I highly recommend purchasing this through Pickleball Central if you do end up getting one. They have great customer service and easy no hassle returns if needed. Here's the updated link! Also my code STSPICKLEBALL works on Pickleball Central so it's the same price :) bit.ly/4cw3bHU
I have indeed! Honestly I like it I think it’s a wonderful paddle with great spin and power. But my recommendation these days is the Mark Pure. Plays the same, same shape, but only $99 I’d go check out my review on that 😊
@@stspickleball thanks! I just pulled the trigger on the pro drive encounter. I have the mark kinetic, ALW C Bantam, and volair Mach 2 forza so I’ve got a pretty good spread and variety
@@stspickleball it’s got high power (not quite to the gearbox PPE but close, with some solid looking control and spin. Also super clean looking for an edgeless. I wanted to try a Selkirk but the spray on grit gave me pause
Does anyone have any advice on how to clean the face of the black diamond, given that it is fiberglass? Do I use an eraser like you would with carbon fiber?
For me it might not be “best practice” with fiberglass or with Kevlar really to use a paddle eraser but I use it very gently and don’t rub hard. I do a very gentle pass with the eraser and haven’t had any issues. With Raw Carbon Fiber I can press harder without any issues of course.
I’m actually using it without lead right now. I think if I do add lead instead of using a 5” strip like I normally do I might do a 3” strip on the bottom of the sides of the paddle on the flat edge not on the throat for this one just to keep the weight and swing weight low 😊
@stspickleball Wouldn't the throat placement keep it lower (swingweight)? I just bought one but not sure if I want lead on it because a lot of r&d went into making it fast with such a low swingweight. However, I assume a little lead, in the right spot, may not hurt it too much.
@@robedwards6926 yes that’s why I said “weight and swing weight” differentiating between the two. Meaning I want to keep both down with such a quick paddle so the overall lead I’d use would be smaller and placed in specific spots to address my miss hits but only if I feel it’s needed in the future 😊 you’re spot on!
This is my new go to paddle. I have the DBD Ruby DBDi and the BDi. The whole point of this paddle was to make a power paddle with super low swing weight, so it is extremely fast in your hands and they accomplish that 100%. With the low, swinging weight, you would think this paddle would not have much power, but because you can generate such a fast swing this paddle is a put away animal. I originally tried the DBDi and although it had such great control, at the kitchen line, the paddle had absolutely zero power, and could not put away a ball to save my life. This BDi has it all and then some. Prob the best paddle I have played with. Definitely forgot to mention that you 100% need edge guard tape. The edge paint is super fragile. Cracks and peels and chips off w the slightest impact. Personally, I recommend two layers. Do not add weight to this paddle. If that’s what you’re gonna do then just get the regular black diamond because you are defeating the whole purpose of this design.
@omadscience7358 I see you have the whole 6.0 collection and you chose the BDI. I have been using the DBD 16MM since it first came out and really like it. But from what I'm reading about the hand speed (swing weight) is a definite bonus. I like to play a soft control game and the only thing that's holding me back from getting the BDI is the control. Your thoughts on the control? Thanks.
Do you think it’ll be an easy transition to the BDi from DBD 16mm? I’m finding that I’m being more consistent with blocks, drops, and dinks. However I lack speed in hand battles with tough competition. I’m worried it may be too much pop
Well pop is also totally correlated to lower swing weight, because the lower the swing weight the faster you can make quick small movements into the ball resulting in higher pop. Also if you need to keep up with higher level play at the net you will want to learn to manage higher pop so you can stay competitive. I think this is a great choice, along with the Spartus Apollo, and the Mach 2 Forza for you 😊
@@stspickleball Ah ok - playing the Gearbox Pro Power now. Thinking of adding this to the rotation to balance out the paddle options. Having a tough time with forgiveness and consistency with the Gearbox!
