Engage has long had a strong presence in the pickleball industry, but it was in early 2021 that they truly established themselves as a leading brand with their release of the Pursuit series of paddles. During that time, no other paddles could match their power and performance.
Anticipation was high for the mid-2023 release of the updated version of the Pursuit paddles, known as the Pursuit Ultra series. However, they turned out to be a disappointment for both myself and many others. Fortunately, Engage swiftly regrouped and launched the Pursuit Pro line a few months later.
On paper, the Pursuit Pro line appears to address all the issues that were present in the Pursuit Ultras. Most notably, they have upgraded the facing material to a raw carbon fiber material instead of the unusual gritty material used on the Ultras. As I approached this review for the Pursuit Pros, I had two main questions in mind.
- Would they offer a higher spin rating that could compete with other top-tier spin paddles?
- Would the Pursuit Pro series deliver the same level of power as the original Pursuit series? Part of my disappointment with the Ultra series stemmed from a toned-down power that detracted from what made them special in the first place.
After drilling and playing with all four models of the Pursuit Pro series for over three weeks, I’m now ready to provide my review. Before diving into the individual evaluations of each model, I will address the two key questions mentioned earlier regarding spin rating and power and offer my general thoughts about how the Pursuit Pros play.
Table of Contents
General Performance Summary
To answer my first big question about spin. Yes, Engage finally got it right. My spin tests were giving me RPMs above 2000 which puts them in my high spin category and puts them on par with some of the best spin paddles available.
To answer my second big question. Again, yes, the Pro line hits a lot harder than the Ultra series and is on par with what the original Pursuit paddles were giving us. In fact, the entire Pursuit Pro line can be described as playing just like the original Pursuit series but with better spin potential. But, if you’ve never played with the Pursuit line of paddles, then read on.
In general, these paddles are very poppy and hit hard. The MX and EX models in particular are like cannons. You can really smoke the ball on drives and counter punches come off the paddle hot. I compared both the MX and the EX models to the Prokennex Black Ace which is regarded as one of the most powerful paddles available and they were about equal with it power wise but didn’t have as stiff of a feel as the Black Ace. Then if you added a little weight to the EX or MX it takes the power up another notch.
The Pursuit Pro series is not thermoformed but they hit harder than thermoformed paddles. The EX 6.0 and the MX 6.0 are both 16mm paddles and are the only non thermoformed 16mm paddles that hit harder than a 16mm thermoformed paddle. Because they are not thermoformed, they don’t have the patented stiffer feeling that thermoformed paddles have, instead, they have a more pleasant feel at impact that can be described as a light, crisp feel. It’s a nice combo.
That being said, the extra pop and power you get from these are harder to control. The ball comes off the face quickly so slowing the ball down from the mid court or successfully resetting speed ups is more challenging. I dive more into those details in the individual reviews below.
Performance Reviews by Paddle
Pursuit Pro EX Review
- Weight: Lite & Standard Options
- Swingweight: 110 (low)
- Twistweight: 6.77 (moderately high)
- Length: 16″
- Width: 8″
- Face: Raw T700 Carbon Fiber
- Grip Circumference: 4.125″
- Handle Length: 5″
- Core: 13mm Polypropylene Honeycomb
- Price: $260 ($208 with code 20EFFECT)
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
This is their standard shape and thinner core option. It’s the standout of the series to me. I’m classifying it as a power paddle, as it impressively delivers easy power and has a lively bounce off the face. It offers excellent baseline power, makes it easy to put the ball away, while also elevating the speed of counter punches and blocks.
It has a swingweight of 110 out of the box which is a low measurement in general though it’s a little higher than what you would see compared to similar shaped paddles with a 13mm core. It feels light and moves easily but has enough swingweight so that the paddle feels substantial and doesn’t get pushed around by the ball too easily. But if you do decide to add some lead tape for a higher swingweight then that adds even more power to the paddle and you can really rip it. It’s fine without lead tape but has room to be customized if you want to.
It has an excellent forgiveness rating and a good twistweight measurement of 6.77. This surprised me a bit. I never felt like the size of the sweet spot was the reason I missed a shot. For a thinner core paddle, it was very forgiving.
On the control side, the paddle is pretty jumpy off the face and the ball comes off hot so it’s harder to control and takes time to adjust to it. I thought the thinner core EX was easier to control than the thicker core EX 6.0 in some scenarios. Mainly drops and dinking. The launch angle on the EX is lower than the launch angle on the EX 6.0. Meaning, the EX has a lower ball flight than the EX 6.0. So though I could hit the ball harder with the EX the ball stayed in play more often and was more accurate because the ball flight was lower and I didn’t sail or pop up the ball as often. However, the thicker core EX 6.0 was better at absorbing pace off the ball when resetting the ball from the midcourt or slowing down a speed up coming at you. So there was some give and take when it came to control between the thinner EX and the thicker EX 6.0.
