I’ve liked a lot of the recent durable grit paddles, but none of the power-focused options have checked every box for me. There have always been tradeoffs in weight, balance, forgiveness, or something else.
With the Power 2 series, 11SIX24 introduces HexGrit, a new durable texture paired with a true power build. The question isn’t just whether HexGrit holds up, but whether this paddle also solves the compromises that have come with the others in the category.
This review focuses on the Power 2 Vapor, the hybrid-shaped model in the lineup. Elongated and widebody versions are expected to follow.
Over the past year, several brands have pushed harder on texture durability. These include Selkirk’s InfiniGrit, Spartus’ PermaGrit, and Six Zero’s Diamond Tough.
While all of these textures improve longevity, the power paddles using them have each come with drawbacks.
Going into this review, my two main questions were.
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The 11SIX24 Power 2 Vapor delivers elite spin, best-in-test grit retention, and a strong blend of power and forgiveness in a true hybrid shape. It keeps the approachable weight balance of their original Power series but adds more stiffness, pop, and overall offensive ceiling.
This is built for aggressive players who want durable grit and high-end firepower without the usual tradeoffs in stability and forgiveness.
It is currently UPA approved only, so tournament players should confirm certification requirements.
Bottom line: If you’ve been waiting for a durable-grit power paddle that checks all the boxes then the Power 2 Vapor deserves serious consideration.
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We’ll start by answering the first big question. Does HexGrit spin the ball well?
The short answer: yes, it spins well.
The longer answer: it spins really well.
To test spin, I average the RPMs from 10 serves using a Stalker Pro 3S speed gun. The Power 2 series averaged 2113 RPMs, which is the fourth-highest spin measurement I’ve recorded in my entire paddle database to date.
More importantly, that spin translates on court. Baseline drives dipped consistently, and roll dinks from the kitchen were easy to spin as well. From a pure spin production standpoint, the Power 2 Vapor clearly passes the test.
To evaluate grit durability, I used a new accelerated grit-wear machine that I recently finished building, which makes its first appearance in this review. I call it the TK1.
The process works like this:
This approach allows for direct, apples-to-apples comparisons between paddles.
I ran this test on eight paddles total:
The results are sorted by order of Ra Retention %. Ra tells you how rough a surface is on average. A higher Ra number means the surface has more texture. A lower Ra means it’s smoother.
| Paddle | Ra Initial | Ra Final | Ra Retention % |
|---|---|---|---|
11SIX24 Power 2 | 8.13 | 7.94 | 98% |
Six Zero Coral | 6.52 | 6.19 | 95% |
Spartus P1 | 6.67 | 6.19 | 93% |
Selkirk Boomstik | 5.75 | 5.17 | 90% |
Raw Carbon #1 | 8.13 | 7.09 | 87% |
Raw Carbon #2 | 7.39 | 6.34 | 86% |
Raw Carbon #3 | 6.01 | 4.28 | 71% |
Raw Carbon #4 | 5.73 | 4 | 70% |
Looking at the TK1 Ra data, all durable grit textures outperformed the raw carbon fiber paddles in grit retention.
The 11SIX24 Power 2 finished at the top, retaining 98% of its original surface roughness. Not only did it start with one of the highest Ra values in the test (8.13), it also showed the smallest drop after accelerated wear. That combination of high starting grit and minimal degradation is what separated it from the rest.*
The Six Zero Coral (94.94%), Spartus P1 (92.8%), and Selkirk Boomstik (89.91%) all performed well, but each showed progressively larger declines.
The gap becomes more noticeable when compared to traditional raw carbon fiber textures. While some raw carbon paddles started with similar Ra values, their retention rates ranged from 87% down to under 70%, showing significantly faster surface breakdown under the same controlled conditions.
In short, the data shows two things:
Durable grit textures retain surface roughness better than peel-ply carbon.
Among the durable textures tested, the Power 2 demonstrated the strongest overall retention.
At this point, the Power 2 Vapor has passed both the spin and durability tests.
While Ra retention gives us a useful snapshot of durability, the Starrett tester provides additional surface data beyond average roughness. I’m working on a more complete Grit Index formula that will combine those measurements into a broader durability score and add it to my paddle database soon.
*The Power 2 model tested here is UPA approved only (more on this in certification section below) and not USA Pickleball approved, which allows for a higher starting surface roughness compared to paddles that must meet USAP texture limits.
Here are the specs for the hybrid-shaped Vapor. Elongated and widebody versions are expected to follow.
Measurements are from my review units and may vary between paddles.
These are excellent numbers for a hybrid paddle and result in a strong swingweight-to-twistweight ratio. It’s stable and maneuverable enough to be played right out of the box, with room to fine-tune if desired.
The hybrid shape is a hair shorter and wider than most hybrids. You don’t really notice the length difference in play, but you do feel the added stability. Compared to the Spartus P1, which leans more head-heavy and closer to an elongated feel, the Vapor’s balance lines up more closely with what most players expect from a true hybrid. That makes it a better fit for a wider range of players.
The paddle has now passed the specs analysis.
The paddle uses a floating foam core design that looks similar on X-ray to other floating foam paddles like the Selkirk Boomstik or the Bread & Butter Loco. On court, it shares many of those same performance traits as those too with some nuance to it.