@@TeamPocket yeah that’s fair the gearbox is a wild paddle to use. Can use much wrist and you have to play at like 60-70% energy unless you have incredible control / top spin
I read that they brought up the twist weight to something like 6.0 on the latest versions of the infinity paddles without really bringing up the swingweight. Should make it even better I would think.
Hey buddy, curious on your preference when comparing this to original DBD. It sounds like they have similar power, BDi edging in pop and spin w DBD having a better sweet spot? Any other differences worth considering?
Honestly I’d take the Mark Pure paddle over either of them as of recent. It plays exactly the same with great spin for only $99 I’d grab one of those and save the money man. Check out my review for it. Also you can use the same discount code for the Mark paddle.
Honestly it’s a great question they are extremely relative. I’d say the BDi has a touch more power and feels a bit more balanced weight wise, but the Mach 2 Forza has a bigger sweet spot and is better at control just a touch. Very small differences actually.
Well the Rubys have been out of stock, so after listening to a lot of reviews and studying 6.0's comparison chart, I got the BDI (massive shipping ordeal from CA but that is another story). Boy am I happy with the decision! I'm coming from the MUVN 13s, so I was expecting a loss of sweet spot or control, but I just don't feel it gives up anything. The hand speed feels as good or better than the MUVN 13s, the pop is really nice and the spin is just awesome. I don't feel any undo twisting of the paddle when I hit off sweet spot shot either. The soft game just sings, dinking and drops are supurb. It is a first run paddle with the 4.5" grip so the impending twist weight change is not in play...
Very nice!!! I love this for you man. I do really like this paddle. Definitely watch my new lead tape guide I just released to learn more about how to make it even better!! I found out some new info!
@@stspickleballI will certainly check that out! That said, I'm still in the honeymoon phase with the BDI and I'm going to spend some more time drilling and playing with the stock configuration just to really know it before I make adjustments. But I do have a couple of other paddles that I now can experiment on...
Tried the mach 2 forza, can't tell if I will adjust to the shape of it within the 30 day return period. Went from DBD to Ruby. Loving the power and spin on the ruby..my drives have improved drastically, but my resets and drops aren't as good as with the DBD, and struggling with the hand speed at times at the net, especially after a few games. How would you compare the BDi to the mach 2 forza 16mm for my situation? I know we can't have it all.. 🤣 Should I give the mach 2 forza some more time to adjust to the shape/reach? (I'm 5'6, so not particularly tall or long armed 😅) Or maybe the BDi will be an easier adjustment if I want to improve hand speed? Thank you, and great review as always!
Hahaha yes we cannot have it all that’s for sure lol. I would give the Mach 2 a bit more time. But the BDi definitely has faster hand speed and is a bit poppier than all of those paddles for sure. So it depends on what you’d like to prioritize 😊😊
I am! Yes I’ve been working on it for a while. I didn’t want to rush the review as it’s a brand new material to be utilizing 100% Kevlar on the face and I wanted to make sure the durability would be solid! It’s coming soon!
Ruby has relative spin, a slightly larger sweet spot (due to the Kevlar and also to the edge guard/twist weight increase) I like it quite a bit better than the original DBD. Black Diamond Infinity is the new king of edgeless low swing weight paddles in my opinion, and the Ruby is the king of the hybrid paddle / all court paddle. I’ve been diligently testing the Ruby since before it was released I didn’t want to rush my review out like everyone else did since it’s new to be using 100% Kevlar and I want to make sure my viewers get accurate information to make sure their investment is safe long term. Look for the review coming in the next couple weeks!
Where would you suggest lead tape for the double black diamond infinity? I own the black diamond infinity and followed your suggestions in this video which was the perfect setup! Originally I thought oh boy, not liking the paddle, but when following your suggestion I love the paddle. So curious about your thoughts for the DBD infinity paddle. Thanks so much for the great info!