The lower launch angle also made it easier to be aggressive in certain moments like hitting a big slice return or attacking a drop shot off the bounce. You could go after the ball a little more without it flying on you. I preferred the EX over the EX 6.0 when attacking for this reason.
One other thing to note is that the handle is only 5″ long. I’ve grown accustomed to longer handles that are 5.25″ or longer and prefer those over 5″ handles but that is a personal preference.
Who would like the Pursuit Pro EX? If you are looking for big power but want to give up as little sweet spot and forgiveness as possible then this is a good option. It has the power, it’s quick, great spin, and comes with a pleasant feel to finish it off. Its good power and bouncier face does make it harder to control, though, and takes time to adjust.
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Pursuit Pro EX 6.0 Review
- Weight: Lite and Standard Options
- Swingweight: 115 (moderate)
- Twistweight: 7.37 (very high)
- Length: 16″
- Width: 8″
- Face: Raw T700 Carbon Fiber
- Grip Circumference: 4.5″
- Handle Length: 5″
- Core: 16mm Polypropylene Honeycomb
- Price: $260 ($208 with code 20EFFECT)
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
The EX 6.0 is likely going to be the best seller of the Pursuit Pro series because it’s the most player friendly out of the group. It’s their standard shape, thicker core option. I’m categorizing it as an all-court paddle though it leans towards the power side. It hits harder than 16mm thermoformed paddles. The EX 6.0 and MX 6.0 are the only 16mm non thermoformed paddles that are more powerful than 16mm thermoformed paddles. This means you get the bigger power but without the stiffer feel that comes with thermoformed paddles.
Its combination of good power, big spin, and great forgiveness will attract a lot of players. Like the EX, it’s also a bit poppy off the face though not quite as much. So it’s easier to take pace off the ball when you’re resetting shots and trying to slow it down compared to the EX. However, it has a higher launch angle which when combined with its good power makes it easier to sail returns and drives until you make the adjustments you need to bring the ball down.
The paddle feels very stable and forgiving, it was hard to find a dead spot on the paddle. It’s particularly forgiving from side to side, though it’s not as forgiving in the throat area of the paddle like a thermoformed paddle which is a small drawback to the Pursuit Pro paddles not being thermoformed.
It has a higher swingweight than what you’d expect at 115. 115 is a moderate rating so it’s not high and not low but more than your typical standard shaped paddle. It doesn’t feel heavy to me but I wouldn’t consider it a fast paddle. The EX model definitely moved faster. The EX 6.0 carries through the ball better though and doesn’t need a big swing to get the ball where you need it to go.
Who would like the Pursuit Pro EX 6.0? The thicker core, great forgiveness and approachable swingweight makes this the most player friendly paddle of the Pursuit Pro Series. It’s good for players who have an aggressive playstyle but still want the help of an oversized sweet spot.
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Pursuit Pro MX Review
- Weight: Lite and Standard Option
- Swingweight: 119 (moderately high)
- Twistweight: 5.88 (low)
- Length: 16.5″
- Width: 7.5″
- Face: Raw T700 Carbon Fiber
- Grip Circumference: 4.125″ (octagonal)
- Handle Length: 5.75″
- Core: 13mm Polypropylene Honeycomb
- Price: $260 ($208 with code 20EFFECT)
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
This is the thinner core elongated option. It rips. Its power level is on par with other leading power paddles like the Prokennex Black Ace and maybe even has a little more. Most of Engage’s pro team uses this model. As pickleball continues to get faster and more balls are coming back, pros have started opting towards more aggressive, big spin, big power paddles. And that’s what the MX is.
It has a higher swingweight for a thinner core paddle but I think it works in the favor of this one. The higher swingweight helps it carry through the ball better than other thinner core paddles that have lighter swingweights and is part of the reason you can hit it so hard.
The paddle also has a lower twistweight measurement but it didn’t reflect how forgiving it was. It’s not a big sweet spot but it felt and played bigger than what the twistweight suggested.
Because the Pursuit Pro series isn’t thermoformed, they don’t have that stiffer feeling. This is especially true for the thinner MX and EX models. The thinner thermoformed paddles are extra stiff, but these still retain a softer, more pleasant feel at impact. It’s nice.
