Gearbox CX11 Review 

I really appreciate your extensive reviews! Thanks

I am in the camp of ‘love gearbox paddles’. I felt this review was spot on and is consistent with how I share with friends and family about my experience with gearbox. Also felt like you educated the audience on realistic expectations - and was super clear about how it ‘not being for you’ doesn’t mean it’s a bad paddle! Cheers, keep this phenomenal content coming.

I concur Chris. Demoed the CX11series and also the GX5 and 6 and then the CX 14E and H. Since I love the GB concept of durability and detest the disposable poly core almost planned obsolescence I really wanted to like and use the GB paddles. Even went so far as to buy a CX14H and E and was bound and determined to make them work. Despite adding a lot of lead just couldn't turn the sow's ears into silk purses and gave up and sold them. Found the SLK Omega Max (after your review, and for me it is what the GB wants to be when it grows up). Love your videos and also your podcasts with Will. Thank you.

I had a CX11Q 8.5 and used it as my primary paddle for about 3 months. Adding 1.2oz of lead tape made a big difference and improved the stability and consistency of it. Ultimately I opted for a different paddle with different head shape and handle length which suits me better (Players Rogue2 Carbon in their Max shape).

Great video and pretty much what I found in my experimenting as well. I came from a Joola Hyperion CFS and while I loved the power, spin, and control it gave, I found I was losing far too many hand battles at the net when things sped up. I decided to demo the CX14E and a variety of CX11s from the newest GB line and immediately picked up a LOT of hand speed at the net. I love the control and speed of the CS14E, but it's very low on power, which I thought I might be able to modify with lead tape - that's the paddle I now play with. With that, I've added roughly 8.5 grams of lead tape to the paddle,- 2 6" strips along both sides of the throat, 1 full strip from 9 - 3, and one more 6" piece on top of that centered on the end. I have large hands, so I use 3 overgrips actually, so the center of the paddle shifted up only slightly and is closer to the center on the CX11E paddles. I could probably go with more tape to shift it higher, but I'm very confident in any hand battle at the net atm and I don't really need more to drive the baseline. I think with everything I'm right around 8.5oz in total weight. The lead tape has also improved the sweet spot IMO. So all in all, I’d say these paddles, at least the CX14s, are ideal if you want hand speed and you’re interested in modifying them via lead tape to suit your needs. I’d be curious how the CX14s would perform for you when combined with lead tape 👍

Chris thanks for grinding through this one. Saved me some money.

Demoed these and cx14. Cx11e and 14 had that extra grit you talked about. Spin was insane. But I’m also coming from SLK xl soft.Going back to my SLK I noticed the feel was better and felt more confident at the net. Nice paddles love the edge less design.

I love my CX11E control. I wish it had a little more power but overall it performs really well and I have greatly improved my dink game.

Your review was spot on. Even though your review was for the CX11 series Gearbox, most if not all of things you said can be said about the GX6 Gearbox Control 8.5 oz which is my current paddle.

I have tried most of the gearbox line and the cx11q is def my favorite too

I really enjoy these paddle reviews. I hope you’ll be reviewing the Electrum Model E 13mm soon.

Really solid points and review, but I honestly still love my CX11. As someone who came from tennis I actually like how much more I need to swing it to get power, but as a result I find my power far more predictable. When I miss the sweet spot I find the ball still goes where I want, just with a little less juice. I like smaller grip as well with a single over grip, and the ‘wood’ feeling really suits me. I can’t explain it really but I just love playing with mine.

Great review man thanks a lot!

I just tried the CX11e Power in the 8.5 & 7.8 alongside the CX14e & CX14h. I’m really liking the way the ball comes off the face on the 8.5 personally. I didn’t nearly hate it as much as you! Lol. But I do agree on the sound and feel and TBH I kinda was digging it!

I use the older model cx6 or something 50$ Amazon. I add some wrap to the handle because it felt so skinny..now it's perfect. Spin power and all that good stuff from the older cheaper model..not the elongate version. I just add some black electrical tape around the top for protection from scratching the ground..best paddle if you on a budget..