With the Power 2 Vapor you get:
In terms of overall firepower from playing and doing my power and pop tests, it ranks below the Selkirk Boomstik, roughly on par with the Spartus P1 and Honolulu J6CR.
Drives had good pace and dipped well, counters came off clean, and the paddle stayed quick in hand battles. The pop is noticeable, so dinking and resets require some touch to avoid pop-ups.
Forgiveness and sweet spot performance were good, though not quite as solid as the twist weight numbers might suggest. It wasn’t a problem in play, but it was something I noticed compared to a few other paddles in this category. Adding a bit of weight improved stability and tightened that up.
Where the Power 2 separates itself vs many other floating foam style paddles is its impact feel. While it still has the general floating foam core sensation, it doesn’t feel as stiff or hollow as many of its peers. Contact feels noticeably softer and more dense.
In the feel map above, I’d still place it in the stiff-and-hollow quadrant, but closer to the center. Most floating foam paddles cluster tightly in the top-right corner of that chart, so this added variety will appeal to players who want a slightly softer response without losing feedback.
Goal:
The paddle doesn’t necessarily need to be tuned, but I tried a setup I’ve been using on lighter hybrids lately to add stability and baseline carry without sacrificing maneuverability at the net and I really liked it on this one.
The Setup
What you’ll need:
Placement:
Why this placement:
The 1 gram placed higher on the side strengthens the sweet spot zone. The added weight lower on the paddle increases overall mass for better plow-through without meaningfully increasing swing weight, while the Cap Coin helps keep the balance lower to offset the weight to the head.
The result:
The paddle carries through the ball super well and feels very stable with hand speed still intact.
| Metric | Stock | Setup | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall Weight
|
7.92 oz
|
8.67 oz
|
↑ 9.5%
|
|
Swing Weight
|
111
|
114.7
|
↑ 3.3%
|
|
Twist Weight
|
6.7
|
7.45
|
↑ 11.2%
|
|
Balance Point
|
236
|
226
|
↓ 4.2%
|
Fine Tuning:
If you try this setup and still want it a bit lighter, you can use the same tape locations with half-gram-per-inch tuning tape for a similar effect with less added static weight.
Most paddles are approved by USA Pickleball (USAP), which has historically set equipment standards for many amateur tournament events. The UPA, aligned with the PPA Tour, also runs its own certification process for professional level play, and some paddles now carry dual approval.
The Power 2 series is one of the first to go UPA only, similar to what JOOLA did with its 3S paddles. It meets UPA-A standards but has not gone through USAP approval. While the certification bodies are largely similar, they do differ slightly in equipment thresholds and testing methodologies, including surface roughness limits. That helps explain why UPA only paddles may start with higher grit values since they measure and cap spin outcomes and not grit levels.
UPA approval is accepted at many events outside those governed directly by USAP. However, tournaments such as the US Open, APP Tour events, and USAP Golden Ticket Qualifiers require USAP approved paddles.
For most recreational players, this likely won’t matter. Local events, clubs and open play rarely enforce USAP only certification rules. But if you regularly compete in USAP sanctioned events, certification could become a deciding factor.
When comparing the Power 2 Vapor to other durable-grit power paddles, they all offer strong grit durability and spin potential. However, the Power 2 Vapor checks more boxes than the others.
Taken together, the 11SIX24 Power 2 series delivers a rare combination of durable grit, elite spin, forgiveness, and accessible power. If grit durability and forgiveness matter more to you than maxed-out power or a very specific impact feel, this is the direction I’d point you. Until more durable-texture power paddles truly rival this balance, it’s likely to stay that way.
Compared to the original Power series from 11SIX24, the Power 2 keeps a very similar weight balance and level of forgiveness, so it will feel familiar to players coming from that lineup.
Where it separates itself is in response and output. The Power 2 plays stiffer, delivers more power, and has noticeably more pop, giving it a quicker rebound and a more aggressive feel on drives, counters, and hand battles, without losing the approachability of the original.
Overall, this feels less like a lateral update and more like a clear offensive step forward for players who wanted the same balance and forgiveness with a higher ceiling on offense.
Takeaway: The Power 2 keeps what worked in the original Power series while adding more stiffness, pop, and overall offensive punch.
I’ve also tested the Hurache-X and Pegasus shapes (their elongated and widebody options) in the Power 2 series. Both are currently awaiting certification and should be available soon.
Players can expect the same weight balance as the past Power models in those shapes. The differences in performance mirror what you see with the Power 2 Vapor, including a stiffer response, more power and pop, and improved grit durability, while each shape keeps its familiar on-court identity.
The 11SIX24 Power 2 Vapor delivers elite spin, best-in-test grit retention, and a strong blend of power and forgiveness in a hybrid shape that plays true to form. It maintains the approachable weight balance of the original Power series while adding more stiffness, pop, and overall offensive ceiling. It is currently UPA approved only, so tournament players should verify certification requirements before purchasing. If you’ve been waiting for a durable-grit power paddle that minimizes tradeoffs, this one deserves serious consideration.
Reviewer Profile
Braydon Unsicker is the founder of Pickleball Effect and has been reviewing pickleball paddles since 2020. He provides independent, data-backed paddle reviews and personally tests and measures each paddle to help players cut through marketing claims and make informed gear decisions.
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