Just got my 14mm Flash for my first ever paddle and I must say it's a blast to play with this thing, takes an intial time to really get used to the pop but once u got the hang of it the power, the control and the flexibility of the paddle makes the game so much fun. Such a crazy good paddle!
I've been loving my 16mm flash. I also have the v7 but found it to be too rigid for my liking. The new Alchemy paddle looks interesting. I'm looking forward to a review of that
I love my Vatic Pro Flash 14mm and my Legacy Pro. I use both of them. I use Vatic for control and hand battle, while i use Legacy if i need more power (especially against the wind).
The Vatic creator was on an interview recently and at the end of the video he said he only expect me paddles to last 3-6 months. The host was surprised by this answer. So expect it to not last longer than 3-6 months. He also mentioned many paddle brands use a broker or middleman with the manufacturer. Vatic works directly with the manufacturer, saving them quite a bit of money.
That’s a tough one depending on how much you play. I have yet to have any paddle last four months or more so maybe what he saying is for more serious players that play a lot. Often times a beginner doesn’t mind if the grit has one down to nothing.
Funny, I had the exact opposite experience between the F16 and DBD. Flash felt more controllable, while DBD felt overly poppy. Just goes to show how strong those manufacturing variations can be.
I’m not sure if the DBD is thermoformed, but Vatic has said their paddles need 5-10 hrs to break-in, and afterwards they’re less poppy and more consistent. I definitely experienced this with my V7. Just curious if that was accounted for in the review?
Thanks for the review. Pickleball Will did an Ultimate gen 2 paddle review 4 months ago and it feels outdated with all the new paddles on the market and post delam fixes. Perhaps you and he can do an updated version in 1 of your podcast?
How did I, of all people, miss that 90 day warranty? And I own both flashes. 😮 I am the same way, though. I tend to go to the 14mm more often. I did add a strip of cereal box cardboard on the two large sides before adding an overwrap to thicken up that handle. I also added a touch of tape on the throat area of each. And, of course, orange carbon fiber car wrap to the edge guard.
@@douglasmurdoch7247 Yep. Cuts to shape easily and once the overgrip is on it’s not that noticeable. I’ve also cut down extra grip to run the length of the wide part of the grip before adding an over grip. I just don’t like those thin grips on 14 mm paddles.
Had several opposite experiences with the Flash 16mm. I came from a Hyperion CFS. I’ve been able to drop and reset really well with the Flash 16mm. Drives have been fine as far as pace and keeping the ball. Nothing really overpowering like the Legacy. Was surprised the Flash would hit harder than the 6.0 DBD. At least that’s what I thought I heard. I do have a 6.0 DBD on order. So, will be curious to have my own comparison. Appreciate you the review!
I have a V7 now but was considering trying a Flash. Originally I just assumed I would go with a 16mm because I like the feel of the thicker core. But now I'm not as certain. At the moment my V7 is weighted up to 10oz with lead along the sides with more of it along the lower portion of the sides. Any thoughts on how they might compare? I anticipate still adding a good bit of lead to the Flash.
Did you end up getting a flash? I also have a V7 and enjoy it, but it seems like the Vatic line is opposite of what most people say with paddles… thinner=more power. Seems like Vatic is thinner = more control….
I have a few 16mm paddles, including the thermo v7. This thermo 14mm flash is a REALLY hard paddle to use. Meaning, you have to put a TON of effort for ground strokes, dinking and volleys to hit right. It’s like you have to try super hard with this paddle vs. other 16mm thermos you don’t at all. Does it have good power and spin, yeah….but you have to work hard to unlock it. And if you don’t hit the ball just right in a drive or volley, yes, it hits just like a wet noodle. I heard a few people recommend the 14mm and its not my favorite at all. Note: I played college tennis, so I’ve spent YEARS on swing mechanics, and still think this paddle is tough to use! IMO, unless you’re a 5.0 player, you probably shouldn’t buy this paddle. Sure you may need power, but I highly doubt the average player can use this paddle effectively…….
