This paddle may define the power paddle category. With pickleball getting faster and more balls coming back, you need a paddle that can help you win in a variety of ways and that’s exactly what the Electrum Pro 2 does.
It’s one of the juicer paddles I’ve played with. The extra power helped the most with shots where I’m normally weaker like with backhand attacks and counters. The Pro 2 was generating power for me and putting more pressure on my opponents in situations that don’t usually have that for me. The power is also coupled with a high spin rating. I recently reviewed Electrum’s Model E and the Pro 2 offers more spin than the Model E, which was unexpected. For me, having a high spin rating is critical for a power paddle. You need it to wield the extra speed and shape your shots to keep them in play.
The paddle falls into the mid weight range category but is head heavy which makes it feel a little heavier. Though it did feel a little heavier, its thin 11 mm frame still cut through the air nicely so the weight didn’t seem to slow you down as much.
It had a medium forgiveness rating which is pretty good considering how thin the paddle is. Selkirk tried making a 12 mm core power paddle last year and it had a smaller sweet spot compared to this one. Though it’s not a side to side sweet spot like it’s marketed as, I felt it was manageable for intermediate to higher players and wouldn’t cause too much of an issue. But it would be a problem for lower level players in the 3.5 to lower range.
When it came to the soft game I actually connected with it within the first week of playing with it and was happy with what I could do with my soft game. It had a crisp, hollow feel to it that felt nice off the face. I socialized the paddle with several different players and everyone commented that they liked the feel of it. I really liked how it sounded when you hit the ball too. It sounds like you hit it hard and I like that. I will say that the paddle won’t enhance your soft game, but if you have developed your own touch then I think this paddle can be controlled well. Its satisfying feel and consistent speed off the face make it controllable.
The bottom line: This paddle meets the needs of the new age pickleball player who wants a paddle that can help them attack their opponents in a variety of ways. It’s a pure power paddle and won’t enhance your soft game but can be controlled with time because of its predictable play.
Ratings:
- Power 94
- Control 83
- Spin 92
- Forgiveness 78
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Reviewer: Braydon (4.74 DUPR)
