Prokennex has been steadily climbing in popularity among the pickleball community and their new releases of the Prokennex Ovation Flight and Prokennex Pro Flight pickleball paddles are only going to help them gain more momentum.
Prokennex made these paddles much lighter than their other line of Pro Speed and Ovation Speed models, have a slick replaceable edge guard, and have much more texture on the face to help produce spin. They look really good too, I’m a fan of the minimal edge guard and thin design!
After drilling and playing over 20 games with the two paddles, here are my initial quick stats. Both paddles play very similarly since they have the same construction so I would give each the same ratings below. I’ll talk about the effect of the shapes later in the review.
Shop Our Top Rated Paddles
We've reviewed a lot of paddles but we don't sell every paddle we review. Shop our selection of top rated paddles. Free shipping and returns.
Shop NowThe Pro Flight and Ovation Flight Paddle Design
The Paddle Shapes
Both of the paddles’ core are constructed the same but have different shapes. The different shapes change the sweet spot area a little. The traditional paddle shape moves the sweet spot towards the tip of the paddle while the oval paddle keeps the sweet spot right in the middle. The difference is very subtle, though.
I do think the Ovation Flight shape helps with maneuverability, it’s a little easier to cut through the air. The difference here is also very subtle because they are so lightweight.
Picking which shape you want is more a preference of which looks better to you rather than a specific difference in performance. I’m willing to bet that Prokennex only makes the traditional shaped version to satisfy the eye of people who think the oval shape is too different from what else is out there.
Pro Flight
Ovation Flight
The Weight
One of the big differences between these models and others they have made is the weight. The Ovation Flight and Pro Flight are about an ounce lighter, but it feels like they took off more when you hold it in your hands.
A lightweight paddle is easier to maneuver but can come at the cost of a little power. But these paddles do not lack power. Prokennex somehow maintained a lot of power and pop with the lighter weight. I was really surprised how much ball speed I could generate, it was really nice. I am yet to play with another paddle that is just as light and carries the same amount of power.
The lighter weight also makes it more friendly to casual players interested in a performance paddle that generates power for them but is not too heavy and difficult to hit.
If you are interested in a little heavier paddle that generates even more power than the Ovation Flight and Pro Filght, then check out Prokennex’s Ovation Speed and Pro Speed paddles.
The Replaceable Edge Guard
The paddles are edgeless, except for a slim edge guard on the top half. It doesn’t get in the way at all, though. I love the edgeless design and think it looks really nice. Lots of paddles have raised edge guards that can be annoying. No reason to have an edge guard around the entire paddle if you ask me.
The Core
The paddles are very thin and ahve a combination of Carbon and what Prokennex calls Honeycomb Cells. Here’s an image showing how they describe it.
Player-Tested Performance Review
First Impression
Right out the gate, when you take your first stroke with it, the paddles feel very solid and the ball really takes off. It doesn’t feel out of control, you’re just surprised how much power you can generate with it. My serves and groundstrokes instantly got a little faster without changing my swing.
I was also impressed with the forgiveness of the paddle. It rewards you when you hit the center of the paddle, but mishits weren’t devastating. Most of my mishits still made it over the net and kept the rally alive.
Groundstrokes
I was amazed at how much spin I could generate along with the additional power on my groundstrokes. The topspin I produced was awesome. I’ve never had a ball dive so fast. This was especially helpful with midcourt drives. It can be difficult to use a full groundstroke swing while in the midcourt because it’s easy to hit those long. But with these paddles, the topspin I was generating kept those shots in more often than usual.
Dinking and Drop Shots
Despite the extra power, the paddles maintain a great sense of touch. It’s not a soft feel, but it’s consistency and forgiveness gives you good control. I was able to direct the pace and placement of my dinks with ease.
When it came to drop shots, it took a little getting used to. You definitely had to take a little off on them but after an hour or so of drilling I was consistently hitting good drop shots.
I actually played in a local round robin tournament about a week after I first got these paddles and my drops were spot on with them.
Related Post: Doubles Pickleball Dinking Strategy and Drills to Win More Points at the Net.
Serving
I loved what I could do with the paddle on my serves. I was hitting harder serves instantly. I actually had to take a little topspin off so I could hit my serves with a little more depth.
Special Shots
I noticed that defending drives was much easier with these paddles. As long as I got my paddle in a good position, I could direct it and send it back deep without having to generate my own power.
I also enjoyed the additional power from the paddle when I was taking overheads or high volleys. My opponents had a hard time returning anything when I took a full swing. I could produce much more power there that I couldn’t do before.
Other Opinions
I drilled and reviewed these paddles with my good friend, Gene. Gene is a great 3.5 player, loves to drive the ball, plays smart, is always working on new serves, and is on the courts 4 or 5 days a week. Here’s what he had to say about them.
Summary and Recommendation
These paddles are truly a unique combination of power, control, spin, and forgiveness. Which makes them very player-friendly paddles. I feel confident in recommending these to anyone who is looking for a game improvement paddle. I know I will be playing with these paddles often.
These paddles are especially good for anyone looking for a lightweight paddle that will also give them a little more power and placement control with their serves, volleys, and drives.
I will say this, though. If you prefer a soft feeling paddle, then these may not be the paddles for you. I don’t think these paddles sacrifice any control in dinking or drop shots, but the carbon face and core do make the paddle feel harder at impact. I let several players from different levels give it a try and some didn’t like the hard feel of them.
Shop Prokennex Paddles
We don't carry this paddle but if you think this may be the right one for you then pick one up from our friends over at Fromuth Pickleball.
Shop Prokennex
Comments (2)