Got my flash 16 last week, and that's my first thermof. paddle. Very fast at the net, lot of pop. I honestly had zero issue to get used to the power, very easy to controll (maybe the 14 requires more work?). I am missing some swing weight on the drive, but i guess that's because I'm coming from the Electrum mod E. I will test some lead tape on the top and see what happens. Played everyday for the last two weeks, so far I love it!
I'm going to ask this question to everyone so please give me your opinion. What should I buy next? I hit with a lot of spin and I currently play with the R1.16 but I think I need more POP on my net game. Vatic Pro, Legacy Pro, Ronbus Pulsar, CRBN 3 , SixZero DBLBlk Diamond, Joola, Volair Forza, or Gearbox CX 14H?
You forgot to add that, unlike many/most other brands, Vatic includes a paddle cover with the paddle. So in real world pricing, figuring $10 for a paddle cover and including the coupon code, this thermoformed paddle costs only $120. EDIT: Ronbus charges $15 for a cover, so figure $115 for the paddle alone.
Like my Flash 16mm. Weighted at top corners but may go back to stock weight. Chris where are your weights? Glad I'm choosing to support Daryl at Vatic. His interview with Brian really impressed me.
Curious to wether the 14mm is simular to a Gearbox cx 6power or control paddle? maybe? I have cx 5 control with no overgrip or added weight,and i love its control, it has enough power when i need it also. I play at 4.0 level. So maybe this 14mm can deliver the same on control and power when needed. I always go with control paddles over power paddles, cause i generate my own.
Should have looked at The prism Flash(Non thermoformed ). I have recently been turned off of the thermoformed paddles. Way too rigid. And they seem to have more delamination issues.
Which do you prefer between the 14mm Flash and the DBD? I have the 16mm Flash and the DBD and I like the DBD a bit more as it is easier at the soft game for me.
I think it's best to have two or three Paddles in the bag. 16mm PRISM flash for when the ball is going out (cold day, higher altitude, fast ball, fast gameplay, wind at back) and a 14mm Thermoformed Flash for when the ball is falling short (hot day, dead ball, hitting into the wind, high humidity, low elevation). You can get both for the same cost as these newer more expensive paddles. Also, the PRISM is cheaper to replace so it's possible to replace it when the spin drops off as the paddle wears out. So this system would be the cheapest total cost of ownership and give more flexibility to the player to adjust to circumstances. When drilling use old Paddles, when competing use new Paddles with fresh grit.
I found my 14 to have no power. Just brought it back out for the fun of it. Put tungsten on the top and it now has enough power and still retains hand speed
I got the Flash 14mm weight: 8.75oz and completely transform my game. I love the company and what Daryl and his team is doing, I already pre-order the Alchemy Pro, i know it wont disappoint. Cheers.
I agree! The Flash 14mm with some lead tape to the 8.7 range is incredible. Made the sweet spot feel much bigger and even more plush. More forgiving, more power. To me it’s still got a little less power than the Legacy Pro but is better in every other way and much quicker in the hands. I just got the DBD 16mm and it feels softer but doesn’t have the pop and spin of the Flash 14 with lead tape. Weighted the DBD to 8.73 and it’s better but still debating if I prefer it over the Flash 14. Had to comment when I saw two others playing the Flash 14 weighted to 8.7 area. It’s a great paddle!
@@haydenlewis4040 I got a friend that swing legacy pro and the pop is on another level but quality is not great, they break or rattle way too fast and yea I feel like Vatic is a solid 9/10 with lead tape (price-performance-customer service)would love to see more color on the paddle but that just me, I love Balance paddle. Also all my weight is on the top-side and neck of the paddle. Have fun guys.
I just picked one up while I wait for by DBD. Where are you all adding the weight? I typically only add to the throat, but that has been with somewhat high swing weight paddles so maybe some at the top is warranted here to maintain balance? Thanks
@@chriscmatthews I added to the throat and sides. Since it’s so light to start (7.7) and since it has a light swing weight you can go up the sides higher and it’s still easy to swing and not to head heavy. One thing to note with these new carbon paddles is they do have a break In period. To me they all feel much better after 6-10 hours of play.
