REVIEWS
IN THE KNOW : EQUIPMENT
PCKL PRO SERIES PADDLE REVIEW
Look / Cosmetics : 3 / 5 PCKL is a new paddle company based in my home state of Georgia . It sent me one of its Pro Series paddles to review . Good to see some local folks putting out quality products ! The paddle sports a simple all gray / white face with a bright-green edge guard . While it ’ s a simple design , the edge guard makes it stand out from the crowd . This paddle is long and narrow with dimensions of 16.5 " x 7.5 ". The handle is a short 4.7 ", which wouldn ’ t make it a good choice if you have a two-handed backhand ( the company has other models for that ). My paddle weighed in right at 8 oz . The face is carbon with a polypropylene honeycomb core . Nice padded , ribbed grip that gives you a comfortable hold on your paddle . Also worth mentioning is that this paddle is very thin at 13mm .
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 4 / 5 This thin paddle definitely provides you with lots of power ! I was able to hit some nice drive serves and deep , hard slice returns . The carbon surface has a bit of a gritty feel to it and I tried adding some extra spin , but power is the name of the game here . When you need to , the thin body lets you really slap the ball hard . The long , thin shape was definitely top-heavy feeling , but that ’ s to be expected with paddles of this shape . It does swing nicely once you get it moving , and allowed me to hit back corners well on returns . Groundstrokes were equally competent , and I noticed good results when hitting a bit above the middle of the paddle .
Touch / Feel / Spin : 3 / 5 First off , let me say that if you rely heavily on spin , you may need to look elsewhere . Spin is decent , but you won ’ t be able to make the ball dip and dive easily . But flat hitters will love the easy power and large hitting area . For a powerful paddle , the control in the kitchen is pretty good . Normally , thick paddles provide the most control , but this thin paddle surprised me in that department . The longer shape made wide-angle dinking fun and gave me lots of reach . Overheads were easy to snap though and left the court quickly .
Sound / Sweet Spot / Playability : 3.5 / 5 The sound at impact was a bit loud for my taste , but that ’ s probably due to the thin body . The sweet spot was better-than-average size and extended out toward the tip almost all the way . Pretty solid-feeling paddle , and playability was excellent providing you prefer this shape in a paddle . I would say this isn ’ t a beginners paddle due to the longer , narrow shape . I would recommend this to folks who have been playing a little while and want something better than a “ starter ” paddle .
Summary : 3.37 / 5 I usually shy away from paddle brands I haven ’ t heard of , but since this was in my own hometown , I am glad I gave it a try . For the price you get a nice , quality paddle with a carbon face , which is usually quite expensive . I feel like PCKL is trying to provide affordable paddles that won ’ t break the bank but also won ’ t leave you feeling like you need a better paddle . In that respect I feel like it succeeded with this Pro Series paddle . One thing I would like to see improved is the grip . It got a little slippery on me when my hand got sweaty , but you could easily replace the grip with something of your choosing .
WITH SPINGRIP™
SELKIRK SLK EVO POWER PADDLE REVIEW
Look / Cosmetics : 3.5 / 5 Selkirk has a new paddle line called “ EVO ” and these paddles are priced lower than anything else in its lineup . I feel like these paddles are geared toward beginner and intermediate players who are new to the game and want a good , quality product from a known brand without spending a lot of money . It also has a bright-white edge guard and a ribbed , cushioned white grip . This model measures 16 " x 7.85 " with a 4.85 " long handle . Just a great all-around shape that will work for most players . The face is carbon fiber , and the core is Selkirk ’ s new “ Rev-Power Polymer Core ,” which is supposed to offer a large sweet spot .
By Jack Bandel
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 3 / 5 The EVO Power definitely lives up to its name ! Lots of pop to be had with this one for sure . Returns and groundstrokes were easy to get deep , but initially I have to say I wasn ’ t liking the feel of the handle in my hand . It felt very rectangular with sharper edges than I would like , and that definitely had an impact on how my shots felt . The paddle performed adequately , but I felt like nothing really stood out to me . I was also expecting a nicer feel of the carbon face .
Touch / Feel / Spin : 3 / 5 Since this paddle is geared toward power , I wasn ’ t expecting much in the touch and feel department and unfortunately that was exactly the case here . Dinks and touch shots weren ’ t the easiest to execute but after a while I was able to do a decent job keeping the ball down . Spin was just average , but that may be due to the different type of carbon fiber Selkirk uses on this EVO line . Touch and feel players might want to check out the EVO Control model . The nice thing is this paddle line is separated into distinct categories , so it ’ s easy to find which suits your game the best .
Sound / Sweet Spot / Playability : 3.5 / 5 For a “ beginner ” or “ entry-level ” paddle , I feel like the playability of this paddle was sufficient . The sweet spot size seemed to not hinder my overall game and I think most folks will be fine with it . The sound was a bit louder and sharper than I would like , but you may also be fine with that . For this price point , I feel like this paddle gives you a decent amount of everything to keep you playing and enjoying the game .
Summary : 3.25 / 5 It ’ s tough for me to give this paddle low marks , but I have to grade it on the same scale as the higher priced premium paddles — and while that might not seem fair , I feel like you have to keep that in mind . For this price point I would have no problem recommending this one ( or the others in the EVO line ) to players looking for their first paddle or for someone with budget as the top priority . There are certainly other paddles in this price bracket and I feel like it compares very favorably to most of those . Between the EVO Power , Control and Hybrid models , you should be able to find something that suits your game .
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 .
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