The Thrive Ignite feels like what JOOLA might have made if they went the foam route with their Pro V series. Borrowing core design concepts from them but with a foam core center and a more durable grit texture it brings an “activated power” concept with a soft/dense feel profile that is different from the instant power access and stiff/hollow foam power paddle style that dominates the market right now.
Available as a hybrid shape it retails for $220. You can save $22 with code PBEFFECT.
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Affiliate disclosure: I was sent this paddle to test, but this review wasn’t paid for or approved by the brand. Everything here reflects my own testing and opinions. If you click the links on the page or use my discount codes, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you that supports my testing and reviews.
What stands out:
How it plays: It sits in the mid-power range (72 Firepower Z score), but the response is different.
On slower shots, it stays controlled. As you swing harder, it stiffens up and gives you more power, so it plays more dynamically than most foam paddles that are always “on.”
That makes it easier to manage in resets and dinks, but you give up some easy power on quick counters and flicks.
Bottom line: Choose this if you’re trying a power paddle for the first time, want a soft/dense feel, or need something more controllable than instant-pop foam paddles like the Selkirk Boomstik or B&B Loco.
Performance ratings are based on playtesting, paddle comparisons, and power, pop, and spin tests.
This paddle is available as a hybrid shape only at the time of this review. Measurements are from my test unit and may vary.
Specs are solid. You’ve got an average swing weight paired with an above-average twist weight, so it stays maneuverable while still feeling stable.
The balance point is slightly higher than most hybrids, which shifts the sweet spot more toward an elongated feel, but you can bring it down with a Cap Coin if needed.
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Thrive built what many expected JOOLA to make with the Pro V… but didn’t. The Ignite takes similar core design ideas and pairs them with a foam construction and more durable grit, plus a few unique tweaks.
Here’s what’s going on:
TPE Foam Ring
A diving board-style foam perimeter that adds power with an activated response, not instant pop. Thrive uses TPE instead of EVA, which snaps back better and holds its shape longer for improved durability.
EPP Core
A durable foam core that helps resist core crush and maintain structure over time.
Throat Plugs & Internal Weighting
Added to improve twist weight and stability, though it does push the balance point slightly higher.
Clear Fusion Spray
A light, single-layer coating applied over the raw carbon to help lock in the grit and extend its lifespan without muting the feel.
Key Performance Traits
Power & Pop
Mid-level power with an activated response that scales with swing speed.
The Ignite plays with a really unique response profile for a foam power paddle. On slower shots, it stays controlled and doesn’t jump off the face too quickly. As you accelerate, the paddle stiffens up and unlocks more power, giving it a dynamic, “gear shifting” feel that’s more player-friendly than most foam paddles.
Because of that, you don’t get as much easy power on quick counters and flicks. But when you have time to swing through the ball, the power is there, and it comes with an extra layer of control that most power paddles don’t have.
It sits in the mid-power range with a 72 Firepower Z score, similar to the Spartus P1, Luzz Cannon, and an unweighted Ronbus Quanta. You’re getting real offense, but the activated “gear shifting” response adds nuance, letting you be aggressive in a variety of scenarios.
Firepower Z score note: This is a blended metric I use that combines power (serve speed) and pop (punch volley speed), then applies a z-score to account for clustering. It gives a more accurate picture of a paddle’s offensive capability than simple rankings or percentiles. Check out more Firepower Z scores in my paddle database.
Control & Forgiveness
Easier to manage power with a forgiving sweet spot and stable response.
Because the power is activated instead of always on, the paddle stays more controlled in softer exchanges compared to instant power paddles like a Selkirk Boomstik or Vatic Pro V Sol Pro. It doesn’t overreact on resets or dinks, which makes it easier to keep balls in play and stay consistent.
The sweet spot is solid and never got in the way, though it didn’t feel as large as the twist weight might suggest. It does benefit from some added side weight, which I’ll cover in my recommended setup section below.
Feel & Maneuverability
Soft, dense feel with a balanced, easy-to-swing profile.
The feel is one of the biggest differentiators. It’s soft and dense, but not mushy, with enough structure behind it to still feel connected to the ball.
While the stiff/hollow feel category is crowded, the soft/dense lane isn’t, and this is the best power paddle with that feel profile I’ve played so far.
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High-level spin with a surprisingly durable grit application for a raw carbon surface.
Spin production is excellent. My testing averaged 2088 RPMs, which lands in the 92nd percentile in my database of 400+ paddles. You can feel that on court too. It grabs the ball well on drives from the baseline and gives you confidence on rolls and dinks at the net.
Thrive added what they call a “clear fusion spray” over the raw carbon peel ply. I was skeptical, but it actually held up in my accelerated grit wear testing:
Anytime we have a new grit that is outperforming raw carbon fiber, that’s a win in my book.
| Paddle | Ra Start | Ra Retention | Rz Start | Rz Retention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
HexGrit
Durable |
8.13 | 98% | 42.3 | 93% |
|
Diamond Tough
Durable |
6.52 | 95% | 32.48 | 92% |
|
Harmony Grit
Durable |
7.11 | 94% | 35.97 | 83% |
|
PermaGrit
Durable |
6.67 | 93% | 35.1 | 87% |
|
Thrive Ignite
Raw + Coat |
7.54 | 90% | 36 | 88% |
|
InfiniGrit
Durable |
5.7 | 90% | 30.93 | 85% |
|
Raw Carbon Avg
Raw |
6.8 | 82% | 32.5 | 80% |
Grit wear testing note: I use a custom machine I built to accelerate grit wear that applies controlled abrasion to simulate long-term use, then measure surface roughness (i.e. Ra and Rz values) before and after with a Starrett SR160 gauge. Retention % shows how well a paddle maintains its spin over time.
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Goal:
Improve stability and expand the sweet spot while bringing the balance point down for better hand speed and more natural balance.
What you’ll need:
Placement:
Why this placement:
The side weight increases twist weight and stability, helping the paddle feel more solid on off-center hits and strengthens the sweet spot zone where you make contact most often.
The 9g Cap Coin shifts the balance point down, counteracting the slightly head-heavy feel of its higher 240 balance point and from the added perimeter weight to improve hand speed at the net.
The Result:
Despite the heavier static weight the paddle feels more maneuverable at the net and has more stable and consistent bounce in the sweet spot.
| Metric | Stock | Setup | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall Weight
|
7.99 oz
|
8.56 oz
|
↑ 0.57 oz
|
|
Swing Weight
|
113
|
116
|
↑ 3
|
|
Twist Weight
|
6.67
|
7.0
|
↑ 0.33
|
|
Balance Point
|
240 mm
|
232 mm
|
↓ 8 mm
|
The Ignite fills a gap that’s been missing. Most power paddles sit in that stiff/hollow quadrant, and the Ignite gives you a legitimate alternative with a softer impact feel. It’s one of the more player-friendly power paddles and easily the best soft/dense option I’ve tested.
Best For Players Who
Less Ideal For Players Who
Reviewer Profile
Braydon Unsicker is the founder of Pickleball Effect and has been reviewing pickleball gear since 2020. He’s known for independent, data-backed paddle reviews and hands-on testing that help players cut through marketing claims and make smarter equipment decisions.
Affiliate disclosure: I was sent this paddle to test, but this review wasn’t paid for or approved by the brand. Everything here reflects my own testing and opinions. If you click the links on the page or use my discount codes, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you that supports my testing and reviews.
