Proton Series 1-3 Review: New Technology, Massive Spin
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
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Jump to Sections:
0:00 Introduction
0:35 Paddle Specs
3:23 Materials & Technology
7:06 Paddle Dissection
10:35 Performance
12:40 Feel & Gameplay
15:59 Reflections on Series One
20:15 Series Two & Three
Full interview with Andrei Daescu and Meghan Dizon here: • Johnkew Podcast Episod...
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My wife and I have four Proton paddles one each Type A and Type B in 11 mm (our preference). We live in Phoenix and discovered Proton very early on. Having personally met Charles and his team I can say they have true passion for building the best legal paddle possible, and for my money I believe they are succeeding. Like you I was not a fan of the colors used, but now I like that they are not another black paddle. Even better if annoys the competition! LOL. Glad you and others are giving Proton the detailed look the brand deserves.
Can you kindly share how the type A and B play differently? And what do you each prefer? Thanks
Big second that /\
John, thanks for these reviews. There are so many people taking up pickleball and starting out with low end paddles, it would be great if you would do these tests on ultra-beginner paddles like the Gamma Fusion 2.0 Plus, which sells at Target for $40.00. I say this because every beginner that sticks with pickleball will want to move to a better paddle eventually, but it would be HUGELY BENEFICIAL to have an understanding of what we are playing with at the moment before investing in a "real" paddle. Hypothetically, if I knew the Fusion 2.0 Plus is low power, high contorl, low spin and has average swing weight, I could expect great things from upgrading to something like a Ruby or Gearbox Pro. But until I know where my entry level Gamma sits on the spectrum, I really don't know what to expect. It would be awesome if you did a video that provided specs on the most popular entryl level offerings that many beginners pick up at big box retailers like Target. Thanks for your reveiws, you do an amazing job.
Nice to finally see a Proton review, as always great review John…
Want to point out- the MJF entrance music at the very beginning did NOT go unnoticed. Well done. PB seems to have two schools of graphics 1) straight black 2) crazy colors / 30 logos. I would love to demo one. Curious if lead tape would improve or detract, especially since the type A weights the same/same swing weight as my beefy stock Engage Pro MX and the type B weighs as much as my Pro after my lead tape setup.
My old Gen1 Diadem Icon had a very similar surface. Almost rubbery to the touch. You could get a ridiculous amount of spin off that paddle if you hit it right. I could get the ball to hook like a whiffle ball pitch on my backhand/forehand drives. I couldn't even imagine how much spin I could get off of an all-court or control paddle with that surface on it.
Yeah, I still have that paddle, and the version 2. It plays really good. I imagine this Proton paddle spins more. Maybe because it won't be as hard as the Icon paddle.
I’ve been playing with series one for a while and it’s for sure my favorite that I’ve ever played with
I’ve had it for a few months and still has great spin
What other paddles have you played with prior to this one being your favorite?
@@chinnobi Joola (Hyperion and scorpius), Selkirk power air, PCKL, paddletek, CRBN 2x, engage
Are you playing with the elongated version? The one with the 130 swing weight.
Thank for stopping by! I've been watching your channel for a while now, and I noticed you play with a Proton.
@@mlee9049 elongated 15 mm. I have the wide body 11 mm as well and it’s great but I prefer the 15 mm.
Mr. Kew, very much appreciated! You Sir, are my favorite paddle reviewer. I've gained so much genuine interest and knowledge and love for this game and I'd like to extend the appreciation. I've developed 2 novel pickleball paddles. I was wondering if I could gift them to you in exchange for your off-channel feedback. I just need an address to send them too privately. Thanks man!
Great review as always. Too bad you didn't get a chance to test the series one 11mm.
Thank you for your time and posting. Agree, the music was a big loud.
Ha, the music was loud. I mixed it in on an international flight; apparently all the engine noise was cutting through my headphones
Thanks. I also meant to say "a bit loud" :)
@@johnkewpickleball
Great review. Couple of questions. Is it possible the 11mm would address some of your concerns by giving you more pop, lower weight and options to add weight to widen sweet spot? How would the spin on these paddle surfaces get certified? Seems like tools would not be able to measure this surface?
11mm square is awesome to play with! It's the one Deascu and Dizon play
I’ve been using the elongated 11mm type A for a month now. And love it! Came from using legacy. Has a lot more pop and spin! I have more protons on the way!
