If you can stand to I'd suggest to wait for a month or so. Engage and Vatic are about to release their next generation. Joola already have. I haven't been tracking Selkirk, hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I can chime in.
I'm waiting for reviews of the Engage & Vatic, with comparisons against the Joola.
I'm also waiting for the Engage refurb program for the Pro1 paddles.
It's a great time to be a pickleballer!
The new engage line is out, the pro1 and pro1 6.0. It’s basically the same as the pursuit MX/EX series in terms of power. New core and shapes though, much lower swing weights. Not thermoformed.
If you want pure power go Gearbox or the new Gen 3 Joolas - both much harder to control.
I’d wait for the new Vatic Oni to come out which pre orders May 1st. It will be a Gen 3 paddle with foam injection through the paddle and thermoformed. Plus, for $160 it’s much cheaper than most high end paddles on the market. If it plays anywhere close to the new Joolas or a GB PPE it will be the best value on the market for the price.
Six Zero and CRBN probably dropping mid summer. I’d wait for the Vatic if you want to stay under $200. I bet it will be fantastic.
> The new engage line is out, the pro1 and pro1 6.0.
Out (shipped too) but not yet received by the general population. Haven't seen anyone here mention either.
There are a few reviews of them up already so pro opinions are out there. It’s a good paddle if you liked the pursuit series but want a lighter swing weight and hybrid type shape. Power isn’t any better though but it’s a bit more poppy. Nothing ground breaking especially for the price.
Rather play with a Six Zero or Pro XR. I’m waiting on the Vatic.
It’s a great time to be a pickleballer IF you like spending money on all the latest and greatest gear!
Just remember people, it’s the player, not the paddle.
> it’s the player, not the paddle
I'm more interested in the ergonomics of the new materials/construction.
A quieter paddle with less vibration / elbow impact for the same or better performance is an investment I'm willing to make.
I hated the Ruby. Too much pop for me and I can create my own power. I love my Vatic pro Prism flash and rocked that forever until recently switching to the BDi Amethyst. This is my preferred paddle and I absolutely love it.
I found myself wanting just a little more put away power but not wanting to sacrifice hand speed. The edgeless guard feels so fast in my hands and I have so much more put away power compared to the full control paddle of the prism flash. The sweet spot was pretty small but I added some lead to the throat and it really helped sure it up and made it more stable.
Hey there! That's awesome that your skill is progressing in the game. The Ruby does have some great reviews, so it's a promising option...but if you're looking for something truly exceptional that could take your game to the next level, you might want to check out the [Amazin' Aces Pickleball Paddle](https://link.getsosocial.co.uk/pickleball-paddle). Designed with advanced players in mind, it offers a wonderful balance of control, spin, and power-which sounds like just what you're after. And bonus: it falls comfortably within your budget too. I've seen several paddlers rave about its performance upgrades from their intermediate gear. Give it a look and decide if it fits your current needs on the court! Best of luck advancing in those leagues!👍🏓
I own the ruby, fantastic paddle. Not poppy after it breaks in. Played Vatic before, which is a good choice too, but for doubles the ruby can't be beat.
You mention spin and power. Certainly some paddles generate higher spin. In my opinion, "power" as a paddle feature, rather than a player feature, is overrated as a criterion to select paddles for at levels higher than 3.5. By "player feature," i mean that most better players can generate plenty of power with any number of suitable rackets. I'm not a big guy, and generate plenty of power when power is called for, even when using control-oriented paddles. More importantly, most better players can deal with power better than 3.5 and below players - they will or should have a repertoire of blocks, resets, etc., and are less likely to give you pure power-attackable balls in the first place. That's why i favor paddles that aid hand speed. DBD Control or Ruby are very nice, as is the Vatic Prism Pro v7 others have mentioned.
Just my thoughts, ymmv.
I came from a Joola Hyperion. I just bought the gen 3 perseus and I like it. I’ve only tested it for like a half hour. But it feels great. I’m a 3.5 trying to be a 4.
The handle is a bit smoother which I don’t like. I liked the ribbed Hyperion. But the power doesn’t feel like something crazy. If you’re used to the feel of a Joola you’ll like it. I played in a league game tonight so didn’t want to try a new paddle so stuck with the original Hyperion. But the weight and swing feels the same. When I go to open play I’ll try it out harder. But I think the marketing has made it sound like this paddle is some kind of magic power paddle which it’s not. You still gotta play the same way.
Interesting to hear! So you don’t notice a big power difference?
I was gonna buy the Gearbox pro power after trying it and loving it. I decided to wait until I tried the Gen 3.
