Gherkin Draco Hybrid
US$179.99 at Gherkin
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Weight7.9 oz
Core16 mm
Swingweight111
Specs
| Shape | Hybridbrand |
|---|---|
| Core thickness | 16 mmbrand |
| Weight | 7.9 oz (224 g)brand |
| Size | 16.25 × 7.75 inbrand |
| Handle | 5.5 inbrand |
| Grip | 4⅛ inbrand |
| Swingweight | 111low for a hybridbrand |
| Twistweight | 6.6medium for a hybridbrand |
| Balance | not published |
| Core material | not published |
| Face | not published |
| Approval | USAP approvedlisted as Draco |
Who it suits
- 16 mm core. Thicker cores feel softer and steadier; 16 mm is the core the sources suggest for newer players and most others today (Onix, Paddletek, Pickleball Effect).
- Midweight, 7.9 oz. Between Paddletek's lightweight (7.3 oz and under) and heavy (8.5 oz and over) classes: the range suggested for beginners and for sore arms (Paddletek).
- Hybrid. Between widebody and elongated; with a widebody, the shape to start with if you're undecided (Pickleball Effect).
- 5.5 in handle. Room for a two-handed backhand: 5.4 in or longer is what Pickleball Effect recommends (Pickleball Effect, PickleballUS).
- Low swingweight for a hybrid. Quick hands at the net: the band the sources pair with control, and with newer players and sore arms (Pickleball.com, Paddletek, Pickleball Science).
- Medium twistweight for a hybrid. Typical stability for the shape (Pickleball.com).
- 4⅛ in grip. Grips of 4⅛ in or larger tend to need less squeezing (Pickleball Effect); if it's big for your hand, there's no making it smaller, so try before you buy.
See where it ranks for your answers →
Similar paddles
Other hybrid paddles nearest in weight and core thickness.
- Selkirk SLK OMEGA Hybrid Air - XL - Pickleball PaddleHybrid · 16 mm · 7.7–8.1 oz · US$90
- Selkirk SLK OMEGA Hybrid Air - Max - Pickleball PaddleHybrid · 16 mm · 7.7–8.1 oz · US$90
- Ronbus Quanta Pro R4.16Hybrid · 16 mm · 7.9 oz · US$119.99
- Ronbus Tenon R4.16Hybrid · 16 mm · 7.9 oz · US$169.99
- GRÜVN LAZR-16HD Full Foam - Blue (new design)Hybrid · 16 mm · 7.9 oz · US$139
- GRÜVN THE GRIPPER-16HD Pickleball Paddle Aqua White SpiralHybrid · 16 mm · 7.9 oz · US$89
Lab reviews
Independent labs measure swingweight, twistweight, power and spin; their data is theirs, so we link rather than copy it: Pickleball Effect · Pickleball Studio · John Kew.