XS XSPAKCarbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle - Tournament Edition - World Champion Surface Technology Options Pickleball Racket - USAPA Polypropylene Honeycomb Paddle with Cushion Comfort Grip

Took a couple of sessions to adapt to after playing with terrible generic paddles for months but now I'm loving it!

I started my pickleball journey with this paddle. It was my first purchase for the very first league that I joined. I liked it right out of the package. It's lightweight, very balanced, and has a grip that is nice and soft and in the proper (longer) length to fit the average sized hand. After a playing in a couple of consecutive leagues I realized that there really wasn't anything that I didn't like about the paddle, but since I was learning and starting to play at a pretty high level I felt the urge to try something more expensive. My next purchase was a Joola Ben Johns Perseus paddle for around $180.00. This paddle was a huge disappointment. It wasn't as balanced (top heavy), the grip was hard and felt odd at the bottom, and it didn't have near the pop that this paddle has. I ended up sending it back. My next purchase was a Gearbox Pro Power paddle at $279.99. I couldn't believe I spent this much on a paddle, but I really wanted something top tier with a lot of pop. After playing with the Gearbox Pro for a bit I realized that it really isn't any better than the XSPAK paddle. The pop is about the same. The Gearbox feels slightly heavier and slightly more top heavy, although it's more balanced than the Joola. The grips on these two paddles feel pretty much identical. The other thing that I noticed is that the Gearbox has a slight dip on the surface, meaning it's slightly wavy on the main face of the paddle. I'm probably going to have to email them and potentially send it back.The bottom line is that if you're looking to get into pickleball, then this is probably one of the best starter paddles out there. In fact, based on the paddles I've tried I'd consider it a great choice for advanced players as well.

It performed as advertised. Lots of surface grip to put a spin on the ball. The grip is comfortable and a little sticky, "Perfect". Would buy again.

Je débute au pickleball et c'est difficile de comparer avec des raquettes plus ou moins dispendieuse. Pour l'instant, je ne pense pas que cette raquette fait une grande différence. C'est surtout la qualité du joueur qui fait la différence.

I bought this paddle because I've been wanting to try a standard shape and this is a very cost effective way to do it. It's not thermoformed, so this plays very soft. Don't try to hit huge drives with it, the power is not there to support that style of play. It makes up for it with control to spare and the light weight and (apparently) low swing weight makes for a fast paddle at the kitchen line. It took me some time to adjust to this, but once I did I had an absolute blast playing with the XSPAK. It has a nice, tacky standard grip, and the paddle cover is a bonus. While I would like the grip to be a bit longer, keeping it short helps keep the weight down. Considering that I paid $55 after using several discounts, I call this paddle an absolute steal of a deal. Highly recommended!

I would give this paddle a 4.5 rating if possible but my review is closer to 4 than 5 stars. I'm a 3.5 player, play 1-2 times per week.Pros:Great control, especially for kitchen line or dink playPretty good spin, excellent when compared to others in the same price point, but not elite.Balanced feelDurable- have used for 4 months without damaging the sides or faceCons:Not a power paddle, not very poppy- requires extra effort especially while playing deep. I also have to hit it harder on serves compared to other paddlesNot in the elite level of spin - I get better power, spin, and similar control using my new Diadem Edge 18k power pro model.Less forgiving than some other models - I wouldn't say there are dead spots but beginners who can't consistently hit a ball squarely may hit the ball in the net frequently.Overall - great paddle for someone who is a beginner or intermediate player. Good entry level experience with a carbon fiber surface. My Diadem Edge 18k Power Pro elevated my game from 3.0 to 3.5 and offers better power and spin. It's significantly more expensive but better value in terms of performance at higher levels.