Prince racquets are tennis royalty. They’ve been around since the 1970s and have counted Maria Sharapova and Kathy Rinaldi as sponsors alongside countless other tennis and squash players over the years.
When a company with such an esteemed pedigree enters the world of pickleball, you can expect big things. And boy! Prince did not let us down!
And if you're looking for more options, I wrote up the 4 Best Pickleball Paddles for Beginners and Top Rated Pickleball Paddles.
(Some of the below links are affiliate links which means we get paid a bit if you click through and buy something — don’t worry it doesn’t add anything to your cost! Just helps keep the site running.)
They entered the pickleball market in 2018 with the Spectrum, Spectrum Pro, Response, and Response Pro paddles. These paddles were, and still are, innovative and game-changing.
Now their range includes the Quantum Pro and Synapse paddles as well as the original four.
Each paddle brings something different to the game and choosing one of these spectacular paddles can be difficult. We certainly want them all!
Luckily for you, we’re going to give you a rundown of each paddle. We’ll look at how they can help improve your game, what kind of player they suit, and any pitfalls to look out for.
That way you can choose the right paddle for your style.
PRODUCT REVIEW
The first thing you notice about this paddle is the design. It comes in a choice of bright orange or blue with the Prince ‘p’ superimposed on the background.
The color scheme might not change your game but it will help you decide which one to go for.
The Spectrum paddle is 15 ¾” long and 8 ¼” wide. The main thing about the shape of this paddle, about the shape of any Prince paddle, is that it is larger and more rounded than other paddles.
The majority of the best pickleball paddles are squared along the top edge. Prince went for a rounded edge that is more akin to a tennis racquet.
The main advantage of this rounded edge is that you have a much larger sweet spot. You don’t have to stick to the dead center of the paddle to get a good shot.
The handle of the Spectrum range is 5”. It’s a fairly standard length that works for most players. It gives you a lot of close control over the paddle.
You can choose between a standard grip that is 4 ½” in circumference or a thin grip that is 4 ⅛” in circumference. If you have smaller hands, the thin option is a blessing.
The standard grip is cushioned and perforated to allow sweat to wick away from the hand. The thin handle does not have cushioning or perforation.
Like all Prince paddles, the Spectrum has a polymer honeycomb core that is designed to give a sweet balance between shock absorbency and power.
Pros:
- Patented Prince shape increases the sweet spot.
- Honeycomb polymer core.
- Choice of grip size.
- ⅛” overlapping edge guard.
- Textured fiberglass surface.
- Eye Catching color scheme.
Cons:
- 5” handle isn’t ideal for larger hands.
- The thin handle does not have moisture-wicking technology.
- Limited color options.
PRODUCT REVIEW
The Spectrum Pro Paddle is almost identical to the Spectrum. It has the same shape and dimensions as the Spectrum.
You also have the same choice in handle size.
So why, then, does the Pro paddle cost more than double the cost of the standard Spectrum paddle?
Well, the first thing you’ll notice is that you have double the choice of colors.
Again, this doesn’t affect your playing but it is nice to have the option. We love the orange P over the green honeycomb. It looks fresh but professional.
The next difference is the handle size. You still have a choice of standard or thin but the standard circumference is 4 ⅜ “ making it ever so slightly smaller than the standard handle on the Spectrum.
For hobbyists, you might not really notice the difference. If you’re playing more often or competing, you’ll know that even an eighth of an inch can give you an edge. It just makes the handle more comfortable in the hand.
The major difference between the Spectrum and the Spectrum Pro is the choice of weight. You can choose between standard weight or lightweight.
The lightweight is 7.2 -7.7 oz while the standard weight is 7.8 - 8.2 oz. This gives you more control over your paddle design.
If you like more weight behind your shot then definitely go for the standard weight. If you play a speedier game then the lightweight paddle can give you an edge.
Pros:
- Patented Prince shape increases the sweet spot.
- Honeycomb polymer core.
- Choice of grip size.
- Standard or lightweight design.
- ⅛” overlapping edge guard.
- Textured fiberglass surface.
- Eye Catching color scheme.
Cons:
- 5” handle isn’t ideal for larger hands.
- The thin handle does not have moisture-wicking technology.
- Double the price of Spectrum Paddle.
PRODUCT REVIEW
So, again, this paddle is pretty much identical to the Spectrum. It has the same design, technology, and shape. The difference is in the handle length.
The Response series has a 5 ½” handle. The extra half an inch is great for people with larger hands. You have a bit more space for your grip which is a godsend.
Even if you have smaller hands, the response is a good choice if you want a little bit more reach.
