Ultimate Pickleball Paddle Comparison: Chorus Fire, Shapeshifter, Vatic Pro Saga, and More Tested!

[@DeliCatBeast]

Please more of these types of videos. Nobody else does this and it's really helpful to see.

[@MattsPickleball]

I'll definitely keep doing these if you guys like them. TBH, this one was too much, because there were too many paddles, but if we can narrow it down to like, 1 paddle compared to say, 5 or 6 other ones (to keep things focused) I think I can streamline this quite a bit. Thanks for your kind words too.

[@caseyturnbaugh9484]

Love these videos, however would love to see the view down the line to see how the ball is spinning and where it lands in the court.

[@MattsPickleball]

@ I can do that next time!

[@markwenstrom3778]

This was one of the best videos I’ve seen. I especially love the in-the-moment impressions of these paddles as you hit them side by side. You definitely don’t get this from other paddle reviewers. Glad I’m now subscribed to your channel.

[@MattsPickleball]

Thanks so much for the kind words! I definitely couldn't do this if paddle manufacturers like Neonic, Chorus, Vatic Pro, etc., weren't nice enough to send me some paddles to try! So I want to thank them too!

[@markwenstrom3778]

@ thank for the reply, Matt! I stumbled upon this video because I was curious how the Pulse S compared to the Chorus Shapeshifter. I’ve been playing very well with the Shapeshifter for 5 months now; loving its soft control as well as it’s put away power thanks to the fiberglass layer. I’m considering adding a Pulse S to the bag too based on a lot of positive reviews I’m seeing.

[@MattsPickleball]

@@markwenstrom3778 I hope I was able to help in some small way. :)

[@coachkeebspb]

This was so cool to see and hear comparisons between paddles. This helped me more than most review videos others do. Thanks, Matt!

[@MattsPickleball]

Thanks! I appreciate your kind words and I'll keep doing this as long as they are helpful. :)

[@PickleballHangout]

Love it! I'm actually really interested in the comparison between the R3 FX vs Fire EX vs SS EX My current main is the R3 FX and I have the OG SS, but I prefer elongated.

[@Itsezpickleball]

Thank you, rlly helps when deciding what paddle I want to try out

[@MattsPickleball]

Thanks for watching!

[@courvilleg1]

Well done, appreciate your original live testing.

[@MattsPickleball]

Thanks for watching!

[@joem7729]

Great comparison video. Love this type of review!

[@MattsPickleball]

Thanks! I'll keep doing them.

[@123BV8]

Awesome! A much better idea than all the other reviewers babbling!

[@MattsPickleball]

🤣those guys are so good though! Huge respect. :)

[@tdhk5000]

Subscribed. I needed info on the huarache jelly and you provided. Better yet, you compared it to another paddle in a live comparisons. Can’t wait for more of your reviews. 🤘

[@MattsPickleball]

Very cool! I'm glad I could help. :)

[@jnfriesen1]

Awesome video!

[@michaelhopwood1179]

Love this format. One question, would there be value in some soft game comparison (drops, resets, or dinks) vs drives or do you think you get a representative view just from drives?

[@MattsPickleball]

100% there would be! I did that in the Fires play test. Let me know if that’s what you’re looking for or something different.

[@michaelhopwood1179]

@ I’ll check that out thx. Your videos helped me decide to order the pulse s to potentially replace my vanguard pro.

[@MattsPickleball]

@ cool!! Happy to help!

[@MattyRut2922]

Nice work!

[@MattsPickleball]

Thank you!

[@PickleballMedicine]

Wow, tons of real-time perspective and freespeaking... I like it!

[@MattsPickleball]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@bsu88]

Thanks for the videos

[@MattsPickleball]

Thanks for watching!!

[@JaxxCrash]

I use the esq 14.3 and have been considering switching to neonic flow prime x cause I hear they are almost the same but way bigger sweet spot on the neonic... and I suck at hitting sweetspots... what's your opinion on switching would I miss the esq

[@MattsPickleball]

Two things come to mind... (1) Bantam feel, you'd miss that, as it is unique in its own right. (2) You'd gain more sweet spot and stability. However, if you really like the way your Bantam feels, you really don't have anything to gain by switching to the Flare Prime X.

[@jason.goodman]

Thanks, Matt!

[@MattsPickleball]

Thanks for watching!

[@ICdinks]

Thank you for such a thorough comparison! I have been using an R2 FX for the past 5 months and have been considering several of the paddles you tested for my next paddle. I know you had previously tested the Neonic Flare Titanium - do you recall how its feel, maneuverability and control/power/pop compare to the R2 FX or something similar in feel such as the new Shapeshifter HX? These all seem to be pretty close in specs and playability - am looking for just a bit more power than the R2 FX, while keeping the same feel…

[@MattsPickleball]

IIRC, Flare Titanium feels stiffer, poppier, and more powerful than the Pulsar R2 FX. I can play it tomorrow and get back to you if you want, but I'm, say, 90% sure.

[@ICdinks]

@@MattsPickleballthank you! No need to - this is exactly what I was interested in understanding, and you’ve been extremely helpful already. Please continue to do these types of comparison videos in the future with other similar groupings of paddles - it’s unique and very insightful content and pairs well with the typical paddle database metrics when assessing various paddles.

