Lately, I’ve been itching to try a pickleball tournament at a local club. That got me thinking: if I signed up, which paddle would I bring with me, and which ones would I trust as backups? Over the past year, I’ve been rotating between a few different paddles during rec play at my local parks in Connecticut. The competition is always friendly but solid, and it’s been a great way to learn different styles of play while sharpening my own game. My brother-in-law, a few friends, and I usually meet once a week, and that’s enough for me to get my fix. But if I had to step into a tournament tomorrow, here’s how my paddles stack up.
At the bottom of my list is the Friday Fever paddle. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had some of my best games with it, and I really do love the way the blue design looks—it just feels good in hand. But when it comes down to tournament play, looks alone won’t cut it. While it’s reliable enough to stay in my trunk as a backup, I wouldn’t trust it as my main choice
Moving up, the next paddles I’d reach for would be the Vatic Pro Saga V7 16mm and the 11six24 Vapor Power. These two have been neck-and-neck for me. The Saga gives me excellent control, whip-through shots, and really clean one-handed backhand dinks. It feels steady in longer rallies and rewards patience. On the other hand, the Vapor Power brings a bit more pop, better stability, and a strong hybrid elongated feel. It’s great for two-handed backhands and returns, and it gives me that confidence to drive through the ball. Depending on the day, I could see myself going either way—but if the Vapor starts popping the ball up too much, I’d switch to the Saga for more consistency.
And then there’s the paddle that’s taken over as my number one: the Luzz Pro Cannon. This paddle has completely won me over. The power it delivers is amazing—it explodes off the face on drives and smashes—but what really surprised me is how well it performs on drops and resets. It’s rare to find a paddle that can pack that much punch and still give you the soft touch needed to control the kitchen game, but the Cannon pulls it off.
It’s not the easiest paddle to tame—you need a little finesse to manage its pop—but once you get comfortable, it feels like a true tournament weapon. The longer handle gives me confidence for two-handed backhands, and the elongated shape helps me cover more court. At $109 (before my discount code TechYeti), it’s a great deal, and since it’s UPA-certified, it’s ready for sanctioned tournaments too.
If I were stepping into a tournament tomorrow, the Luzz Pro Cannon would be the paddle in my hand. It’s got the firepower, the touch, and the all-around versatility I need to compete.