11SIX24 Power Series Review
Premium paddles without the premium price.
We’re living in the golden age of great paddles. From remarkable Gen 1s to full foam innovations, the competition is stiff with companies looking for an edge anywhere they can.
The Power series from 11SIX24 is the latest release to reach the next level of hype. Matching the legacy they’ve already built, these power paddles stand out not in performance but in price.
They’ve nearly matched their greatest competitors with fit, form, and function while undercutting where it counts. 11SIX24 put their money where their mouth is, so you don’t have to.
Specs
Price: $169.99 (Code: PBSTUDIO to bring it down to $160)
Shape: Pegasus (Wide, 15.8” x 8.12”), Vapor (Hybrid, 16.25” x 7.75”), Hurache-X (Elongated, 16.5” x 7.5”)
Thickness: 16mm
Core: Polypropylene surrounded by EVA foam
Face: Carbon Fiber + Fiberglass + Carbon Fiber (CFC)
Handle Length: 5.5” (wide, hybrid), 6” (elongated)
Grip: 4.125”
Static Weight: 8.0oz - 8.3oz
Swing Weight: 107 (wide), 113 (hybrid), 117 (elongated)
Twist Weight: 7.21 (wide), 6.74 (hybrid), 6.25 (elongated)
RPM: 2103 (wide), 2139 (hybrid), 2038 (elongated)
Warranty: 6 months
Design: Gen 3 (only EVA foam surrounding core), CFC face materials
Unique Gen 3 Design
11SIX24 now has these three shapes in all their lineups:
The Pegasus (widebody)
The Vapor (hybrid)
The Hurache-X (elongated with a curved top)
These options are what every company should offer. It gives 90% of the players their preference, regardless of their chosen lineup.
In general, these specific three are very well done, and I’ve enjoyed each of them. While elongated isn't my preference, this one nearly made me flip.
As for the builds, they’re a bit different than other Gen 3s. Upon teardown, it’s immediately apparent there’s only a black EVA foam ring around the perimeter.
The damage you see to the cells in the bottom right was from my poor teardown job.
This differs from competitors because it’s missing the standard yellow Gen 2 edge foam. This Power series does not have a dual foam edge, instead, it relies only on the black EVA ring.
Lastly, the polypropylene cells of this paddle look extremely healthy. These days, that's not as common to see even after minimal use.
Break-In
Nowadays, Gen 3s always come with the stipulation of a break-in period. This and if it was going to get too hot were my biggest concerns when I saw the internals.
After two months of playtesting, I haven’t noticed anything significant enough to describe. If anything, it's standard to what you’d expect: It becomes slightly less rigid and feels softer over time.
Other than that there was nothing observable like an increase in power or change in the feel. Even comparing it to new units, there was no big difference between them.
To be clear, just because it didn't happen doesn't mean it isn't possible. While we put these through the wringer—where most Gen 3s would have observed a break-in—we are a small sample size.
If this is a concern, you should wait a month or two to see if the wider market agrees. Either way, I'm more optimistic about this design.
Performance
Let’s categorize this series. As the name implies, these are power paddles. They're not over the top or pushing the boundaries, but they fit the category. Their uniqueness shows in their power being more linear and predictable from shot to shot.
When it comes to each shape, the power level differs as expected. The Pegasus (wide) had considerably more pop than the Vapor (hybrid) and Hurache-X (elongated).
Now, while it’s standard that most widebodies are poppier than their hybrid or elongated counterparts, the disparity between them was larger than expected. When switching between them, it took more adjusting than normal. My drops, dinks, and resets on the Pegasus felt a little higher when compared to the Vapor and Hurache-X.
So, keep this in mind when choosing your preference. If you want to avoid poppiness, then the Pegasus might be your last choice.
For the Vapor and Hurache-X, the pop is still aggressive. It’s just not the kind that gets you into trouble often. Instead, it’s there when you want to punch a counter, and it doesn’t sacrifice your soft game.
Outside of that, the shape you choose largely comes down to what you already prefer. If you like elongated, then you probably aren't choosing the Pegasus or Vapor, and vice versa.
Beyond all of that, it's the typical differences between the shapes:
Widebodies have larger sweet spots with higher twist weights.
Elongated paddles hit harder with more plow-through.
Hybrids are a nice balance of both.
Paddle Feel & Sweet Spot
Since this paddle has a CFC face (carbon fiber, fiberglass in the middle, then carbon fiber on top), it has a slightly stiffer feel. If you’re familiar with the original Hurache-X, then you know what I’m talking about.
But now that it has a Gen 3-style foam ring, it feels like the ball sinks in more on big drives with more energy. I’d best describe it as firm with more feedback, unlike the CRBN TruFoam Genesis which feels muted. One isn't inherently better than another; it's all subjective to the individual.
As for the sweet spot, I don't want to oversell this because this has been a hot topic. These are very good. They're not edge-to-edge or the best in the market but are great for their category.
The best sign during my review process is never worrying about the sweet spot. This was true for the 11SIX24 Power series.
Setup
Unlike many out there, the 11SIX24 Power series does not need added weight. Typically, I’d highly recommend it, but with these, it only makes a small improvement. I recommend you play with them as is then see what you don't like before adding anything.
Additionally, looking back at the specs, all three shapes have reasonable swing weights. This makes them very easy to customize. They aren't too light that they need weight to perform, but they also aren't so heavy that you can’t customize them.