Chris... Have you hit the DBD 14mm or CRBNx 14mm? Where does the Flash 14mm fall between those paddles in terms of pop and power? I agree with the "sink-in" comment on the Vatic 16mm and would like something with more pop.
The Flash 14mm is absolute beast when weighted to the 8.7 range. It needs some leadtape to stabilize it and give it some plow through. I’ve never had a paddle where leadtape made such a huge difference as it does with the Flash 14. Went from a decent paddle that was quick in the hands but a little unforgiving with slightly above average power, to truly amazing. I have a DBD 16mm and it has less power than the Flash 14 (both weighted to the 8.7 range). Legacy Pro still wins for all out pace. But love the hybrid shape at the kitchen for hand battles.
Just to let you know that I think you are mistaken Pickleball Studio as I have not seen any Paddle reviews on Manta Pickleball Paddles . Manta is one of only 3 Canadian built Pickleball Paddles that I know of and they have been making paddles in Kamloops BC since 2011 . Last fall I was luckily put on the "Manta Pro Team" where I get my gear at a very reduce price ( not free ) . Since last fall I started using their Manta Nitro "Metallic Series" and as a 4.0 level player , IMO it plays and feels exactly like the Selkirk Amped S-2 which I loved and I played with for over 2 years before going back to the Canadian Manta paddles . The Nitro and Amped S-2 has the same 5/8" (16mm) polymer honeycomb core from the exact same core manufacture in California but the Nitro again IMO has a much more durable edge guard and it's grip has a beefer / better feel to it , as the grip is rectangular in shape and not square like the Selkirk's . Give "E" ( the owner ) at Manta World Sports a call and I know she would love to work with you as you do great work . Take Care Woody 0-0-2 ...
comparing BnB Filth to VP Flash. me and the flash mesh very well. it is noticeably softer than the filth, which itself is a copy of the CRBN 1X. the flash hits hard when you hit hard, but it is very forgiving on moderate drives and softer shots. I find a 125-ish SW to be quite maneuverable, so the flash 115 SW feels like there is nothing there. I prefer the slightly shorter handle of the flash, as I hit a 1hBH and it feels more ...connected with less handle length. both are great, I like the filth, I love the flash. I gravitate to a more angle/dink style of play.
I got the Vatic Prism Flash 16 and I love the lower swing weight versus CRBN 1x, the paddle I was playing with when I got tennis elbow. But, I think the forgiveness and sweet spot is much less than the Lite Engage Pursuit MX Pro 6.0 I have which is of course a longer face, and a longer handle. This is a paddle that even does more of the work for you.
I have both and it’s really as simple as the V7 being more powerful, but less maneuverable and the flash being the opposite (although still very powerful. Just not as). I have all three, and I use the flash 14 which gives me a similar feel to the V7 but faster at net
Chris, pulsar r1 vs vatic flash 14mm, which would you prefer and did you notice any key differences with respect to power, spin, and control. I’m coming from a v7, which is great but feels heavy at the net. Looking at these other paddles listed above. Thanks!
I’ve played with every thermoformed paddle (but for the Hudef) and settled on the 14 mm flash. While I own all three Vatic paddles and like each of them, 14 mm flash allows the maneuverability and fast hands at the net, while the face feels more similar to the V7 (good for me because of the quick deflection off of the face). The 16mm Flash is a bit springy as Chris mentioned, but I still didn’t have much of a problem controlling it. However I do agree with Chris in that the 14mm has more control. While Chris’ experience was that it may have had too much power…for me, the flash 14 mm has just the right amount of power because of the quick deflection of the face yet it slows down enough to keep the ball in. Missed returns are the absolute worst and unacceptable of course. And, the swing weight, and power of the CRBN 1x, Legacy Pro and to some extent the V7 can be more difficult to keep in when you first start using them. The flash still gives you that power at the net, but because of the lack of plow through you don’t hit balls long. Again, this is my personal experience. The DBD is fantastic also but I wanted more power. Again, all of this is subjective and just my experience with the paddles.
