Thermoformed paddles are among the hottest trends in pickleball. If you want to know what are thermoformed paddles, read our detailed guide.
Here we have discussed what are thermoformed paddles, their advantages, and disadvantages, a list of thermoformed paddles, and more.
So let’s get started.
What are thermoformed paddles?
Many professional players use thermoformed paddles. These paddles are well-known for their ultra-performance.
But what is a thermoformed pickleball paddle?
“The paddles in which the thermoforming process is applied are called thermoformed paddles. The paddle is wrapped with a resin-impregnated carbon fiber sheet during this process. Then the carbon fiber is put into a hot mold to weld the parts, faces, and core. The molding process forms a rigid frame.”
2 important processes while forming thermal frames are:
- Hot molding
- Pressing of carbon fiber
These 2 processes help enhance the paddle quality drastically.
Let’s see what benefits players get using these thermoformed pickleball paddles.
Advantages of thermoformed pickleball paddles
- An increased sweet spot
- More power and forgiveness
- More stability and rigidity make it a better playable paddle
- Fewer efforts to hit harder shots
- More comfort, making it better to play longer games
- Additional spin than the regular paddle
- Thermoformed paddles are more durable than regular paddles
Disadvantages of Thermoformed Paddles
Thermoformed paddles are better than regular paddles. However, a wrong paddle selection can result in the following disadvantages:
- Some paddles pop off the face a lot.
- The price of thermoformed paddles is higher than regular paddles.
- A few thermoformed paddles have faced delamination issues.
But this doesn’t mean thermoformed pickleball paddles are not a good option.
It’s all about selecting the right paddle.
List of Thermoformed Pickleball Paddles
- Neonic Force 16mm
- Filth by Bread & Butter Pickleball
- CRBN1X Power 16mm
- CRBN 3X
- Vatic Pro
- Vatic Pro Flash
- Vatic Pro V7
- Vatic Pro Prism
- JOOLA Perseus CFS Ben Johns
- JOOLA Collin Johns Scorpeus CFS
- JOOLA Anna Bright Scorpeus CFS
- Ronbus R3 Pulsar
- Ronbus R1 Nova
- Ronbus R3 Nova
- Takaya Sport Titan Elite
- Friday Original 16mm
- Friday Challenger 16mm
- Legacy Pro
- X-1 Body Helix
- Ace Club
- Hudef Viva Pro Gen 2
- Maverux Havic Power
- Kiwi Slice
- Holibrook Power Pro
- 6.0 Double Black Diamond Control
- Yobi Series Two
- Gruvn Muvn 16X
- Gruvn Muvn 13-S
- PCKL Pro Series 16mm
- 11SIX24 YSF
- 11SIX24 Hurache-X Control
- Volair Mach 1 Forza
- Electrum Model E Elite
- ProDrive Drive Carbon 19mm
- Spartus Gladius Centurion Carbon Fiber 16mm
- Diadem Edge 18K Power
- Wilson Tempo Pro
- GAMMA RCF Obsidian
- Wilson Blaze Pro
- Wilson Blaze Tour
- Volair Mach 2 Forza
- Franklin FS Tour Tempo
- Franklin FS Tour Dynasty
- PIKKL Vantage Pro
- INSUM T500A X-16 Pro
- INSUM T800
- HROTTI Blitz Carbon Fiber
- OXIKEN T700 Carbon Fiber
- A11N Zenith T700 Carbon Fiber
- Vnislovd T700
Are thermoformed paddles better than non-thermoformed paddles?
To improve the performance, some paddles are made using thermoformed construction. These paddles have more power, spin, and stability.
However, not all thermoformed paddles are better than non-thermoformed paddles. I have observed better performance with some non-thermoformed paddles than with thermoformed paddles. That’s why it’s important to compare multiple paddles to get the right paddle based on your requirements.
Thermoformed pickleball paddle vs regular paddle: Key differences
Thermoformed paddles:
- Have more power
- More spin
- Better stability
- Gives more hand speed
- Are better for long games
A Regular paddle is a good option for beginners. Players with ratings above 3.0 can go with thermoformed paddles.
Conclusion
For players who need more power and stability, thermoformed paddles are a good option.
Thermoformed paddles are expensive, however, many pickleball paddle manufacturers are now producing efficient paddles with thermoformed construction for $80 to $100 only.
These paddles are very helpful to intermediate and advanced players, to dominate competitive games. However, as thermoformed paddles are now available at low prices, beginners can also try them to improve their game faster.
However, whether a paddle is thermoformed or non-thermoformed, selecting a paddle based on your requirements is crucial.
I am sure you now have a complete understanding of what are thermoformed paddles and who should use them.