PADDLE REVIEWS
HEAD RADICAL NIGHT PADDLE REVIEW
Look / Cosmetics : 3 / 5 It ’ s called the Radical “ Night ” and night is black , so I get it . But how about just a little something more ? You need to look hard to see the words “ Radical Night ” on the paddle . The grip is a bit thin for me at 4.125 " but that can be easily fixed . The paddle is 16.5 " x 7.5 " with a 15mm thick core and a 5.5 " handle . Head does great tennis grips and this paddle ’ s grip is equally excellent . My test paddle weighed 8 oz . on the nose . Familiar Head slight teardrop shape .
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 4 / 5 Head claims this is a “ versatile ” all-around paddle that will enhance your skills , and so far , I agree . Serves , returns and groundies were all equally easy to execute and I immediately loved how balanced this paddle felt through the air . Impact felt solid and everything felt very predictable . Power was there for sure without being too jumpy .
Touch / Feel / Spin : 3.5 / 5 Spin was about average — enough to get the job done for sure . Dinks felt solid and not overly soft . The paddle feels very light through the air and that makes it very maneuverable around the net . Decent touch and feel from the carbon face , but remember this is one of those all-around paddles that does everything well , not one thing outstanding .
Sound / Sweet Spot / Playability : 4 / 5 Playability here is excellent . Sweet spot feels above average , and the only dead spots I noticed were off to the sides . Yes , this is definitely a well-balanced “ all-court ” paddle , which leans a bit toward the control side but with adequate power . Impact feels very smooth with no jarring vibrations to be felt . Enjoyable to hit and easy to use . Nothing unusual about the sound .
Summary : 3.6 / 5 This is a very respectable offering in a crowded market and probably my favorite Head paddle to date . I feel like the company is making strides into the market , and if it stays on this track , Head could be a major player in pickleball like it is in tennis . This is a versatile paddle with all the latest technology at a reasonable price . All-court players should have this one on their demo list .
Current Price : $ 220
by JACK BANDEL
SELKIRK VANGUARD INVIKTA CONTROL PADDLE REVIEW
Look / Cosmetics : 4 / 5 Selkirk “ S ” logo across the front in silver against an all-black background . Invikta shape is my personal favorite combination of length ( 16.5 ") and width ( 7.5 "). This model is 16mm thick with a now longer 5.5 " handle . This paddle ’ s understated look is perfect for a player who lets his on-court skills do the talking . This is a midweight paddle , and mine came in at a touch below 8 oz . It has a T700 raw carbon face , with a new X5 + honeycomb core , and the new upgraded grip feels nice and tacky .
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 4 / 5 The extra length on the handle was immediately noticed on groundstrokes . It is now easier to generate racquet speed on topspin returns . Spin was sufficient , as was power , but this paddle definitely leans toward control more than power . You need to put some swing speed in place to get the ball deep , but the accuracy and control is spot-on . Pick a spot on the court and go !
Touch / Feel / Spin : 4.75 / 5 Very soft feel that really lets you feel in control of your shots . You feel connected from the paddle face to your hand with the impact off the carbon face of the paddle . In my opinion , this is the softest Invikta I ’ ve tried . High-level , control-focused players will love this paddle . Touch-and-feel finesse players will also appreciate it . Very high marks here — almost perfect . The only knock is some folks might want a firmer feel .
Sound / Sweet Spot / Playability : 4 / 5 While this new Invikta Control is definitely meant for top-level players , that doesn ’ t mean it has a small sweet spot . Sweet spot size is above average , and playing with this paddle is not very demanding . Aside from the lower power level and shape , I feel like intermediates through pro level can use this paddle effectively . I found the sound on impact a bit on the loud side , but not too bad .
Summary : 4.2 / 5 Selkirk continues to make tweaks and improvements to this model . I feel it kept the great touch and feel of the 2.0 but added a little more playability to make this more of an “ all-court ” paddle than before . Power- or spinhungry players need to look elsewhere , but if control , consistency and finesse are your game , you can ’ t do much better than this latest Invikta Control from Selkirk . Highly recommended !
Current Price : $ 200
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