Please do a test in a month to see how much spin you lose. SO much spin hype is from the peel ply texture which we all know goes away quickly. What we are left with is roughness from the face itself. We need more testing and data to see how much the smoothing out of the paddle surface correlates with spin loss. In short, i miss my day 1 Ruby spin :(. But its still nice. Not sure if you have week 1 Ruby spin numbers and current spin numbers and maybe make that part of your upcoming ruby video!
Interesting I haven’t noticed in my testing much of a loss of spin with the Ruby or the BDi and I’ve had the Ruby for months and the BDi for quite a while as well
I’ve had my BDi for about 3 weeks and honestly just compared it to a new one and wow. Almost all grit is gone and almost seems like you can feel/see the core thru the top ply.
This is discussed a lot in pickleball studio discord. Day 1 grit and spin is due to the rough peel ply that is placed over the face material, whether it is fiberglass, carbon fiber, kevlar, etc. After many hours of play, that peel ply gets worn and smooth. You still get spin from the face material but it's not as much as day 1 peel ply. So everyone does spin testing on new paddles but those spin numbers are likely only maintained for a short period of time. How much spin is lost when the surface smooths out hasn't been tested more than once to my knowledge by Johnkew. Definitely could use more people looking into this!
@@omadscience7358 that should definitely not be the case. I’ve had mine for a month or so and I’ve been playing with it a lot and it still feels and looks basically new. Do you keep your cover on it and keep it safe outside of play?
Great review! Thanks! I'm really interested in this one. Their site says initial launch will have 4.5 grip circumference which is too big for me, was yours 4.25 and do you know when 4.25 will be available?
Can you do a review on the Electrum Stealth series(All 3 new Stealth) please? They have Been rated 2200+rpm, 6.9ozoz - 7.5oz) 90's swing weight. I would like your review and take on them. Thanks!
Great review! When you say that the Ruby is a more balanced paddle, do you mean a more all court paddle or weight wise? It would seem that the BDI would be balanced or a little head light with the swing weight difference. I have been playing with the DBD 16MM since it came out and really like it. I think the only advantage to switching to the BDI would be the hand speed and spin. Im just concerned about controling the soft game. Your thoughts?
It’s the issue of all paddles that there really is no perfect paddle. Always some pros and cons. I meant balanced as in an all court style paddle. As in just doing everything well 😊. The BDi is super fast hand speed, great spin, and poppy with controlled power. Soft game is above average but not like amazing.
Yes and it makes sense right. No edge guard and a lower swing weight = less power. Less swing weight and less power = more control. No edge guard = smaller sweet spot. All checks out.
What's the difference between this and the Infinity Double Black Diamond? Six Zero calls the Infinity DBD a "control" paddle and the Infinity Black Diamond a "power" paddle.
Yeah honestly the DBD Infinity for me is a miss. I have a review coming out on it soon, but being edgeless with lower spin (even though it’s a bit more plush off the face) it doesn’t have any characteristics to justify the loss in stability and the price tag. I wouldn’t with the original DBD (or my preference is the Ruby) or the Black Diamond Infinity. I think these are the best paddles Six Zero makes right now.
@@mrswitters1974 BDi is going to be lower in swing weight and firmer off the face. Much faster in the hands. If you prefer power and a more balanced paddle I’d stick with Ruby. If you’re looking for fast hands, top tier pop, and a bit less power than the Ruby I’d go BDi. Both are around 2300rpm spin. So it really just comes down to hand speed, power, and pop. Ruby will be more powerful and more balanced overall. BDi will be noticeably way quicker in the hands and poppier / firmer off the face 😊
@@mrswitters1974 so you have to ask yourself if faster hands and more pop would benefit your game given your current strengths and weaknesses. There really isn’t a bad paddle these days, just nuances that can help your game in certain ways.
