Electrum has been teasing us with the Pro 2 for months. I thought it was never going to happen at one point. But it finally made it to market and I got one as soon as I could to review it. This is only the third paddle to come from Electrum and is an iteration of their original Pro model. I love the attention and research they give to a few paddles instead of putting a ton of paddles on the market and seeing what sticks.
Once this paddle was released, several of Electrum’s pros switched to it immediately. That list included Thomas Wilson, Lauren Stratman and Gabriel Joseph.
After drilling and playing with the Electrum Pro 2 for over two weeks, here is my review of its performance.
Performance Summary
With pickleball getting faster and more balls coming back, it can be nice to have a paddle with the weapons to help you win in a variety of ways and that’s exactly what the Electrum Pro 2 does. I think this paddle is going to lead the charge as we see more paddle brands try to make better power paddles like this one.
It’s one of the juicer paddles I’ve played with. The extra power helped the most with shots where I’m normally weaker like with backhand attacks and counters. The Pro 2 was generating power for me and putting more pressure on my opponents in situations where I’m typically not much of a threat. The power is also coupled with a high spin rating. I recently reviewed Electrum’s Model E and the Pro 2 offers more spin than the Model E, which was unexpected. For me, having a high spin rating is critical for a power paddle. You need it to wield the extra speed and shape your shots to keep them in play.
The paddle falls into the mid weight range but it is head heavy which makes it feel a little heavier. Though it did feel a little heavier, its thin 11 mm frame still cut through the air nicely so the weight didn’t seem to slow you down as much.
It had a medium forgiveness rating which is pretty good considering how thin the paddle is. Selkirk tried making a 12 mm core power paddle last year and it had a smaller sweet spot compared to this one. Though it’s not a side to side sweet spot like it’s marketed as, I felt it was manageable for intermediate to higher players and wouldn’t cause too much of an issue. However, if you’re a beginner or lower level player then the medium sized sweet spot will reduce your effectiveness and consistency.
When it came to the soft game I actually connected to it within the first week of playing and was happy with what I could there. It had a crisp, hollow feel to it that felt nice off the face. I socialized the paddle with several different players and everyone commented that they liked the feel of it. I really liked how it sounded when you hit the ball too. It sounds like you hit it hard and I like that. I will say that the paddle won’t enhance your soft game, but if you have developed your own touch then I think this paddle can be controlled well. Its satisfying feel and consistent speed off the face make it controllable.
The bottom line: This paddle meets the needs of the new age pickleball player who wants a paddle that can help them attack their opponents in a variety of ways. It’s a pure power paddle and won’t enhance your soft game but can be controlled with time because of its predictable play.
Quick Stats
| Technical Specifications | |
|---|---|
|
Weight |
7.9 – 8.2 oz |
|
Length x Width |
16″ x 8″ |
|
Thickness |
11 mm |
|
Facing Material |
Raw Carbon Fiber |
|
Handle Length |
5.25″ |
|
Handle Circumference |
4.25″ |
Is The Pro 2 The Right Paddle For You?
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Shop ElectrumPaddle Design and Technology
What’s the difference between the original Pro and the Pro 2?
The total length of the Pro 2 is extended half of an inch to 16” compared to the 15.5” of the original model. Though it’s longer than the original Pro, it doesn’t qualify as an elongated paddle which is typically 16.5” in length. The handle length was also extended by a quarter of an inch to 5.25”. I liked this move. A longer handle gives you more power and spin while also making any two handed shots more comfortable if you have any of those in your arsenal.
What stayed the same?
The Pro 2 kept the super thin 11 mm core and their Raw Carbon Fiber surface. The face feels very gritty to the touch and is built into the material so that it will last longer.
It also uses the same stock grip that Electrum has used with their other models. I don’t like their stock grip. The leather gets slippery on hot days when you hands are sweaty and I personally don’t like the feel of the ribbed part. I highly suggest using an overgrip or replacing the grip altogether.
