Now that thermoformed paddles have taken over the market, every brand that doesn’t have one is making one. A lot of these new paddles we are seeing in the back half of 2023 aren’t exactly new and exciting but rather small iterations of what is popular. So reviewing these new thermoformed paddles is less about reviewing how thermoformed paddles play, which is well documented at this point, but rather how this specific thermoformed paddle compares to what else is out there. So that’s what I’ll be doing with my Mach 1 Forza review.
Volair released this paddle in July of 2023 though their pro and co-founder, Julian Arnold, has been playing with it in pro tournaments for a couple of months. Julian is one of my favorite players to watch and is part of the reason I wanted to review his new Mach 1 Forza.
The Mach 1 Forza has an elongated shape with an extra long handle of 5.5 inches. It has a tapered top that looks clean and maybe reduces drag a little. It’s available in a 14mm and 16mm option. It looks similar to the popular Six Zero Double Black Diamond though it doesn’t flare out towards the top like the Double Black Diamond does.
After drilling and playing with the 16mm version over the course of two weeks. Here’s my review of its performance.
Table of Contents
Performance Summary
The paddle plays great, though it’s not a revelation or completely unique from other thermoformed paddles. It plays most similarly to the Six Zero Double Black Diamond paddle but is a little heavier and hits a little harder. Other than that, it falls into the all-court category, is forgiving, and offers big spin like many thermoformed paddles do.
What is unique about it is the extra stuff you get when you buy the paddle. It comes in a really nice box that has a paddle cover, paddle eraser, an extra grip, and an extra grip band. This extra stuff comes with every purchase which makes it a little more appealing when you’re comparing it to similar paddles that cost the same but don’t come with the bonuses.
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16mm
- Weight: 8.2 oz
- Swingweight: 117 (moderate)
- Twistweight: 6.57 (above average)
- Length: 16.3″ (it’s listed at 16.5″ but measures 16.3″)
- Width: 7.5″
- Face: Raw T700 Carbon Fiber
- Grip Circumference: 4.125″ (octagonal)
- Handle Length: 5.5″
- Core: Polypropylene Honeycomb, Foam Walls
- Special Features: Thermoformed
- Price: $179.99 ($162 with code 10EFFECT)
- Warranty: 3 months
(Get 10% off with the discount code 10EFFECT directly on Volair’s site)
| Pros |
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Quality thermoformed paddle |
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A little more power than your typical thermoformed paddle |
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Sturdy and stable |
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Very high spin rating |
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Not overpriced and comes with an eraser and extra grip |
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Good balance of power and control |
| Cons |
|---|
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Doesn’t measure exactly 16.5″ in length like their website says, it’s more of a hybrid shape at 16.3″ |
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Only has one shape option |
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Though it’s a quality paddle, it has no stand out performance features to make it unique from other thermoformed paddles |
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Has that stiff feel associated with thermoformed paddles that makes it harder to connect with for some players |
Performance Details
Just like we are seeing with other thermoformed paddles it offers good power, spin and an even response across the face compared to past generation carbon fiber paddles.
It has that extra power I like from thermoformed paddles and it ranks a little higher in that area compared to others. See my comparison below to see how I rank it. It also seemed to have a nice, lower launch angle off the paddle that made it easier to keep drives and drops down. I’ve been paying attention to this facet of paddles more recently and can notice a difference between them. Some paddles have a tendency to take off at a higher launch angle but I didn’t feel that with the Forza.
The spin was big, like you expect from a quality thermoformed paddle. This helps all aspects of the game. Drives were dippy, you could go bigger on serves and slice the junk out of returns.
On the control side it has that noticeable stiffer feel to it that takes getting used to if you haven’t played with a thermoformed paddle yet. The stiffer feel and extra power make it harder to control than your typical control paddle, but that’s also the case with nearly every thermoformed paddle and isn’t unique to this one.
I’ve played with a lot of thermoformed paddles now so controlling them isn’t as difficult as it was when I first started playing with them. You do adjust to the extra power and stiffer feel overtime but it doesn’t come immediately. Many players who need help controlling the ball and reducing pop ups don’t tend to like thermoformed paddles because they hit harder and are more difficult to control. But if you have developed some control in your game then you’ll adjust just fine. It offers more power but it’s not a power paddle so it is more controllable than say a Selkirk Power Air or something.
