What Are Thermoformed Paddles?

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 pickleball paddles

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:

  1. Hot molding 
  2. 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

  1. An increased sweet spot
  2. More power and forgiveness
  3. More stability and rigidity make it a better playable paddle
  4. Fewer efforts to hit harder shots
  5. More comfort, making it better to play longer games
  6. Additional spin than the regular paddle
  7. 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:

  1. Some paddles pop off the face a lot.
  2. The price of thermoformed paddles is higher than regular paddles.
  3. 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

  1. Neonic Force 16mm
  2. Filth by Bread & Butter Pickleball
  3. CRBN1X Power 16mm
  4. CRBN 3X
  5. Vatic Pro
  6. Vatic Pro Flash 
  7. Vatic Pro V7
  8. Vatic Pro Prism
  9. JOOLA Perseus CFS Ben Johns
  10. JOOLA Collin Johns Scorpeus CFS
  11. JOOLA Anna Bright Scorpeus CFS
  12. Ronbus R3 Pulsar
  13. Ronbus R1 Nova
  14. Ronbus R3 Nova
  15. Takaya Sport Titan Elite
  16. Friday Original 16mm
  17. Friday Challenger 16mm
  18. Legacy Pro
  19. X-1 Body Helix
  20. Ace Club
  21. Hudef Viva Pro Gen 2
  22. Maverux Havic Power
  23. Kiwi Slice
  24. Holibrook Power Pro
  25. 6.0 Double Black Diamond Control
  26. Yobi Series Two
  27. Gruvn Muvn 16X
  28. Gruvn Muvn 13-S
  29. PCKL Pro Series 16mm
  30. 11SIX24 YSF
  31. 11SIX24 Hurache-X Control
  32. Volair Mach 1 Forza
  33. Electrum Model E Elite
  34. ProDrive Drive Carbon 19mm
  35. Spartus Gladius Centurion Carbon Fiber 16mm
  36. Diadem Edge 18K Power
  37. Wilson Tempo Pro
  38. GAMMA RCF Obsidian
  39. Wilson Blaze Pro
  40. Wilson Blaze Tour
  41. Volair Mach 2 Forza
  42. Franklin FS Tour Tempo
  43. Franklin FS Tour Dynasty
  44. PIKKL Vantage Pro
  45. INSUM T500A X-16 Pro
  46. INSUM T800
  47. HROTTI Blitz Carbon Fiber
  48. OXIKEN T700 Carbon Fiber
  49. A11N Zenith T700 Carbon Fiber
  50. 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.

Leave a Comment