Testing Out New Pickleball Paddles and a Quick Review of the Best Pickleball Balls

Having developed somewhat of a reputation as a moderately skilled pickleball player, Vinsguir was nice enough to send me its new carbon paddles to review. After two weeks of use, mainly playing against the 77 year old player I call “Old Man Ed,” I was pleasantly surprised at how these paddles performed.

Are they better than the big-name paddles? Does their performance justify their price? Are they any different than other Amazon carbon paddles? 

I’ll answer all of these questions, but first let’s talk brand and technology.

Before we get into a detailed review of all things pickleball, don’t forget to pack Spider Chalk’s Ghost Grip in your pickleball bag. It’s the perfect way for pickleball players to keep your hands dry and enhance your grip.

Who is Vinsguir?

The company Vinsguir is an overseas brand selling mainly through Amazon, like hundreds of others. Many of these brands purposely select nonsensical names (Asbocer, Yillog, Joncaye, etc.) so that the trademark process goes quickly and doesn’t conflict with any current established brands. 

Notice the nonsensical brand names and exact same product titles.

Unlike many of these unusual-sounding brands, Vinsguir has customer service agents located in the US, and email communication with its support team was prompt and polite, so all good on that front.

Technology

There is a HUGE difference between a carbon fiber paddle and a carbon fiber surface. These Vinsguir paddles have a carbon fiber surface. Paddle companies intentionally imply that the paddle itself is made of carbon fiber, which would revolutionize the entire industry were it to be true. But realistically, even if a company made a carbon fiber paddle, it would cost too much for the average player. 

So let’s be clear that the Vinsguir paddles are a Polypropylene Core, the same core that ALL pickleball paddle manufacturers have used since 2022. In fact, since around 2022, you can’t even find a paddle that isn’t poly-core.

Pretty much every paddle from every manufacturer on Amazon says the same thing in their product listings: “Raw Carbon Fiber Surface and Honeycomb PP Core.” And they all tout their “Advanced Spin, Better Control and Superior Power.” My last search produced over 200 paddles with this exact title.

It’s such a mess sorting through paddles that most players probably just buy the cheapest paddle or the one their friends use. 

You’ve probably realized at this point that all pickleball paddles are made in the same factories in China and are listed in mass quantities on Amazon by sellers who simply copy-and-paste their product titles, bullet points and paddle photos from their competitors. They’re literally all the same paddles from the same place. That’s why these brands typically compete solely on price and why you can get a good paddle for super cheap.

Now that’s not to say there isn’t some slight variation in paddle performance. But how do you sort through the mess to find your favorite paddle?

Bad news: There is no way to know without playing real games with the paddle. 

That’s right. The product pictures are deceiving, the reviews are almost always fake, the paddle descriptions are purposely misleading. Luckily for you, Amazon offers free returns on purchases, paddles included. That means you can buy a few paddles, try them for a week, then send back the ones you don’t like. 

Vinsguir Smasher Pro Review

Amazon rating 4.5 stars: Vinsguir Smasher Pro

This is Vinsguir’s flagship, premium paddle aimed at higher-skilled players. It performs exactly how you would expect. It hits hard and has great control. It feels light in the hand, but doesn’t get wobbly on a mis-hit. The first few times I used the Smasher Pro, I felt like I was hitting without aiming. With lesser quality paddles, you really have to focus while hitting, otherwise the ball shoots off erratically.

The handle is long enough for large hands and the width of the paddle is adequate and a bit longer in length for extra reach. I would consider this on-par with the advanced (and more expensive) paddles on the market. If you are a competitive or tournament player, this would be an excellent paddle option. I can’t see myself using any other paddle until the technology changes drastically.

Vinsguir Viento X2.0

Amazon rating 4.5: Vinsguir Viento X2.0

This is Vinsguir’s lower-end paddle with an emphasis on a gritty, carbon surface. It does spin the ball like crazy, but it has less power and less control than the Smasher Pro. It’s also a little wider and not as long and has a shorter handle. Not my cup of tea, but I can see plenty of casual players choosing this model, especially at the lower price point. 

