GS AIR Pickleball Paddle

The GS Air ended my search for a primary pickleball paddle. This paddle boasts an incredibly stylish design with uncompromised performance. The affordable price and included neoprene case make it the best value I have found.DesignDespite the mid-range price, the GS Air has all the coveted details featured by expensive paddles. The matte black color, edgeless design, and the aerodynamic cut-out make the GS Air appear sleek and sophisticated. The GS Air logo looks clean and isn’t obnoxiously large. The transition between the head and the handle is covered by a GoSports® silicone band. The handle cap features a glossy GS logo. Overall, it looks fantastic!PerformanceThe GS Air has an excellent balance of power and control. The coarse surface, which almost feels like 100-grit sandpaper, promotes good contact and the ability to add spin to the ball. The paddle is lightweight and not so solid that balls are popped out of the court, yet it doesn’t require much strength to produce powerful hits. The cut-out at the base of the head does make it seem quicker to maneuver, especially during kitchen-line rallies. The handle is thinner in comparison to many other paddles and accommodates a broader range of hand sizes. After about a month of playing, my GS Air has proven to be highly durable. Scratches can occur due to the edgeless design. However, these cosmetic damages are preventable with edge tape.ValueThe GS Air costs considerably less than name-brand paddles and about the same amount as a beginner paddle set. Combined with its appearance and performance, the GS Air is a bargain for intermediate players and a good investment for beginners. The included neoprene case is an uncommon offer, and it even has a GoSports® logo to distinguish it from other cases. Choose the GS Air if you want to avoid wasting money in search of the perfect pickleball paddle!

The GS Air has been my preferred paddle in the last few months and I'm surprised by its impressive performance and lightweight design. As an intermediate player, I've had the opportunity to put this paddle to the test in various playing conditions and it has been enjoyable to play with. It delivers a responsive and lively feel, allowing good spin and strong hits and serves. The standard grip feels right for my hands, providing a secure hold and preventing slippage during rallies. The carbon fiber material gives it a cool look and it's engineered to provide a good balance between power and control. Regarding quality, I had a few scratches on the edges in the first games but after putting in some tape everything was fantastic. It's a great paddle for the price and I would recommend it to all my pickleball friends!

This was my first carbon fiber paddle. I started pickleball with a beginner paddle 10/2023; I received this paddle 11/2023 and played with it for 2 to 3 times a week the first month or so, then stopped because I bought 2 more paddles and needed to try them out.My background: Former tennis player; started pickleball 10/2023.Pros: Thickness/control - I like that it's 16mm; the thicker 16mm helps me keep the ball in the court more often. I've tried brand name/expensive 14mm paddles and felt the increase in power, but sacrificed control; with this paddle I felt my play was more steady, balls stayed in more, so it depends on what you want/need, more control or more power?Spin - I can put spin on the ball, however, I'm not a spin fanatic, so I'm not really analyzing spin vs. other paddles.Cons: Weight - I don't like that it weighs more than advertised. It's advertised on Amazon as being 8.1 oz., but my GoSports Pro paddle weighed more than 8.4 oz. on a postal scale. I almost returned it just because of the weight but kept it because I had no other carbon fiber paddle to use. I have had wrist pain even before pickleball, and this paddle when playing gives me sharp pains in my wrist, so if you have wrist issues this may not be the paddle for you. I do not experience wrist pain playing with my other two 16mm carbon fiber paddles that both feel lighter than this GS Pro paddle and both not head heavy like the GS Pro. I do feel like it's because GS Pro is head heavy, not so much because it's heavier overall. I have not weighed my other two paddles. My other two paddles feel like they're balanced right as in not head heavy, in addition to being lighter overall.Grip circumference and feel - The grip was larger than I expected per either advertised or reviewer measurements (I can't remember) but my husband said it's too small for him, he does have large hands for an average height man. I measured the grip circumference at 4.5 inches, but I now realize after regular use of 3 different paddles, that the way the grip feels also depends on the shape of the grip, as in more round like this paddle, or more square-ish. All 3 of my paddles are advertised as octagonal shaped grip but they all feel different. I like that the grip feels decently tacky.Sturdy - Feels sturdy. My sons use it and it's still going strong as of 4/1/24. I do like the protective frame. The frameless paddles give me anxiety lol.Pop - This does not have the pop of a CRBN but for the price is okay, being that CRBN costs $200+. This GS Pro has less pop than one of my other non-name brand 16mm carbon fiber paddles, and more pop than my other 16mm carbon fiber paddle.Price - This is something I wish all reviewers would disclose so I'm including it. This one was about $61, on sale for 10% off before tax. I have since paid less ($55 on sale/deal before tax) for a paddle I like a lot better (weight more evenly balanced and thus doesn't hurt my wrist, more pop, larger more square feeling handle), and again paid less ($40 lightning deal) for a paddle I like a little less (not enough pop, too light.There are so many new companies offering carbon fiber paddles at great deals if you shop around.