PADDLE REVIEWS
ONIX MALICE DB 14 PADDLE REVIEW
by JACK BANDEL
Look / Cosmetics : 4.5 / 5 Striking graphics with a large Onix logo dominating the face . Rubber insert above the throat for absorbing vibration , 14mm carbon fiber frame with a traditional 16 " x 8 " shape . Cushioned grip with a 5 " handle . Composite face with a honeycomb poly core . Top corners have edge guards .
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 4.5 / 5 Lots of power ! Deep serves and returns were a joy to hit with this paddle and it ’ s very fast through the air . Slices had some nice movement on them as well . Very balanced feel , and shots were predictable with no flyers . Power , but under control .
Touch / Feel / Spin : 4.25 / 5 Very solid feel — not too soft or too crisp . Quick at the net for fast exchanges and the dampening technology really works . Arm
PCKL PRO SERIES 13 PADDLE REVIEW
Look / Cosmetics : 3 / 5 This latest paddle from Pckl has a simple all-black face with a bright green foam-injected edge guard . Elongated shape ( 16.25 " x 7.5 ") with a 5.5 " handle . The face is T700 raw carbon with a polypropylene honeycomb core . Nice padded , ribbed grip and 13mm thick .
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 4.25 / 5 This 13mm thickness offers a nice combination of power and control on groundstrokes . First thing I noticed was the spin — hard slice backhand returns and topspin drives had plenty of it ! Easy to pick up and play with immediately .
Touch / Feel / Spin : 4 / 5 Spin is easy to come by with the Pro Series 13 . Touch and feel are adequately soft to reset a point , but not as soft as some pain sufferers , take note . Even though this paddle excels with faster play , it still has brilliant control . Super-responsive feel and outstanding touch . Yes , you can have both power and touch !
Sound / Sweet Spot / Playability : 4.5 / 5 User-friendly paddle that suits all skill levels . Large sweet spot and easy swinging make this a great choice for beginners and advanced players alike . Pleasant pop on contact and hits around the edges weren ’ t too penalizing . Also love the tennis-like handle !
Summary : 4.4 / 5 As you can tell , I really loved this paddle . For more control , go for the 16mm . I really couldn ’ t find any faults , other than the slightly high price . This is the best Onix paddle I have tried to date , and I think you will see a lot of these on the courts soon .
Current Price : $ 249.99
other carbon paddles I ’ ve tested . The long shape is great in the kitchen , as it allows you extra reach for wide-angle dinks and overheads .
Sound / Sweet Spot / Playability : 4 / 5 Very quiet paddle that won ’ t annoy your neighbors at all . The sweet spot was better than average size and extends toward the tip . Playability was excellent . A versatile paddle that can accommodate most game types .
Summary : 3.81 / 5 Best “ bang for your buck ” paddle out there . Pckl is making quality paddles that will let you compete at any level without breaking the bank . The latest model definitely improves on the last one .
Current Price : $ 120 ( regular price is $ 159 )
SIXZERO DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND INFINITY PADDLE REVIEW
Look / Cosmetics : 4 / 5 Simple , sharp graphics with black background and white lettering . Elegant-looking paddle . “ Edgeless ” white carbon seam around the perimeter . Interesting shape that flares out a little at the top , 16mm thick and measures 16.3 " x 7.5 ". Cushioned leather grip with a 5.5 " handle . Raw carbon face with a honeycomb polymer core .
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 4 / 5 Impressed just with the overall high-quality feel of the paddle and the smooth hitting experience . Feels lighter than the spec and easy to swing fast . Excellent biting spin on slice serves and returns . The edgeless design did feel more stable when hitting near the edges .
Touch / Feel / Spin : 4.25 / 5 Equal control and power . Power comes from swing speed ( low swing weight ), but control is easy , allowing finesse players to play an all-around game . The light feel really helps with fastpaced exchanges around the net . Not mushy soft , but crisper . Connected feel , which may be due to the unique handle design .
Sound / Sweet Spot / Playability : 3.75 / 5 Sweet spot is adequate , and the edgeless design gives you more real estate . Not a beginner ’ s paddle . More of a “ scalpel ” that allows the crafty , skilled player to do whatever he wants with it . Pleasing higher range “ pop ” sound that ’ s not too loud .
Summary : 4 / 5 Impressive paddle from SixZero . This would be a great weapon in the right hands and should be demoed by all you crafty , allaround type players . High-quality product packing loads of tech at a very reasonable price .
Current Price : $ 220.00
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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