Vatic Pro Prism-V7

The Vatic Pro Prism-V7 16mm far exceeded my expectations. I feel like I’m stealing money from them with how good this plays for only $100. This paddle plays very similar to the Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16 that retails for $220 and is one of the most popular paddles up to this point. In fact, it played so similar to the CFS 16 that you can describe it as just a slightly shorter handled version of it.

It falls into the control category and is a true control paddle. Though I would have categorized it as an all-court paddle a year ago. It has a very pleasant, soft feel to it that makes it easy to hit drops and take speed off the ball for resets and dinks. It will help enhance your soft game if that is something you struggle with.

It has a traditional elongated shape that gives you some extra reach to cover more of the court. It does have a higher swingweight at 128, though. Which is nearly identical to the CFS 16. So it’s on the heavier side. The extra weight is part of the reason is feels so plush and stable but it does put a strain on your arm if your prone to overuse injuries.

On the power side, it doesn’t give you as much power as the popular thermoformed paddles out there right now but it gives you more than past generation control paddles. So it’s somewhere in between those. Essentially, it has a little power but isn’t overwhelming. You won’t be accidentally hitting too long very often. If you can create your own power then you’ll find these will have enough for you in most cases but it won’t generate a lot of power for you like a thermoformed paddle will.

Talking about spin, these have a raw carbon fiber face that you just don’t see at this price point, especially from more established brands, so the spin is good. My spin tests were giving me around 1650 RPMs which is a great result though it’s not the highest RPMs that’s been recorded. Honestly, it’s more than enough spin for the vast majority of players out there.

This paddle is an easy recommendation for players looking for their first performance level paddle that will add more control to their game. You can’t beat the price and performance this paddle gives you. The only reason I might not recommend this paddle is if you’re looking for more power or don’t like paddles with a soft, plush feel and prefer something that is firmer and gives you more feedback. Additionally, it’s on the heavier side, if you’re nervous about that then take a look at the Prism-Flash, it plays similar but with a much lighter swingweight.

The bottom line: Vatic Pro’s Prism-V7 16mm is a great option for players who want a high quality control and spin paddle at an entry level price.

Ratings:

• Power 79
• Control 94
• Spin 88
• Forgiveness 88

Reviewer: Braydon (4.8 DUPR)