The Paddles

If you answer Yes to any of the following questions, you probably want to start with looking at the GX6:

1. Are you vertically challenged? If you are shorter than say 6'? If so, you'd probably benefit from the extra reach offered by the GX6.

2. Do you consider yourself a power player? The elongated face and handle offer much more power due to the fulcrum effect.

3. Do you hold your paddle toward the bottom/base of the handle? You'd benefit from the fulcrum effect and extra reach.

4. Do you use both hands for your backhand shots? The elongated handle of the GX6 is ideal for two-handed backhands.

If this sounds like you, now you just have to narrow down weight and whether you want Power or Control. With heavier paddles, the weight does more work for you. This of course comes at a price, you give up the nimbleness of the lighter paddles. If you want more POP, get the Power series. If you find yourself hitting too many shots out, you probably want less POP and therefore the Control series.

If you answer Yes to any of the following questions, you probably want to start with looking at the GX5:

1. Are you 6' or taller? If so, you probably would benefit more from the larger/wider more forgiving sweet spot of the GX5.

2. Do you consider yourself a control player dominating at the kitchen? The quickness of the GX5 will benefit you.

3. Do you hold your paddle at the top of the handle (at the throat of the paddle)? The standard handle length of GX5 will be fine for you.

4. Do you use a single hand for your backhand shots? You won't need the elongated handle of the GX6, the GX5 is likely best for you.

If this sounds like you, now you just have to narrow down weight and whether you want Power or Control. With heavier paddles, the weight does more work for you. This of course comes at a price, you give up the nimbleness of the lighter paddles. If you want more POP, get the Power series. If you find yourself hitting too many shots out, you probably want less POP and therefore the Control series.

THE CX11 COLLECTION

If you are advancing in your skills and are now attempting more spin on your shots, of if you feel the sweet spot of the GX paddles is too small, you probably want to move up to the CX11 or CX14 paddle choices. The CX11E line (or the CX14E) is what you'll want to consider if you've answered the GX6 questions above in the affirmative. The CX11Q line (or the CX14H) is what you'll want to consider if you've answered the GX5 questions above in the affirmative.

Power vs. Control

Ideally we want to find a paddle that mostly closely matches our style of play, or matches our desired style of play. For example, I am a banger, I come from a background of 45+ years of racquetball where power is the name of the game. My initial thoughts were, "I'm a power player, I need a power paddle", I started out my pickleball journey gravitating to the power paddles. That worked out for a time, until I started playing more advanced players who could deal with the power game. I then recognized that if I wanted to advance in this game, I would need to master the soft game at the kitchen. I am now gravitating to the control paddles to force myself to learn the control game at the NVZ. I could see this mentality going the opposite way as well. Say you're a touch player and you want more "boom" in your overheads and drives, you may want to consider trying the power paddles. Often my friends are coming from a honeycomb paddle background and when they hit with a Gearbox SST paddle, they feel the power and instantly become addicted to that drug like sensation called "power". You can definitely feel the difference in power coming from a softer honeycomb composition.

Weight Considerations

Many people think that a heavier paddle will cause your shoulder or elbow to hurt. I would submit that this has more to do with your swing than the paddle. In fact, I am of the belief that a heavier paddle actually can have less strain on your arm, because it is doing more of the work for you. With a lighter paddle, you are whipping more and using your arm/shoulder/body more to generate power, which is not as necessary with a heavier paddle. But again, I think it comes down to how you are hitting the ball. A wristier hit in my opinion is going to lead to more injuries. Also, if you are not following through with your swing as much as you should be on your swing, that could cause problems (I know this from my racquetball experience).

Here is where weight matters to me, at the NVZ I find I am much more responsive/agile with a lighter paddle. At the baseline and for overheads, I prefer a more solid/heavier paddle. Of course, we can't use two paddles so there is a tradeoff. I have learned over time that I prefer the lighter paddles with additional weight (lead tape) at the throat, going up 5" on both sides. If that doesn't provide enough ooomph I'll add a 2nd or 3rd strip over that initial strip. Keeping the top of the paddle lighter gives me quickness at the NVZ, having weight low like that gives a more solid hit. I realize this won't work for everyone. The 8.5oz paddles are pretty well balanced in my opinion, so if you have quick enough hands at the NVZ with that weight, then I'd point you to those paddles.

THE CX14 COLLECTION

If you have struggled or are struggling with the hardness/flatness in feel of the SST paddles, you probably want to look specifically at the CX14 paddles, or the CP7 honeycomb paddles shown below. These paddles were provide a softer feel where the paddle absorbs more of the energy from the ball. The trade-off is that you will have less power/pop, the benefit of course is that you'll get better control. And if you are coming from a honeycomb paddle, this is probably going to more closely match what you are used to. That said, it is my assertion that anyone can master any paddle if given enough time, you just have to get used to it.

If you like a traditional shaped boxy faced paddle but prefer an elongated handle, you needn't look at anything other than the CX14H.

Are you on a very tight budget? The GH7+ is a honeycomb paddle that is every bit as good as the rest of the upscale paddles on the market today. Furthermore, Gearbox mastermind Rafael Filipini says that no honeycomb paddle should cost more than $100, and these are significantly less. These paddles are shaped like the traditional pickleball paddle. The Gearbox GH7+ comes in two colors but that is the extent of the differences between these two paddles. They both weight, 8 oz and the handle is 4.75 in length and only comes in a 4" girth. These paddles are not mass produced from just a single sheet of honeycomb, they are reinforced at the throat and at the edges to compensate for the weaknesses found in the honeycomb paddle design shared by all manufacturers.