Gherkin SPECTRE
US$125 at Gherkin
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Weight7.9–8.3 oz
Core16 mm
Swingweight120
Specs
| Shape | Elongatedestimated from width |
|---|---|
| Core thickness | 16 mmbrand |
| Weight | 7.9–8.3 oz (224–235 g)brand |
| Size | 16.5 × 7.5 inbrand |
| Handle | 5.5 inbrand |
| Grip | 4⅛ inbrand |
| Swingweight | 120high for an elongatedbrand |
| Twistweight | 6.5high for an elongatedbrand |
| Balance | not published |
| Core material | not published |
| Face | not published |
| Approval | USAP approvedlisted as Spectre |
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, 7.9–8.3 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).
- Elongated (shape estimated from the paddle's width). Trades forgiveness for reach, and scores lowest of the three shapes on comfort measures (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).
- High swingweight for an elongated. More weight behind drives; the sources pair it with power (Pickleball.com, Paddletek).
- High twistweight for an elongated. Steadier on off-centre hits, which the sources rate highest for newer players and sore arms (Pickleball.com, Pickleball Effect, Paddletek).
- 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 elongated paddles nearest in weight and core thickness.
- Honolulu SWORD & SHIELD J7NFElongated · 16 mm · 7.9–8.3 oz · US$195
- Honolulu SWORD & SHIELD J7k PROElongated · 16 mm · 7.9–8.3 oz · US$165
- JOOLA Hyperion Pro IV 16mm Pickleball Paddle - Tropical Blue/PinkElongated · 16 mm · 8.1 oz · US$149.95
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16mm Pickleball Paddle - Tropical Red/PinkElongated · 16 mm · 8.1 oz · US$149.95
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16mm Pickleball Paddle - Tropical Red/GreenElongated · 16 mm · 8.1 oz · US$149.95
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14mm Pickleball Paddle - Tropical Red/PinkElongated · 16 mm · 8.1 oz · US$149.95
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.