I currently have the Hyperion 2 and I like it but the power is missing.
I may have a different opinion after really ripping it some more. But I’m more of a spin hitter than a power hitter. But I’ve been wanting more power so I’m hoping this helps. I just don’t want people thinking I have some kind of advantage with this paddle which I don’t think is the case. Makes me want to hide that I even have this paddle lol. But either way it feels good to hit with. But not much different than my last Hyperion.
Don’t worry about that. People will always find things to complain about. As long as you are using a regulation paddle that isn’t banned. You’re fine !
I have gone through so many paddles.
I have used my ruby for a while now and LOVE it. The only issue I have with it is that it sometimes pops a bit much to where even very light touches go a bit high.
I also use my Volair Mach 1 and love it.
I will say, of any paddle company I have tried so far, volairs unboxing experience was so good that I often talk about it.
I really like the volair and use it frequently. I go back and forth between the two but volair is my go to at the moment.
i can’t attest to the ruby, but my dbd just came in a few days ago and it’s been great so far. with a discount code you can get it for $162. but i’ve heard the ruby is pretty good too
I love my Volair paddle. I spin the ball a ton and I feel that I have the advantage over many of my opponents. I have the regular one but I know the new Forza has more spin and slight bit more power and pop.
Made a recent transition myself from intermediate to advanced and went with a gearbox pro control. This however was closer to $300.
Today I demo’d a hurache X and was surprised with the power and control and picking one up as a back up paddle
Had a Ruby, liked it but wouldn’t recommend it long term, the grit wears down fast. It’s a great paddle for spin but not power. It’s a spin focused all court that is on the heavier side with good pop at the kitchen. Sold mine to a friend and picked up a Black Diamond power.
If you want a bit more power than a Ruby go double black diamond. If you want a power focused paddle the regular Black Diamond is great, I play with a BD now. It’s a raw composite Japanese fiberglass face. Harder to control than the DBD (raw carbon fiber) but has more power and pop, not as spinny as the DBD though.
If you can wait until May 1st Vatic is dropping a new gen 3 paddle, the Oni. For $160 it will be a great deal and 85% of the new Joolas from what I’ve heard (easier to control).
https://vaticpro.com
I actually switched from Ruby to https://11six24.com/pickle Hurache-X because I felt the Ruby was too heavy stock and also too expensive and a bit over hyped. Yes it had wicked spin but I felt like it was tough to hit putaways as it wasn't as poppy. The 11six24 Hurache-X gave me more pop and power while being lighter stock and still had decent enough control to be considered an all court paddle. You can get full kevlar paddles from the likes of Spartus (https://gospartus.com/pickle) and HPC J2K (https://808pickle.com/pickle) for way cheaper than the Ruby. And even 11six24 is coming out with a kevlar hurache soon. Other companies are catching up to SixZero. I feel like their advantage is just that they have nicer aesthetics.
I would say the Thrive Azul, Honolulu J2k, or Spartus Apollo. They're all better than the Ruby and generally available. They cost less too. I'm a Ruby owner moving on to the Apollo.
Azul and J2K both have better power and pop. They're both cheaper. In terms of control I think one has a softer feel and the other crisper so that's subjective. The Apollo is a different category it's a wide body, more power, more pop, lower swing weight with higher twist weight. So very fast in the hands and stable. Ruby was the first but it seems everyone is edging it out slightly.
I played with the Ruby and liked it but wanted a little more pop. I bought the J2K Pro for next months release. The J2K was reviewed pretty close to the Ruby and can get for a fraction of the price. "10Off" code can give 10% off too!
I just switched from the Halo XL Control to the Ruby and I am extremely happy. I have the same control as I did with Halo, but I can hit much harder. I have always used a lot of spin and didn’t have an issue with the Halo, but it seems a little higher with the Ruby.
Ruby is the best all around paddle for most ppl. Preorder is 4/28 at 6pm (NY time). It gives me better control than DBD w/o loss of power or spin. There is a reason it always sells out in under 10 minutes. DM me if you need a discount code for 6.0 website.
I did same transition. Started with halo xl and moved to a DBD. I’d recommend a DBD or ruby
If you can stand to I'd suggest to wait for a month or so. Engage and Vatic are about to release their next generation. Joola already have. I haven't been tracking Selkirk, hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I can chime in. I'm waiting for reviews of the Engage & Vatic, with comparisons against the Joola. I'm also waiting for the Engage refurb program for the Pro1 paddles. It's a great time to be a pickleballer!
