Is there any chance you and/or Chris could do like a ranking of paddle companies customer service? As I continue to purchase more paddles, I am starting to include customer service as a higher factor into the price of the paddle.
Loved your theory on fine vs. course grit texture for spin results based on the dwell time of the swing. Interesting hypothesis! Though if all future paddles being released with courser grit I'm guessing there is greater perceived performance for a variety of players/play styles
After playing for a week I like it. I would like it more if it were of the longer type, as I tend to hit the ball higher on the paddle face, and any contact there causes erratic behavior. I definitely like the feel at contact better than my previous thermo-formed. It sounds better. Lots of spin. I’ll get another if they make the elongated version.
Dang! I hit against the wall and played once before suffering a bad injury during a mountain hike. Now, I just look at the paddle, and the game, and wonder…. I let a friend play with it once, and he loved it. Sigh.
Will glad to see you have your own channel, but still working with Chris also. You guys are my go to reviewers. I just ordered two DBD 16mm as Christmas presents for my two oldest grandsons (20 & 22). They are finally beginning to play more Pickleball and one actually will be in a junior level PE Pickleball class in college this spring semester. Hope to run into you sometime in the Tulsa area. My son and family live nearby. I am trying to get my youngest grandson(14) lessons with Katie for Christmas.
I agree with Will's assessment. I haven't played with the Ruby yet, but I can imagine it is very similar to the Pickleball Apes Pro Energy S kevlar paddle.
Been waiting for this review as I’ve tried them all. Based on my play style I think the DBD 14mm fits me better but I did like the Ruby over the Infinity.
Thanks for this great comparison and summary. I recently purchased the Infinity and it is a tremendous step up from all paddles I previously have played with. It will probably be passed on to my fiancée when the Will-Nator is released though.
Will why don't any reveiwers talk about the brand/quality and specs of the core materials? There are several choices from suppliers for honeycomb cores. Thicker cell walls and diameters would help in durability as well as how a paddle feels on impact.Have a great trip to Vegas with Chris, John and Braydon.
So for all you reviewers who reviewed the Ruby and claimed the pop was lacking put lead strips 10, 2,7,5 and 4,8. It's a total beast, with massive pop and a soft touch.
Agree with you on the naming, except Black Diamond is less then Double Black diamond on all the Trail and ski routes, I always think the Double Black diamond is the power paddle (boom smash crash) and the Black Diamond as a control , but its opposite.
It doesn't feel that way to me. Maybe due to the shock absorption with Kevlar. I usually get shoulder pain with heavier swing weight and weighted paddles but not at all with this one.
The Amethyst Black Diamond seems like a silly weight specification alternative. Due to the variance, there are plenty of Amethysts that are actually lighter than plenty of standard Black Diamonds.
I’ll have the BD DBD and the Ruby when it arrives. One of my sons has my BD and the other took my DBD. I do have a DBD for myself that isn’t as good as the one I gave my son. Hopefully I’ll love the Ruby!
Is launch angle any different from the dbd? I know Brayden from PB Effect was testing that theory and because the ball has more dwell time/pocketing with the kevlar face, wanted to see if you noticed the balls on the ruby going maybe higher?
I ordered my ruby literally 60 seconds after the web site opened up sales. I received a couple of weeks ago. I have about 20 hours play time on it so far. I have to be honest, I havent found it near as good a paddle as either the BD or DBD (I have both 16mm). I LOVE 6 zero products, and those first two paddles are fantastic. Granted, the Ruby is FANTASTIC looking, but I am having much more trouble on resets and dinks. Even drives are less consistent. It really feels like the sweet spot is much smaller on this paddle... it certainly could just be me but even guys I play with frequently noticed a big increase in off center hits (it makes a very noticeable mis hit sound). I would also like to know what the durability of the kevlar face is vs the carbon fiber. I had a bit over zealous playing partner bang the face of my paddle with his a bit to hard after a big point, and it left a pretty noticeable surface scar. That never happened with the carbon fiber paddles. I am going to work with it a bit more but thought I would share a couple of thoughts.
Hi Will, you crushed it with this review of the Six Zero lineup. I wanted to ask you if you’ve viewed the Pickleball Effect review of the “Ruby”? I ask because it seems as if you and Brayden came away with different opinions on the power and control features of the paddle. I’d like your thoughts on this.
Yea I watched Brayden’s vid and you could argue either way. I place it as better control paddle than the DBD infinity and DBD 16 purely on the merit of spin potential. If I have access to more spin and those 3 paddles are close when it comes to plushness then I’m going to give the #1 control spot to the paddle that can generate more spin because I have more options on where I can place the ball. That being said I think power levels between Ruby and DBD 16 are very similar and the infinity is definitely the softest playing out of those 3
Raul! my guy i miss that time we had those games! You can give Nahom the smoke and i'll call the fire department. I have tentative plans to be in Florida in March, holla at you!
