Dude, 20 mins, that’s a new record! Good stuff as always, I learn something every time I watch one of your videos. I’m glad you’re liking the edge tape!
Haha, yeah, I didn’t realize I had so much to say about this paddle until I started shooting! The edge tape is great, and I love the tungsten tape. It’s really nice not having to worry about toxic lead
This paddle is awesome. I was coming from a weighted DBD. The charts you provided were great in helping confirm my decision to purchase the BDi. Same power as orig DBD, similar control, more pop and a HUGE drop in swing weight, better hand speed? No brainer - sign me up. Because of the vast difference in swing weight and to improve stability, I did add weights at 8 and 4 o clock right off the bat. Easy adjustment and I’m not looking back. Paddle is 🔥!
I've been using my new Infinity black diamond for one week. I've been playing a Project 003 for the past 14 months. On both paddles I immediately replaced the OEM grip with a Gamma contoured which brings them to a little over 4.5". I use edge tape on both and I use 10 g. of lead on the Project 003's between the throat curve and the lower side-curve. I haven't applied lead to the Infinity BD. Each paddle is now 8.8 oz. The balance point of the two paddles is exactly the same...when modified as described. I pulled out my like new Project 003 today (the one I only use for tournaments) to evaluate it against the week-old Infinity BD. The feedback of the two paddles is different (with the 003 feeling "softer") but I can get the same performance out of both paddles in the soft game. In my hands, the Infinity BD imparts significantly more spin, noticeably more pop and power, and is probably a little faster at the NVL, compared to the Project 003. I was expecting to find a reduction in control with the Infinity BD but I find I have just as much control with the Infinity BD as I do with the Project 003. I warmed up today with the 003 but three points into the first game I swapped it for the Infinity BD and stayed with the BD all day. It looks like the Infinity BD is going to displace the Project 003 as my go-to paddle.
I'm stuck in a paddle loop. I'm happy. And I'm right between the DBD Infinity -> Gearbox Pro paddles. Love keeping the ball low & making other fellow 2.5 players make mistakes. I think if Six Zero makes a control-oriented elongated paddle, I'll immediately want to try that!
Thank you for your time and posting. My GearBox Pro Elongated did not work out so am looking for a new paddle. This 'may' be it. Volair just came out with a nice paddle too. But I really do like the spin component on this one. Thank you again.
Great review. This infinity 100% fixes the issues w the DBD infinity. That paddle was a control monster but had zero put away power at all. This paddle has slightly less control but more spin and put away power is there. With the low swing weight and being so fast in the hand this paddle has it all. I have found “THE ONE”. Great job six zero.
Hit with the paddle today…….really interesting paddle….i use a crbn3 now which is a great paddle, good power, good spin etc….this infinity black diamond was interesting though…,it was hard to hit the ball out because of all the spin…..if you put any top spin on a shot it was staying in……there was definitely a lack of power though and it even sounds different when you hit the ball, …..but I like it……,I hit with a ball machine today so will have to play to confirm this butt….i didn’t feel a real strong pop …I had 200 fourth shot rolls or what would be attacks and I was hoping that the “pop” would get to my opponent faster…,,but don’t think it did…interesting thoug maybe a little lead tape. The crbn3 when I counter it is a hard shot…thought with the high pop rate of the infinity black diamond would give me more of that……interesting paddle though
I'd like to see company's who are producing carbon fiber faces move to the coarser grain peel-ply (as seen in the Ruby) as it seems to grip much more than the fine weave peel-ply alternatives. Even retroactively changing the faces of future production on past models (like the original DBD etc).
Test the new vulcan vpro flight outdoor pickleball please. No one has reviewed it yet. Only thing I can find on youtube about it is Zane Navritil saying it rockets off the paddle. I love your channel because there's actual statistics and data and not just opinions. Thanks John!
Great video. Played two games. I didn't get any twisting. I did put some weight on the paddle. I liked this paddle better than the original. Seemed more plus plush when dinking with excellent pop and power. I liked it better than the dbd and crbn3x. The 3x crbn. Maybe the 3x needs to break in. OK excellent spin on the dbi
King of the chart graphics!! Definitely add the top to bottom twist weight to the data base. Also, if there is a way to automatically add the bar charts you generally use to the data base as separate pages, that would be sweet. I really like seeing the power, pop, etc. in comparison to all the other paddles.
Your reviews are top notch. Have you thought of an additional metric -measuring the actuall htting area of the paddle in square inches? Although many players seem to want a longer handle, they need to realize that longer handle comes at a price: less hitting area.
This sounds like an amazing paddle. That much maneuverability with no degrading from power and softness from the face 😮 I’ll pick one up once my dbd 14mm does out
As always John this review tics all the boxes. I'm holding out for what 6.0 has on the drawing board for release later this year..Really liked the RUBY when I played for just a game.
I'm currently playing with a Selkirk Power Air Invikta, but have been craving that same hand speed and maneuverability with less power and better control on 3rds and dinks...this may just be "the one"!!
