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.
🛠️ Need help finding your next paddle? Use my Paddle Finder → www.mattspickleball.com
🎾 Daily paddle talk → @mattspickleball
📬 Newsletter = behind-the-scenes testing notes, early picks, and more
💸 Most paddles featured here have a discount code — use MPB at checkout whenever it applies to save and support the channel.
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!
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