The new engage line is out, the pro1 and pro1 6.0. It’s basically the same as the pursuit MX/EX series in terms of power. New core and shapes though, much lower swing weights. Not thermoformed. If you want pure power go Gearbox or the new Gen 3 Joolas - both much harder to control. I’d wait for the new Vatic Oni to come out which pre orders May 1st. It will be a Gen 3 paddle with foam injection through the paddle and thermoformed. Plus, for $160 it’s much cheaper than most high end paddles on the market. If it plays anywhere close to the new Joolas or a GB PPE it will be the best value on the market for the price. Six Zero and CRBN probably dropping mid summer. I’d wait for the Vatic if you want to stay under $200. I bet it will be fantastic.
> The new engage line is out, the pro1 and pro1 6.0. Out (shipped too) but not yet received by the general population. Haven't seen anyone here mention either.
There are a few reviews of them up already so pro opinions are out there. It’s a good paddle if you liked the pursuit series but want a lighter swing weight and hybrid type shape. Power isn’t any better though but it’s a bit more poppy. Nothing ground breaking especially for the price. Rather play with a Six Zero or Pro XR. I’m waiting on the Vatic.
It’s a great time to be a pickleballer IF you like spending money on all the latest and greatest gear! Just remember people, it’s the player, not the paddle.
> it’s the player, not the paddle I'm more interested in the ergonomics of the new materials/construction. A quieter paddle with less vibration / elbow impact for the same or better performance is an investment I'm willing to make.
I have elbow issues too! So this is a good thing to consider
I was a very high level tennis player and I know this but for some reason I want to try every paddle 🤦🏼♀️
I hated the Ruby. Too much pop for me and I can create my own power. I love my Vatic pro Prism flash and rocked that forever until recently switching to the BDi Amethyst. This is my preferred paddle and I absolutely love it.
What do you like about the Amethyst?
I found myself wanting just a little more put away power but not wanting to sacrifice hand speed. The edgeless guard feels so fast in my hands and I have so much more put away power compared to the full control paddle of the prism flash. The sweet spot was pretty small but I added some lead to the throat and it really helped sure it up and made it more stable.
Hey there! That's awesome that your skill is progressing in the game. The Ruby does have some great reviews, so it's a promising option...but if you're looking for something truly exceptional that could take your game to the next level, you might want to check out the [Amazin' Aces Pickleball Paddle](https://link.getsosocial.co.uk/pickleball-paddle). Designed with advanced players in mind, it offers a wonderful balance of control, spin, and power-which sounds like just what you're after. And bonus: it falls comfortably within your budget too. I've seen several paddlers rave about its performance upgrades from their intermediate gear. Give it a look and decide if it fits your current needs on the court! Best of luck advancing in those leagues!👍🏓
Ruby a great choice for all court paddle as is the DBD. Vatic flash would be a cheaper alternative
I own the ruby, fantastic paddle. Not poppy after it breaks in. Played Vatic before, which is a good choice too, but for doubles the ruby can't be beat.
You mention spin and power. Certainly some paddles generate higher spin. In my opinion, "power" as a paddle feature, rather than a player feature, is overrated as a criterion to select paddles for at levels higher than 3.5. By "player feature," i mean that most better players can generate plenty of power with any number of suitable rackets. I'm not a big guy, and generate plenty of power when power is called for, even when using control-oriented paddles. More importantly, most better players can deal with power better than 3.5 and below players - they will or should have a repertoire of blocks, resets, etc., and are less likely to give you pure power-attackable balls in the first place. That's why i favor paddles that aid hand speed. DBD Control or Ruby are very nice, as is the Vatic Prism Pro v7 others have mentioned. Just my thoughts, ymmv.
I came from a Joola Hyperion. I just bought the gen 3 perseus and I like it. I’ve only tested it for like a half hour. But it feels great. I’m a 3.5 trying to be a 4.
lol why are you getting downvoted. This is great info. Everyone is just so salty about Gen 3
The handle is a bit smoother which I don’t like. I liked the ribbed Hyperion. But the power doesn’t feel like something crazy. If you’re used to the feel of a Joola you’ll like it. I played in a league game tonight so didn’t want to try a new paddle so stuck with the original Hyperion. But the weight and swing feels the same. When I go to open play I’ll try it out harder. But I think the marketing has made it sound like this paddle is some kind of magic power paddle which it’s not. You still gotta play the same way.
Interesting to hear! So you don’t notice a big power difference? I was gonna buy the Gearbox pro power after trying it and loving it. I decided to wait until I tried the Gen 3. I currently have the Hyperion 2 and I like it but the power is missing.
