My review of the Vatic Pro Paddles …. I should first mention the paddles may persuade you to stop incessantly buying and trying paddles.
Since I haven’t seen many reviews for the Vatic Pro prism flash and V7 paddles, I figured I’d post about mine, a 16mm version, that we tested this year.
First impression
Before reviewing each paddle I wanted to explain about Vatic. Vatic Pro employs an innovative manufacturing technique known as thermoforming. In contrast to the traditional construction method involving a layered structure of facing layers, a core, and another facing layer stacked and bonded together like a sandwich, they opt for a one-piece construction approach. This involves the incorporation of a thin layer of carbon fiber along the paddle’s edge, effectively fusing the two facing layers together.
The prism series features a 16mm paddle, polymer core, raw carbon fiber face, and comes in two shapes: the hybrid 16.25-inch Prism and the elongated V7. Both have a 5.3-inch handle length, 4.25-inch grip size, and swing weights of 114 for The Flash and 128 for the V7.
Vatic Pro Prism Flash Review
let’s boil it down simply for what Vatic was going for with the Prism it’s meant to be an improved version of the Hyperion for a cheaper price. I mention this because the paddle has the same edge foam as the Hyperion but isn’t thermo-formed.
After playing with it for fifteen days, I absolutely love this paddle. I was worried about mishits from the air channel, but lo and behold, my technique is better than I realized and it isn’t an issue. Regarding the edge guard in the channel, it’s not an issue for me, so I’ve kept it on. (I’ll take a photo of what the inside looks like with it removed later.)
This is a very maneuverable paddle, it’s great at the kitchen line, and I was able to hang – and even win – in firefights.
In terms of power, don’t expect significant improvements. I’d place Vatic Pro Prism Flash in the same category as a Gen 1 paddle, perhaps with a bit more power, especially for the V7 due to its high swing weight. Personally, I didn’t find this to be a significant issue, except during hand battles. I had to exert more effort to generate the pace needed to take control of the point. While effective for resetting the ball, it lacked the extra force for counter-attacks that I’m accustomed to.
I really do like the soft pillow feel of the vatic as I rarely mishit or hit shots errantly wide with this paddle. So I don’t want to fully give that up just to get more power but if I sacrificed just a little bit of that pillow likeness to gain a little more power I’d prob think that was just right.
Drawbacks
The prism flash to me has better control, dinks, and resets but does lack power if your ground strokes mechanic isn’t dialed in. And for me, the Vatic was lighter but developed a little more soreness in my arm.
The best feature of thermoforming is just how positive of an effect it has on spin. The rigidity of a thermoform paddle means that the transfer of spin potential from your swing to the paddle is much more one-to-one. So, unfortunately, in terms of spin generation, the prisms can’t really compete with any thermoform paddle. You have to be a little more tactical about how you hit your spin shots. With a thermoform paddle, you can pretty much just hit at the ball like you would with a tennis racket.
Vatic Pro V7 Review
Thermoform paddles are all the rage right now and with good reason. Certain playability aspects are significantly better with thermoform paddles, and that was confirmed for me while playing with the Vatic Pro V7.
It’s so important to understand the feel of a thermoform paddle before you make a purchase. It’s an extremely unique sensation that can only be described as the ultimate connection to the ball. During my playtest, when switching between the V7 and non-thermform paddles, I consistently experienced this sensation. The contact with the ball on the V7 is felt uniformly throughout the paddle. In contrast, with more traditional paddles, there’s a disconnect between where the ball makes contact with the paddle’s face and your hand. This sensation is highly addictive.
Traditional control might not be the best match for thermoform paddles. Power-wise, it’s really fantastic—they are simply more potent than any other option available. The same logic applies to the paddle’s stability; there’s no energy lost at cutoff points throughout the carbon, as it is one seamless piece. Consequently, the ball shoots out with a ton of pop. I’m able to drive through the ball from the baseline and the topspin on my serves dip beautifully.
Drawbacks
After playing with the Vatic Pro V7 paddle for about 7 hours over 4 sessions. I see a big reduction in pop-ups and find it easier to hit drops from mid-court or longer, which was the goal. So that’s good. I’m also getting forearm soreness, which is not so good. I had some soreness when I first started to play last spring but it hadn’t been a problem for months.
