Honolulu J2K Review: a Balanced, Sensible Kevlar Paddle

Take $20 off this paddle using the code JOHNKEW-KEVLAR: tinyurl.com/29pnm8jp
*Next batch release: June 21-26*
Products Mentioned in Video:
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Time Stamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:49 Paddle Specs
8:17 Materials & Technology
10:04 Performance
12:22 Paddle Modifications
16:11 Final Thoughts
17:08 Thoughts on J2K Pro
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Follow on:
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Twitter: / johnkewpickle

[@jzsoldje8593]

Can’t believe that poach @11:34 wasn’t called a kitchen violation. Dude was all in the grey.

[@jatseng0000]

The updated graph is excellent! Thanks for all the hard work!

[@CheetahPickleball]

Spectacular explanation of your charts and how they compare. It was cool to see how the overall shape of the charts differed with a power paddle and a control paddle. Happy Father's Day!

[@johnkewpickleball]

Thanks!

[@Angelpickleball]

John great review thanks. I have been playing with my J2K for 2 months now and can say you pointed out some great points.

[@gtak8703]

Glad you were finally able to review the j2k. I understand paddle reviewers are in conundrum as to what paddles to review. Your poll method solves that… thank you for what you do. “Hana hou”

[@cardinals5516]

Thank you for the awesome review! I really appreciate it.

[@BobbyHTTC]

Great video review once again. Thanks for all the metrics along with characteristics of how it plays on the court. I have the same set up but without the end cap. I've had this paddle since the release and it's my 1a after the Azul. 👊

[@charlesong5753]

Thank you for the in depth review. Really appreciate on the paddle modifications and how the paddle performs before and after the modifications. This is a real stand out from other pickleball paddle reviews. Hope that the issues with paddles being delisted will get sorted out as soon as possible. Players should not worry about buying a paddle and have it later to be delisted. Waste of time and money. Happy Father's Day

[@kimleith1378]

John you never cease to amaze with your reviews. i.e. new graphics, paddle comparisons. Would sure like to see you do this thorough of a review with the THOMPSON. Focus is on "sweet spot"

[@jrcsamad]

I've a J2K pro for a month. I really like this paddle. It feels great....a great balance of power, control and spin.

[@Lifespot-ep7vr]

great review and insight!

[@Newchiii]

Love the idea of a paddles side by side metrics before and after modification! Very nice use of charting 👍🏻

[@iugradmark]

Great review. Really appreciate your mods comments. Somewhat surprised the added weight didn’t change the power numbers a bit.

[@johnkewpickleball]

Yeah I was surprised about the power, too. Others I’ve experimented with got a boost in power…

[@omgpineapple7608]

@@johnkewpickleball now im curious how this would affect the shogun

[@TheKentist]

Definitely interested in this paddle 🙌🏾

[@EddieK-PB]

The last 10 seconds are worth hanging around for 😂 good times!!

[@trotsnft5999]

great review as usual, i love the new and improved percentile graphic. been looking at this one recently...since you now using the Shapeshifter, can you give your thoughts on how the j2k compares to it?

[@pickleballchumps]

Thx for making these reviews “Dummy Proof”!

[@QuentinWalls]

Great review! I noticed you mentioned the good shock absorption for the J2K...just wondering if any other paddles you've reviewed come to mind as also having great shock absorption?

[@myonlylov]

love the blue. been using it for tree weeks and loving it. was using ronbus pulsar 3.

[@hruntingson]

Well done! I liked the addition of the study referencing the vibration absorption. Also the description of differences of the woven Kevlar fabric and unidirectional carbon though aren’t both generally stiffened by epoxy whether pre-impregnated or coated during construction?

[@maryanneregina1107]

Happy you reviewed this paddle. I have been playing with it for 2 weeks,having switched from a 14mm Vatic Prism Flash . I wanted an all court paddle . My focus is the Swing Weight, and requested they send me the lightest static wt paddle. I received an 8.23 ounce. My hand speed is good with it but I am missing the sweet spot in serves, drives and drops. Ball marks are central towards the outer edge .There are no missed hits,but I haven’t dialed it in yet. What do you think?

[@paolacernada9888]

John can we get a J2k vs Apollo comparison video?