Great reviews. I was wondering if you are considering adding the ruby specs to the graph where you compared the 4 black diamonds series in this video. Thanks
Grear review as always, have you already done, or have any plans for the Electrum Stealth review? I'm subscribe but didn't have notifications on, so I'm not sure if I've missed one
I’ve been playing with the BDi and I love how light is but not lacking in power. I play with it stock and I seem to be faster with it. My friends say I’ve become more aggressive with my game.
your digression is spot on, just think about it from a mechanical build perspective of the paddle face. Not just twist. GB Pro is like this in my opinion. And I dont think its too much detail, I watch to learn and access to good data drives good decision making for consumers!
Thanks John. Really appreciate the review. I am playing a DBD and a Ronbus Nova. Looking for more hand speed. How would the BD Infinity compare to the 12.7 ALW? Thanks! Neil
John, I was wondering if you could comment on the edgeless design specifically. I feel like Six Zero (as they should) are making many changes when they release a new paddle. Sounds like they changed how they layered the fiberglass, used a coarse grit pattern, adjusted where weight is on the paddle, etc. So if they had made some of these changes to their edged paddle, what would you gain from the edgeless besides faster hands. I guess I am wondering if edgeless is really the driving force here or if the other changes (which could be made to their edge designs) are really what makes the paddle play the way it does. I sort of had the same questions on the Ruby to be honest. What was kevlar doing v. all of the other changes (weight, rougher face for spin, etc. ).
The edgeless design mostly helps with maneuverability by reducing overall perimeter weighting, and allowing a more targeted placement of that perimeter weighting (rather than one consistent weight provided by the edge guard).
I need some guidance. I come from a 4.5 Tennis background. Just moved up to 4.0 Pickleball. I’m using a P Apes Proline Energy. Love the elongated shape and feel. I now feel like I need more power and pop to get better and compete at a higher level. There are sooooo many paddles out there. What should I get? HELP‼️
9:51 I actually like this chart, but it would be better if you removed both 0% points on the left/right tail ends (as it has no meaning), and made the lines straight. Then it would look like a proper parallel axes plot instead of a group of probability density functions. As it stands, it looks like the latter which is misleading at first glance. Also, if you used the colors/lines to communicate information about the paddles it was plotting, it would make the patterns more intuitive for the eye. For example, both Infinity Models could be thinner/dashed versus standard model lines being thicker/solid, and then both Black Diamonds could be blue lines, whereas both Double Black Diamonds could be red lines.
Yes, I'm limited with what I can do with this chart, as it's a plugin in FCP. There are a set number of categories, so I have to zero out the ones that aren't used. And I can't use dashed lines. I'm trying to use these instead of importing from Excel, because they were made to be more intuitive so that most people can understand them. I've found that if I try to make charts how I learned in statistics courses - i.e., the proper way - they don't always resonate.
Honestly, there are so many well made paddles that could change and/or improve your game, but statistics alone don't assure which one is right for you. In a perfect world, a company like Six Zero would schedule "Rep Days" at various PB venues where you could try out their entire line of paddles. Until you play with one, you really don't know how well it will feel and work with your ability. I have concluded that the first thing you need to do is find out what paddle "shape" fits your game, then after that what thickness and swing weight. Oh, and of course the paddles keep getting better in terms of engineering, etc. Bottom line, if you're really into PB you will probably be acquiring at least 2 or 3 paddles every year. But lets face it, a really good PB player will win regardless of the paddle they play with...so just have fun, exercise and enjoy the game!
Hi, John I noticed the the Sword & Sheild j1h paddle is in your database. However, there is no review done on it by you. Did you not like this paddle? Based off your stats it seems to have impressive numbers.
I just purchased this paddle mostly based off your review. Did you ever get a chance to place the lead at the base/throat and measure the swing weight? If yes, what was the swingweight and weight of the lead placed? P.S. Who makes the shirt you have on?
@@johnkewpickleball This makes sense. One thing I'd be interested to see in the future is whether adding lead tape to the throat can increase hand speed by moving the balance point lower despite marginally increasing swing weight. Not sure how to objectively measure hand speed though
6:18 Waittt - we're just going to ignore what appears to be core crushing in those cross-sections? Am I wrong, or has that paddle been through a round of destructive testing?
6:54 Does the perspective of the camera rotate 90° from facing directly into the cross-section, to facing directly down at the surface face, and then translate "medially" along the surface?
Great info! After you review i went to the 6.0 website to check it out. I says the r&d on this paddle produced less twist. The figure of 5.7 that you show, is that your measurement or from 6.0? How is the twist rate measured? Thank you.
John, I gotta ask... Do you also play drums? We met you at the 6.0 event in McKinney where my wife is the PB Director. I ask as I followed www.youtube.com/@johnkew as I am a drummer as well.
Coming in late here, but no, you're not the only one. I have the DBD, BDi, and Ruby. I find the Ruby to be the poppiest of all of them. I think I like the BDi best. Insanely fast at the net-I'm blocking/resetting balls I couldn't get my paddle to with the DBD and Ruby. And I feel like I have more control with it than either the DBD or Ruby, but can still put away balls easily. It has almost as much spin as the Ruby. I just tried a LUXX Control Air Invikta. I thought it would have way more control/touch than the BDi, but it was not as big of a difference as I thought. The BDi continues to be the paddle I reach for most in games.