New to the game … love the reviews. As a newbie we purchased a set off of Amazon. Can you review the Helium Aptos paddles. I’d love to see how the compare to premium paddles.

I’ve been on a paddle search for months now. Like others, I have been super drawn to Gearbox for the durability characteristic. I demoed most of the CX11E and CX14E, the CRBN 1, Selkirk Vanguard Invikta Power Air and the 002/003, the Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS, the Franklin, and the Vulcan V560 Power and Control, among others. I have discovered that I really like elongated shapes and longer handles, I hate head heavy paddles and I enjoy a smaller grip due to having smaller hands. For me, I felt like I played equally well with the CRBN 1 (awesome spin and touch, good balance,) the Selkirk 003 (great touch and spin, super expensive though,) and the Gearbox CX11E Power 7.8oz (soft touch, good spin, really maneuverable and consistent rebound off the paddle with the ball). I hated the Joola (super head heavy,) the Invikta (just really didn’t like the feel and felt like the sweet spot was super small and I mis-hit the ball more,) the Franklin (can’t say why exactly, just didn’t play well with it,) and the CX11E Power 8.5oz (too heavy, and I did notice the dead edges with this one.) I went with the Gearbox for durability’s sake and because I felt I wasn’t sacrificing anything with regard to performance. I would have been super happy with the CRBN 1 but I don’t want to replace my paddle every 4-6 months. I really did like the 003, but $350???!!Honestly I don’t miss anything in the power department with the Gearbox, but that may be because I tend to need more help with my soft game, so the Gearbox compensates for my weakness there. I’ve never felt like the pop was missing when I wanted it. I also have not experienced the dead edges as mentioned in this review, which I have felt with Onix paddles and even my Vulcan V560 to a lesser extent. Hope this is helpful for some people!

Best review I've ever heard. Especially good given the ridiculous number of permutations of the CX11. I confirm EVERY SINGLE THING YOU SAID ABOUT THIS PADDLE. I also so wanted to love it for the same reasons you respect Gearbox. But the power lacks too badly (I actually had bought a CX-14, and though I loved everything else about it, its power was too lacking. I tried the CX-11's to get the best of CX-14 but with some power). The absolute deal breaker was the bad sweet spot of the Elongated. When Joola and Selkirk came in with the foam infused models near the edge thereby increasing the size of the sweet spot, they leapfrogged Gearbox's technology. I hope that Gearbox's next bunch of paddles apply such technologies and we could get the best of both worlds, with a Gearbox.

Excellent review, I actually did the test drive on these a year ago and felt the same way about the cx11e. I have been using the cx11q 7.5 as my main paddle for all the reasons you stated and also because I love purple

CX14H with lead tape all around is awesome!!!

Great review.

I have the green one cx11e 8.5oz power….added almost an ounce of lead across the top to make it 9.4oz and now have the perfect paddle for me…

I agree about the cx11e.... But I friggin love my cx11q control 7.8. I'm a4.0-4.5 player. I came from Hyperion that was great but almost ruined my elbow. Just too heavy for me. Anyway, the cx11q 7.8 is incredibly fast at the net, super solid, and the paddle absorbs energy nicely during resets. I also rarely hit volleys long anymore. It's just amazing. Love the spin as well. Not a single complaint here. Ok, I do agree, they take a minute to get used to it but man it's worth it. Great paddle.

Can you explain or link to how to calculate your swing weight numbers? Thanks for all your great reviews. Your understanding of the idea of weight variance among Gearbox vs. others at 1:55" is impressive.

Really cool looking paddles! This is definitely a paddle that is used to play pickleball.

Have you reviewed the masters athletics paddles? Similar to these gearbox but I liked them better

In terms of softness I’d say the elongated soft cx11 might even be softer than a joola vision having used both

I agree about the lack of power, I have the previous version, gx6 power, farias model, and it doesnt have nearly as much power as the joola ben johns paddle

Wow....quite a fair review for a paddle that i know you really really don't like 😁

Gonna review side by side with a JOOLA paddle to show the edge guard no edge guard comparison. Interesting

just bought a gearbox cx11q 8.5 oz for my first good paddle I'm going from an amazon one

How do the characteristics of the gearbox paddles influence block shots against power drives?