Super helpful, thanks. tbh, even the Ruby feels like it has too much pop for me at times (e.g., with resets and dink volleys), and I go back to the DBD for more control. I can generate a lot of power myself but struggle with control. But the power and spin of the Ruby are addictive, so I'm trying to learn how to manage it. @@stspickleball
Really appreciate your reviews.This paddle does somewhat interest me. I really seem to play better with paddles with a low swing weight. I really enjoy the gruvn Muvn 13s but this hybrid shape and swing weight is interesting. How do you like it compared to the gruvn muvn 13s?
That’s tough they are so different off the face! MUVN is more linear off the face as in where I want it to go is just where it goes. Infinity Black Diamond definitely has more pop and more power behind it. So I’d say if you feel you’re lacking those aspects with the MUVN it could be a great choice. 😊
The one paddle you need to do a review on is from Proton. Not a lot of info out there but they are making some waves and back their claims of the highest spinning paddle on the market
Have you ever tried the Selkirk 002? Even though it came out a while back, most of Selkirk's pros are still using it. It would be interesting to see if it still holds up compared to modern power paddles.
Most of Selkirk sponsored pros are using it for the advantage at the line. It’s the most powerful / poppy paddle Selkirk makes. It doesn’t have great spin or really any other solid characteristics. They just want an advantage in hand battles and for speed ups. If they weren’t sponsored they wouldn’t be using that paddle as there are better more poppy paddles that create far more spin and are better overall 😊😊
I highly recommend purchasing this through Pickleball Central if you do end up getting one. They have great customer service and easy no hassle returns if needed. Here's the updated link! Also my code STSPICKLEBALL works on Pickleball Central so it's the same price :) bit.ly/4cw3bHU
What would you recommend between Ruby and BDi?
Do you want faster hand speed or better for all court?
Great review! Spot on! I own one! Thank you!
Right on! You're welcome :)
Have you tried the Black Diamond Power (Jaume Vich’s paddle) and, if so, what are your thoughts?
I have indeed! Honestly I like it I think it’s a wonderful paddle with great spin and power. But my recommendation these days is the Mark Pure. Plays the same, same shape, but only $99 I’d go check out my review on that 😊
@@stspickleball thanks! I just pulled the trigger on the pro drive encounter. I have the mark kinetic, ALW C Bantam, and volair Mach 2 forza so I’ve got a pretty good spread and variety
Very nice man!!! What caught your eye on the Encounter?
@@stspickleball it’s got high power (not quite to the gearbox PPE but close, with some solid looking control and spin. Also super clean looking for an edgeless. I wanted to try a Selkirk but the spray on grit gave me pause
Does anyone have any advice on how to clean the face of the black diamond, given that it is fiberglass? Do I use an eraser like you would with carbon fiber?
For me it might not be “best practice” with fiberglass or with Kevlar really to use a paddle eraser but I use it very gently and don’t rub hard. I do a very gentle pass with the eraser and haven’t had any issues. With Raw Carbon Fiber I can press harder without any issues of course.
Picking up the normal black diamond, do you think i'm missing out on this paddle?
I don't think so no not particularly. If I were you I would grab the new Mark Pure though and save even more money. They play the same.
I have a video on it! :)
Did you add lead?
I’m actually using it without lead right now. I think if I do add lead instead of using a 5” strip like I normally do I might do a 3” strip on the bottom of the sides of the paddle on the flat edge not on the throat for this one just to keep the weight and swing weight low 😊
@stspickleball Wouldn't the throat placement keep it lower (swingweight)?
I just bought one but not sure if I want lead on it because a lot of r&d went into making it fast with such a low swingweight. However, I assume a little lead, in the right spot, may not hurt it too much.
@@robedwards6926 yes that’s why I said “weight and swing weight” differentiating between the two. Meaning I want to keep both down with such a quick paddle so the overall lead I’d use would be smaller and placed in specific spots to address my miss hits but only if I feel it’s needed in the future 😊 you’re spot on!
