Pro-driven
While the rest of the pickleball world has moved forward to Gen 4s, Joola refuses to move past its Gen 3 Propulsion Core. The reason is simple: Joola makes paddles for the pros, and the pros are not convinced by Gen 4s.
In a recent interview with John Kew, Ben Johns discussed the intricacies of ball feel and dwell time, which he still considers significantly better on Gen 3 honeycomb cores. While the issue is certainly complex, I tend to agree with Ben. Gen 4s offer certain benefits—mainly sweet spot size and durability—but when it comes to feel, Gen 3 is still the king.
So, if the pros prefer Gen 3s and Joola makes paddles for the pros, then their new paddle for 2026 was always going to be a Gen 3.
But what has changed?
The Pro V is a subtle update on the ever-popular Pro IV, but after about three hours on court, I've got a pretty good idea of what it has to offer. It's a bit plusher, more forgiving, and generally more controlled; you can check out my full first impressions in the video below.
The Lineup
The Pro V paddles come in six shapes, with 14mm and 16mm options in each (except the Agassi).
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The Perseus is their classic, flat-top, elongated option.
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The Hyperion is also elongated but with Joola's Aero Curve top.
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The Scorpeus is a rapid, long-handle, wide-body paddle.
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The Agassi & Graf have the same unique shape but with different-sized handles (4.25 in. on the Agassi, 4.125 in. on the Graf).
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The Kosmos is a brand-new shape for Joola! It's their take on a hybrid paddle, and instead of an aero top, it has a flat top. It's an interesting decision considering the popularity of paddles like the Double Black Diamond and the Flash, but Joola knows what it's doing, and I see this one becoming a bestseller very quickly.
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To check out the brand-new Joola Pro V lineup, you can come visit us in-store or online!