So would you prefer the cx14 over cx11?

Wow. I was close to buying this but the lack of power is having me rethink.

Wouldn't the new added-grit models need a new USAP approval?

What do you think about the GX 6 POWER 8.5 oz series ,I’m thinking about buying it over the CX 11 power series ?

Dang it sucks that you didn’t enjoy the paddles very much. Definitely now curious how you’d feel about the CX14 line. Definitely a very different feeling paddle.

Hey Bro, did u ever tried the gx6? The cx11 is it thé pimp version of it?

Where is the link to the Facebook group?

Hey Chris, what paddles have had the largest sweet spot in your testing so far?

I think Raphael Filippini might have a tendency to dig his heels in a bit with regards to paddle parameters and what he believes is best. Coming from racquetball, he has stuck with the grip sizes that are common to that sport. With all paddles having a low swingweight, it's quite obvious he feels this should be best for most players. In some ways, he's like the Karsten Solheim of PB (probably the best compliment a sports equipment designer can have bestowed upon them). Solheim went against traditional thinking and believed that stiff shafts and very light swingweights were best for the all golfers. Ping irons were unlike anything else at the time; many loved them but just as many couldn't stand them. Over time Ping 'normalized'; I personally miss the old quirky Ping. The CX14 was a bit of a concession that most players were looking for a softer feel and the paddle has been very well received. The good news is that due to their construction, GB has a ton of control over all parameters. It's akin to the type of control mfgs have with graphite golf shafts. Who knows what's in store for GB next year.

When's the Hyperion cfs 14 mm review comin? You have the swing on it at 113. Is the swing weight really that much lower than the Hyperion cfs 16mm?

Ive used this paddle for 1 year. Ive decided the 7.8control series is the best over the power. These paddles are rock solid and will last a long time. They Do a Demo Program where you can test 5 paddles for free.

Chris, any idea when the 003 will be available not as part of the Labs?

I agree with most of what you say about them stock, but I will say I liked the 11E 8.5 models once I added lead and a leather grip. I also built up the grip to a 4 3/8 and did a little custom shaping of them. I have both the Power and Control models and am playing them at 9.2 oz. I do find the sweet spot still a little smaller than on a traditional paddle, but within the acceptable range. I could not say the same about the GX6 Control 8.5 I had previously. I have owned a handful of traditional paddles but end up playing the Gearbox because I have become accustomed to the way they play, and they play the same as when I bought them. As far as grit/no grit, I believe the serial numbers starting with 2008 have grit and 2007 do not. This seems to be the cutoff on the CX14s, and my 11E Power (2008 serial) is more gritty than my 11E Control (2007 serial).

I totally disagree. I just got a cx 11e control 8.5 and it's the best purchase I could've made. I think the best way to think about gearbox is to compare them to "player's racquets" in tennis. You go in with the understanding that you'll have to produce most of your own power, but the grippy lettering on the face and access to angles is unparalleled

Did it ever occur to Gearbox that they could use 8 different names for the variations instead of calling them all CX11?

I hated this paddle. Hated the feel and hated the tiny sweetspot

Do you have a personal Top 3 fav paddles?

Have you tried the CX14 models?

Selkirk Omega is way ahead of Gearbox in solid paddles! I ll sell you my CX11e 1/2 price!

Gearbox is definitely an acquired taste. Thankfully they do have a demo program. $20 will let you demo up to 4 paddles for a week. When in doubt, try it out. Overall, fantastic review, I personally love gearbox and don’t like the feeling of polymer paddles aside from prokennex, but I understand why others don’t feel the same way.

Incoming! (At any point during your review process, did you look at the CX11 and say, "You're dead to me"?)

What’s up guys

Gearbox themselves say the handle is not octagonal.

I like your reviews. I wish you (and 1,000 other RU-vid reviewers) didn’t start every video with l@whats up guys.” Just sayin’

No offense but it’s hard to take all this feedback about lacking power when you show clips of you playing and it’s probably a 3.5 level.