On April 1, 2022 a new brand of paddles hit the pickleball scene HARD! First it started with Ben Johns sporting the new Joola Hyperion paddle, which happened to be developed by Ben himself. Then the spread in popularity began even though different pronunciations of the brand were rampant! It's originally a german company so it should be pronounced YOH-la. "J" in german is pronounced "y" and "oo" is pronounced "oh."
Every pro tournament seemed to have more and more players stepping onto the court with a Joola in hand. However, it wasn’t just the pros. Neighborhood courts started to become a hotspot for Joolas as well; they are everywhere! What exactly makes Joola such a popular brand?
Why Joola?
Although you may have just heard about Joola this year when Ben Johns struck a deal with the company, Joola has been around MUCH longer than that- since 1952, to be exact.
JOOLA was founded by Karl Frey in Landau, Germany. The company started as a table tennis (or ping pong as we often call it) equipment manufacturer. Joola quickly became a very popular and trusted company in the world of table tennis, so expansion occurred.
Fast forward to 1979- Michael Bachtler, managing director of JOOLA since 1968, took over the company as CEO. He oversaw major milestones such as becoming the official ping pong table sponsor for the 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, and 2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games.
Later, in 2022, JOOLA launched JOOLA Pickleball and immediately took the sport by storm as the sponsor of pickleball world #1 Ben Johns and a partner of USAPA.
Which Joola paddle is right for you? There are many strong contenders for this brand and several of the paddles, like the Hyperion and the Vision, almost look the same. However, slight variances appeal to different players. I personally had my eye on the Hyperion at first, (because who doesn’t want to be like Ben?) but the minute I picked up the Vision I knew that was the paddle for me. Read on to get ALL of the details and to discover which Joola is best for you.
In the Hyperion Series, there are three quality choices that all vary slightly.
JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16MM
World #1 Ben Johns’ signature pickleball paddle! Designed in partnership with and trusted by Ben Johns in competition, get ready to experience a paddle designed to perform at the highest levels in all categories. The reactive honeycomb polymer core is specially tuned for the high-level player to maximize the consistency of the bounce and feel necessary for every shot. One reviewer mentions, “Copious amounts of spin and pop are available for drives.” This Hyperion offers a great blend of touch, control, spin and power- all of the elements needed to make the average pickleball player get closer to Ben Johns status (we hope)!
In reality, this paddle is on the heavier side with more of the weight toward the top of the paddle making it “head heavy”. The paddle is ideal for a stronger male players that prefer to drive the ball hard from deep in the court. The paddle is not especially maneuverable in fast exchanges at the net but is great for mid-court resets and dinks thanks to the 16mm honeycomb poly core.
SPECS
- Carbon Friction Surface
- Honeycomb Polymer Core
- Length: 16.5”
- Width: 7.5”
- Weight: 8.4 oz
- Thickness: 16mm
- Handle length 5.5”
- Grip Size: 4.25”
- Carbon-forged handle provides maximum flex for additional power and comfort
Joola Hyperion CAS 16 Paddle
The JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CAS 16MM features a more aggressive shape that offers an ideal amount of versatility on different types of shots. The hybrid-ply technology utilized in designing this paddle provides outstanding control and feel. Most reviewers mention the “POP” that this paddle has; I’ve tried it myself and agree. However, what is even more appealing than the design and control- the color! This paddle stands out on the court. I have friends that have actually starting planning their pickleball outfits to match their new Hyperion- that’s dedication. The way a paddles performs should be much more important than the way a paddle looks, but some paddles have it all, and this seems to be one of them.
SPECS
- Carbon Abrasion Surface
- Honeycomb Polymer Core
- Length: 16.5”
- Width: 7.5”
- Weight: 8.3 oz
- Thickness: 16 mm
- Handle length: 5.5”
- Grip Size: 4.25”
- Anti-slip ridge grip creates an optimum hold performance and increased shock absorption. Ideal for two-handed shots.
