Joola just dropped its Gen 3 series of paddles: the Hyperion, the Perseus, the Scorpius, and the new Magnus shape.
As people who write about (and sell!) paddles, we have to admit...this new series is one of the most important pickleball product launches in the history of the sport, and we have more than enough to back that up.
But there's a catch. As the Kitchen's Jason Aspes put it in his video review (below): these paddles will undoubtedly change YOUR game. But are they good for THE game?
What Makes Joola Gen 3 Technology Unique?
At a certain point, a paddle is a paddle is a paddle, right? Not this time.
The usual specs that you'd expect to see on a modern carbon fiber pickleball paddle are there, of course:
- An array of shape options, optimizing for control versus power and other factors
- Different thickness options (14mm vs. 16mm) across the line
- Foam injected into paddle's perimeter for increased stabilization
- Honeycomb polymer core
But here's where it gets interesting. These things hit H-A-R-D.
Joola is using what they call "propulsion core" technology. The core of the paddle is a polypropylene core, much like we've seen in the past. And it has a carbon fiber face like we've seen in the past.
But the edge wall foam is made in a specific way that allows the core to essentially flex, almost like a catapult. The result is a paddle 'dwell time' when the ball hits the face.
We caught up with world no. 1 Ben Johns about the new line. Watch the whole interview below:
In short: more spin, more power, more pop. A LOT more. We can barely comprehend how the paddle meets USA Pickleball guidelines.
"We can debate all we want....Oh, it's just a piece of plastic. But guess what? If it hits you in the eye, that leaves permanent damage, and we don't want that."
Safety aside, we have to wonder if this kind of technology alters the game of pickleball itself.
Get ready to change how you counter a player wielding one of these. You're going to need to perfect power punches instead of soft resets.
And what good will a third shot drop be for players who have such powerful tech in their hands?
If all of this sounds a bit panicked, just wait until you try one of these Gen 3 paddles. We're serious: they feel and play differently than we're used to, and we've played with a lot of paddles.
Jason says he doesn't blame Joola for these advancements, though.
"I think Joola has been amazing at innovating these paddles. I'm having a lot of fun playing with this paddle. The engineering is phenomenal, and they did this all within USAP guidelines for paddle construction.
"Now, I'd like to see USAP change their guidelines so we don't let this game get out of hand."
A first-of-its-kind "smart paddle"
Tyson McGuffin Magnus 3, 16mm
Not only do these paddles come with jaw-droppingly powerful performance, they also come equipped with technology we just haven't seen before in paddles.
We've officially entered the age of "smart pickleball paddles." When you hold your phone up to the handle of one of the Gen 3s, there's an NFC chip that communicates with your phone.
Read Next: Our Favorite Paddles for Power
You can use this feature to do any number of things pertinent to your investment:
- Register your paddle and receive a copy of your warranty
- Connect to the Joola Infinity app, featuring lessons, tips, and strategies
The new Joola paddles will run you $279.95.
You can order them now at Joola, or you can wait a week and starting on April 23rd, you can get them at other retailers, including our store.
