11SIX24 Monarch Jelly Bean Review
11SIX24 introduces the new king of value.
They say, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown,” but 11SIX24 confidently embraces that responsibility. The Vatic Pro Prism has held this title for over a year, and now, it’s time to pass the mantle. The Monarch Jelly Bean is the best value, wide-body paddle you can buy today.
It’s a control paddle that leans slightly towards the all-court category. Its combination of lower balance point, lower swing weight, and added fiberglass layer makes it quick in the hand while adding extra oomph.
Specs
Price: $99.99 (Code: PBSTUDIO to bring it down to $90)
Shape: Wide (15.82” x 8.04”)
Thickness: 16mm, 14mm
Core: Polymer
Face: Carbon Fiber + Fiberglass + Carbon Fiber
Handle: 5.75” (marketed 5.75 but more like 5.5)
Grip: 4.125”
Static Weight: 7.9-8.2oz
Swing Weight: 108
Twist Weight: 7.14
RPM: 1958 (16mm), 1943 (14mm)
Warranty: 180 day
Design: Gen 1.5, Fiberglass layer
Gen 1.5 Advantages
Despite all the hype around “Gen 3” and foam cores, paddles without that latest tech are still very relevant and can dominate the courts.
So here’s a quick refresher on Gen 1.5:
Main upgrade from Gen 1: Edge foam, which noticeably enlargens the sweet spot.
Main difference from Gen 2: Not fully thermoformed, which makes Gen 1.5 less stiff and typically less powerful.
Overall, Gen 1.5 paddles are considered to have great control compared to other generations.
Jelly Bean vs. Prism Flash
This is finally the budget battle we’ve been waiting for. And to the players’ benefit, there’s no true winner. Instead, we’ve been gifted another wallet-friendly option that provides maximum value, especially in the control category.
Besides the obvious differences in their shapes (hybrid, elongated, or wide-body), here are the remaining distinctions:
At the net, the Jelly Bean’s pop-adding fiberglass layer is perfect for counters, flicks, and speed-ups. This plus its fast-in-the-hand tendencies differentiates it from the Prism.
For power shots (ground strokes, serves, and overheads), both are fairly similar. Some Prism models edge out the Jelly Bean, but that’s due to their higher swing weights (longer handle or elongated).
For feel, the Jelly Bean 16mm is dense, springy, and responsive, while the Vatic Pro Prism is cushioned and muted. This difference is a player-based preference.
Conversely, the Prism V7 has a more solid feel than the Jelly Bean because of its higher head weight.
Any way you slice it, 11SIX24 followed Vatic Pro’s example and packed in as much as possible into this sub-$100 paddle. They’ve pushed the limits of their price point, and we players are reaping the benefits.
Sweet Spot
Not only does the Jelly Bean’s sweet spot benefit from the Gen 1.5 design but when paired with a wide-body shape, it’s incredible. Even without adding tungsten tape, the paddle feels solid and has great stability.
This was one of the few paddles where I never felt like it was the paddle’s fault when I missed. The sweet spot is just large enough that I couldn’t blame it for off-hits.
Simply put, no player should ever want a larger sweet spot than what’s on the Jelly Bean. I don’t know how much bigger you could get than this.
Setup
After adding my typical mods (pink Hesacore plus overgrip), the 16mm version of this paddle was a bit too head light for me. I was popping up simple shots, and certain hits didn’t feel substantial enough.
To make up for those out-of-the-box drawbacks, I added about 5” of tungsten tape (0.5g/in) at 3 & 9 o’clock increasing the head weight and slowing down my swing. As a result, the paddle was significantly easier to control, had increased stability, and I adjusted quickly to it.
Keep in mind, that this setup was only necessary for my playstyle. I don’t think everyone needs added weight, but knowing there’s room for customization is always a bonus. So play it stock first, then follow my setup if you have similar issues.
As for the 14mm, I recommend the same setup. Like most thinner versions of paddles, the ball pushed it around more, and it benefited from added stability in weight.
14mm Version
In my opinion, the 16mm Jelly Bean is the standout version when put against the 14mm. But honestly, I didn’t find as big of a difference as I expected between the two. They both played fairly similarly, aside from what’s expected in paddle thickness.
The 14mm had more pop, but in exchange, stability was lacking in comparison. Personally, if I were to use the 14mm, I would add weight to it. The thinner paddle just gets pushed around too much without it.
If you’re someone who gravitates toward 14mm paddles, then you’re going to be just fine with this one. But if you prefer 16mm’s, then I don’t know if this 14mm is the one to tempt you away from them.
There’s nothing wrong with the 14mm. But compared to other thinner paddles on the market, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Closing Thoughts
In today’s market, this is one of the few paddles that I can’t find much fault with. At a price far cheaper than it should be, it does exactly what it was designed to do, and it does it extremely well.
The Jelly Bean is a $90 paddle that competes with the best of the best.
You should buy the 11SIX24 Monarch Jelly Bean if:
You are a balanced player whose playstyle isn’t centered around overpowering opponents.
Like a fast-in-the-hand, wide-body, and forgiving sweet spot paddle.
Want a little more pop than the previous king of value (Vatic Pro Prism).
Want to maximize your budget.
You should avoid it if:
You prefer the reach of elongated shapes.
Play a power-focused style.
Like a cushy and muted feeling paddle face.
If you like certain aspects of the Jelly Bean but need a boost in others, then you can keep your search within 11SIX24’s Monarch lineup. The Control and All Court models vary in pop and power while maintaining the same shape. Their price points are higher, but they demonstrate the varying use of the same materials assembled differently.
Overall, I believe 11SIX24 hit a home run with the Monarch Jelly Bean. It has successfully taken the throne as 2024’s king of value, and it’ll make you feel like royalty while on a budget.
Interested in buying one?
If you plan to pick one of these up, you can use code PBSTUDIO to save 10% on your order with the link below.