Pickleball Magazine 2-1 Courtesy of Pickleball Rocks | Page 42

PRODUCT REVIEW
( think paper honeycomb coated in liquid fiberglass ). This was the first honeycomb material used to build pickleball paddles . Depending on surface face material , these paddles can often be combined with graphite , creating good control paddles , or fiberglass face materials creating great pop .
They feel nice when you hit the ball ; however , by the nature of the material , they can eventually break down and develop dead spots .
Roughly one-third of the bestselling paddles have nomex / aramid cores , another one-third are aluminum , and one-third are polypropylene ( or polymer based ), graphite , wood , or something else .
PICKLEBALL X / FRANKLIN SPORTS X-FACTOR
Weight : 7.4 - 7.6 oz . Dimensions : 15.5 " x 8.25 " Core : Nomex Surface : Carbon Fiber & Fiberglass Price : $ 100
PICKLE-BALL INC CHAMPION ALUMINUM
Weight : 7.3 - 8.0 oz . Dimensions : 15.75 " x 8.13 " Core : Aluminum Honeycomb Surface : Fiberglass Composite Price : $ 75
PICKLE-BALL INC CHAMPION GRAPHITE
Weight : 6.8 - 7.8 oz . Dimensions : 15.75 " x 8.13 " Core : Nomex Honeycomb Surface : Graphite Price : $ 75
SURFACE MATERIAL ( SKIN OR FACE )
The surface of the paddle is most commonly made of fiberglass or graphite , although there are many great paddles using carbon , kevlar , or some other combinations . Each will intentionally offer a different feel to complement the characteristics dictated by the core material and weight .
Fiberglass surfaces are highly durable and tend to offer good pop / power .
Graphite surfaces are known for their lightweight and responsive touch . They can be combined with almost any core material to create paddles with good control / soft touch . Graphite surface paddles are generally more expensive and difficult to source .
Polypropylene is a common facing material used with polypropylene cores . It is highly durable and heavier in weight .
Aluminum and carbon fiber surface paddles are less common and therefore less tested .
Paddle surfaces are often finished with paint , screen print or vinyl , which can add a small amount of texture ( for spin ), weight ( for power ) or hardness ( for power ). The USAPA has applied very stringent limits to the amount of texture that can be on a paddle surface . To sum it up – if the surface face offers a spin advantage , it will probably not pass USAPA testing .
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PICKLE-BALL INC POLYPRO TRACER
Weight : 7.4 - 7.6 oz . Dimensions : 15.5 " x 7.88 " Core : Polypropylene Honeycomb Surface : Textured Fiberglass
Composite Price : $ 70
PROLITE REBEL POWERSPIN
Weight : 7.7 - 8.1 oz . Dimensions : 16 " x 7.81 " Core : Polymer Core Surface : Fiberglass Price : $ 90
PICKLE-BALL INC VINTAGE CHAMPION
GRAPHITE
Weight : 7.1 - 8.0 oz . Dimensions : 15.75 " x 8.13 " Core : Nomex Honeycomb Surface : Graphite Price : $ 80
PROLITE TITAN PRO BLACK DIAMOND
Weight : 7.6 - 8.3 oz . Dimensions : 15.5 " x 7.81 " Core : Polymer Core Surface : Carbon Fiber Price : $ 110
PICKLE-BALL INC VORTEX 2.0
Weight : 8.2 - 8.8 oz . Dimensions : 15.75 " x 8.13 " Core : Nomex Honeycomb Surface : UV Resistant Vinyl over
Fiberglass Composite Price : $ 85
RIVERSTYKS FOX BLADE
Weight : 7.4 - 9.3 oz . Dimensions : 15.75 " x 8.13 " Core : Carbon Fiber Weave Surface : Carbon Fiber Cover Price : $ 189
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