It honestly baffles my mind that Selkirk can continue selling those paddles for so much with such crappy durability. Just goes to show brand is everything
One of the main reasons I just bought two DBD 16mms for my grandsons for Christmas. I was going to get the Luxx, Jack Sock would impress them as they played high school tennis and were top players in district and regionals. But when I saw this review by Will I chose the DBD 16mms and saved some cash. @@thehiddenfamily
Is it okay to use the pickleball erasers on kevlar? I know it's been said not to use them on non carbon fiber paddles, but that was before we had kevlar.
Which paddle would you consider more of an all around paddle? The double black diamond 14mm or the 16mm? I know you prefer the 14mm so just wanted to know what you thought.
@@PickleballWill It seems that the ruby paddles are always sold out. I would buy 2 ruby paddles if they were ever available. I currently have 2 gearbox Pro Control Elongated paddles. it would also be nice if Six zero made an elongated version of the Ruby paddle.
Will, hope this isn’t too fawning, but I think you have the best reviews on YT, including PB studio (Sorry Chris. You’re the only reviewer to never steer me wrong even when you review paddles that don’t really fit your game. What I don’t like is that you are now killing my wallet with this Ruby review. 😂
Great video! I switched to the Six Zero line from the Power Air about 3 months ago and love it! I have a DBD16 and DBD14. I prefer the DBD16 but would like to put some weight on the DBD14. Not familiar with weights at all, got any recommendations?
Hey Will, how "poppy" is the DBD compared to say an Engage Pursuit? used engage paddles for a long time and always struggled with out balls due to not being able to keep the pop down. I switched to the Vatic Prism Flash and really love the control and hand speed, but miss that power. Would the DBD or DBD Edgeless be a good option? Thanks!
@@PickleballWillis that bc the DBD14 has a little more pop than the BD? Also, if I’m going to lead tape the paddle up to ~8.9oz anyway, is there any advantage to the BD Pro over the standard BD? Great review of the line-up by the way! I’m using a DBD16 at the moment, and am looking to power up and hope I can keep things under control still!
I currently use the DBD 16mm and like the paddle and how it functions. You think shifting to ruby is a better upgrade? Or more beneficial as compared to DBD 16mm?
No news on that front but from what I know about paddles and six zero, it is highly unlikely that something like that would be coming out soon since making a good edgeless thin paddle that performs well is challenging
So Will, have you heard any talk that a "full Kevlar" face will protect a honeycomb core better than carbon fiber?? i.e. crush, delam? Also the adhesive used may "bond" better to the Kevlar??
@@PickleballWill When watching reviewers tearing appart paddles, some faces almost "pop off" the core, others need to be "pulled' off with a ton of force. Just makes me wonder why "adhesives" are not mentioned in reviews??
The other reviewers all have a different opinion on the control aspect of the Ruby, say the Infinity has best control followed by DBD the Ruby just below DBD. Perhaps you got a softer version of the paddle?
You can argue either way. You have to understand that what constitutes “control” is being able to do what you want with the ball when you want to. For me the extra spin I get from the Ruby allows me far better control over my shots and that is the main reason it’s number 1 for me. To be fair the DBD 16 and infinity are not that far behind
@@PickleballWillI have a similar play style to you and also have a tennis background. This makes a lot of sense actually. I think this thought process should be used more in the “control” description category. I think pop vs power has now been categorized across the board with people/reviewers, I think the same concept could be done with control paddles…. I know it’s hard, but I’d like to see all the best regarded reviewers get on the same page with things…. That way differences can be better understood by consumers….
Hello, Will, I’m a 3.5 player with paddle of Vatic Pro Prism Flash, it’s good at control, but don’t have too much power. I’m wondering to buy a new paddle. Do you think the double black diamond and ruby could have a big difference than prism flash with more power and still good control?
Honestly man thats a tough one. Nothing out there quite feels like the 002. I think the DBD 14mm could be an option, Head Radical Tour, there is a pretty good potential option from Thrive that I hope they release early next year that could be a very good replacement, of course a heavily weighted up Power Air
@@mike_ikes3427 I have that as well as the fusion version, but I find the Labs 002 to have spin and the right amount of power like no other paddle I have ever used. The feeling of balance (how the static weight is balanced when holding the paddle) is the best that I have felt out of any paddle so far. Wondering if there is anything else out there as balanced feeling in hand as the 002?
@@PickleballWill I concur with you on that. Do you think using a hesacore grip would help with some of the vibration feedback on the 002 (my only really gripe)? Any suggestions on that? Thx again Will!!
There was a Protoss I’ve played with that would have been a great option as a replacement but doesn’t really help you. As far as hesacore grip goes I’ve not tried it so I can’t say if it would help you with the feel on your paddle
So, idk if mine was an inconsistency, but my paddle came at 8.6 stock, and very head heavy. This really killed my experience, and it's the main reason why I will never main this paddle.
Nah if you like the 14mm and can play with it at a high level I would stick with the DBD 14mm. I think the ceiling for the DBD 14mm is higher. Only switch if you are having a really tough time dropping and resetting