Pickleball Paddle Edge Guard Tapes Protection Tapes, Pre-Cut V, 20/23/26mm Width Protective Tapes for All Thickness Edges

Insum's 2024 line of protective edge tape is a welcome addition to the company's growing peripherals business. In the past, I've received several of their first-rate products (e.g., paddle covers, grip tape, erasers, wristbands, outdoor balls, etc.) as bonus add-ons, bundled in with Insum paddles I've purchased.This time around, I was in the market for some quality edge guard protection for a number of my higher-end pickleball racquets. After marveling at the wide array of styles and colors displayed in Insum's Amazon ad, I acquired several. My expectations were high, and I am happy to report that, as usual, Insum did not disappoint!WHY PROTECTIVE TAPE???For many of the same reasons your paddle should be housed inside a protective sleeve or case, you'll hear Pros advise that edge tape should be added to every paddle you care about.Edge tape reduces wear and tear, thus extending the life of your racquet. It protects the vulnerable edge guard from the bumps, thumps, scrapes, and scratches that inevitably occur. As I can tell you from my own experience, no matter how cautious one might be, there will be unavoidable collisions with the ground, net posts, walls, and other players.In addition, if you've added weighted lead to various edge guard locations, edge tape is essential. Not only is it vital to avoid toxicity from exposed lead; it also prevents the lead tape pieces from unexpectedly flying off during rallies (which I've witnessed personally!).I own numerous paddles, in a broad price range. Even on my bargain paddles (the ones I started with as a newbie, but now use as "loaners"), I have installed some basic form of edge tape protection. For these inexpensive models I use colorful electrical tape around their periphery.However, I decided that all my $100+ paddles should be treated more like "investments," and hence deserved better security. Towards this end, I found a wide number of edge tape vendors on Amazon competing for my business.Aside from Insum, there are: AMA Sport (Pickletech); X-Ace; Prolite; Augment, Selkirk, Joola, A11N, as well as several no-name generics. Of these, AMA comes closest to the look and feel of Insum's product. Multiple colors are available, with shades varying slightly between the two brands. AMA sells 3-packs vs Insum's 2-packs, and "deals" can sometimes be spotted on Amazon. Aside from the standard solid colors, Insum does have a couple of real cool designs ("Heartrating-Black" and "Scales-Purple" are my two personal favorites), so I give Insum a slight edge overall.The various criteria I use when judging and buying protective edge tape are: fit, quality, durability, adhesion, protection, appearance, variety, ease of installation, ease of removal, and overall value. The Insum edge tape checked off the most boxes for me.INNOVATIVE SAWTOOTH DESIGN...Every Insum edge guard tape features an innovative serrated design. The precut V-notches in the tape are a cleverly engineered workaround to the potential problems of wrinkling and bubbling during application near the curved surfaces. While protecting the racquet, it also enhances its overall aesthetics.There are 3 widths (26mm, 23mm, and 20mm), and multiple design options available. Simply use their sizing chart to find the tape that fits the shape and thickness of your brand, whether with Edge Guard or Edgeless.EASY APPLICATION...The Insum edge tape features a specially designed alignment line in the center. I simply aligned it with the top of my paddle and then peeled off the backing paper. Then, I applied it sequentially along the edge of my paddle.Once I got the hang of it, each tape was simple to apply, and took me just 90 seconds per install. The trickiest part was locating the exact center-point of the upper edge guard. From there, I just followed the instructions that Insum supplied in their Amazon ad, and voila! (Note to company: it would be helpful to include these same instructions with the product's packaging. Or, imprint a QR code that can be scanned by the user to reference an installation guide website or video demo).I've attached a few photos as examples of how the tape looks on some of my paddles. My absolute favorite design is the "Heartrating-Black," which perfectly complements the coloration and look of my Achilles T-800, and makes quite the esthetic impression.All the tapes adhered well to their respective edge guards. I had no issues with air bubbles, or with sealing in lead tape additives. I found this to be a big improvement over other times when I've used electric tape, or edge tape with thinner textures.There were occasions when I had to peel back the Insum tape for realignment, or to add/re-position lead tape pieces. I was happy to see that the Insum tape was forgiving, in that respect. It was not overly sticky, and thus did not leave a gooey residue on the paddle's edge guard. I cannot say the same for some other edge protection brands I've used (including my prior budget solution: WarriorWrap electric tape). In those cases, I had to wipe away the gummy mess with Goo-Gone or a paddle eraser, which took extra time and effort, but ultimately did resolve the issue.NOTHING'S PERFECT!The Insum protective tape is made of "wear-resistant" polyurethane material. However, I did notice one day that a very hard mishit to my cherished Achilles racquet left a small scar on my edge tape (but not the edge guard!). I did touch up the spot with a black Magic Marker; but, at least the tape fulfilled its primary function of protecting my edge guard from a potentially serious ding.There's one other slight downside to consider. The Insum protective tape will add roughly .2 ozs (~5.6 grams) to the static weight of each paddle. Personally, I don't find the weight gain too significant; however, players with tendonitis issues may be affected. Since the added weight is equally distributed throughout the paddle, there is no discernable effect on overall paddle balance, although swing weight will increase fractionally.CONCLUSION...I've been a fan of Insum pickleball products since I started playing the sport 15 months ago. Their line of paddles have steadily elevated my game from Beginner to Intermediate level. One thing I've discovered that all Insum products share in common is their excellent quality at a very reasonable price. I am happy to report that their new line of edge protection tape is no exception in that regard.The Insum edge guard protection tape products earn an overall rating from me of 4.5 stars, which I am boosting to 5 stars to factor in the company's efficient, caring, and responsive Customer Service and Shipping departments.

Very nice product, easy to apply, nice quality and value, looks great ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Received two packs of the edge guards. One of them had a been opened and someone had returned a used edge guard. Company was good though and the replacement came without issue. Amazon should do a better job of inspecting their returns before putting them back on the replenishment shelves...

This was a replacement for one I had on the paddle for a year. I obviously needed one if you could see the original one.

Very nice product, easy to apply, like the scalloped edges.

Major complaint is they are heavy, will add to swing weight

I was highly impressed with the Insum Edge Guard Tape. It’s much thicker than some of the vinyl tapes I’ve used before, offering great protection for my paddle. The eye-catching designs are a nice touch, adding a bit of style while still being functional. One of the best features is that you can easily cut the tape in half to cover the most important area—the primary edge near the top of the paddle. This tape is both durable and versatile, making it an excellent choice for protecting your paddle’s edges. Highly recommend!

Sides do not stick. I put this edge guard on an extra paddle that I have. It does not stick on the sides. I've had it laying on my countertop and put a notepad over it to apply pressure to possibly make them sticks for the past two weeks and it's just not gonna stick on the sides of the paddle edge. Maybe I got an old set. I don't know it looked OK in the package, but I recommend something else. I ordered the right thickness for the size paddle and I've ordered other brands to just pickle skins, which are great.