[@MattsPickleball]

@@ICdinks Thank you and I plan to! For the next one I do, I will start to talk through ball shape off the paddle face...now to figure out the right camera angle for that!

[@PhoKingHappy]

How would you say the vatic saga flash compares to the original chorus shapeshifter?

[@MattsPickleball]

So, I believe the Shapeshifter has more power on drives due to its third layer of fiberglass. I don't think the Saga has fiberglass in it and Vatic Pro aren't sharing details with us right now. But around the kitchen, the Saga feels better and more controllable to me. Look, both are fantastic paddles and you can't go wrong with either IMO.

[@alexpazmino4762]

Does the spartus Olympus have more power then the hudef viva pro gen 2 paddle?

[@MattsPickleball]

Sad to say that I haven't played the Olympus paddle. :(

[@juansantiago1441]

Which ball machine you have and which one you recommend?

[@MattsPickleball]

I use the Slinger. I don't love it, but it works and gets the job done most of the time. Someday I would like to own a Titan for its versatility in programming.

[@juansantiago1441]

@ I want a titan as well but can’t justify spending so much on it. I’m leaning towards the slinger. Thank you for your response and videos.

[@MattsPickleball]

@@juansantiago1441 Look, it gets the job done. Check on marketplace, you can usually find them for $500-600.

[@Andyofsuh]

Paddletek or the saga? Which do you prefer

[@MattsPickleball]

Man, those are different instruments!! :) Compared to the Saga Flash, Paddletek ESQ/ALW 12.7 has more pop, power, has a much lighter swing, twist, and static weight. Check out my database on my site. The 14.3 is still lighter, but less so. Sweet spot, stability feel is much better on the Saga, much, much better. It feels butter whereas the Paddleteks feel stiff and you get jarring feedback from them. Email me if you want and we can chat more, [e-mail]

[@Firesong4ng]

Did I miss the Pulse S workups?

[@MattsPickleball]

No one asked about that one...¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@HKUSAPDX]

We love facts and data more than personal opinions!

[@MattsPickleball]

I can try to sprinkle more data into these types of videos, but so much of "feel," which was the purpose for this video, is so subjective.

[@HKUSAPDX]

@ Thanks for your extra efforts, and please show how the balls landing in the future videos. We can observe how deep ball are hitting near the baseline. We all can understand better how you draw your conclusions. Thanks again.

[@nikkosantos8347]

which had the biggest sweet spot and what was your favoirte?

[@MattsPickleball]

Oof. Out of all the paddles I tested which one has the biggest sweet spot? There isn't just one, I'd have to go with the Pulse V, Saga Flash, Pulsar, and Shapeshifter closely followed by the 11SIX24 paddles, like a fraction of a percentage. I don't have a favorite out of all those paddles.

[@lesterma1608]

@@MattsPickleballsafe response

[@MattsPickleball]

@@lesterma1608 🤣My favorite paddles change - all the time - but I'll tell you what my favorite paddle is right this moment: Vatic Pro Saga Flash. Is that direct enough for you?😜

[@lesterma1608]

@ with so many paddles that are released that’s a fair statement this week!

[@Kingbasspickleball1]

👍👍👍

[@lesterma1608]

Given these are new paddles, there is no break-in?

[@MattsPickleball]

I'm not sure can break the Fire in, it's so stiff to me. Time will tell.

[@Syndrome88]

Oh man that's a lot of effort

[@MattsPickleball]

It was fun, and I hope it is helpful to you guys looking for more detail about how these paddles feel.

[@MatthewKPickleball]

Cool format, Matt! Great work! 💪

[@MattsPickleball]

Thanks Matthew! High praise coming from you!

[@MatthewKPickleball]

@@MattsPickleball 🤗

[@EthanFong-c3y]

What shoes are those?

[@EthanFong-c3y]

Also, thoughts on Shapeshifter vs Pulse? I’m trying to decide between the new Shapeshifter wide body and the Pulse V!

[@MattsPickleball]

Olukai Pickleball Shoes olukai.com/products/anau-mens-pickleball-shoes-mood-indigo-bright-white

[@MattsPickleball]

@@EthanFong-c3y An opened up Pulse V is pretty special, but that's IF yours opens up. Email me and we can chat about it: [e-mail]

[@caseyturnbaugh9484]

If you could only play one paddle out of that bunch for the rest of your life, which would it be?

[@MattsPickleball]

@@caseyturnbaugh9484 Out of this lot? Right now? Saga Flash.

[@the_real_deal]

Can't really learn much from groundstrokes

[@MattsPickleball]

What can’t you learn from?

[@the_real_deal]

@@MattsPickleball Meaning hard to gauge how a paddle plays all around by just hitting groundstrokes. How does the paddle reset, how does it dink, how's the pop on blocks or hand battles, stuff like that. A paddle could feel firm on full ground strokes but feel different at the net. You do you though man

[@MattsPickleball]

@@the_real_deal I asked you that question to learn not to be critical about your question. Check out the Fires playtest because that expands into the other areas you suggested. All good suggestions. For this playtest (the one you commented on) I had like 12 paddles to go through so there's no way I could answer all those questions about a dozen paddles. Well, maybe, if I had a few more hours. :)