I have played with the Six Zero DBD Infinity a couple of times now and I thought I would let you know my thoughts on how it compares with the DBD which I have been playing with for six months. There are a number of differences and not every DBD owner is going to like the Infinity.
P.S. By the time you are reading this, I will probably have posted a comparison article for the six zero line-ups, detailing their features and ranking. Make sure to read also. For now, let’s talk only about Six Zero Double Black Diamond compared to the DBD Infinity.
Six Zero Double Black Diamond vs DBD Infinity
“Getting familiar with a paddle and knowing its flaws inside and out can give you a big boost of confidence. Especially in games that are tense, you have familiarity to fall back on.”
As many pros call DBD, these paddles truly are from the future, but what I think makes them special is how much access they have to both power and control with very minimal input from the user. They reward compact swing mechanics, and power is multiplied if you add rolls, flicks, etc. But not all of them play the same, especially DBD infinity let’s find some differences.
Firstly Physical Differences
My Infinity is slightly shorter than my DBD – only by a couple of millimeters and certainly not the thickness of an edge guard, but shorter than it needs to be nonetheless. The width is the same as the DBD.
A big difference is the grip size and shape. The grip on the infinity is at least 4.5”. I am not sure if this is a factory error as it is stated on the Six Zero website as having a 4.25” circumference.
I know it is not just my paddle as others have mentioned this on a YouTube review. For me, this is a positive as I like a thicker grip. I actually fitted a heat shrink sleeve under the grip of my DBD. However, on the DBD, the shape was still slightly oval whereas on the Infinity it is more like the grip shape of a Wilson or Babolat tennis racquet. I would compare the grip shape on the DBD to more like a Head racquet (some models). So, if you know your tennis racquet grip shapes, you will know what I mean. Oval shapes are great when using a continental grip but I find the handle shape of the Infinity makes it easier for me to find my semi-western grip which I use for serves and forehand drives.
I do believe for some players, especially ladies, the large grip circumference would make the Infinity a deal breaker. It will be interesting to see if the next batch has a smaller circumference.
Weight Differences
Weight-wise, my Infinity came in exactly as advertised at 8.1 ounces. As with my DBD, I fitted edge guard tape and a Yonex over-grip. I also placed 3 grams of lead tape at 3-o-clock and 9-o-clock and this brought the weight to 8.6oz – exactly the same as my DBD (which has no lead tape – but extra weight under the grip due to the build-up sleeve).
The reason for the lead tape was to increase the sweet spot as some reviewers have mentioned that, due to the paddle being edgeless, the sweet spot was smaller than on the DBD (this is pretty common with all edgeless paddles).
All I can say is, with both paddles weighted the same, the Infinity, despite being 5oz heavier than stock, does feel very maneuverable in the kitchen. By adding weight, I wouldn’t say I have made it feel like a DBD. I definitely feel as though I have faster hands with it – probably due to it being edgeless.
What Else
Thankfully, I have not noticed a difference in sweet spot size… one of the reasons I love Six Zero paddles is the hybrid shape and the large sweet spot. The Infinity (with the 6g of lead) doesn’t disappoint in this regard. It’s also just as good as the DBD for blocks – again, you would expect this as they both weigh the same.
The major difference between the two in playability is feel and power. The Infinity is noticeably softer than the DBD.
With this extra softness comes less power, it’s not a massive drop in power but this more than anything, makes me uncertain whether or not I will stick with it. I may eventually return the DBD in search of more power. It is all about finding the right balance between power and control. Both paddles have good balance but the DBD, despite being called a control paddle, is pretty powerful. When I went back to it after hitting for an hour with the Infinity, the DBD felt a bit harsh and it took some time to dial in my drops and resets.
Summary
I don’t think I could alternate between the two paddles as the difference is too great.
So, if you have been playing with and loving the DBD but are looking to improve your soft game and increase hand speed then the Infinity could be for you. However, if you are hoping for the same power and pop as the DBD, you may be disappointed with the Infinity.
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