I feel like Pickleball Apes hasn’t been getting enough attention because most paddle reviewers are chasing the latest releases. @1:20 Speed test format!?!?! Brilliant! I liked your review, I’m subscribing.
Thank you for the encouragement 😊 Yes, I feel there are good value paddles out there that are under appreciated. For my paddles, I want to spend around $100, definitely not more than $150.
i was playing with the spartus apollo, which gave me great feel on my backhand slices, but then recently switched to the hurache control x, which i prefer due to its increased power and long handle. I've been looking at the bread and butter shogun and pickleball apes energy to try out. after using a 6" handle, i don't think i'd ever want to go back to a 5.5"
Interesting. A friend recently got hurache-x control+. May try it the next time I play with him. I have been happy with 5.5” long handle and also happy with longer handles. Only in last few months I am hitting more two handed BH, so maybe I will grow to like longer handles more.
@madhu-qf5tt, Checking with Friday if they will send me their two version for review. Today I played with a friend's Friday Paddle (Original Paddle). Overall I am not impressed with the paddle and cannot understand why it is considered a great value or a great paddle. Pros: It has good power, decent touch and looks nice Cons: Very poor spin (the surface is not like raw carbon fiber paddles that i am used to), heavy swing weight so slow hands speed at net. The power and stability comes from being a heavy paddle, but it is similar to my pickleball apes energy s, which is lighter so that power does not cost me hand speed. Also, to me, power without appropriate spin is very limited value. Without topspin, the power will just result in more of your drive going out. So as for being an amazing paddle, I disagree based on playing with this paddle today. I think most raw carbon fiber paddles are better then it. And Gen 2 paddles I have played with are in a different league (Friday paddle is significantly inferior). As for being a "best deal" at $69 for 1 paddle or $100 for 2 paddles, I think there better paddles at similar or lower price. A11N Carry C7 selling on Amazon at $50 today is a better paddle than this Friday paddle. Qyntelix 3K CARBON FIBER paddle selling on Amazon for $20 is a better paddle than this Friday paddle, at one third the price ! Of course this is just my opinion. Different played need different things from the paddles. And the Friday paddle does look good. However, if your priority is to get a paddle that plays well, look elsewhere in my opinion. I was disappointed enough with the Friday paddle that I will probably not do a detailed review of that paddle.