REVIEWS
IN THE KNOW : EQUIPMENT
VELOZ QUADRA 16MM PADDLE REVIEW
Look / Cosmetics : 4 / 5 A few months ago , I reviewed the Veloz Ellipse paddle and was very impressed , so when Veloz asked me to review the Quadra model , I was eager to see how this paddle played in a more traditional shape . Again , love the look of these paddles . Sharp lines and bright colors make them stand out on the court . Three color patterns are available for the Quadra ( green / white , fuchsia on orange / white , yellow on gray / white ). Hard to pick a favorite … they all look great ! Dimensions are 15.75 " x 8 " with a 16mm thickness . Handle is 5.4 " and my paddle came in at 8.2 oz . These paddles just exude high quality and each one is individually handcrafted . Like the other Veloz , the Quadra has a four-layered , multi-directional carbon fiber with “ 360-degree wrapping .” I feel like this is what makes Veloz paddles so special .
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 4.25 / 5 I was immediately comfortable with this traditional-shaped Quadra , and it has that same great contact feeling that the Ellipse had . I noticed a tad less power on full strokes , like returns and serves , but this was probably due to the wider / shorter shape . But still , the carbon fiber face has that same “ springy ” feel on contact , with a nice blend of control and power . The balance through the air felt perfect and not headheavy like the Ellipse . So far , so good !
Touch / Feel / Spin : 4.75 / 5 I loved the feel of the Ellipse model and this one is no different . If you read what I said about the feel of the Ellipse , everything remains in the Quadra , but slightly better due to the extra control you get from this shape . Touch and feel players will really love this paddle for its wonderful control and ease of use . Great for absorbing pace from hard-hit incoming shots and very easy to feather away angle volleys that will frustrate your opponents . The spin is very good , but again , the feel is just outstanding . Top scores here for sure !
Sound / Sweet Spot / Playability : 4.5 / 5 The sound at impact is very rewarding . Won ’ t get you in hot water with your neighbors . The sweet spot felt a little above average in size , possibly due to the 360-degree carbon wrapping like the Ellipse had . With this model though , I found the sweet spot to be perfectly centered on the paddle , extending equally in all directions . I found this model easier overall to use and while I recommended the Ellipse for advanced players , this one could be used by almost any level player .
Summary : 4.3 / 5 Veloz once again surprised me with a very high-quality and playable paddle . The paddles are a bit pricier than the average , but when you factor in the way they are handmade and all the tech you get packed in there , I feel they are a bargain . They are so well-made and will probably last you a good long time , making it a worthwhile investment . I think more and more folks are becoming aware of this brand now and what it offers , and I predict it will become a major player in the paddle market .
By Jack Bandel
VOLAIR MACH 1 ( JULIAN ARNOLD ) 14MM PADDLE REVIEW
Look / Cosmetics : 3 / 5 This is the Julian Arnold signature model Volair Mach 1 . Julian Arnold is a rising star in men ’ s pickleball and is gaining popularity for his fiery court demeanor and competitive spirit . Let ’ s see how his signature paddle matches up . The graphics are kind of understated , coming in just a basic black color with “ Volair ” in white lettering along the side . Dimensions are 16.5 " x 7.5 " with a 14mm thickness . Handle is 5.5 ", which is enough to fit two hands on the handle when needed . Weight averages around 7.9 and my test paddle came in at 7.7 oz . I would like to see a little more flash in the graphics department next time , but that ’ s just me . Also comes with a nice plush padded cover to keep your paddle protected .
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 3.5 / 5 Serves and long groundstrokes were easy enough to execute with this paddle . Felt like a nice mix of pop and control but leaning a bit more toward power . This is a carbon fiber surface paddle after all , but the power was there when needed . Slice returns felt nice and had some nice spin behind them . Everything was very good , but nothing really stood out to me . So far , just a nice well-rounded paddle .
Touch / Feel / Spin : 3.5 / 5 Again , everything ’ s pretty good here , but maybe I ’ m spoiled by some of the other paddles I ’ ve tried lately ? Touch and feel are great with the carbon fiber surface and spin feels about average to me . Dinks were very consistent and probably my favorite shot to hit with this paddle . No flyers or hot spots were felt and it was great for long kitchen rallies . Very consistent .
Sound / Sweet Spot / Playability : 4 / 5 The sound at impact is a bit loud , but nothing major . Sweet spot was above average in size and felt like it would be extremely playable for most skill levels . This is a great all-court type of paddle that would fit a variety of play styles . The paddle felt very solid even when you hit on the outer edges near the edge guard , making it easy to scramble and keep the ball in play .
Summary : 3.5 / 5 Volair has a very solid offering here , with an easy-to-use carbon fiber paddle sporting a large sweet spot . This paddle does everything well but didn ’ t stand out in any one area for me , which isn ’ t necessarily a negative . If you are an all-court type of player and need a paddle that will cover all the bases for you at a very reasonable price , look no further than the Volair Mach 1 . Note that this paddle also comes in a 16mm thickness , which will give you a bit less power and more control .
For more info , go to the Pickleball Paddle Reviews group page on Facebook . Paddle Manufacturers : Contact Jack Bandel at
jackbandel @ gmail . com if you ’ d like your products to be reviewed .