The Ultimate Guide to Buying Your Second Pickleball Paddle
In a previous article, I mentioned that after some research I purchased the Onix Z5 as my first pickleball paddle. I was happy with the feel of the Z5 in my hand and the overall performance for me, as a newb on the court. It was a little heavier than some of the other models I tried and the price was right. Once I had it on the court, I found it had a lot of power which helped me feel confident at the base line and the wide body helped increase my chances of hitting the sweet spot, as I grew accustom to the way the ball flies and bounces. The Z5 did not perform quite like a tennis racquet, because the face is fairly smooth, and the spin I tried to apply on my forehands and backhands did not bite quite like I wanted, but at the time I did not know any better. The one aspect I liked the most was the feel of the ball off the Z5’s face. I could definitely tell every time I hit a solid shot or if my timing was off and I had hit the ball off the edge or heel. It was one of the louder paddles on the court and I liked the way the ball sounded, bouncing solidly off the face. It’s that Nomex core that make a popping / smacking sound when you catch the ball just right.
So, my game was progressing with the Z5 and it helped me grow from a spastic with a stick to someone who could hit a low, hard drive across the net that landed in about 40% of the time. On the bright side, my kitchen play, specifically my third shots and dinks, were horrible. Trying to dampen the ball with the Z5 was difficult for me. I found that I’d have to loosen the grip to almost letting go of the paddle to really drop the ball into the kitchen effectively. The Z5 was like a mini trampoline in my hands, but to naïve me, it felt and sounded good.
Moving on Up
About 2 months into my pickleball journey, I signed up for a 3-hour clinic and it opened up a new world for me. The day of the clinic, I arrived about 20 minutes early and was able to rally with the teaching pro before anyone else showed up. He watched me hit with Thumper (the name for my Z5) and suggested I try one of the demo paddles he had brought to the clinic. He handed me one of the paddles and asked me to check it out.
Going through the comfort and feel check, I found the demo paddle was:
1. A little lighter than Thumper
2. Longer than Thumper
3. A little narrower than Thumper
The biggest difference was the paddle face. This demo paddle had a rough texture on the face. When I ran my hand across it, I could feel a subtle texture or roughness. The Z5’s face is very smooth to the touch and it does not grip the ball. In my hands Thumper’s main purpose was to connect and drive. The new paddle felt well balanced and comfortable in my hand and the face texture intrigued me. I liked it and looked forward to seeing if it would grip the ball a bit more.
So, the teaching pro and I met at the net again and worked specifically on my dinks. The pro had me focus on bending at the knee and driving up with my quads rather than my arm. I was amazed that with a little technique and a softer paddle, my dinks were not taking my opponents eyes out. Next, we worked on drives from the baseline and I was able to apply some nice spin to my shots, keeping them low and in the court. My forehand cross court shot gained a little more bite, because I was able to apply power and topspin, making the ball bend and dive, rather than fly straight. Right before the official clinic started, the pro explained that I didn’t need a power paddle as much as one with more control and a softer paddle face. This new paddle gave me much improved control on my short shots and more accuracy and spin on my drives. This was a game changer for me.
The Big Reveal and Thank You!
So, this new paddle gave me more control in my short game and improved my drives by allowing me to apply more spin. It also increased my confidence, as my tennis shots were now closer to a reality with this paddle. So, the big reveal on the paddle I now call 2 Furious is - It’s the Vulcan v560 Control and I’ve been using it since February with no thoughts of wanting another paddle.
I am very thankful to Daniel De La Rosa for hosting the Vulcan clinic and taking 20 minutes prior to hit with me and give me one on one tips on my game. Those few minutes of hitting and individual coaching elevated my game and gave me more confidence in all my shots. A couple of the folks in my pickleball community mentioned that my serve and my entire game improved significantly after I started using the new paddle, but I know a big part of my leveled-up game is the technical tips Daniel gave me. During the clinic I took notes on my phone about the areas Daniel told me to focus on, and I still refer to them today. They keep my mind focused on the fundamentals and remind me that it’s not just the paddle that wins games.
So, being able to use the v560 paddle during drills, being provided fundamental tips on my strokes and seeing the immediate benefits sold me on the paddle. Final thought on this - I highly recommend you try out the paddles you are considering prior to purchasing them and remember, the paddle may help, but technique and practice is really the best way to elevate your game.