Even the elongated Hurache-X only has a swing weight of 117, which leaves plenty of room to mess around. But anyway, if you do want to add weight, here are the setups that we tried:
On the Vapor, I used 0.5g tungsten tape and ran it from 3 & 9 o’clock down to the bottom corner. This took the swing weight from 113 to 115 and the twist weight from 6.7 to 7.29.
On the Hurache-X, Isaac used the 3g tungsten tape strips and placed two strips (6g total) on each bottom corner of the throat. This took the swing weight from 117 to 118 and the twist weight from 6.25 to 6.9.
For both setups, the only change I noticed was a bit more plow-through and stability, which is always appreciated albeit unnecessary.
Comparisons
Throughout the review process, we cycled through and compared the 11SIX24 Power series to its closest competitors.
JOOLA 3S
While the constructions differ reasonably (additional outer edge foam in 3S), the similarity in performance is surprising. Generally, both paddles pack a heavy but reasonable punch while having a large sweet spot.
The biggest difference is that the 11SIX24 Power series feels firmer, while the 3S pockets or trampolines the ball. I assume this sensation is due to the Power series using a fiberglass layer, and the 3S having higher top-end power and pop.
The other factor is the 3S break-in and subsequent heat-up. While it isn't nearly as extreme as others, it’s still there. So if you’re used to a beat-in 3S, you may find a larger difference between your paddle and the Power series.
To test this, we compared a used 11SIX24 Hurache-X Power against a mostly new 3S Hyperion 16mm. They had a lot in common except:
The handle on the Power series is just better. The JOOLA 3S 16mm models have clunky handles, while the Power series handles are slimmer and better beveled.
The 3S models are currently not USAP-approved. There are a lot of tournaments where you can’t use them. 11SIX24 paddles have full USAP certification.
The Hurache-X has a longer handle compared to the Hyperion. If you compare the two elongated with curved top models, the handle on the Hurache-X may feel more comfortable for larger hands.
So if you enjoyed the 3S line, the 11SIX24 Power series is a great alternative for $100 less. While there are subtle differences, there’s a ton of overlap, and for some, the savings will be worth it.
PaddleTek Bantam
The next popular, heavy hitter is the PaddleTek Bantam. There are much bigger differences:
The Bantam feels dramatically less full outside of the sweet spot. Off-hits feel more hollow or cheap, whereas the Power series feels consistent.
The sweet spot is not even close. This has always been a downside of the Bantam line.
The Bantam has the upper edge with pop. When nailing the sweet spot, a skilled player can get aggressive at the net, but vice versa, average players may benefit more from the 11SIX24.
The 12.7mm Bantams start with a lower swing weight. Not by a lot, but if you want the lightest wide body, then go for the ALW-C or ESQ-C Bantam.
The Bantam plays very consistently over its lifespan. There’s no break-in for PaddleTek. While that hasn’t happened to the Power series yet, don’t overlook this.
To sum it up, I had a friend who uses the ALW-C 12.7mm try out my 11SIX24 Pegasus Power. He said, “This paddle feels like it’s so much easier to play with.” He loved how the midcourt felt, and that makes sense, the sweet spot is considerably larger.
Now, he’s switching to the Pegasus completely. He’s willing to sacrifice a little pop/power for better control with a more consistent sweet spot.
CRBN TruFoam Genesis
The last comparison is with the recently released CRBN TruFoam Genesis. Due to the differing design, these are the least comparable.
The Genesis is balanced. With the right weight setup, the Genesis leans aggressively, but it’s not in the power category. People choose the Genesis for its spin, feel, and alleged durability, not for its power.
The Genesis is muted versus the Power series firmness. The distinction between the two is a purely personal preference.
The Power series swing weights are lower across the board. Comparing the two wide bodies, the gap is large. However, only worry about this if you’re someone who needs a really light paddle.
The Power series sweet spot has the edge. This is largely a non-issue with the right weight setup, but the Power Series outperforms it in stock form.
The Genesis is the hardest to compare because, on paper, it’s weaker in almost all areas. But in reality, it’s a great paddle once you understand it.
Personally, I'm having a hard time choosing between the TruFoam Genesis and the 11SIX24 Power as my main. They're both great in their respective ways, but one huge difference is price.
Closing Thoughts
The Power series from 11SIX24 is very good. They don’t have any large weaknesses while getting a lot right. And hands down, the biggest headline is the price—it's $100 cheaper than comparable power paddles.
You should consider the 11SIX24 Power Series if:
You are in the market for a new power paddle.
Affordability is important.
Prefer any of the three accessible shapes.
If you're still having a hard time deciding whether you should buy this paddle, here's my final recommendation:
If you already own a JOOLA 3S and are content with it, don't buy one of these. They play differently but have a lot in common. So unless you play in USAP-sanctioned tournaments and need the stamp, then you should stay content.
If you don’t own a JOOLA 3S, it's a very similar story. In the last few months, lots of really good paddles came out, so don’t feel pressured to buy one of these. People shouldn’t have this fear of missing out on every new release. You’re better off sticking with a paddle that does 85% of what you want rather than chasing every new release hoping it gives an extra 5%.
But if you’re in the market, then the 11SIX24 Power series meets its stiff competition in performance while outmatching in price. Thankfully, it’s the direction that benefits the player.
Interested in buying one?
If you plan to pick one of these up, please use code PBSTUDIO to save 10%.