[@BradyHilton]

Hey John, I love all of your videos and podcasts! I was wondering what your go to paddle/paddles are at the moment. I also have been struggling finding a good overgrip. Any suggestions?

[@johnkewpickleball]

My main right now is the Chorus Shapeshifter. And I use Yonex Supergrap overgrips, which are the best IMO. But for paddles, I could easily play with the J2K as my prime. A workhorse of a paddle

[@Rigor031385]

Seems he was using the Yonex on this paddle. It's pretty good, I like the Gearbox one as well.

[@PollySmith_469]

Great video as usual. How does this compare to the Hudef Mage Pro which is made of T700 carbon fiber?

[@CyberSonic157]

I really liked the background music throughout the video! Any chance you could drop the song titles?

[@mooremathewj]

Excellent review. I’ve played with both I prefer the Pro version. A fellow club member thought J2K played similar to their 6.0 Ruby.

[@nicolasreinoso9139]

would love to see review on the regular j2 and the diadem 18k edge speed pro

[@gregs69rs]

Great review as always! Would love to know the static weight of the "modified" version? I have been hesitant to use the Hesacore as it adds a lot of weight in the handle. But if weight in the handle does not affect other performance much I may reconsider.

[@johnkewpickleball]

The static weight of the modified paddle is 9.4 oz.

[@ZUKA101]

I already have a Ruby. Would I be better off with the j7k or j7k pro for singles and more power? Thanks!

[@aaronmorgan8864]

Great review! Eddie all over the kitchen 😂

[@EddieK-PB]

lol! yep. a strong wind blew me in…. haha

[@aaronmorgan8864]

@@EddieK-PB lol if I had a nickel For every time a strong wind blew me in the kitchen!

[@lazyhusband]

11:33?

[@aaronmorgan8864]

@@lazyhusbandlol yes and they show that clip earlier in the video as well I believe

[@mooremathewj]

Which Slyce cap did you order? I was advised to use a Selkirk 16 for the Honolulu. Too big. Unless they’ve created a cap for the Honolulu paddles now.

[@FR0STEDFLAKE5]

Hey John, what are your thoughts on the CRBN 1x Thomas Wilson 12mm?

[@twodubz2280]

I got my J2K early on. Put the Ruby away. This is a great paddle!

[@lazyhusband]

Did your winning % go up?

[@twodubz2280]

@@lazyhusband I think I definitely win more than I lose with it. Maybe too on to tell.

[@lazyhusband]

@@twodubz2280 Cool. Play more with it and let me know how it goes.

[@twodubz2280]

@@lazyhusband I used the J2K in a 4.0 Mixed tourney and we took home the bronze. With weights in the right place plus a hesacore grip…this is quickly becoming my favorite paddle! 😊

[@scottschaus4619]

As a scientist myself, love the radar charts. Have you considered adding this graphic for each paddle to your online Excel DB?

[@zachcarmichael699]

Are Slyce caps tournament-legal though? The USAP rules say it has to be throigh the OEM, so unless Slyce has some officially approved deal with the paddle manufacturers, I'd assume theyre not legal...

[@ginjaninja3627]

You mentioned the Ruby one or two times. The J2K is similar right? I’d love to see a more detailed head-to-head comparison between them.

[@MatthewKPickleball]

The J2K is definitely my favorite paddle of the year so far! Have you had a chance to try the CF model or the J2H, which has some fiberglass in its face? Those are two very good versions as well with some different play attributes worth looking at IMO!

[@robedwards6926]

Does the Fiberglass version hit a lot harder?

[@MatthewKPickleball]

@@robedwards6926 It has the most power of all the J2 versions IMO!

[@aaronmorgan8864]

Hey John have you tried the new TKO paddles from Paddletek?

[@2musiclover534]

Yes love yo heat his reviews.

[@WisdomInsightReality]

Hi John, could you please review the new Om pickleball "racquet", the first ever pickleball racquet technology :)

[@johnkewpickleball]

They’re sending me one

[@WisdomInsightReality]

@@johnkewpickleball awesome, Thanks John! I've heard the spin rate is a little low, but that's easily solved/corrected. The unique "racquet/frame" construction and durability is interesting.

[@CyberSonic157]

So is the Ruby still your favorite paddle?

