Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro V3 Pickleball Paddle Review
Table of Contents
The Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro V3 is a paddle I have been very excited to review for quite some time considering that Paddletek has not released a new paddle in a couple years. Upon first handling the paddle it is clear that this paddle was made with fine craftsmanship. You can tell how much engineering work Paddletek has done with this one. The feel of the paddle is incredible. Taking it on the court only confirmed my initial suspicions – the Tempest Wave Pro is an amazingly balanced and powerful paddle.
General Thoughts
As a 4.0 player, I felt like I was daydreaming that I was playing at the 4.5 level with this paddle. While that may not be totally accurate, the point is that this paddle just feels incredible in the hand. Each swing feels great due to its lightweight design. The paddle has great forgiveness which made some of my poorer hit shots actually play well in game.
Overall, I would highly recommend this paddle to any intermediate/advanced player who is looking for a new paddle. If you enjoy a quality balanced paddle, with not too much emphasis on just control or just power, then this paddle is perfect for you.
Pros/Cons
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Specs
- Paddle Weight: 7.6 – 8 oz
- Paddle Face Material: Carbon Fiber
- Paddle Core Material: Honeycomb core
- Paddle Shape: Standard
- Paddle Length: 15 7/8″
- Paddle Width: 8”
- Edge Guard: 1/8″
- Grip Size: Thin – 4 1/8″
- Grip Size: Standard – 4 3/8″
- Handle Length: Standard – 5 1/4″
- Core Thickness: 14 mm
- Colors: Barium (Green), Horizon (Yellow), Wildfire (Red)
Face Material
The paddle is made of a carbon fiber paddle with Paddletek’s new grit technology that sees an increase on the spin of the ball compared to the previous line of Paddletek paddles. The face was actually one of my favorite parts of this paddle with what I felt like was some exceptional spin on the paddle compared to other paddles over the $100 mark.
Core Material
The core of the paddle is made of a honeycomb core. Paddletek markets that this core is able to produce quieter play than other paddles. While I didn’t notice a large enough difference to say this for sure, overall I would say it is a quieter paddle than most paddles under the 16mm mark.
The Tempest Wave Pro V3 comes in just slightly over 14mm and typically we see that thicker paddles are quieter paddles because they are able to absorb more of the shock of the ball.
Weight
Weighing between 7.6 and 8oz, this paddle is definitely lightweight which allows for some fast swings. When you combine this with the exceptional pop on the paddle, it makes for some exciting hand battles at the net that typically result in your favor when using this paddle. If you’re someone who enjoys hand battle volleys, then perhaps this paddle is for you.
Thickness
With a thickness of 14.3mm the Tempest Wave Pro V3 is not an overly thick paddle. It is actually on the thinner side for paddles that are marketed as “control” paddles.
Shape/design
With a seemingly regular head shape, the Tempest Wave Pro V3 should be similar to most paddles you have played with. If you are looking for an elongated paddle, consider checking out the Paddletek Tempest Reign which is a very similar paddle but with a longer face shape.
Grip
The grip shape is actually an oval, not an octagon. So if you prefer the octagonal shape, then consider looking elsewhere, or just applying some lead tape to your handle to reach your desired shape.
The butt cap at the end of the handle can be annoying to people with excessively large hands, but I didn’t think it was too much of a problem.
Play Style
Power
This paddle excels with its power. It has incredible pop, with the ball seemingly flying off the paddle and not sticking too much to the face like some thicker control paddles do. However, if you struggle with managing your power and keeping balls low over the net, then maybe you should opt for a more control oriented paddle because this one will have your shots raise slightly. However, I was able to get adjusted to the new style pretty quickly so I don’t think it’s too much of a concern. Overall, it’s an excellent power paddle.
Spin
Since I mentioned that the paddle has exceptional pop, you may think that the spin is lacking. But the paddle actually spins quite well. Even after playing with the paddle for over 15 hours, the grit on the face has not noticeably deteriorated which is a great sign. Consider this paddle a positive if you are looking for spin.
Control
While the paddle excelled in power and spin, it may be slightly lacking in control compared to other balanced paddles. As I mentioned, the pop coming off on the paddle can be hard to control for some players who are not used to it.
What play style is this paddle good for?
The Tempest Wave V3 is an excellent choice for any players who love hand battles at the net. Or for players who want to add more power to the game while still having a paddle that has exceptional feel in the hand. It is honestly just a fun paddle to hit with and I highly recommend for anyone to give it a try.
Many folks have been suspicious about Paddletek and if its new paddles would be any good, but I can assure you that these are well made paddles. Paddletek may be back if they can continue rolling out new paddles like this.
We mostly recommend the Tempest Wave for male players, see here for our recommendations for female players.
FAQ
What is Paddletek’s reputation?
Paddletek saw its glory days in Pickleball a few years ago in 2020 and 2021 when they had new paddles on the market. Since then they hadn’t released anything for quite some time until the Tempest Wave v3 and Tempest Reign v3. Paddletek is hoping these new paddles will bring their name back into the main conversation again.
Is the Tempest Wave pro noisy?
As mentioned in the thickness section, this paddle is not noisy. While it’s not exceptionally quiet, I do think it is more quiet than most 14mm thick paddles.
Warranty?
One of the greatest things about the Tempest Wave Pro is that it comes with a warranty.
Conclusion
Paddletek is back! The Tempest Wave Pro V3 is a wonderful paddle that I highly recommend due to its power and spin performance. I think many experienced players will be surprised with how well this paddle hits.
