TMPR Sports is a relatively new paddle brand that has been around since 2018. They continue to gain in popularity and their momentum is only going to continue with their new line of paddles called the Luxe Series.
The Tantrum LX is one of four paddles in TMPR’s Luxe series and mimics the popular shape of TMPR’s original Tantrum GXT design. It’s an innovative shape with a slightly elongated face with curved edges.
TMPR is very progressive with the shapes of their paddles and is not afraid to break the status quo. They’ve done their research and have developed a series of paddles that each have their own strengths. I’ve been very impressed with all the paddles in this series and am confident you can find one that fits your game.
You can learn more about TMPR Sports from their website.
After drilling and playing over 20 games with the Tantrum LX, here is my review on its performance.
Paddle Design
Core & Construction
All paddles in the Luxe Series feature a thicker, high quality polymer core with a textured fiberglass face. Thicker cores help soften the paddle and increase feel, while a fiberglass face is known for adding extra power. The combination of the fiberglass face with the thicker core is a winning mix to create a superior control paddle with enough power to speed up the ball when you need to.
The paddle is designed to be more of a control paddle, but I found that it carried more punch than other thicker core paddles that I’ve tested.
Shape
The shape of a paddle has a major impact on its performance and playabilty. Although each paddle in the Luxe Series has the same core and face, they all play a little differently depending on the shape.
The slightly elongated face and curved sides of the Tantrum make it a very player friendly paddle. It has a large sweet spot, not quite as big as the Oculus LX, but more than the Ascend LX. The slightly elongated face gives you more reach for volley dinks, scrambling, and powerful overheads.
This shape is the most well rounded paddle in the Luxe Series. It has best balance of forgiveness, control, and power when compared to the other shapes in the series. Making it a great option if you know you want one of TMPR’s Luxe Series paddles because of their excellent control but aren’t sure which shape is best for you.
Tantrum LX
Playabilty
Soft Game & Defending
The feel with this paddle is fantastic. Like all the paddles in the Luxe Series, it feels soft off the face, but it’s not over the top soft. I was instantly hitting great drop shots and dinking well with it, my soft game was definitely strengthened with this paddle.
The extra reach of this paddle is surprisingly nice. The length of the paddle is only a quarter of an inch shorter than a typical elongated paddle. Which means you get more reach than most other paddles but it’s a little quicker in your hands and doesn’t feel as clunky when you’re moving it around.
This translated to advantages at the net with the soft game when I was reaching for volley dinks and scrambling in the mid-court.
Attacking
Despite the fantastic touch and control that the paddle provides, I was still able to generate enough power when I needed to. The fiberglass face was responsive when I put a little muscle behind the ball to speed it up.
I was able to generate more power with this paddle than the Oculus LX, but it was about the same as the other paddles in the series when you hit them in the sweet spot.
I wouldn’t say this is a power paddle, but I was able to generate my own power when I was hitting hard shots. I say this because I’ve played with other thicker core paddles, like the paddles from Engage Pickleball, that just don’t have the capacity to speed the ball up when you tried.
This is a slightly elongated paddle, but it plays more forgiving than the standard 16.5″ elongated shapes. This was great when dealing with hard serves and attacking at the net. I didn’t have to worry so much about hitting the center of the sweet spot perfectly to produce the power I needed and could focus more on the shot I was playing.
Other Opinions
I really liked this paddle and eagerly shared it with my network to get their thoughts on the paddle. My favorite quote was from a 3.5 friend named Malia. Malia got a chance to play with all the paddles in the Luxe Series and said this about the Tantrum LX.
Summary and Recommendation
The highlights of this paddle are its overall balanced performance and forgiving elongated face. It has fantastic control that will improve your soft game but has enough power when you need it.
This is a very player-friendly paddle that appeals to a wide range of skill levels. This is a great option for players who need more reach but would also benefit from the forgiveness and extra maneuverability of the Tantrum shape when compared to a 16.5″ elongated paddles.
If you are looking to get your first performance level paddle, you can’t go wrong with this choice. And if you are a seasoned player, you will love the extra length, great control, and forgiving face.
Shop TMPR Tantrum LX
If you think the Tantrum LX is the right paddle for you, you can purchase directly from our store.
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