Vinsguir Viento X3.0

Amazon rating 4.5: Vinsguir Viento X3.0

This is Vinsguir’s mid-level paddle with a slight improvement over the X2.0. It perhaps has a bit better control and slightly more power, but overall is quite similar to the X2.0. This model is best for those looking for a better option than their current paddle who also have a budget.

Generic Chinese Paddle from Alibaba

Before Vinsguir sent me paddles to review, my favorite paddle was purchased direct from a Chinese manufacturer off Alibaba for $45 (with free shipping). Although it took 10 days to arrive, it was exactly the same as all the name brand paddles I tried paddles from other top tournament players (at a third of the price). It’s also a Raw Carbon Fiber T700 16mm Honeycomb PP paddle and worked well for advanced play.

The only difference between my generic paddle and the Vinsguir paddles, is that the Vinsguir Smasher Pro has foam injected around the edges so that hits on the edge don’t die and limp off. Anyone who has hit the edge of their paddle knows the lack of power from missing the sweet spot. This is a good innovation in paddle technology and worth the extra few bucks. 

Ok, you got your new Vinsguir Smasher Pro and are ready to dominate the courts. Is there any other way to improve your game?

Yes. Get a better ball.

Who Makes the Best Pickleball?

There are really four pickleballs that dominate the outdoor pickleball market:
1. Selkirk Pro S1 (4.6 stars on Amazon)
2. Franklin X-40 (4.7 stars on Amazon)
3. Onix Dura Fast 40 (4.4 stars on Amazon)
4. CORE (4.3 stars on Amazon)

The Onix Dura Fast 40 is the old-school, standard outdoor pickleball used in all tournaments from 2010-2020. Every court in every city used these balls, but they often cracked or became egg-shaped within a few games. That worked out great for Dura Fast because at $2+ per ball, the company was printing money. But players weren’t happy and began to look elsewhere for a better ball.

Just about that time, Franklin released the X40, which quickly took over the No. 1 spot. The X40 was slightly softer and seemed to last longer than the Dura Fast ball. Franklin also sponsored tournaments as the official ball, so most of the tournaments from 2020-2024 were played with X40 balls.

That, of course, meant that all the recreational courts used X40 balls. The X40 has two design flaws however: they crack in hard hitting games, especially in the winter when they become brittle, and the plastic turns soft after a few games. You can take a used X40 after 5 games and a new X40 and drop test them to see a drastic difference in bounce. 

CORE hit the market in 2021 and really changed the game because it was the first company to create a “crack-resistant” ball made of tougher plastic. The owners were nice enough to send me a pack of balls and a T-shirt and their balls were significantly tougher. But CORE balls are not without their flaws. While they do not crack, they do warp after a few games and their bounce fresh out of the box is much less compared to both the Dura Fast and the X40. 

Lately, all the courts are using the new Selkirk S1, which did a wonderful job of innovating. The S1 is harder like the CORE, plays really fast, has a nice bounce and doesn’t crack. The only issue with the S1 is that it also tends to warp after a few games. But so far, Selkirk makes the best ball.

Older players who like to spend all day in epic dink battles love both the CORE balls and old X40s. I’ve seen X40 balls that looked like they were tortured by Russian KGB agents and yet older players insist they are still good to go. I can typically play about 10 games with an X40 before I retire it to the practice bag. Younger, more aggressive players prefer harder hitting balls like the S1 or a brand new X40.  

Pairing Paddle and Pickleball

While it’s important to use a great paddle, I would argue it’s just as important to use a great ball. I would rather use a Selkirk S1 and my $50 generic paddle than a Dura Fast 40 and a $250 paddle. I think many advanced players would agree.

If you’re looking for my recommended pickleball equipment, I would buy the Smasher Pro paddle from Vinsguir and the Selkirk S1 pickleball.