADDLETEK BANTAM TS-5
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Weight: 7.2- 7.5 oz. Dimensions: 15.75 " x 7.75 " Core: Polymer Honeycomb Surface: Fiberglass Price: $ 90
PICKLEBALL X / FRANKLIN SPORTS X-CALIBER
Weight: 7.8- 8.0 oz. Dimensions: 15.5 " x 8.25 " Core: Nomex Surface: Dual Fiberglass Price: $ 80
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ONIX SPORTS Z5
Weight: 7.8- 8.2 oz. Dimensions: 15.5 " x 8.13 " Core: Nomex Surface: Graphite Price: $ 100
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PADDLETEK ELEMENT
Weight: 7.4- 7.6 oz. Dimensions: 15.75 " x 7.75 " Core: Polymer Honeycomb Surface: Fiberglass Price: $ 75
PICKLEBALL X / FRANKLIN SPORTS X-FINITY
Weight: 7.3- 7.5 oz. Dimensions: 15.5 " x 7.75 " Core: Aluminum Surface: Fiberglass Price: $ 90
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out due to stronger, more durable and lighter materials entering the market. Some paddle cores are solid, but the overwhelming majority are made with some sort of honeycomb-style materials. The composition of those cores can vary widely. Even cores made up from the same materials can vary in wall density and honeycomb size. All paddles are not created equal. These factors all figure into how a paddle will play, how durable it is, and how much it weighs. That being said, there are some general common characteristics exhibited by each of these materials.
Aluminum core paddles are highly customizable in terms of honeycomb size and wall thickness and thus weight and performance. The aluminum core paddles that fall on the heavier side will tend to have more power( pop) than lighter ones offering more control and touch. They are strong and resilient and resistant to developing“ dead spots.” Aluminum core paddles can be given a softer touch by combining with a lightweight / softer surface such as graphite or carbon. Similarly, they can be combined with other materials such as fiberglass to create paddles with more power.
Polymer core paddles, involving a newer material in terms of its use in pickleball paddle production, have become very popular in the last few years due to durability and resistance to dead spots. Polymer is generally a heavier material, contributing to its reputation for power( pop) but has less“ natural” pop than aluminum or nomex / aramid cores of the same weight. These cores are combined with a number of different facing materials, primarily polypropylene, but also fiberglass( more pop / power) and more recently graphite( more control / touch). Like other core materials, polymer performance will be most dictated by weight and face material / surface treatment.
Aramid / nomex core paddles have a nice combination of power, control and feel. Nomex is DuPont’ s trademark and is an aramid fiber paper coated with phenolic resin
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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 | MAGAZINE 39 |