Really? LEGACY is known for having a lot of pop. These paddles rank low for pop. Are you sure about that?
This review is on the 15mm. The poster said 11mm. Yes, probably more pop
How does the power Compare to legacy? Did you add lead tape?
Seems like a really cool paddle! I wish they offered a longer handle and that they weren’t so ugly haha
very nice aesthetic presentation graphics with great detailed info
The Diadem Icon version 1 paddle had the rubbery surface on it also. That was 2-3 years ago. Version 2 got rid of that surface. The version one paddle was on the approved list.
I had that paddle- and I just received my proton (after 3 months lol) but they are beyond different. Just talking about the feel/material on the face, night & day different
You mentioned that the paddle grip stiffens in cold weather, is there a possibility it is the ball that gets harder making the ball harder to grip? Do you do a spin difference based on the temperature with the other paddles that get good spin as well?
I bought the edgeless Proton paddle and love it. Great spin. very good control and sufficient power. the lighter weight was a little bit of a concern but actually it works better for me as I noticed a dramatic increase in my hand speed at kitchen. favorite paddle I have used so far.
Which model did you get?
I got Edgeless model. I’m very pleased with it.
Diadem has used this surface on their ICON V1 and lately the A52 has it also. They call it PU paint. Sould come today in the mail.
Thanks John for all the extra effort you put into your reviews.Good luck on your Saudi trip.
I'm waiting on a paddle made by MERCER. They use a 100% Kevlar core to add to my collection.
I have the 11mm poly type A. I wish you had done a comparison of the 11mm vs. the 15mm. I love it, but it's a little poppy and twisty. I have considered the 15mm type A, but concerned with the swing weight. Curious what the swing weight is of the 11mm. It feels a bit heavier to me and I prefer lighter paddles like the Vatic pro prism. I just HATE that grit based surfaces wear out so quick.
@mingez, how long have you had the 11mm poly type A and how has it held up, primarily spin potential? I am currently in the same boat as you where I am running through raw carbon fiber faces roughly every two months (4-6 hours of game play a week). Also have you needed or have a process of cleaning the paddle? With the raw carbon fiber the erasers work well but wasn't sure on this surface. Thanks, John
it would be nice if they could deliver. Waiting three months for the 15mm series one elongated. I hope the wait is worth the hype.
Hi John, I was wondering how you like the Babolat shoes you're wearing? are they the Jet Mach 3? And I f I were to want to buy a Proton series 1 ( with your code), which one you say I should get that is similar to my beloved Ruby? I know you love the Ruby, and which one did you like the most out of this group of Protons? Thanks!
Would you recommend getting a 15 mm or the 11 mm? I already have great control and I don't mind lead to tweak
Could you review Body Helix Pro X2 and X3 paddles? Thanks!
Can you review the Mark Krypton pickleball paddle?
Could you do a review on the CRBN 1X 12MM - Thomas Wilson Edition?
Has anyone gotten their paddle? I ordered mine feb 2. And haven’t heard anything.
Hi John, great review as always! I’m curious about the paddle specs for the Series 1, Type A 15mm in the elongated shape. Do you have the numbers on static weight, swing weight and twist weight for this one? Thanks in advance!
Does this paddle loose its spin potential once the face gets dirty?
Would anyone know what the swing weight and twist weight would be on the Series 1, Type A, 11 mm paddle.......
Second this.
Just received my proton series 1 - 15mm elongated paddle that I ordered in March. I hope the paddle is worth the wait. Going to take it for test drive the next two weeks and will report back. On initial inspection, I can see what they’re talking g about with no grit, smooth paddle face, but very tacky to the ball. Spin is king for me, so we’ll see if it lives up to the hype.
Worth the hype???
John, any data on the 11mm version of the Series One, Type A, Square model? Didn't see any on your database.
Second this request. That's the one the pros use.
11:11 Have you done the same temperature study with raw carbon fiber paddles and found it has little impact? I would think temperature difference would affect the ball stiffness enough to in turn influence spin, and so temperature variation would be a factor for raw carbon fiber paddles as well.
It's been something that I've been paying attention to since I started testing spin, but so far, I haven't noticed any difference on grit or RCF in different temperatures
Feel bad for the perfectly good paddle getting dissected, but I love the details and this is an incredible review!
