REVIEWS
IN THE KNOW : EQUIPMENT
TMPR TERRA LX ( INDIGO ICE ) REVIEW
Look / Cosmetics : 4 / 5 The Terra LX comes in in two colors , “ Indigo Ice ” and white / red . You can also choose either white or black trim . These paddles look sharp and both have the familiar large diagonal letter “ T ” logo in the middle . The paddle is slightly wider at the top , with an overall “ oval ” shape . Very comfy handle , which is very square in shape . All in all , looks and feels like a quality product . This is a 16mm thick paddle — 16.25 " x 7.68 ". The handle is 5.25 " which gives you just enough room to squeeze two hands in there when needed . A very nice option is the paddle offers three weight classes to choose from . Mine was of the medium class ( 7.6-8 oz .).
WITH SPINGRIP™
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 3.5 / 5 The Terra LX didn ’ t seem to favor control or power . It had a nice blend of both and has a nice solid feel when hitting the ball hard . This paddle feels very balanced while swinging through the air and is easy to play with . “ All-court paddle ” comes to mind so far , but we ’ ll see how it does when we slow things down . The Terra LX performed equally well on slide returns and I always seemed to get nice contact out of it , even if I missed the sweet spot a little . Nothing really stood out to me so far , either good or bad .
Touch / Feel : 3.75 / 5 First thing I noticed was how good this paddle was at resetting the point . It absorbs impact very well and it ’ s very nice on your elbow . Touch and feel are good , but not at the same level as the brand ’ s carbon-face paddles , which is to be expected . Dinks were pretty consistent and again , you don ’ t get many mishits . The large sweet spot seems to be the outstanding feature of most TMPR paddles and this one is no exception .
Sound / Sweet Spot : 4.25 / 5 OK , we finally get to the highlight for me — it ’ s the large sweet spot and the overall solid feel you get while playing with this paddle . Very hard to miss with this paddle , which would make it an excellent choice for those just getting into the game . Sound is not an issue and it doesn ’ t draw attention . The sweet spot does extend a bit more toward the tip than side to side , but you may never notice that .
Summary : 3.88 / 5 Nice respectable offering from TMPR at a very reasonable price . TMPR always offers a high-quality product for much less than many other brands . This “ Terra ” shape is close to traditional , with a little added to the length and taken off the width , which makes it very usable for most skill levels . The nice balance and ease of playability makes this a good choice for almost anyone with an all-around game . The solid feel and large sweet spot just add to the package . Check out the TMPR Terra LX !
TMPR TERRA TC-16 REVIEW
By Jack Bandel
Look / Cosmetics : 3.75 / 5 The Terra TC-16 (“ TC ” stands for textured carbon ) comes in one black with some blue lines on it . At the time of review , there was only one weight range available ( 7.6-8 oz .). My demo came in at just under 8 oz . TMPR paddles all have a familiar look about them , which makes them instantly recognizable on the court . Large diagonal letter “ T ” logo in the middle . I feel like TMPR could have “ snazzed ” this one up a bit more , but maybe it is limited with the carbon surface ? This paddle obviously is 16mm thick with the same Terra measurements ( 16.25 " x 7.68 ") with a 5.25 " handle length , which will work for you two-handed backhand players .
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 4 / 5 The Terra TC-16 definitely leans heavily toward control . You can still get your serves and returns deep , but you need to add some of your own power for sure . But where things get fun is when you put spin on your shots . This carbon fiber face really spins the ball easily . You can hit low , hard slice returns or slice serves that will give your opponents fits . The paddle feels balanced through the air and is easy to handle . Can ’ t wait to see what this does in the kitchen !
Touch / Feel : 4.5 / 5 Here we go ! This paddle will really help those players who like to reset the point and wait for their opponents to miss . Great at taking pace off shots and controlling the ball in the kitchen . While the power level isn ’ t high , the maneuverability of this paddle lets you be quick with your hands and put away those high dinks . Touch and feel are excellent with this paddle and it really has a nice soft feel , which allows you to keep your dinks down and avoid those pop-ups . Soft and spinny is how I would characterize the TC-16 for sure .
Sound / Sweet Spot : 4.25 / 5 Pretty quiet paddle compared to most . Won ’ t get you in trouble with your country club neighbors . As with all TMPR paddles , the sweet spot is large and the paddle is forgiving . Something about that oval shape just works and makes this a carbon paddle that appeals not just to the pros . Anyone who values control and spin and a soft feel will love this one . As with other Terra shaped paddles , the sweet spot extends a bit more lengthwise than side to side .
Summary : 4.13 / 5 If your game revolves around spin and kitchen play , then this is one you need to try . This is a carbon paddle that makes spin easy and also lets you keep the ball in play . Your opponents will be frustrated when they try to blast you at the net and you calmly drop the ball just over the net .
I love this oval “ Terra ” shape and this is an affordable , high-quality carbon paddle that won ’ t let you down . Power players , look elsewhere , but spin / touch players , give it a hard look !
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 .
86 TO SUBSCRIBE , CALL 412.914.8294 OR GO TO PICKLEBALLMAGAZINE . COM