Best Pickleball Paddle Reviews and Comprehensive Buying Guides by Matt

This week I tested six pieces of pickleball gear—including one paddle with insane spin that stole the show. From the Franklin C45 lineup to the $99 Friday Fever and the standout Volair V.1F Hybrid, here’s what delivered—and what didn’t—in Paddle of the Week: Episode 11. 🧪 Gear Reviewed: – Volair V.1F Hybrid — Plush feel, freaky spin, biggest surprise – Franklin C45 Dynasty & Tempo — Needed tuning, but power potential is real – Friday Fever — A $99 Gen 3 paddle that punches above its price – ADV Pickleball Pro Bag — Overbuilt, sleek, and tournament-ready – Brioti FOCOS Glasses — Z87+ rated with crystal-clear optics 🎁 Use code MPB at checkout to save on any of this gear 📌 Links + resources in the description below 🧠 Want personalized paddle recommendations? Try the free Paddle Finder → https://www.mattspickleball.com/pickleball-paddle-finder 📊 Looking for data? Full paddle database, rankings, and specs → https://www.mattspickleball.com 💸 Buying gear? Use code MPB at checkout to save and support the channel. 📻 Subscribe to the Matt’s Pickleball Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matts-pickleball-podcast/id1812727671 💬 Got questions? Drop a comment or join the Discord → https://discord.gg/GrWNZY2EN2 Always happy to talk gear, tweaks, or trade impressions.

Selkirk LUXX Control Air 2.0 review, Franklin C45 Dynasty Elongated playtest, and Selkirk Project 008 foam-core paddle new Maxima and Invikta shape breakdown. In this Paddle of the Week episode, I test new paddles coming to the market across drills, gameplay, and pressure points.

In this episode of Paddle of the Week, I’m testing four paddles across the latest releases and R&D prototypes—some you can buy soon, some you can’t yet.

In Paddle of the Week Ep. 8, I take a deep dive into six standout paddles, plus a shoelaceless, game-changing pair of shoes — all tested in competitive games and drills to give you real performance insight. From Chorus Pickleball to Selkirk to Joola to Gearbox to Head and CRBN there's a lot to unpack, so watch now!

CORRECTION: Since I recorded this video, Vatic Pro announced that the Saga Flash 14mm price will be $129.99!! Update: April 16, 2025. The Vatic Pro Saga 14mm lineup is here—and it's fast. In this review, I break down all five paddles in the series: the Flash, V7, Bloom, and both long-handle variants. We’re talking swing weight, pop, spin, and real on-court performance—not hype. These paddles reset quicker, reload faster, and come through contact with a sharper feel than their 16mm siblings. If you’re wondering how the Saga 14mm compares to the JOOLA Perseus, Vatic Prism, or the best thermoformed options on the market, this is the video for you.

Tested and played 10 pickleball paddles this week—including JOOLA’s new Scorpeus IV 16mm & 14mm, Vatic Pro’s faster 14mm builds, Gherkin Nightshade, and a Gen 1 sleeper from Avoura. But the one paddle that stood out for its feel, balance, and price costs under $120! This episode also covers three different 11SIX24 Hurache-X builds (same shape, different feel), and a surprising review of the SQAIRZ Pro XRZ shoes—built specifically for pickleball, not just relabeled tennis gear.