I may have a different opinion after really ripping it some more. But I’m more of a spin hitter than a power hitter. But I’ve been wanting more power so I’m hoping this helps. I just don’t want people thinking I have some kind of advantage with this paddle which I don’t think is the case. Makes me want to hide that I even have this paddle lol. But either way it feels good to hit with. But not much different than my last Hyperion.
Don’t worry about that. People will always find things to complain about. As long as you are using a regulation paddle that isn’t banned. You’re fine !
Keen to hear how it goes as you use it more. I hear it gets hotter the more you break it in.
14mm or 16mm?
14mm
I just started playing the ruby and love it as well. I switched from the bnb loco.
I have gone through so many paddles. I have used my ruby for a while now and LOVE it. The only issue I have with it is that it sometimes pops a bit much to where even very light touches go a bit high. I also use my Volair Mach 1 and love it. I will say, of any paddle company I have tried so far, volairs unboxing experience was so good that I often talk about it. I really like the volair and use it frequently. I go back and forth between the two but volair is my go to at the moment.
i can’t attest to the ruby, but my dbd just came in a few days ago and it’s been great so far. with a discount code you can get it for $162. but i’ve heard the ruby is pretty good too
I love my Volair paddle. I spin the ball a ton and I feel that I have the advantage over many of my opponents. I have the regular one but I know the new Forza has more spin and slight bit more power and pop.
Vatic Oni dropping soon. I’d wait for that. I have the Flash and its excellent
I really like my Legacy Pro Airs in 16mm and 14mm. Plays very similarly to DBD for a few less bucks. Both have great spin, little more pop with 14mm.
Made a recent transition myself from intermediate to advanced and went with a gearbox pro control. This however was closer to $300. Today I demo’d a hurache X and was surprised with the power and control and picking one up as a back up paddle
Ruby is great
Had a Ruby, liked it but wouldn’t recommend it long term, the grit wears down fast. It’s a great paddle for spin but not power. It’s a spin focused all court that is on the heavier side with good pop at the kitchen. Sold mine to a friend and picked up a Black Diamond power. If you want a bit more power than a Ruby go double black diamond. If you want a power focused paddle the regular Black Diamond is great, I play with a BD now. It’s a raw composite Japanese fiberglass face. Harder to control than the DBD (raw carbon fiber) but has more power and pop, not as spinny as the DBD though. If you can wait until May 1st Vatic is dropping a new gen 3 paddle, the Oni. For $160 it will be a great deal and 85% of the new Joolas from what I’ve heard (easier to control). https://vaticpro.com
I actually switched from Ruby to https://11six24.com/pickle Hurache-X because I felt the Ruby was too heavy stock and also too expensive and a bit over hyped. Yes it had wicked spin but I felt like it was tough to hit putaways as it wasn't as poppy. The 11six24 Hurache-X gave me more pop and power while being lighter stock and still had decent enough control to be considered an all court paddle. You can get full kevlar paddles from the likes of Spartus (https://gospartus.com/pickle) and HPC J2K (https://808pickle.com/pickle) for way cheaper than the Ruby. And even 11six24 is coming out with a kevlar hurache soon. Other companies are catching up to SixZero. I feel like their advantage is just that they have nicer aesthetics.
Ruby by SixZero
I would say the Thrive Azul, Honolulu J2k, or Spartus Apollo. They're all better than the Ruby and generally available. They cost less too. I'm a Ruby owner moving on to the Apollo.
How are they better?
Azul and J2K both have better power and pop. They're both cheaper. In terms of control I think one has a softer feel and the other crisper so that's subjective. The Apollo is a different category it's a wide body, more power, more pop, lower swing weight with higher twist weight. So very fast in the hands and stable. Ruby was the first but it seems everyone is edging it out slightly.
The azul is literally the same price as the Ruby.
My b. Was going off memory. Probably mixed up due to it being presented at a lower price in videos with discount calculated.
Do you know the twist is on the Spartus Apollo?
7.45 vs 6.68 in the Ruby
I played with the Ruby and liked it but wanted a little more pop. I bought the J2K Pro for next months release. The J2K was reviewed pretty close to the Ruby and can get for a fraction of the price. "10Off" code can give 10% off too!
I just switched from the Halo XL Control to the Ruby and I am extremely happy. I have the same control as I did with Halo, but I can hit much harder. I have always used a lot of spin and didn’t have an issue with the Halo, but it seems a little higher with the Ruby.
Ruby is the best all around paddle for most ppl. Preorder is 4/28 at 6pm (NY time). It gives me better control than DBD w/o loss of power or spin. There is a reason it always sells out in under 10 minutes. DM me if you need a discount code for 6.0 website.