The New Generation of Paddletek

by laurapbc on Oct 7, 2019

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Since 2010, Paddletek has been one of pickleball's industry leaders thanks to their breakthrough product innovation, high quality designs, versatile offerings and lifetime performance guarantee. You can find Paddletek in the hands of pro players in tournaments around the world.

As the sport has grown, so have they, and the company has now unveiled their new era of innovation. Paddletek has completely rebranded their offerings which not only include visual changes but material upgrades to their incredible line.

Paddletek Pros

We had a chance to interview Noah Kaplan, Paddletek's VP of Sales & Marketing, and he shared some of the reasoning behind this new look and lineup of Paddletek's products:

'To us, it's more than just creating a new logo or developing a new paddle. This is about creating a strong brand identity that aligns with our core mission and values and will ultimately give our consumers the confidence they need to take their game to the next level.'

A Fresh Look

To start, you'll notice every paddle has received a complete visual overhaul. All of Paddletek's equipment now looks more uniform with clean black backgrounds intersected by eye-catching neon colors. Their appearance feels sleek and modern, expressing dedication to the game but with an energetic edge.

Paddletek's Product Lines

Before this launch of Paddletek’s new lineup, they offered over 15 different paddle models spread out over a large number of different sub-brands.  As the company exploded in growth since their initial introduction in 2010, they created paddles for every type of player need. After almost 10 years of product innovation, the company decided it was time to reset the product line in a way that helped make it easier for players to select the best paddle for their needs.

The result? Every Paddletek paddle is now sorted into three corresponding product lines that address these areas and then offer further variation.

Catherine Parenteau with the new Tempest Wave Pro

Catherine Parenteau with the Tempest Wave Pro

The Tempest series improves accuracy and provides better control. Noah says this series 'utilizes a specialized graphite core to absorb more energy from the ball, giving players more control.' There are two offerings in this line, the Tempest Wave II, and the Tempest Wave Pro.

The Bantam series is made to support power and performance. Paddletek believes these paddles 'allow the ball to keep more if its own energy during a return, giving the player more put away options.' This line includes both Standard and Pro models of the famous TS-5 and Bantam EX-L, plus the Bantam Sabre.

The Phoenix series is the most user-friendly for all levels and offers a balance between control and power. Noah feels that the Phoenix line 'represents the 'just right' category, where [Paddletek] starts from a design perspective and uses adaptations of earlier models that changed the sport.'

How to Choose Which Model Is Right For You?

When it came to organizing their equipment, Paddletek knew players can find it difficult to determine which piece of gear matches up with their needs. To help accommodate this process they've rated their paddles in three different categories based on user feedback: control, power and forgiveness.

Control relates to 'touch' and allows you to better manipulate ball placement.

Power refers to how much strength the paddle adds to your shots and makes it easier to drive balls with more speed.

Forgiveness is connected to a paddle's sweet spot, meaning you don't have to hit dead center on the face to get the ball over the net.

If you'd like to see a full table breaking down the paddles within each of these lines for quick comparison, visit our Paddletek product page.

Scott More with the Bantam Sabre Pro

Scott More with the Bantam Sabre Pro

Visionary Design

In addition to making their paddles more simple to categorize, Paddletek has continued to boost their products' performance at top level play.

All Pro models include Smart Response Technology (SRT) in their 9/16' cores which increase the consistency of the sweet spot by evenly distributing the energy from the ball.

Noah says they have 'introduced TVC (torsional vibration control) in several paddles, which means the paddle is less likely to twist in the player's hand when the ball strikes off center. Our vibration dampening technology also reduces vibration and adds comfort at impact when force enters the player's hand, arm and elbow.'

Leigh Waters with the Phoenix Genesis

Leigh Waters with the Phoenix Genesis

New Product Offerings

Updated appearance of the Tempest Wave II

Updated appearance of the Tempest Wave II

One much-beloved paddle that has been entirely done is the Tempest Wave, now known as the Tempest Wave II. The previous core has been upgraded and it now includes the aforementioned TVC tech so that players experience less interruption to their game.

The Phoenix line is also an entirely new series of paddles from the company as opposed to the updated iterations of their classic models. The Phoenix paddles are perfectly balanced when it comes to power and control, making them a great option for players who don't want to focus on a single attribute and instead have the flexibility to adapt their play style as needed.

The Phoenix G6 is the entry level selection in the line, having vibration dampening properties and a standard polymer core. The Phoenix Genesis Pro is the next step up with both vibration dampening and TVC tech in addition to a high grade poly core. And finally, the Phoenix Genesis Pro has all of the previous qualities as well as Smart Response Technology and Paddletek's most advanced core.

Anna Leigh with the Bantam TS-5

Anna Leigh with the Bantam TS-5

The Paddletek You Know, Even Better

For players who have been long-time Paddletek fans, this is your opportunity to show off what you can really do with skills forged in the competition and excellent equipment. For newcomers who are just now discovering them, there's no better time to take advantage of PickleballCentral's test drive policy to find your perfect match in the Paddletek family worry-free.

Irina Tereschenko with the Bantam EX-L Irina Tereschenko with the Bantam EX-L

Check out Paddletek's updated table of products and find new ways to transform your game, just like Paddletek has transformed their offerings.

Dave Weinbach with the Tempest Wave Pro

Dave Weinbach with the Tempest Wave Pro