Engage Pickleball recently released its newest paddle model, the Engage Pursuit Pro1 Innovation.

This is the fourth and final installment in the company’s Pro1 series, which previously came in elongated, hybrid, and widebody shapes.

Now, there’s the Pro1 Innovation.

Here’s everything you need to know.

At a glance

Here are the specs of the paddle.

•                      Weight Range: 7.8-8.2oz
•                      Paddle Length: 16.6in.
•                      Paddle Width: 7.4in.
•                      Handle Length: 6in.
•                      Paddle Face: Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber
•                      Grip Circumference: 4.25in.
•                      Core: Power Flex Polymer Core
•                      Core Thickness: 12.7mm and 15.2mm
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Things to Note: Length and SpinCore Technology

One of the main differences between the Innovation and other Pro1 models is the shape.

This paddle has a slightly longer length than the elongated shape, coming in at 16.6in. compared to 16.5in.

But the biggest difference—and improvement—of the Pro1 Innovation comes from the incorporation of SpinCore technology.

According to Engage founder Robert Elliott, who spoke in detail about the Pro1 Innovation last week in a 30-minute Q/A session on Instagram, SpinCore technology refers to a specific weight distribution that allows for maximum flex and dwell time.

 

 

 

 

 

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That flex and dwell time lead to a greater capacity for spin and power.

“This paddle has weight in the handle and in the head, creating a virtual hinge in the middle to allow for even more flex than we’ve ever created before, so that you’re able to hit those hard shots and keep them in with topspin,” he explained. “No matter where your opponent is on the court, you’ll be able to dip the ball at their feet.”

This weight distribution makes the Pro1 Innovation considerably different from the previous shapes, which have distributions optimized for hand speed.

It also makes the Innovation the most head-heavy paddle of the Pro1 line.

“In order to create that virtual hinge and flex, we did have to put some weight in the head,” Elliott noted. “But we kept some weight in the handle—like with other Pro1 paddles—so it balances out for the desired effect.”

That’s enough on the technology. How does the paddle perform?

 

 

 

 

 

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How it plays/Final thoughts

Before I go into what I liked and didn’t like about the Pro1 Innovation, I should take a moment to describe my athletic background and playstyle.

I’m a former tennis player who now plays pickleball at the 4.5 level. I like using a lot of spin and generally alternate between using one hand (slice) and two hands (topspin) on my backhand drops, drives, and dinks.

My best (and favorite) shots are my backhand flick out of the air and backhand counter.

Let’s get into my likes and dislikes with this paddle.

What I liked:

• Power: I was impressed with the Pro1 Innovation’s power, especially from the baseline where I could unleash on my drives. This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise since the paddle’s advertised as a power paddle, but it felt like a lot for being a non-thermoformed paddle.
• Spin: I got really good spin with this Pro1 Innovation, especially at the kitchen line. I felt like my cut dinks had more spin on them than with most other paddles that I’ve used.
• Grip: The extended six-inch grip is ideal for players who have two-handed backhands, like me.
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What I didn’t like:

• Forgiveness: I felt like I could really rip the ball when I hit the sweet spot, but there were some notable inconsistencies when I didn’t manage to make contact in the sweet spot. That’s not super surprising for a power paddle, like the Innovation.
• Speed: I felt that the extra weight in the head of the paddle made it just a tad slow in hands battles. As someone who likes to get into those fast-paced encounters by speeding up off the bounce, I feel like that’s more problematic for me than it would be for other players.
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Comparison

I would say that an appropriate comparison to the Pro1 Innovation is Paddletek’s Bantam TKO-C, which is another non-thermoformed paddle that packs a punch.

Overall

Admittedly, this was my first time ever using an Engage paddle. 

And it definitely won't be the last.

The benefits of added power and spin far outweigh what I didn't enjoy as much about the paddle, and I'm excited to see Engage incorporate the SpinCore technology into other models in the future.

Where to buy

Want to try the latest (and final) addition of the Engage Pursuit Pro 1 series? Click here to experience Innovation today, and go through Pickleball Central to get:

•          A 30-day risk-free paddle test drive
•          Fast, free shipping on all orders over $49
  • • Rewards points on every purchase that are redeemable for store credit on future orders
•          Access to best-in-class customer care.