Vatic Pro Prism Flash vs Vatic Pro V7
While the prism is compared to the V7, I do feel that the maneuverability of the Vactic Pro prism gives it the edge. Both paddles breed confidence, but the prism is slightly more head-heavy. The paddle is well-balanced. (Of course, your mileage may vary!) I plan on switching between them in the coming weeks, but for now, I’m really vibing with the Vatic Pro Prism Flash…
Regarding the V7, all the aforementioned aspects still hold true. The paddle is heavier and has a more substantial feel. Resets feel even better as the ball struggles to move the paddle. If you can handle the weight, the control is enhanced, given the high swing weight preventing the ball from moving much. The V7 can be seen as a more stable version of the Prism, albeit at the cost of hand speed.
Power
The Vatic Pro prism flash paddle absorbs a lot of the power from shots if I get my paddle in the right place but I feel like in singles I am lacking serious pace on the ball. As in singles, I am a guy who is athletic (soccer background) and has endurance and speed so I love getting in placement battles all over the court and making the opponent work all the different angles.
Swing
Now, addressing the swing weight difference is significant. The Prism at 114 is in a good spot, ideal for many players. However, the V7 at 128 may be too heavy for most, and not recommended unless you prefer higher swing weights. For the majority, The Flash is the better choice, especially if you struggle with tennis elbow, given its lower swing weight.
Control
Both paddles are undoubtedly control-oriented. Dinking feels effortless due to the forgiving sweet spot, enabling you to generate considerable spin without excessive popping. Resets are also straightforward. I had to adjust my technique since I’m accustomed to thermo-formed paddles. On the Prism, I had to incorporate a bit more into my swing for blocks or resets, unlike just holding the paddle still. This adjustment might be minor for those familiar with Gen 1 raw carbon fiber paddles.
For third-shot drops, which feel remarkably easy with these high-tier spin paddles, I found myself opting for this play 95% of the time due to the paddle’s consistency. As it leans towards a control paddle, I didn’t notice any exceptional drive, and it didn’t often secure free points. Hence, the preferable choice was the reliable and easy drop.
So saying all that.
What do you think we should look for in a paddle?
We don’t want to be someone who jumps from paddle to paddle. It took me over two years but I have learned that it’s not the paddle with the most hype or endorsements and certainly not nearly the most expensive one that’s best. It’s the one that we individually feel most confident and comfortable with and play our best with.
I went with Vatic Pro Prism as I am just a rec player and I don’t play enough that I am willing to drop a ton of money on a paddle or really believe I’m gonna be super duper good at this sport and need the latest and greatest paddle. So upgrading the paddle while staying within a budget was key.
Vatic Pro Paddles Review Summary
The Vatic Pro has kind of become pickleball’s worst-kept secret. The company was trying to produce a high-performance paddle for under budget, but did they actually succeed? The short answer is yes. But then the next question is, are they actually competitive in overall performance with paddles that are almost twice as expensive? They’re made from the more standard molding process, but other than that, they are totally identical.
That means that, yes, they still have the same carbon top sheet, foam-injected sidewalls, and the same shape and weight characteristics of their more expensive counterparts. These are all features that over a year ago, we were paying over $250 for. So it’s pretty impressive to see them coming in at this price point.
I always like to be able to recommend the “ideal” paddle to beginners. I played with the Vatic Prism Flash and I can’t imagine a better paddle (quality + price) for someone to start with. Prioritizing drops, blocks, dinks, and resets (in that order), I think it’s the perfect paddle. It lacks punching power, but I just don’t think that matters when trying to improve fundamentals. It is a rare occurrence for me to use a paddle I’m testing in a tournament, emphasizing my confidence in the Vatic Prism Flash.
To the majority of readers, I would suggest picking up the Prism Flash. The Vatic Pro V7 might be too heavy for most players, and if you’re unsure about handling that swing weight, the Flash is a safe and satisfying choice.
Also read, Head Radical Elite Pickleball Paddle Review