Hi Brad - I have a Legacy Pro and DBD 16mm. In your option is the flash 14mm more power than the DBD 16mm but less than the Legacy? Did you put any leadtape on your flash 14mm?
@@haydenlewis4040 Exactly…. right in between those two. Yeah, I ended up putting the tape on the 14mm Flash (at 8.4oz currently) just for some extra plow through for shots from the baseline. That said, the main reason for me doing this is more due to an existing shoulder issue rather than a “need” for the tape in general. In other words, the people I play with who have them with no lead tape have no issues with power on any shot… quite the opposite TBH. But, they don’t mind generating some of their own power while I need to swing a bit light while I’m rehabbing the shoulder. The good news is it’s very customizable and at 8.4oz, it is still more maneuverable than most paddles out there he feels a lot lighter than and 8.4oz Hyperion , For example, due to the balance of the paddle. That’s assuming you’re not putting a lot of tape at the head of the paddle of course. I had mine at the throat and just a bit at 3 and 9 o’clock.
@@braddaddis371 Hi, I got the Legacy PRO. I usually play singles in Tournaments and some doubles. The Legacy PRO is a bit too long for me. I missed shots down the line hitting the net from further down the line. The paddle vibrated too much. I tried the Legacy PROs but I am sending it back because the handle is too short. Either way, in your opinion how is the VATIC 14" from a power perspective (maybe add some weight) or any other paddle.
@@osint6372 so after playing with a Vatic 14mm in a tournament last night, I now believe that if you are playing at 4.0 and up, you need to have it weighted a bit just for some extra stability and plow through. Some of the drives coming at me from the 4.5ish types were not as easy to deal with since the Flash 14mm is so light. That said, we took bronze the week before and I had zero issue with the weight of the Flash 14mm. I would weight it up to 8.4 or so for 4.0 plus tournaments or rec play. Played some singles with it the other day, and felt great. Again, there is power, and then there is the speed of the deflection of the face which are two different things, but very interrelated. The deflection of the face is fast and powerful as well, but the ball will slow down just a tad as it travels. That can be viewed as a good thing or bad thing. I think it’s good because you can hit the ball harder so the ball comes out your opponent quickly and powerful, but balls won’t go long if you have some shape on it. Insurer many are just fine with the CRBN 1X and other more powerful paddles…but for most, it can take over a month to fully dial that in to have the control you want. I’d only recommend the highest power paddles to 4.0’s and up. And with all that said, the Vatic 14mm is still more powerful than most gen 1 paddles. Still a lot of power and great at the net. So maneuverable and comfortable. Control is king. Power is great, but only if it is able to be tamed. Good luck
I did bring my Prism to 8.5 with some lead tape and it gave me some power and an even better sweet spot but I tend to play singles and I think I want something that is still super controlable but gets off the paddle a bit quicker
I had the PrismFlash 14mm first before buying the Flash 16mm. It took me a little to adjust to the feel, but the Flash 16mm is 🔥🔥🔥. I really thought the Prism 14mm would be undefeated but at this point I’m ready to sell it. I just got a Flash 14mm today. I can’t wait to hit it. Based on this video, I’m sure I’ll love the 14mm more than the 16mm. I was nervous about the difference but I think most seem to like the 14mm over the 16mm. Can’t wait!!!
I’ve played both plenty and I’m curious as to why you think the Vatic doesn’t have the same quality… that hasn’t been my experience. More equal in quality for me
@@braddaddis371 I guess the correct word would be stiff. The Vatic 16 mm almost feels like a 14m where the legacy just feels very smooth and not stiff at all. Which makes me think legacy went with higher in parts.
@@landonjohnson77 We agree on that one for sure. For some reason I prefer the stiffer face. All just preference I think , but I can understand why one might think that’s lesser quality paddle. But I’m not sure they were trying to go for something softer than that.
