Pickleball Paddle Carbon Fiber for Spin Textured Surface USAPA Approved Graphite Pickleball Racquet Pro Pickleball Racket Lightweight for All Players Tournament with Cover

Starting off, I'm not a pro by any stretch but I enjoy a competitive game of pickleball. I've been a life long equipment geek and ANY sport that has gear will result in a deep dive for me. This day and age, MANY brands all source from similar if not the SAME OEM shops (sometimes using different specs but sometimes just slapping a name on the same catalog product). Outdoor gear has this occur all the time. Needless to say, the current CRAZY upward trends in paddle pricing has me dubious. $180 for a paddle?!. The marketing "speak" is insane right now in paddle town. "Softer Core" "Rough Texture" "Control" "Power" etc with ZERO data to back any of this up. People should also note that the USAPA has very specific rules on paddles and how much they can deflect to PREVENT any "Trampoline Effect". The same applies to "roughness" The USAPA has a roughness limit they test for with a precise instrument. There's a cap so while yes, some are "more rough" than others, no paddle can be made rougher than about 320grit sandpaper. They also perform a coefficient of friction test so no "tacky" surfaces can add to ball spin. Nevermind all the "pros" play with a huge range of brands and designs all claiming to have some "Better" core or surface. One should also look at import records for some interesting reading. Anyway, this Esper paddle is well made with the currently "on trend" matte black face seen on "E" and "C" branded paddles. My only ding is the handle shape. It's a bit less "round" than my preference - I like the more tennis racket shape found on something like the Franklin BJ model. This could likely be fixed with some material added under the grip... Overall, worth the $ IME. Take your savings and buy some other "no name brands" that likely source for big names as well and find the shape etc that you play with best.

I like this paddle very much. The light-weight platform allows for customization with lead tape to improve the power. This gives better perimeter weighting to expand the sweet-spot. The face surface is grippier than my other paddles to enhance spin. A great overall value for sure.Then there's the grip. I dismantled it immediately as it was unplayable for me out of the box. As delivered, the grip has a terrible shape and length. At the factory, they do not trim the extended paddle surface to align with the grip pallets that sandwich it, leaving a good 1/8" sticking out creating an odd and non-anatomic shape. It is also too short and the flare of the paddle starts too tightly to the top of the grip.As a tinkerer and racquet tech, I wasn't too put off by needing to tear things down and remedy these short comings. A little time with my grinder, some filing, a new grip and over grip later, all is well. Just be aware that there is little chance you will like the stock grip shape.

I took a chance based on online reviews and I’m very pleased by the control and comfort of this paddle. I was intrigued by the “textured surface” feature so purchased because I already put a fair amount of spin on the ball. I must admit, this paddle amplifies the spin factor another 15 to 20 % depending on speed. It also seems to grab the ball for better control on dinks and soft shots. Not as much “pop” as previous racquet but its sound exudes subtle control, not just blunt force. Offers more finesse around the net and visible arched shaping on harder hit ground strokes. For the value, seeming quality (only had it one week) and performance, I’m one happy 3.5 to 4.0 pickler. Nice cover and sweat bands are added features.Update (12 months later): I’m still reasonably pleased with this paddle, but with one misgiving. The gritty texture wears down/off. My spin isn’t as acute as it was when first purchased due to the near daily wear and tear on the surface. Okay…I play a lot. I suppose like your Pickleball shoes, one has to replace one’s paddle due to wear.

I have purchased this paddle three times over the past three years. Usually I alternate my play with the three of them. Over that time I have found them to be excellent paddles that provide my play with added spin and control, The cost of the paddle has also been lowered from $89.00 to around $58.00 which makes it an even better option. I highly recommend this paddle for those looking for a bit more spin and control.

While playing pickle ball on my first day, a gentleman gave me this paddle to use just so I could practice with it. Within an hour I was purchasing the same paddle on Amazon. This paddle is amazingly priced for a person that’s relatively new or getting into the sport of pickle ball. It’s a very forgiving paddle and I feel like the sweet spot on this paddle is enormous. This is a Great beginner paddle for anybody wanting to play pickle ball.

I just received it yesterday and only played 3 games on it today, but man was I ahead of where I was with my last paddle. I had been using a Styker 5 7.3 OZ that was $60 from Dicks sporting goods. I liked it at first because it was so lite, but after playing with it constantly I realized it was absorbing ball contact. It basically had no power whatsoever. This new paddle is sturdy and today I was playing much better with more power, precision and the placement was easier to achieve. I like the texture on it too. I was able to achieve a bit of spin without trying to hard and it really helped my game out. It says it is a 7.8 Oz paddle, but up to 8.2Oz. It doesn't feel that much heavier than my Stryker 5 so it feels similar. I really like the grip though. It just feels more comfortable and better/easier to switch around my grip for net shots. I like that they give you a jacket for the paddle too, I wasn't expecting that. Overall I haven't played with it much so I give it a 4, but I would say my last paddle was a 1 so it's definitely a better paddle.