Yeah, I usually ask for returns for dissection so I'm not wasting a good paddle, but I was curious enough about the insides of these that I sacrificed one
Hi John can you comment on if you prefer the series one from Proton or the shogun from bread and butter?
Hey John, I know we likely won’t see a review on the Hudef Mage, but was just curious your thoughts on it and any information you can provide about their “theromoforming” process
John, thank you for your review. Can you comment on shape, size feel of grip? Can you compare to any other paddles? Thx
Hi, the grip is octagonal and standard 4.25 inch circumference. It’s 5.25 inches long, so not a particularly long handle, but long enough for two handlers with a finger on the back of the paddle
I wanted to try the series 1, but nether of them appealed to me in terms of shape/size. The standard one is too short and wide, and the elongated one didn't have a long enough handle and its face is too long. Plus they raised their prices. I did try the series 2, which I'm returning. I'm not really sure who this will appeal to. It looks great and is built well, but I don't really understand why it is edgeless. Presumably, you would make it edgeless to make it faster, but it's a slow paddle. It has a long face and is really heavy stock. It doesn't really excel at anything and its power and pop are below average. Control from the baseline is good, but there are plenty of gen 1 raw cf paddles that could do this at 1/3 the price.
Music playing while you were talking was very distracting felt like I was in an elevator. Great content review
This is great, but when will these paddle ACTUALLY be available? @John?
Can you please confirm the core material difference between the Type A and Type B? Proton's website shows them both as having the Nomex core if you look closely... unless I am missing something here. I am interested in the Elongated version in 11mm. Thx!
Yes, the Type A is polypropylene, and the Type B is Nomex. The website is a bit confusing, but I've confirmed
@johnkewpickleball Wondering why they chose nomex. Not many manufacturers still use it. Did the CEO Happen to tell you why? Beyond power, I'm guessing it's because nomex cores maybe last longer. But if that's true, why was it not used on their other paddles. So maybe power is the only reason.
@@mlee9049 Good question, and I forgot to ask him. My impression is that it's mostly for the performance (power/pop)
I’ve been waiting for this since watching Lanky’s review. I know it’s different, but the tackiness sounds like the short-lived (EDIT: as not used by the pros very long before they switched to RCF faces) surface on the Vulcan minus the grit. Great to see a company stand behind their surface 100%. Graphics? Not my favorite but there’s no doubt or confusion when you see one so that’s a positive.
Good point about the stand-out graphics. It's becoming harder to stand out in a saturated market. Talking to Andrei and Meghan, they've both used the same paddle for months. So I think the spin must last, or they'd be switching out each tournament like everyone with RCF paddles.
Yes protons are positive. ( I had to do it )
The surface feels like rubber
@terogan227, It's the exact opposite...not short-lived. It lasts a very long time. 4 months 5-6 times per week/2-3 hours a day and honestly, I think the spin is better now than new.
@@mingez I should have been more clear. Short-lived as in the paddle itself wasn't used by JD and TL very long before they got RCF paddles. But that face felt almost like rubber on it.
''the hotter the weather, the more spin''
So its suitable to play in the hot day and not suitable to play in cold night (much less spin)
It's not THAT much of a difference. But there is a difference. That being said, even in cold weather, the spin is better than any carbon surface I've ever played. (Vatic Prism, CRBN 1x 2x, Six Zero DBD, Legacy Pro)
Is the tacky surface similar to the original Icon from Diadem?
I haven't hit with the original Icon, but I heard it gets poor spin. If so, not the same, 'cause the Proton spin is nuts!
It would also be interesting if the nanotac surface will wear down faster if playing with balls that are older and roughed up by an outdoor court.
For me, not so far. Visually there is some wear, but the performance on spin has actually improved in the 4 months I've owned it. (I was an early adopter).
I am also curious to know if the Nanotec surface gets more spin on a new ball versus a ball that is roughed up by use.
@@mingez What version do you have? And did you try any of the other versions? (i.e. elongated vs wide, 11mm vs 15mm) Thanks
Is it possible the spin difference was due to temperature of the ball?
I think it could - a slightly softer ball would deform more which would increase surface contact.
@john any way to get specs for the 11mm elongated series 1?
I'll ask the owner to send me one
@@johnkewpickleball follow up. Did you get one?
The surface of the Series 1 sounds awfully like the surface of the Diadem Icon V1 with their SpinRP terminology that came out in 2021. Have you ever had a Icon V1 in your hand?
