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Pad
IN THE KNOW
BY JACK BANDEL
PADDLETEK TANGENT PRO PADDLE
REVIEW
Look/Cosmetics
Nice design with the large Paddletek
“P” and some curved lines all around
the paddle face. Looks very much like
a Paddletek paddle. Comes in two
colors (pink and blue). Handle feels
nice and cushioned with a ribbed grip
design. You can get two different handle
sizes (small and regular). The shape is a
bit more rounded than usual and also boasts a
thicker core.
Serves/Returns/Groundstrokes
The Tangent Pro felt “different” to me at first,
but in a good way. The round shape and thicker
core played nicely with plenty of power, but with predictable
control. Serves and groundstrokes were easily put deep in the
court. The paddle feels very balanced while swinging, not tip-
heavy like some paddles can feel. The textured surface allows
easy spin to be added to your shots.
Touch/Feel
The fiberglass face and poly core is a familiar formula and
works well to allow a nice combo of power and control. Touch
and feel are adequate on dinks and drop shots and give you a
rather soft feel. Third shot drops were especially effective with
this paddle. Not as soft as a Tempest, but it’s more well-rounded,
giving you more power on tap when you need it.
Sound/Sweet Spot
The rounded shape seems to give you a nice-sized sweet spot
and I didn’t notice many off-center hits that just went nowhere.
Great playability for many levels and a great choice also for
beginners. The sound is more muted and lower pitched, due to
the thicker core. Not a loud paddle at all.
ENGAGE POACH ICON PADDLE REVIEW
Look/Cosmetics
Familiar design with Engage’s
trademark diagonal stripe against a
two-toned solid color background.
Comes in a nice variety of five color
choices. Perforated cushion grip.
Serves/Returns/Groundstrokes
Great combination of power and
control will have you knowing exactly how
hard to hit and where your shots are landing.
Very predictable on all shots from the
backcourt.
Touch/Feel
The proprietary chemically bonded (Elite
Pro) textured skin combined with the soft
(Poach) core gives you a soft feel with a firmer hitting
surface. This results in a powerful paddle with soft feel
when needed. Truly a “jack of all trades,” which could
benefit almost everyone’s game style.
Sound/Sweet Spot
Not as loud or noticeable as the Poach paddle. Sweet
spot is typically large, as are most Engage paddles, with
nice forgiveness on slightly off-center hits. The traditional,
but slightly longer, shape gives you slightly more reach
and a paddle that most folks could just pick up and play.
Summary
Great new paddle from Engage that covers all the bases,
from the Elite Pro, Poach Advantage and now this. This one
should appeal to anyone who likes a powerful paddle with
a firm surface and a soft feel. Another cutting-edge paddle
from Engage with broad appeal. •
For more information, visit www.pickleballpaddlereviews.net.
Summary
Great “all around” paddle that will work for almost anyone’s
game. Paddletek claims this one has the touch of the Tempest,
with the power of the Bantam all rolled into one. This is a very
accurate and predictable paddle that works well from anywhere
on the court. For players who want a “Swiss army knife” type of
paddle, this is a great choice.
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