[@WhitePillMan]

John why don’t you add weight to the paddle throat? I’ve seen pros mention this adds stability. I was thinking of only putting tungsten there just to slightly lower my balance point without any other mods.

[@padflash]

He's using the Slyce caps to move balance. Tbh, any lead on the edge guard is not going to really move the needle for balance. It may move it lower on the paddle face, but it will still be more head heavy than before and add swing weight points. Pros do it primarily for stability w/o making the paddle too head heavy. I honestly never liked setups such as the Ben Johns one, which is 10g from the throat up the sides. It works for him and I'm sure a lot of non-pros do it b/c the GOAT does. But it adds a TON of weight to the paddle while being the smallest impact to off-centered shots. Us mortals are better off w/ much less lead specifically at 3&9.

[@WhitePillMan]

@@padflash interesting. I used Ben’s setup on my Gen 1 and it helped a lot but I guess I’m way past that now w my J2K

[@rblanton2007]

What's the static weight of the stock paddle and after modifications?

[@willjameshamilton6385]

How does the J3k compare to mach 2 forza

[@amit212543]

How would you say the pop compares to a DBD 16? I don’t like the Ruby having so little pop. You and Brayden seem to think it has above avg pop but ive seen some people say it doesn’t have that much.

[@lazyhusband]

Engage Pursuit Pros have great pop and power

[@mattmershon3542]

Please do a best of standard or square shaped paddles with handles of 5 inches or less for those of us coming from Ping Pong and prefer that shape. Seems like most everything coming out has 5.5 inch handles

[@dfred3317]

You may want to look at the Ronbus R2

[@amit212543]

Still able to use a two handed backhand?

[@quinncameron2804]

So if I already have a 6.0 black diamond power i should just stick with that?

[@jtdavis771]

I have both and like them a lot. J2K softer more plush feel with less power and pop but easier to control. Both have great spin and sweet spots.

[@juansantiago1441]

John, worth switching from the Ruby to a J2k? Do you feel they are on the same level in built quality?

[@johnkewpickleball]

The Ruby and J2K are very similar. The Ruby feels a little plusher, and has less pop than the J2K. And the J2K has a lower SW and balance point, so is more maneuverable

[@juansantiago1441]

@@johnkewpickleball in other words a superior paddle over the Ruby or a “Better Version of the Ruby”???

[@johnkewpickleball]

@@juansantiago1441 It just depends on what you like. If you're into that plush feel, the Ruby will feel better, and have slightly better control. If you're into more pop and a more maneuverable paddle, the J2K is the ticket

[@CyberSonic157]

@@johnkewpickleball I heard Dale say that there were actually updates made to the Ruby with more pop and a lower swing weight (average 112). It's practically a different paddle now compared to the earlier batches.

[@Bumiaurmein]

How is this compared to J7k

[@WendyLivingstone]

Where do i purchase if i'm in Australia?

[@melrodriguez9868]

So, do you still personally prefer the ruby over J2k?

[@CyberSonic157]

I have a feeling he probably does because I think he likes a softer feel compared to a stiff feel. The J2K still feels pretty soft though.

[@sheilahuynh5207]

I am not able to use discount code for engage paddle. Is that deal still on?

[@johnkewpickleball]

Hi, Engage stopped using discounts, but you can get a discount on Engage paddles on Pickleball Central with my code (JOHNKEW)

[@lazyhusband]

If you can, wait for their sales.

[@WendyLivingstone]

Honolulu Pickleball Company oniy ship to the US. I'm in Australia and would like to purchase one. Any ideas?

[@lawrencekonis]

Curious why no PT Bantam models in your db.

[@johnkewpickleball]

Coming soon

[@mitchjones55]

Please review the Fat Boy when it releases ❤ 🍩🍩🍩

[@johnkewpickleball]

Will do!

[@RHPDaddy]

I know how much effort you put into this and how you use reliable equipment to get your data so I hesitate to question your methods. But when you swing a pickleball paddle on the court, the pivot point is much further up your arm, possibly all the way to your shoulder or even your spine and the whole arm AND paddle are being swung. When you use your twist weight and swing weight machine you are only measuring a fraction of the paddle's weight beyond the pivot point since the pivot point on the oscillating machine is somewhere near the handle or longitudinal axis of the paddle. This is the only reason you can use weight at the bottom of the handle to balance the weight at 4 and 8 o'clock on the edge guard (opposite sides of the pivot point). Putting additional weight anywhere on the paddle will make it harder to swing when the pivot point is further up your arm.