Joola Hyperion CAS 13.5 Paddle
Very similar to the Joola Hyperion CAS 16 Paddle, but a little thinner, lighter, and with even bolder colors. Still offers an ideal amount of control and versatility on different types of shots. Joola’s carbon abrasion surface (CAS) technology creates a unique, textured surface for increased spin. I went into detail about how the CAS 16 is eye catching, but in my opinion the CAS 13.5 has it beat. If I were to buy a Joola today based on looks alone, this is the one. You put the color purple on a pickleball paddle and I am SOLD! However, there are more pros to choosing this particular Hyperion. It’s a little thinner and a little lighter, but still offers that “POP”. Paddles aren’t gender specific, but this seems to appeal to the female player- all of the power without as much of the weight.
SPECS
- Carbon Abrasion Surface
- Honeycomb Polymer Core
- Length: 16.5”
- Width: 7.5”
- Weight: 8.2 oz
- Thickness: 13.5 mm
- Handle length: 5.5”
- Grip Size: 4.25”
- Anti-slip ridge grip creates an optimum hold performance and increased shock absorption. Ideal for two-handed shots.
Joola Vision
Moving away from the Ben Johns series of paddles, another popular option is the Vision. The JOOLA Vision CGS 16MM is a more aggressive paddle with an expanded hitting area. The Carbon Grip Surface adds incredible spin for the competitive player. The Vision’s honeycomb polymer core provides reduced vibration and a generous sweet spot with control; necessary for dinks, blocks, and drives. Personally, I switched to the Joola Vision about a month ago and can’t believe I was using something else before it. This paddle truly has it all! When I serve and return, I get the power I need to drive the ball deep. On the other hand, I feel more confident with my dinks than I have with any other paddle. I always thought a heavier paddle equaled more power. This may be true for some, but the Vision offers me all of the power I need at only 7.8 oz. Although I can’t prove this (and in no way am I a medical professional)-between the longer handle and the lighter weight, this paddle has helped immensely with my pickleball elbow. I worked with a coach once that told me that I want the ball to have “more time on the paddle”. I never understood what that meant until I started playing with the Vision. The carbon surface tends to grip the ball and allows for the ball to almost roll across the paddle face before sending it across the net. I highly recommend you try this paddle for yourself if you want a good blend of power and finesse.
SPECS
- Carbon Grip Surface
- Honeycomb Polymer Core
- Length: 16.4”
- Width: 7.3”
- Weight: 7.8 oz
- Thickness: 16 mm
- Handle length: 5.5”
- Grip Size: 4.25”
- Anti-slip ridge grip for optimum hold performance and increased shock absorption.
Joola Solaire
The JOOLA Solaire CFS 14MM combines a Carbon Friction Surface and Reactive Honeycomb Polymer core to produce excellent power and spin. Specialized foam injected into the perimeter of the paddle adds weight and stability, increasing the sweet spot for consistent edge to edge performance. The Solaire, measuring in at 8”, is the widest Joola that we offer and with the increased width comes a slightly increased weight. I spent a good amount of time reading up on the Solaire since it was similarly shaped to my old paddle and I thought it would be an easy transition. Most of the information I read talked about how this paddle is especially popular with former tennis players due to their ability to slice and spin the ball with it. In addition, the handle length is plenty long enough for two handed back hands. The Solaire is on the thinner side at 14mm and with the larger paddle face, it has a very large sweet spot. Many reviewers mention the high level of ball control that they get with the Solaire.
Maybe not surprisingly, the Solaire is not as popular or sought after as the Hyperion paddle. Perhaps it is because it does not have Ben’s name all over it or because it’s shape is very different from the rest of the Joola paddles. I really think that this paddle is definitely worth a try before jumping on the Hyperion “bandwagon”.
SPECS
- Carbon Friction Surface
- Honeycomb Polymer Core
- Length: 16”
- Width: 8”
- Weight: 8.4 oz
- Thickness: 14 mm
- Handle length: 5.5”
- Grip Size: 4.13”
- Carbon-forged handle provides maximum flex for additional power and comfort
Conclusion
Joola paddles are popping up on courts everywhere for good reason- these are very well designed, well made, high quality paddles. The company is also dedicated to education through clinics, which will be kicking off this year. The clinics offer instruction and skill based training from top Joola pros. If you have been thinking of transitioning to a new paddle, seriously explore the Joola brand- you will be happy that you did. Many Royal Pickleball Ambassadors have Joola paddle available to demo. Find an ambassador near you and contact them to schedule a demo session.