It feels more like a tennis racquet which might suit you better if you’re coming from tennis.
Like the Spectrum, you have a choice of color and grip size. The color choices are blue or pink, it’s a bit restricted and gender-based but they do look good.
As with the other paddles, we have a ⅛” overlapping edge guard. This prevents damage and wear and tear to the edges.
Without this guard, you’d probably see the surfaces start to peel away from the paddle.
Pros:
- Patented Prince shape increases the sweet spot.
- Honeycomb polymer core.
- Choice of grip size.
- ⅛” overlapping edge guard.
- Textured fiberglass surface.
- Eye Catching color scheme.
- 5 ½” handle.
Cons:
- The thin handle does not have moisture-wicking technology.
- Limited color options.
PRODUCT REVIEW
As with the Spectrum Pro, what you get for double the price of the standard model is a choice of weight.
The lightweight is between 7.2 -7.7 oz and the standard weight is 7.8-8.3 oz.
The response Pro does retain the extra half an inch on the handle length.
If you’re a pro player or looking to become pro, then the Response Pro is a great choice.
The extra length can help you reach those trickier shots or get a bit of height on your volley shots.
This paddle has the same honeycomb polymer core. It’s different from many other racquets on the market that opt for a fiberglass core.
It has excellent shock absorbency to kill speed when you need to. However, it has enough weight and rigidity to provide amazingly powerful shots too.
In terms of color and design, you have 5 options. Red and seafoam are the basic colors.
However, you can get black, blue, and pink in the Simone Jardim design.
Jardim is the 2018 US Open champion. She used the Response Pro during the tournament and has been the face of Prince Pickleball since.
Pros:
- Patented Prince shape increases the sweet spot.
- Honeycomb polymer core.
- Choice of grip size.
- ⅛” overlapping edge guard.
- Textured fiberglass surface.
- Eye Catching color scheme.
- 5 ½” handle.
Cons:
- The thin handle does not have moisture-wicking technology.
- Double the price of the Response Paddle.
PRODUCT REVIEW
The Quantum Pro paddle is a bit of a departure from the Response and Spectrum ranges.
It has the same rounded design, however, the paddle is thinner and longer than its sibling paddles.
At 7 ⅜” in width and 16 ⅜” long, it is visibly narrower and longer. The changes in the shape allow you to get more momentum with your swing.
This paddle really does split the difference between a table tennis paddle and a tennis racquet.
The handle is also longer than either the Spectrum or the Response.
At 6” long, it gives you plenty of room to find a comfortable hold. It also helps increase your reach for those tricky shots.
The extra-long handle means that some of the material is removed at the base of the paddle.
This doesn’t disadvantage you as that area of the paddle isn’t used much in-game. Instead, this material is pushed higher where it is actually useful.
As with the other racquets, you get a choice of grip size. However, unlike the other Pro paddles, you do not get to choose the weight.
The Quantum Pro comes in at 7.6oz so it's at the top end of the lightweight paddle range.
If the paddle were heavier, it would probably become quite unwieldy thanks to the extra length.
Pros:
- Patented Prince shape increases the sweet spot.
- Increased paddle length.
- Honeycomb polymer core.
- Choice of grip size.
- ⅛” overlapping edge guard.
- Textured fiberglass surface.
- Eye Catching color scheme.
- 6” handle.
Cons:
- The thin handle does not have moisture-wicking technology.
- Double the price of other paddles.
- No choice of weight.
PRODUCT REVIEW
The Synapse is a lightweight paddle that is designed for speed rather than power.
It has the same paddle dimensions as the Spectrum at 8 ¼” wide and 15 ¾” long. However, the handle is 5 ½” long making it more like the Response paddle.
The major difference is the weight. The Synapse comes in at 7.3oz making it the lightest paddle in the range.
It’s designed to allow quick maneuvering during rallies and to reduce fatigue.
There is no grip size choice. This paddle comes with a thin handle that has a circumference of 4 ⅛”.
Like the other paddles in the Price range, the thin grip is not cushioned or moisture-wicking.
The Synapse is not in the Pro range which makes it cheaper. It is a unique paddle that will suit speed players more than any other kind of player.
It’s a bit of a niche paddle, to be honest. There’s a market for it, but we wouldn’t recommend it for beginners.
Pros:
- Patented Prince shape increases the sweet spot.
- Polymer core.
- ⅛” overlapping edge guard.
- Textured fiberglass surface.
- Eye Catching color scheme.
- 5 1/2” handle.
- Extremely lightweight racquets
Cons:
- The thin handle does not have moisture-wicking technology.
- No choice of weight.
Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
