I get several requests a month from paddle brands asking if I’ll review their paddles. 90% of the time I say no because their paddles are overpriced copies of others on the market and there isn’t anything unique about them. Six Zero broke through. They reached out and shared what they were doing and I was very intrigued. They have two performance paddles.
- Black Diamond Power
- Double Black Diamond Control
Both paddles feature a new technology they are calling Carbon Fusion Edge Technology. They injected foam around the perimeter of the head and handle and then added a light-weight carbon seam fusing the top and bottom faces of the paddle together to create one solid piece. It essentially looks like an edgeless paddle underneath the edgeguard, though it’s a little different. I had never heard anything like it so I wanted to try them out.
This new tech is combined with a raw fiberglass face for the Black Diamond Power and a raw carbon fiber face for the Double Black Diamond Control. The raw fiberglass face the Black Diamond Power paddle is using is also something I hadn’t seen before.
Because this tech is so new I wasn’t sure how they were going to play. After playing and drilling with both paddles for over two weeks, here’s my review of their performance. Spoiler, turns out they are nice and I even decided to sell them in my store.
Table of Contents
Performance Summary
Black Diamond Power
- Average Weight: 8.1 oz
- Swingweight: 115 (moderate)
- Twistweight: 6.72 (high)
- Length: 16.3″
- Width: 7.5″-7.7″
- Face: Raw Fiberglass
- Grip Circumference: 4.25″
- Handle Length: 5.5″
- Core: Polymer
- Price: $179.99 ($162 with code 10EFFECT)
(Save 10% with code 10EFFECT on either website)
| Pros |
|---|
|
Hits hard for thick core paddle |
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Big spin (1675-1700 RPMs) for a fiberglass paddle |
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More forgiving compared to other paddles with this much power |
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Unique flared head and hybrid shape design |
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Thick core and high spin tame power |
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No need for lead tape alterations |
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Comfortable octagonal handle |
| Cons |
|---|
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Only one shape and weight option |
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Stiff, solid feel to it that you don’t connect with right away |
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Longer adjustment period due to stiff feel |
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It won’t enhance your soft game |
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Easier to overhit the ball and send it long |
Double Black Diamond Control
- Average Weight: 8 oz
- Swingweight: 115 (moderate)
- Twistweight: 6.67 (high)
- Length: 16.3″
- Width: 7.5″-7.7″
- Face: Raw Carbon Fiber
- Grip Circumference: 4.25″
- Handle Length: 5.3″
- Core: Polymer
- Price: $179.99 ($162 with code 10EFFECT)
(Save 10% with code 10EFFECT on either website)
| Pros |
|---|
|
A touch more power than non Fusion Edge 16 mm carbon paddles |
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Good control once you get used to the unique feel |
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Very maneuverable and light because of lower swingweight |
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High spin rating (1675-1700 RPMs) |
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Stable, reduced vibrations, and excellent forgiveness |
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Comfortable octagonal handle and unique hybrid shape |
| Cons |
|---|
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Only one shape and weight option |
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Not as soft or plush as a non Fusion Edge 16 mm carbon paddle |
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A unique, light, crisp feel that takes some getting used to |
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Low plow-through |
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Requires some lead tape for optimal performance |
Performance Details
Black Diamond Power
This paddle hits pretty hard, especially for a paddle with a thick, 16 mm core. It doesn’t hit as hard as a true power paddle like a Selkirk Power Air or an Engage Pursuit paddle but it wasn’t too far off. I’m categorizing it as an all-court paddle though it leans toward the power side.
Its raw fiberglass face looks the same as a raw carbon fiber surface. Even when you rub your fingers across it, it feels the same as a raw carbon fiber paddle. Its spin capabilities proved it can spin just as well and even better than your standard raw carbon paddle too. As mentioned above, this paddle gets up to 100 RPMs more than a typical raw carbon paddle. Fiberglass was sort of discarded when raw carbon fiber facing got popular in 2022 but this paddle breathes new life into fiberglass.
It has a stiffer, solid feel to it but it’s not an ugly feeling like the Power Air paddles or the ProKennex Black Ace. It has a good sized sweet spot, but is a little tighter compared to the Double Black Diamond Control. This is expected. Fiberglass is known for giving you extra power but sacrifices a bit of the sweet spot in return. However, its power is comparable to many thinner, 14 mm paddles that have even smaller sweet spots than this one.
I didn’t connect with the paddle the first time I played with it. The extra power took me a session of drilling and a round of games to dial in. But I did end up dialing it in. Once I developed a feel for it I was able to switch between this paddle and the Double Black Diamond without any issues. I never fell in love with its stiffer feel but I didn’t mind it and liked the extra pop it gave me.
This paddle won’t enhance your soft game, but if you have developed your own touch then it doesn’t necessarily hurt it, either. It will help you offensively with its higher level of power combined with excellent spin.
Bottom line: Six Zero’s Black Diamond Power is a great combo of power, stability, and forgiveness but does have an adjustment period to get used to its feel for the soft game.
Double Black Diamond Control
The Double Black Diamond didn’t have as much pop as the fiberglass version but it still had more pop than raw carbon paddles that don’t have the Fusion Edge Technology. Because of this, I’m going to classify it as an all-court paddle though it leans to the control side compared to other paddles in that category. It has a light, crisp, sort of stiff feel that wasn’t as plush as your typical raw carbon fiber paddle but was softer than the Black Diamond Power. Mine weighed just under 8 oz but it feels very light and maneuverable. When you look at its swingweight measurements it’s on the lower end so that confirmed that I thought it felt light.
