🔥 The Pickleball Gear Report – This Week’s Top Paddles, Reviews, Playtests & Unboxings
Dive into this week’s top paddle playtests, honest reviews, and fresh unboxings—plus, the first-ever Paddle of the Week (the winner totally surprised me)!
🏆 Paddle of the Week – EP.1
👉 One Paddle Surprised Me Big Time!
In the first-ever Paddle of the Week, I tested a range—from stiff and muted to fast and explosive. One paddle completely shocked me with how it evolved after breaking in. I dig into each paddle's feel, what worked, what didn’t, and crowned one as the week’s champ.
Paddle of the Week Winner: Standout Pickleball CF4—a blend of power, control, and stability that just clicked for me this week.
Want your favorite paddle featured? Drop a comment in the video, and I’ll try to get my hands on it!
⚡ Quick Take – Avoura Rhapsody 13
After about a dozen games with the Avoura Rhapsody 13, I’m impressed. It’s lightning-fast, ultra-lightweight, but still stable. The Raw T700 Carbon Fiber face paired with a NASA-grade PolyPropel core gives it solid control, comfort, and surprising pop.
If you’re someone who loves fast hand battles at the net, this paddle is chef’s kiss.
Want to try it? Use code MPB at checkout for 10% off!
💡 Do you agree with their reactions? Let’s discuss in the comments!
🔥 Playtest #2 – 11SIX24 Power Series
We hit the courts for another live playtest—mics on, raw gameplay, and plenty of unfiltered banter. This time, we took the 11SIX24 Power Series paddles (Hurache-X, Vapor, Pegasus) for a spin, comparing them to trusted mains like the Vatic Pro Saga V7 and Pickleball Apes Pulse S.
The standouts?
The Vapor brought the pop and power.
The Pegasus offered speed and hand feel, becoming a sleeper hit.
And surprisingly, the Honolulu Pickleball J2K+ still holds strong against this new lineup.
Use my code, MBP to save on 11SIX24 purchases! Also, shoutout to All World Pickleball for letting us run this one indoors, and also PB Vision (use code MPB to get 15 free credits!) tech—replays make all the difference! Oh, and if you decide to pick up a J2K or J2K+, code MPBK will save $20 instead of 10%!
📦 Unboxing – Selkirk Labs Project 008
Selkirk sent over a monster package—Project 008 Pure Foam paddles (Invicta, Epic, Tour), CourtStrike Pro Shoes, and some slick paddle bags.
The Pure Foam 13mm paddles come with tungsten tape for customization and a carbon fiber certificate of authenticity (fancy, right?).
The CourtStrike Pro Shoes feel durable, with a 6-month outsole warranty—pretty generous for court shoes.
I’ll be testing the paddles this week, so stay tuned for first impressions.
⚖️ The Best Lead-Free Paddle Weight Alternatives
Stop using lead tape. It’s toxic and risky, especially if you’ve got kids or pets around.
I put together a quick guide on safer options like tungsten tape and lead-free weights that’ll let you fine-tune your paddle without the health hazards. Plus, I go over the best spots to place weight for max control, power, and stability.
Check out these lead-free options and use code MPB at:
⚔️ Quick Take – Vatic Pro Prism Bloom vs. Saga Bloom
Two paddles. Two price points. Two very different vibes.
Prism Bloom ($99.99) – Control, stability, and comfort. Super affordable, and with code MPB, it’s an even better deal.
Saga Bloom (~$149.99) – Packs more power and pop but leans head-heavy. Great for players who want that extra punch.
Both feature TORAY T700 Carbon Fiber and foam-injected edge walls for bigger sweet spots and stability. Depending on your playstyle—whether you're a finesse or power player—there’s something here for you.
🏓 PICKLEBALL DISCOUNTS & GEAR ESSENTIALS
Save big on paddles, gear & accessories with exclusive discount codes from top pickleball companies.
🔗 Visit my Pickleball Discount Page for more!
🙌 Thanks for Reading!
Did you enjoy this week’s newsletter? Let me know what you think! Have a specific paddle, tournament, or gear topic you’d like me to cover? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear from you!
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