On the control side it is harder to control because the paddle is poppy and powerful but it also depends what you’re coming from. If you’re coming from a thinner core paddle from another brand then it probably won’t take you long to adjust. But if you’re coming from a non thermoformed paddle or a thicker core paddle then this will be difficult to control.
As for the launch angle, I did feel like it was on the lower side and was a little lower than the MX 6.0 model but it wasn’t as drastic of a difference as the EX and EX 6.0.
Last thing I’ll note is the extra long handle of 5.75″. I like longer handles but it was bit excessive. I wish they just would have stuck with 5.5″ like the rest of the pickleball paddle world does. But, I’m sure there will be some that like the extra length.
Who is the Pursuit Pro MX good for? I wouldn’t recommend this paddle to lower level players. It doesn’t have an oversized sweet spot and the extra pop and power is more difficult to control. However, if you can manage the power then you’ll love the big spin, power, and softer feel it gives you in comparison to other thinner core paddles.
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Pursuit Pro MX 6.0 Review
- Weight: Lite and Standard Option
- Swingweight: 125 (very high)
- Twistweight: 6.57 (moderately high)
- Length: 16.5″
- Width: 7.5″
- Face: Raw T700 Carbon Fiber
- Grip Circumference: 4.5″
- Handle Length: 5.75″
- Core: 16mm Polypropylene Honeycomb
- Price: $260 ($208 with code 20EFFECT)
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
This is Engage’s elongated and thick core option and the thing is a tank. It feels sluggish and cumbersome to move around. I got a lighter one at 7.87 oz and it still had a very high swingweight of 125. If you got one that was 8.1 oz or more then the swingweight would be pushing 130. This was a big drawback for me and I imagine it would be the same for many others.
But when you look past the super high swingweight it has some good qualities. It still has great power though I’d put it in the all-court category. It’s more forgiving and softer than the MX. It had a lower launch angle like the MX did so I thought that made the extra power more manageable. It was easier to take off some pace for resets than the MX.
The higher swingweight carries through the ball well and makes dinking easier but as soon as the ball speeds up I would find myself late to the ball over and over again. It was frustrating.
Who is the Pursuit Pro MX 6.0 good for? Unless you currently play with the original Pursuit MX 6.0 and don’t mind the extra weight I wouldn’t recommend this one too often. I’d rather play with an elongated thermoformed paddle like the CRBN 1X 16mm which has similar performance characteristics but isn’t as head heavy.
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Are the Pursuit Pros Worth $260?
Even though the Engage Pursuit Pros are priced at $260, Engage frequently offers discount codes that can be easily found online. By using my code, 20EFFECT, you can get a 20% discount, reducing the price to $208. While this is still on the higher end, it is comparable to what their competitors like JOOLA, Selkirk and CRBN are charging.
There are certainly many good paddles available at around $160. However, the Pursuit Pros have a few unique features that set them apart. In particular, Their paddles provide more power than thermoformed paddles without actually being thermoformed, making them one-of-a-kind in the market. Additionally, Engage manufactures their paddles in the US, and their paddle technology is not easily replicated like many other brands that rely on Chinese suppliers. So you’re not going to find a $100 version that’s similar from an offshoot brand.
In my opinion, the Pursuit Pros are worth the higher price tag if they have a model that meets your specific requirements. However, if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, brands like Vatic Pro might be a better fit for you.
Final Thoughts
I love that Engage offers several shapes and two different weight options. Not many brands offer so many different models and especially different weights. With the swingweights of these paddles being on the higher end, I recommend getting a Lite weight option instead of the Standard. This will give you a paddle around 8 oz or less. Most players will like the Lite weight option stock, but if you like to customize the weight and balance of your paddle with lead tape, then the Lite weight option gives you some wiggle room to work with whereas the Standard weight option doesn’t.
If you’re seeking more power or living in a hot climate, the Engage Pursuit Pros are an excellent choice. They offer a great combination of power, spin, and a softer feel. These paddles play with more pop and power than most others in the market.
I highly recommend these paddles to intermediate and higher level players who are looking for more power without sacrificing a softer feel.
And if you’ve been playing with the original Pursuit series and are wondering if these new models are worth it, yes, they are an upgrade and are worth it.
However, if you are a beginner or don’t have a decent soft game, these paddles may not work in your favor and could feel somewhat erratic. Additionally, if you’re not accustomed to using a thermoformed paddle or a paddle with greater power, it may be challenging to adjust to the Engage Pursuit Pros.
Overall, aside from the MX 6.0 version being too heavy, I consider these paddles top-notch and will frequently recommend them to players who desire more power without compromising on the softer feel.
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Shop EngageBraydon 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.