I haven't hit with the Icon V1, but I know that it was a polyurethane coating. I'm pretty sure it's different than the NanoTac, as I heard the Icon got poor spin. Proton is keeping the formula secret, but the owner did mention that it was used to coat the seats on spacecraft to prevent astronauts from slipping around.
Great review but man that static weight and swing weight is insane. If you have tennis elbow this is not the paddle for you. Fast in the hand is completely opposite of this paddles objective.
Interesting tech. But the paddles are hideous to look at. Makes it hard to pay so much. Anyone know if they have a demo program?
So how would you clean this paddle face? Could i use an eraser or soap and water?
I've been using the Reset spray with good effect. If you don't have Reset, you can probably get by with a washcloth and mild soapy water
Alcohol or lite solvent tends to bring back original tack on such things
My problem with Proton is when i talked to them on the phone i told them i could only recommend the paddle if my code got the series 1 below $200 dollars since anything more than that is ridiculous. They agreed to get it where my code would get it below 200 then 2 weeks later jacked up the prices. So my trust in the company is a little low right now lol
Thanks for sharing, Lanky 🙂
I’m okay with their pricing, after the discount, given the quality materials and made in USA aspect. Assuming the spin lasts longer than RCF
If the series one paddles last twice as long as raw carbon fiber paddles, then the prices are a non-issue. The fact that Daescu and Dizon have been playing with the same paddles for many months suggests that this may very well be true
@@johnkewpickleball Seems like Lanky doesn't have a problem with the price per se, just their lack of communication with him.
Production costs in the states is considerably higher than overseas (which is why they're expanding to Mexico) and with a good warranty, it appears they'll back things up if there are QC issues. Price adjustments, sponsorships, market share - many factors in pricing. My view is spend less and buy a lesson.
Lanky, Well stated. My exact thoughts when I saw your reviews after this. Suddenly jacking up the price.
I have an interesting idea for material to use in pickleball paddles. Hopefully I get a finder's fee😀 The material called D30 is used in many things, but one particular use is in knee pads and elbow pads. The material can be soft and flexible until it is impacted. Once impacted it locks up and becomes stiff. It can be fine tuned. This might be difficult to get used to though, because the harder you hit the ball, the harder the paddle becomes.
John, warranty is only as good as the company. Called, emailed, left messages multiple times. Zero replies. May not bode well if one need warranty support. Anyone able to get them?
Interesting. I think Kew is an endorser but he's not really used them or talked them up since this video.
The tackiness since used on softball bats with the softball texture and being used in a dirt environment will undoubtedly last longer compared to pickleball environment and plastic ball when that type of softball surface is used on a paddle
I would have thought the opposite....mass of softball and faster swing of the bats should cause more wear, and dirt is abrasive. No?
Did Proton "pattened" the face material? Could be the reason for the price. Getting a pattent is very expensive.
Yes they did
Hmm..... curious about the 11mm. You didn't get to hit those?
No I did'nt receive the 11mm. The polypropylene might be interesting, but man, and 11mm Nomex would be BRITTLE
Yeah, seriously wondering if the 11 mm type a elongated series one might have a more manageable swing weight.
I hit with the 11mm poly and it feels very good with lead imo, I have it at 9.1 with lead on the sides and top
I hit with the 11mm poly and it feels very good with lead imo, I have it at 9.1 with lead on the sides and top
@@woodsonsanders1112 Good point, and I've asked the owner to send me one. I'll cover it on the podcast
hopefully Proton can produce their paddles a lot quicker than they produce their bats.....I love their products but if you cannot wait for them to get to you, it can be very frustrating....I guess that is one downfall by making and building their own products...the spin technology is proven on a number of bat companies and it very popular amongst the softball community....it's good to see another quality player in the market
Good to know that the NanoTac coating is also being used by other bat companies
Coming from table tennis I'd expect tackiness based spin to deteriorate big time very fast because of dirt and dust. Even new grippy table tennis rubbers loose grip very fast after several hours of play in a dusty gym, that's why table tennis paddles have to be cleaned often with sponge and water or commercial solution. Pickleball courts are usually quite dirty/dusty both inside and outside, so it would be very interesting to see how tackiness on these paddles resists dirt. I don't buy what those pro's said about playing with the same paddle for months, that's obviously just a marketing bs.