[@MichaelPickleball]

Not sure about the j2K, I bought the J7K pro. The miss hits on the edges were too often. The sweet spot is very narrow on the paddle. I also don't think it had any where near the pop the banned Joola Gen 3's had and paddles like the Spartus Apollo have much better spin, Selling it after two weeks.

[@WhitePillMan]

J7K is longer and narrower than the J2K so the sweet spot will be narrower along with it. The Pro models are a tighter weave so they will play stiffer as well. I haven't played with the J7K Pro, but if I had to guess it would play much differently than the J2K. I have a J2K and I love it. Sweet spot feels huge.

[@robedwards6926]

I found that adding weight on the bottom decreases plough-through on the ball. I'm not a fan of it.

[@Kodaiko]

Anyone else think the thumbnail looks like a tombstone and John’s saying “farewell J2K”?

[@johnkewpickleball]

Haha, that wasn’t my intent…

[@MrPanthers23]

How do you recommend to clean the Kevlar paddle? Cam u use a paddle eraser?

[@johnkewpickleball]

Yes, you can use a paddle eraser on these. The original problems with erasers on the Ruby have been resolved, and it seems it was unique to that particular batch

[@scottfrancis13]

110 SW on J2K Pro??

[@johnkewpickleball]

Yeah, both of mine were low like this. So was Braydon's

[@scottfrancis13]

Have you hit the J7Ks or J3Ks Ive heard J7K Pro got real high power

[@CyberSonic157]

The heck? That's outside of the advertised swing weight range

[@WhitePillMan]

I don’t wanna go thru the hassle of cap switching. Can I just add tungsten to my cap? 🤣

[@keithheintzleman7831]

Yes. I did that with my Ruby. Weight is weight.

[@JesseWilliams-wg1og]

Eddie was in the kitchen! Lol

[@EddieK-PB]

How else am I gonna beat John?!?

[@SC-hz7xo]

In b4 someone complains about the Bible verse 😂

[@iKumala]

Nothing wrong with John 3:16 🎉

[@Dr.Estrange]

i dont knpw why. LMAO. 😂😂😂

[@joshc.6706]

@@iKumalaI agree with you, and Most people wouldn’t have a problem with it. But there are people out there for one reason or another really hate religion and think that putting this on here are crossing lanes that shouldn’t be crossed. Am I the most religious person in the world, no, not by a long shot. Personally there are a lot more Bible verses out there that could be deemed controversial. But everyone is entitled to their opinion. I see both sides of it, but to me if it bothers them that much, don’t buy the paddle. But it’s a damn good paddle though

[@claycc79]

The gigs up...all new paddles will about the same from now on. They have killed innovation...

[@DominationRD]

As an atheist, I just can’t use a paddle that says John 3:16 on it when there’s so much else on the market…

[@bart1476]

Oh God.

[@zachcarmichael699]

​@@bart1476I get his point though. Keep the religion and politics out of sports.

[@timkadom1722]

At least believe in simulation hypothesis… atheism is so 1970’s

[@aaronmorgan8864]

@@zachcarmichael699athletes have been giving glory to God for a loooooong time and no one bats an eye. Why is it an issue if a manufacturer does the same?

[@rondre3000]

​@zachcarmichael699 except when you own your own company you can put whatever you want on it. Dont like it? Don't buy it. Simple as that. I'm sure they aren't sweating a few atheists NOT purchasing their product. In fact, they may PREFER you not support play their paddles.

[@adamrosen7394]

Hey John. Can you provide us with Honolulu Pickleball’s mailing address or customer service number? I have been trying to get a hold of customer service to return a paddle, but have not received a response when I emailed them.

[@johnkewpickleball]

Hi, email me and I'll connect you with the owner

[@lazyhusband]

Why returning?

[@adamrosen7394]

@@johnkewpickleball Thank you for the offer, but customer service reached out to me soon after I posted my comment. I am good now.

[@CEMESTEBAN]

@@lazyhusband I believe it’s for a handle length measurement issue. We since corrected it on our website to inform customers on how we measure usable grip area above the actual grip wrap, and rubber band.