REVIEW – If you want to be a Pickleball master, proper gear is essential! We’re testing the VINSGUIR Pickleball Paddle Set, which is promoted as a great starter kit for the hottest game in the country right now. I recruited my son & his friends, notorious pickleball enthusiasts, to provide some experts to help with the evaluation. To the review!
What is it?
Pickleball is a hybrid between tennis and ping-pong that uses specialized equipment and is played on smaller courts than tennis. The VINSGUIR Pickleball Paddle Set gives you all you need to get started (nets and court not included).
What’s in the box?
You’ll get 2 pickleball paddles, two outdoor pickleballs, and a carrying bag.
Hardware specs
- Approved for USA pickleball tournament play
- Polymer honeycomb core, fiberglass finish
- 4.8″ grip
- 10.6″ by 8.1″ striking area
- 7.8 ounce paddle weight
- Pickleballs are 40-hole outdoor balls
Design and features
VINSGUIR makes a variety of pickleball sets including a bunch of funky paddle designs, 2- and 4-paddle sets, and combination sets with indoor and outdoor pickleballs. My tester is the starter kit that includes 2 paddles and two outdoor balls. I dig the blue wave pattern on the racquets!
These paddles are approved by the USA Pickleball Association for use in tournament play, which will be important if you start competing in official events.
This particular paddle design is advertised as being very friendly for beginners. The 5″ handle fits a variety of hand sizes, and the rubberized no-slip grip ensures control even with sweaty hands.
The whole build is super-lightweight, but the binding and assembly looks tight.
The thin-walled edge guard is designed to absorb bumps, scrapes and scratches.
The paddle itself is a wide (10.6″ by 8.1″) strike area that provides a large sweet spot for striking, while the multilayered “power boost” core dampens vibrations and allows the player more control on spins and power strikes.
The pickleballs included in the VINSGUIR Pickleball Paddle Set are solid plastic, designed for outdoor use. I’m told that indoor balls have fewer and larger holes (26), while outdoor balls have more smaller holes (40 in all) and are a bit heavier. VINSGUIR sells kits with indoor balls, outdoor balls, or both in addition to packs of pickleballs you can add to your kit.
Performance
I’ll confess that I am new to the sport of pickleball, but I recruited my son and his buddies (crazed pickleball addicts) for this review. They had nothing but good things to say about the VINSGUIR Pickleball Paddle Set.
A big selling point for the lads was the light weight of these particular paddles combined with their larger size. This allows for quick action, faster recovery, and cleaner hits from different angles whether they are reaching for the ball (first pic below) or quick backhands (second pic below).
I’m also told that the multilayered surface is great for “spin and wicked action.”
They also had some high praise for the grips. Said one of the testers: “Nice grips, Mister P. No slippin’ and slidin’.” Positive praise for better racquet control.
The general consensus is that the VINSGUIR Pickleball Paddle Set is a significant upgrade over the basic sets the boys started with. They like them so much that I don’t think I’ll be seeing them again.
What I like
- Lightweight
- Great action for both hard strikes and putting spin on the ball
- Wide striking surface
What I’d change
- Nothing reported so far
Final thoughts
My son and his friends have been playing pickleball since the sport started getting popular in our area last summer. They play several times a week and have nothing but praise for the VINSGUIR Pickleball Paddle Set. I’ll trust the pros on this one. At 35 bucks, it looks like a pretty good deal if you’re ready to get into the game.
Price: $34.99
Where to buy: Amazon!
Source: The sample of this product was provided by VINSGUIR.