I keep my TT paddle fairly clear, I have both Stiga and Killerspin paddles without any issues you have described. The rubbers last much long than Pickleball paddles. I had Selkirk Invanka Air, Power, within 41 days you can see the wear. Got RAW Carbon instead went with the Bread & Butter Filth x2.
I did see Daescu at the APP indoor championships with his pink proton, he was standing next to me for a while watching center court, his paddle was definitely well used, to the point where I questioned myself, why the hell is he using such an old beat up paddle. I didn't know much about the paddle or the tech behind it back then but I can attest his paddle was no where close to new, also his was leaded all the way around the whole perimeter.
The surface is like rubber
Ok - I have it now for three weeks. I played with it 6 x’s a week for 2 - 3 hours a day. I got it because I love new technology. Nano tech surface? Interesting but no cigar. I was looking for my serves to kick like crazy. Eh - not impressed. usually go to tournaments with 10 - 12 paddles. I was exclusively using my engage pursuit mx 6.0 and switched back to it. I have six other paddles in my bag that generate the same or better spin. Especially my Voltaire Forza Mach one at half the cost as the proton. Still deciding whether to keep it or send back. Overall review score - meh.
100% agree John. Add edge foam, reduce the weight. And IMO the worst looking paddles on the market.
Definitely the ugliest.
Edge foam will increase the weight so where does the weight reduction come from? A good start may be to remove the graphics?
@@ron2368you wouldn’t need the cores to be as tight if you added edge foam which would reduce weight
Agree fully. Lighter and foam and better graphics. The graphics is amateurish, unfortunately.
It looks like a Amazon two for one paddle package
I played against series 1 paddles a couple times and commented on the ridiculous spin and smooth face and people said I was a company shill. 🤷🏼♂️. Couple tennis players using it had topspin drives coming at my head at the kitchen and dropping a foot inside the baseline. I play in Phoenix so I’ve seen several people with them although they are kind of ugly
Yup, sounds right!
So no talking points about Kevlar surface material.
Seems like the weight of the paddle has gone Away in reviews. Weight is a benchmark overhead before one adds lead tape. Why makes this hard?
Swing weight is more relevant than static weight. But he mentions both at 2:00.
@@zachcarmichael699 just plain weight is a great way to quickly weed out paddles to not consider. When you just standing there and it feels like you elbow and shoulder is gonna fall off paddle is too heavy, does not matter the weight distribution, cuz you not swinging it anymore. We are just being overrun with paddles, be glad when the shake out comes. Analysis paralysis.
@@gg80108 That's why swing weight was introduced as a more useful metric. Two paddles that both weigh 8 ounces can feel drastically different, depending on the balance point. It does matter.
@@zachcarmichael699 but an 8.5 will never feel below an 8 in any instance. Drastically is being dramatic. Starting weigh makes a difference. Of course all the measurements are virgin and only valid with no modifications. You think putting lead tape on just expands the sweat spot? One invalidated all the measurements.
10:25 paddle tech really needs to up their durability and longevity. Hearing that pros switch out paddles every tournament or even every few games is insane. So much environmental waste. This is why tennis rackets can be restrung or ping pong paddle rubbers can be easily swapped.
Imagine how tacky the surface with be in the 90's!!
Right it’s like, totally 80’s!
@@hruntingson 😆
JohnyKew, why don’t you comment on horrible customer service that proton has?
Paddles were purchased in January and not shipped yet!!!!
My stepdad owns proton Charles darling
Is he a good stepdad
Well, this just sucks, they're sold out. How am I supposed to get one now ? Geez
Very unfortunate the owner will ramp up production outside the U.S. :( Giving jobs to foreigners instead of U.S. citizens. Also, why Mexico, a country allowing catels and drugs and illegal immigration to pass into our country? Will not buy this paddle
If you have good technique, the paddle doesn’t matter. Glad I’m not gullible as you guys are. 😂
ok boomer
$280 for their Series One paddle? Must think they are Selkirk - but without all the pro players using it.
Yeah, that's already setting themselves up for failure at launch. Even with a discount code, that's $224 from a new company. They should be selling these at like $180 pre-discount, at most.
180 is the average based on John's database... so many paddles at the 180 mark right now@@zachcarmichael699
I think the tech is cool but they will lose potential buyers due to the ugly graphics.
The color schemes are atrocious. That alone and the heavy weight would keep me from buying one.
Music playing while you were talking was very distracting felt like I was in an elevator. Great content review