My discovery
When I pulled the paddle out of the box and was examining it I noticed a line above the grip of the paddle. This line looked similar to what I saw on Joola’s new Ben Johns paddle. So I took off the grip and sure enough they have what looks just like Joola’s Carbon Forged Handle (pictured). I loved this tech from Joola and was surprised to see it here since that feature is not talked about or marketed anywhere on Electrum’s website. There are two cool advantages to this type of handle. 1) It gives the paddle more flex at the throat of the paddle which will increase power and 2) it allows Electrum to control the shape of the grip which gives it a much more comfortable and natural feeling. I am a big fan of this technology.
Attacking
This paddle just makes you want to attack. It’s high power and spin ratings open up more options when generating offense. It feels like all the energy you put into your shot gets transferred to the ball. Of course things like drives, counters and speed ups all benefited from this but there were other areas I noticed it was helpful too.
For example, I’ve been working on a more aggressive third shot drop that is lower and has more top spin. That shot was easier to execute with the Pro 2. Additionally, it helped other shots like punch volleys. With less powerful paddles I find myself overextending to get more power on punch volleys. But with the Pro 2 I don’t need to do as much to generate power so I didn’t have to break my form and could be ready for the next ball quicker.
I also liked that I could add more pressure to people in the midcourt. I’m not a big power player and the little extra spin and power went a long way in those moments.
The paddle falls into the mid weight range but is head heavy which makes it feel a little heavier. Though it did feel a little heavier, its thin 11 mm frame still cut through the air nicely so the weight didn’t seem to slow you down as much.
Soft Game and Defense
Before I started my review of this paddle I was coming off a few weeks of playing with another power paddle so I think that helped me control this paddle quicker than what it typically would for most people. Regardless, after a week of play, I felt good about my soft game with this paddle.
The paddle has a medium forgiveness rating. You can tell the ball dies around the edges of the paddle compared to more forgiving, thick core paddles. However, it wasn’t so small that it really hampered my play. I’m a solid 4.5 player, so I think anyone in the 4.0+ range won’t mind the medium forgiveness, but if you are below a 4.0 rating and don’t consistently hit the center of the paddle then you’ll notice it more.
You can feel some vibrations when you catch a ball on the side edges of the paddle. I added some lead tape to the bottom corners and this reduced the vibrations though they didn’t completely go away. I really only noticed the vibrations and lack of stability when blocking drives.
I didn’t have any issues dinking, I thought it played well there. I could add good spin on my slice dinks and I didn’t think I popped it up more often or anything because of the extra power. My drops felt good too. I was actually getting a little more aggressive with my drops by hitting them a little lower with some extra topspin and was having some nice success with that. I’ve been working on that shot for a while and was able to execute it better with this paddle.
Taking pace off the ball with resets and blocks took the longest to get used to because the ball does come off hot, but for whatever reason I was able to dial that in too after a couple of drill sessions. I certainly wasn’t as good in this area as I would be with a control paddle like the Electrum E or a Selkirk Vanguard. That’s a sacrifice you have to make with a power paddle, but I was very happy with how it performed with the soft game.
I don’t think this paddle will enhance your soft game, but I do think it is controllable if you have developed your own touch. If power is what you are looking for then the sacrifices you make with your soft game are negligible.
What About Singles?
I actually played a lot of singles games when I was doing this review and really liked it for singles. It’s getting more common for people to have a paddle for doubles and a paddle for singles. If that sounds like you, this is a great paddle for singles. If you aren’t married to an elongated paddle for your singles game then I think you should consider this one. It has the much needed power and spin to win at singles.
Other Player Comments
Who Would Like This Paddle?
I think this will be a power paddle category leader but I don’t think it is right for everyone. It has the tools to put a lot of pressure on your opponents with its extra power and spin and it is controllable because of its nice feel and predictable play. However, it won’t improve your soft game and the medium sized sweet spot is not player friendly for beginner level players.
If you’re an intermediate or advanced level player that wants a power paddle then I would take a look at this one. If you are an intermediate to beginner level player then I think there are more player friendly power paddles out there like the Joola CFS 14 that may fit you better.
Is The Pro 2 The Right Paddle For You?
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Shop ElectrumBraydon competes at the 5.0 level and plays in 5-10 tournaments a year. He plays/drills 3 to 4 times a week and would play more if time allowed it.