Last thing I’ll mention is the weight and swingweight of the paddle. It has a decently high average weight of 8.2oz but its swingweight is manageable at 117. This is actually a low swingweight measurement for an elongated paddle. I ended up measuring the length of the paddle and it’s more like the shape of a hybrid paddle at 16.3” long rather than the elongated 16.5” listed on their website which is why the swingweight is lower. Given that it has more of a hybrid shape, the swingweight is actually a little higher compared to other hybrid shapes which is probably why I can hit it a little harder than other hybrid shaped thermoformed paddles like the Six Zero Double Black Diamond 16mm.
(Get 10% off with the discount code 10EFFECT directly from Volair’s website)
Comparison to Other Thermoformed Paddles
Here’s a comparison of the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16mm to other thermoformed paddles with similar specs that I’ve also reviewed. The number 1 indicates it’s the best in the category and 4 means it’s last. In some cases the paddles were so similar that I put them as equal.
The Forza 16 plays most similarly to the Six Zero Double Black Diamond. The CRBN 1X was the clear most powerful paddle out of the bunch and the JOOLA Perseus was the most control oriented of the list.
It was difficult to categorize the power difference between the Forza and the Six Zero DBD 16 since they were so similar, but the slightly heavier design of the Forza seemed to give it a little more power from the baseline and with overheads.
Other Player Comments
What About the Volair Forza 14mm Version
I got my hands on a Mach 1 Forza 14mm a couple of months after I wrote the review above about the 16mm and wanted to add my thoughts about it here.
I’ve played several other 14mm thermoformed paddles at this point and this one was one of the softer ones I’ve played. It still has a stiffer feel than the 16mm version but it has a more pleasant feel at impact compared to 14mm thermoformed paddles from other brands.
The 14mm comes in a much lighter static weight and swingweight than the 16mm. You combine its lighter weight with its thinner frame and this thing cuts through the air and moves really fast. However, it’s not as forgiving as the 16mm version and even compared to 14mm thermoformed paddles from other brands. I did notice an increase in errors as a result.
Out of the box I’d say this paddle should be reserved for more experienced players and if you’re looking for a more forgiving 14mm thermoformed paddle then I’d point you to CRBN X series or the Six Zero Double Black Diamond 14mm. However, it is nice that this paddle comes in lighter than those other paddles I just mentioned so that you can customize the weight with lead tape easily. When you add lead tape to the paddle to increase it’s stability then it becomes pretty nice with it’s softer feel.
Outside of the improved maneuverability of the paddle, the 14mm gives you more pop at the net on counters which makes the paddle a big weapon at the net. But you don’t see much change in power from the baseline, it seemed to hit with the same pace as the 16mm on groundstrokes and serves.
If you’re willing to customize the paddle with some lead tape then I think this is a good 14mm thermoformed paddle option since it feels a bit softer than others. But if you don’t want to mess lead tape then it’s a harder paddle to manage out of the box because of its smaller sweet spot.
(Get 10% off with the discount code 10EFFECT directly from Volair’s website)
My Recommendation
I really liked playing with the paddle and would be happy to have it in my hands in a tournament tomorrow. It’s a quality thermoformed paddle though I don’t think it has any unique characteristics that make it stand out on its own like others do.
It fits the all-court paddle type description well and is a good option for players seeking that blend of power and control. If you’re coming from a control paddle then expect to take some time to get used to the extra power and stiffer feel and if you’re coming from a power paddle then I suspect you’ll be able to control this one well from the get go.
It has an extra long handle at 5.5” so if you don’t like super long handles then I’d recommend you take a look at the CRBN 3X 16mm that plays similar but has a shorter handle and is also elongated.
Unfortunately they don’t offer this paddle in a classic or standard shape that’s a little shorter and wider, but I hope they come out with one in the future.
Is this the right paddle for you?
If you think this is the right paddle for you, pick one up directly from Volair's website for 10% off using the code 10EFFECT.
Shop VolairBraydon 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.
