Xs Xspak Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle Review
Table of Contents
One of the hottest pickleball paddles on the market for under $100 is the XS Xspak carbon fiber paddle. And after playing with the paddle for over 15 hours of play time, I can assure you that it is popular for good reason. I conducted power, spin, and control tests on this paddle and the Xspak performed quite well in each. Keep reading for the full guide on all of the information you need to decide if the Xspak is right for you.
General Thoughts
The reason why this paddle is such a big deal is because it looks extremely similar to the CRBN 1. The paddles look indistinguishable with many of the same features. The CRBN 1 has been a very popular, well used paddle. So how is the Xspak different? Well, it’s half the price… So quite the big difference.
But the paddle does not play like it’s half the price of the CRBN 1. Which makes the Xspak an absolute value steal if you’re looking for great value.
Pros/Cons
Pros
- Spin
- Price/Value ratio
- Quality manufacturing
Cons
- Not very well known brand
- Not as powerful as thinner, heavier paddles
Specs
- Weight range: 7.5oz – 8.1oz
- Grip length: 5.5”
- Length: 16.5”
- Width: 7.4”
- Thickness: 16mm
Face Material
The face is made of carbon fiber which is ideal for spin. Carbon fiber paddles are typically higher end paddles compared to beginner paddles because they allow you to get such great spin on the ball compared to a plain wood or graphite paddle.
The Xspak face is clean and sleek. Out of the box it contained some nice grit that I like to see with spin paddles when unboxing. And after 15 hours of gameplay there has not been any change to that face texture. This is a great sign of durability for the Xspak.
Core Material
The core is made of a Polypropylene XS28 Core that the company markets “reduces the amplitude and frequency of vibrational waves”. While that may be mostly marketing gimmicks, I have no reason to believe that this isn’t true.
Weight
At an average weight around 7.5-8.1 oz, this paddle is mid-weight. If you want a heavier paddle to add more power on the Xspak, then we recommend adding lead tape to your paddle along the edges or throat to increase its weight. Doing this can take the paddle weight up if that is your preference. We don’t recommend this for players who struggle swinging the paddle fast as this will only make it more difficult.
Thickness
The paddle is 16mm which makes this an excellent control paddle. Most professionals are using 16mm thick paddles these days, so choosing this for your paddle is a great move. When you combine the control of the Xspak with the spin you can get on the ball, it makes this paddle a very dangerous combination.
Shape/design
With a length of 16.5 inches, the paddle is more elongated than a typical paddle. It’s not overly elongated compared to some extreme paddles, so I think it actually creates a happy medium of providing a larger surface area with a large sweet spot.
Grip
With a 5.5” grip length, the grip should be perfect for you regardless of your hand size. The butt cap also felt nice in my hands compared to some newer paddles that really struggle making comfortable butt caps.
Play Style
Power
At a 16mm thick paddle, this paddle isn’t going to blow you away with it’s “pop”. However, it wasn’t a problem at all for me. If you are a player who swings hard and doesn’t have issues generating power on your shots then the Xspak will work great for you.
If you struggle with power on your shots, we recommend going with a thinner paddle around the 13mm size.
Spin
This is where the Xspak thrives. It’s gritty carbon fiber face allows for excellent spin, very similarly to the CRBN 1 which this paddle was clearly based off of. I was able to consistently generate topspin and backspin on my shots, more so than the regular paddle that I play with.
This makes this paddle very fun to play with as it constantly keeps your opponents on their toes. I personally love switching up my shots between heavy on spin and no-spin shots so that my opponents never know which way the ball is going to bounce. So with this in mind I feel I played excellently with the Xspak.
Control
The Xspak is a wonderful control paddle. With midweight and 16mm thickness, it does a great job giving you the touch and feel you need. Also, with its slightly more elongated shape I thought it had a very large sweet spot with lots of forgiveness even when hitting the ball in the outer regions of the face.
What play style is this paddle good for?
Overall, this paddle is great for any player who likes to play aggressively using spin. You can increase the aggression style of play with this paddle by adding lead tape to increase the power of the paddle.
FAQ
What is XS Xspak’s reputation?
XS Xspak is not a very large paddle maker, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Because they aren’t one of the most premier brands, they can’t charge a ridiculous amount for a bad paddle and expect it to sell. XS Xspak is forced to make great paddles for a great value in order to get attention, and that is exactly what they have done with this paddle at the $99 price range.
Is the XS Xspak pro noisy?
The honeycomb core did a great job reducing some of the extraneous vibrations that you get with a paddle that is cheaply made. So I would give this a 8.5/10 on the quietness scale. Overall, it should not be a problem for you.
Is the XS Xspak USAPA approved?
Yes! The USAPA approved paddles list includes this paddle so you will be able to use this paddle in all of your future tournament play.
Does Roger Federer use this paddle?
One of the best marketing materials that XS Xspak used for this paddle was showing Roger Federer holding it. While it’s hard to know for sure if he uses it consistently, it is a good sign that celebrities (who can afford very expensive paddles) are willing to use this one.
Conclusion
I am very happy I reviewed this paddle because this is making it into my top 5 favorite paddles right now. This paddle just has such a phenomenal price point that you can’t beat. I believe this is the best paddle you can get on the market for under $100 due its quality manufacturing, high spin abilities, and great control.
