PADDLE REVIEWS
HEAD BOOM TOUR EX 2024 PADDLE REVIEW
Look / Cosmetics : 3.5 / 5 All-black paddle face with a matching edge guard and grip give this paddle a classy and distinctive look . Raw carbon surface with a honeycomb core . Measures 16.5 " x 7.5 " and a thin 11mm . Highquality Head Hydrosorb™ grip with a tennis-like beveled handle . No word yet on additional colors . Grip length is 5.5 " and the 4.125-inch grip size was a little small for me , but that is easily remedied . The paddle has a slight flare toward the top .
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 4.5 / 5 “ Boom ” is right ! This paddle lives up to its name for sure . After hitting a few serves and groundstrokes long , I started dialing in the power and swinging up to add more topspin and was having a blast driving the ball . The gritty surface also adds lots of dipping and slicing spin to your shots . Great paddle for folks who like to drive their third shots . Paddle feels quick through the air and very balanced while swinging .
Touch / Feel / Spin : 4 / 5 Spin with power seems to be the name of the game here . The Boom is not a finesse paddle but that is not its forte . However , it can handle touch-and-feel shots adequately well . Dinks were a little inconsistent for me , as I had a little trouble measuring the height of my shots . I ’ m sure with more time I could dial it in better . The feel of the carbon fiber face is pleasant , and I did not experience any bad vibes on mishits .
Sound / Sweet Spot / Playability : 4 / 5 Sound is middle of the road in terms of volume and tone . The sweet spot was accessible and seems to be located a bit higher than dead center . Shots near the outer perimeter did not fare well , but any intermediate-to-advanced player won ’ t be hitting there . For this reason , I wouldn ’ t recommend the paddle to beginners .
Summary : 4 / 5 Head ’ s new Boom paddles deliver when it comes to power . There is also a Boom Team EX that is a little thicker ( 13mm vs . 11 ) and would probably offer more control . The Tour model is a great choice for players who want that power boost in their game . The shape is the same as my favorite ( Invikta ) paddle , which offers a great balance between reach and width . If your game needs a power boost , definitely check out these new paddles from Head .
Current Price : $ 199.95
by JACK BANDEL
SELKIRK AMPED PRO AIR INVIKTA PADDLE REVIEW
Look / Cosmetics : 4 / 5 By now I ’ m sure you ’ re familiar with the look of the Selkirk “ S ” logo across the paddle face with two-tone colors . Mine was red / gray , but it comes in six color choices . Familiar Invikta shape ( my favorite ), measuring 16.45 ” long and 7.5 ” wide , with a 5.25-inch grip . Nice , cushioned grip . Playtest paddle came in at 7.9 oz . “ Edgeless ” design and 16mm thickness with the “ smile ” throat cutout . This paddle promises to be an “ all-court ” balanced paddle that is loaded with the latest tech .
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 4 / 5 Serves and groundstrokes were very predictable — no flyers or hitting long . This paddle has a decent amount of pop , without being too much . The fiberglass face felt crisp and solid . I noticed a higher swing weight than the Power Air and a bit of a headheavy feeling . Slice returns had adequate spin and I adjusted very quickly to using this paddle from the start .
Touch / Feel / Spin : 4 / 5 Third shot drops were very easy to execute with this paddle and I felt very in control on my dinks . Not a soft-feeling paddle , but that did not diminish its effectiveness in the kitchen . The fiberglass face feels crisp and solid all over the court and really allows you to control depth and height very well . Spin is about average .
Sound / Sweet Spot / Playability : 4 / 5 Sweet spot is above average in size , and this is definitely a “ pick up and play ” paddle . Very easy to get comfortable with , although I would steer beginners away since it ’ s mostly a controloriented paddle and it ’ s not very forgiving around the perimeter . Intermediates and advanced players will appreciate how this allcourt paddle does everything well and lets you execute your game plan , no matter what style that is .
Summary : 4 / 5 Selkirk priced this paddle lower than usual , possibly due to it not having any carbon fiber , but make no mistake — this is a high-quality product and a great value . Jack Sock thinks so and that says a lot . If you liked the Power Air but wanted a little more control and less unpredictable power , then this is what you need . The Amped Pro Air definitely does everything extremely well and should appeal to all court players who like their paddles to be like a Swiss army knife .
Current Price : $ 180.00
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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