Honolulu Pickleball J2K Control, Joola Pro IV 16mm Domination, and the Franklin C45 Keeps Climbing | Ep. 3

Welcome to Episode 3 of Paddle of the Week. This week’s lineup is deep, diverse, and packed with paddles I’ve been playing, tweaking, and retesting—including two JOOLA Perseus Pro IV paddles that couldn’t feel more different. The 16mm version earns Paddle of the Week honors for its balance, spin, and control-focused power, while the 14mm version brings the heat with speed and explosiveness.

Also in this episode:

• Honolulu J2K – my go-to paddle for league play this week when I needed control and finesse

• Thrive Smoke – powerful, stable, but still a beast to handle in fast hands exchanges

• Franklin C45 – three weeks in and still going strong with that tuned-up hybrid power

• Standout Pickleball CF4 – balanced, fast, and dangerous once you dial it in

• Proton Flamingo – punchy, head-light, and one of the most fun power paddles I’ve played

• JOOLA Pro IV 14mm – dense, quick, and built for offensive players

I break down spin, power, sweet spots, swing weights, and how each paddle handled in real games and drilling sessions.

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📬 Newsletter = behind-the-scenes testing notes, early picks, and more

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Paddles covered this week:

• JOOLA Perseus IV 16mm (🏆 Paddle of the Week)

• JOOLA Perseus IV 14mm

• Proton Flamingo

• Franklin C45 14mm

• Honolulu J2K

• Thrive Smoke

• Standout Pickleball CF4

Let me know which ones you want to see more of in a future episode!