Like the Black Diamond Power, I didn’t take to this one immediately. It has a different feel from the typical raw carbon fiber that takes some getting used to. I ended up adding some lead tape to it, shown in the image below. I didn’t add much, with the lead tape it was a total of 8.15 oz. Adding .2 oz surprisingly gave it a more plush feel that was more familiar. Because it had that familiar feel my soft game came immediately afterwards and I didn’t drop a beat with it but still had that extra pop to help finish points.
Like the Black Diamond Power, it was big on spin. My spin tests showed that I was getting 1675-1700 RPMs which is up to 100 RPMs more than typical raw carbon paddles. You could tell a difference on the court too. I could be really aggressive with drives and serves but I noticed the biggest difference in my ability to be more aggressive off the bounce at the net. When someone gave me a floaty third shot drop I could do more with the ball off the bounce and be more aggressive in those scenarios.
Last thing I’ll mention is the forgiveness of the paddle. From side to side, this paddle is just as forgiving as any other 16 mm raw carbon paddle. However, this paddle was more forgiving in the throat area. It was amazing how much pop the paddle had in that part of the paddle that has historically just been a dead part of the paddle. The Black Diamond Power version was more forgiving in the throat area too, but the Double Black Diamond Control was even more forgiving in the throat area compared to the Black Diamond Power.
Bottom line: Six Zero’s Double Black Diamond is a great option for players who are using a typical 16 mm raw carbon paddle but want just a little more power. It does take some time to adjust to its new feel but adding some lead tape gave it a more plush, familiar feel.
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The Hybrid Shape
The paddles have a unique shape that I want to talk about. The total length is 16.3”. A typical standard shaped paddle is 16” long while a typical elongated paddle is 16.5” long. It sits right in the middle, which is something we rarely see for some reason. I only know of one other brand that does this, that’s TMPR. I’m personally a fan of this shape. To me, the paddle plays more like a standard shape than an elongated one. It feels faster in your hands like a standard shape and is more forgiving like a standard shape. However, you still get some extra reach which is nice when you’re scrambling and reaching in to take balls out of the air at the net.
I wish more brands offered a hybrid shape like this. To me, it’s ideal. However, I know not everyone will agree with me. Lots of people like the typical 16” and 16.5” shapes which is one drawback of these Six Zero paddles. Six Zero doesn’t have any other shape options for those that prefer the traditional shapes that are permeating the market.
Comparison to CRBN X Power Series
Six Zero paddles are the first paddles I’ve played that use the Fusion Edge Technology, but they are not the only ones. Six Zero and CRBN are two of only a few brands to use this new Fusion Edge Technology as Six Zero calls it or Unibody Technology as CRBN calls it. CRBN is charging $230 for their paddles while Six Zero is charging $180. Because of the big price gap, I thought it was worth doing a comparison.
They honestly play very similar with some subtle differences. The CRBN X paddles are a bit head heavier and slower in your hands, but they are also a little softer in comparison. All the paddles hit harder than a raw carbon paddle without the Fusion Edge Technology but they do vary compared to each other. The Six Zero Black Diamond Power hits the hardest, then the CRBN X 16 mm paddles, and then the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control.
When I added some lead tape to the Double Black Diamond Control it was nearly as soft as the CRBN X 16 mm paddles and they played very similarly. However, I like the CRBN X paddles more if I didn’t alter the Double Black Diamond Control with some lead tape and compared them side by side.
If you’re okay with adding some lead tape to your paddle, then go with the Six Zero, it’s just as good as the CRBN X series but is $50 cheaper. However, if you don’t want to have to deal with altering the paddle, then I think the CRBN X series is the way to go, you just have to pay an extra $50 for it.
Other Player Comments
My Recommendation
I liked these paddles and think they will get popular with time. They aren’t right for everyone but I think there will be a big group that is looking for a little more power from their raw carbon paddles and will turn to something like these. But if you’re looking for a control paddle to help you reduce pop ups and enhance your feel as much as possible, there are other paddles I’d recommend.
Here are some scenarios I’d recommend these paddles:
- If you’re currently playing with a 16 mm raw carbon paddle without the Fusion Edge Tech and are looking for a little more power, then the Double Black Diamond Control is a good option. It has the ability to be controlled just as well but will add some power to your game to finish points better. Plus, the extra spin potential doesn’t hurt.
- If you’re coming from a Selkirk Power Air or some other big power paddle and want something you can control easier without giving up all the power, then you should consider the Black Diamond Power. It has good power but its thicker core and the Fusion Edge Tech give it a bigger sweet spot and more stability compared to true power paddles. It doesn’t have as much power as a true power paddle but I think the trade off of dropping a little power for the added forgiveness and stability is worth it in most cases.
Both paddles have a slightly unfamiliar feel to them that take some getting used to. Something about the Fusion Edge Tech makes them feel different. If you do decide to pick one up, you’ll want to drill with it and play a couple of sessions with it before you decide if it’s the right one for you. I liked the feel of them the more I played, but that may not be the case for everyone.
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Shop Six ZeroBraydon 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.
