Joola is a relative newcomer to the pickleball game, having started as a table tennis brand. I’ve tested a half-dozen paddles from the past two seasons of gear made by the Maryland-based company, including a unique round frame paddle more closely modeled on a tennis racket and several from the series made for pro pickleballer Ben Johns, the reigning number one singles player in the world.
This paddle is thermoformed, meaning it’s heat-pressed together and virtually indestructible. It’s a little heavy on the head and delivers the most power of any paddle I tested. Everyone who tried this paddle found it not that forgiving, which makes sense given it was designed for an advanced player. The sweet spot is toward the top of the paddle face and isn’t especially large. Whack one right on the money and the ball jolts off it. For a player without great control, it’s easy to hit too hard. However, this paddle was especially appreciated by my friend Danielle, who injured her rotator cuff a few months back and is changing the way she plays as a result. “Coming off a shoulder injury, it was nice because I barely had to work and I felt like I had a ton of pop,” she says.
★ More control and style: The Ben Johns paddle is absolutely the best bet for serious power, but I might personally prefer the Mach 1 Forza, a similar thermoformed paddle that doesn’t have quite the same giddyup but does have slightly more control and an understated style. The Mach 1 Forza comes in the slickest packaging I’ve yet encountered from a pickleball paddle (is this box my new iPad?), and I really love the black and baby-blue design. It’s not as accurate as the nonthermoformed paddles or as powerful as the Johns, but it’s a solid all-around bet.
★ Budget mashing: If you want to mash balls, but on a budget, go for the Phantom Eternal. A carbon-fiber face for $85 is a great bargain, and the Phantom Eternal is overall a very solid paddle. I didn’t find it all that precise compared to competitors that are more than double the price (there are dead spots at the top of my paddle, around the eyes). However, I loved the thick, slightly sticky grip and appreciated the unique graphics. Mostly, though, I found myself swinging for the fences with this paddle—something about it makes you feel like you can smoke a return right next to your opponent’s foot.