This is my new go to paddle. I have the DBD Ruby DBDi and the BDi. The whole point of this paddle was to make a power paddle with super low swing weight, so it is extremely fast in your hands and they accomplish that 100%. With the low, swinging weight, you would think this paddle would not have much power, but because you can generate such a fast swing this paddle is a put away animal. I originally tried the DBDi and although it had such great control, at the kitchen line, the paddle had absolutely zero power, and could not put away a ball to save my life. This BDi has it all and then some. Prob the best paddle I have played with.
Definitely forgot to mention that you 100% need edge guard tape. The edge paint is super fragile. Cracks and peels and chips off w the slightest impact. Personally, I recommend two layers.
Do not add weight to this paddle. If that’s what you’re gonna do then just get the regular black diamond because you are defeating the whole purpose of this design.
@omadscience7358 I see you have the whole 6.0 collection and you chose the BDI. I have been using the DBD 16MM since it first came out and really like it. But from what I'm reading about the hand speed (swing weight) is a definite bonus. I like to play a soft control game and the only thing that's holding me back from getting the BDI is the control. Your thoughts on the control? Thanks.
Do you think it’ll be an easy transition to the BDi from DBD 16mm? I’m finding that I’m being more consistent with blocks, drops, and dinks. However I lack speed in hand battles with tough competition. I’m worried it may be too much pop
Well pop is also totally correlated to lower swing weight, because the lower the swing weight the faster you can make quick small movements into the ball resulting in higher pop. Also if you need to keep up with higher level play at the net you will want to learn to manage higher pop so you can stay competitive. I think this is a great choice, along with the Spartus Apollo, and the Mach 2 Forza for you 😊
Oh and it’s a very easy transition from the DBD! Missed that question.
@@stspickleball Lol appreciate the response! I ended up ordering the BDi for myself and the Ruby for the wife. Both using your code. Thank you!!
@@odmroger you rock man!! You’re gonna love them. High quality paddles from a high quality company.
How do you think this compares to the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated?
It’s softer for sure. It’s not as power oriented as you might think. More middle of the road power. Gearbox pro power smokes it in power for sure.
@@stspickleball Ah ok - playing the Gearbox Pro Power now. Thinking of adding this to the rotation to balance out the paddle options. Having a tough time with forgiveness and consistency with the Gearbox!
@@TeamPocket yeah that’s fair the gearbox is a wild paddle to use. Can use much wrist and you have to play at like 60-70% energy unless you have incredible control / top spin
@@stspickleballThanks for your insights! Huge fan of your channel and love your content!
Thank you very much! Love the team rocket pun too huge fan of Pokémon :)
The newer BD paddles from late last year had the rougher texture
Exactly! 😊
How would you compare the Infinity Black Diamond to the Vactic Pro?
Which Vatic pro that have quite a lot of models and thicknesses?
I read that they brought up the twist weight to something like 6.0 on the latest versions of the infinity paddles without really bringing up the swingweight. Should make it even better I would think.
I heard about this! Six Zero is an amazing company for real.
Hey buddy, curious on your preference when comparing this to original DBD. It sounds like they have similar power, BDi edging in pop and spin w DBD having a better sweet spot? Any other differences worth considering?
Honestly I’d take the Mark Pure paddle over either of them as of recent. It plays exactly the same with great spin for only $99 I’d grab one of those and save the money man. Check out my review for it. Also you can use the same discount code for the Mark paddle.
Thanks for the reply/guidance! Will give Mark a look.
How does the BDI compare to the Mach 2 forza 14mm??
Honestly it’s a great question they are extremely relative. I’d say the BDi has a touch more power and feels a bit more balanced weight wise, but the Mach 2 Forza has a bigger sweet spot and is better at control just a touch. Very small differences actually.
Well the Rubys have been out of stock, so after listening to a lot of reviews and studying 6.0's comparison chart, I got the BDI (massive shipping ordeal from CA but that is another story). Boy am I happy with the decision! I'm coming from the MUVN 13s, so I was expecting a loss of sweet spot or control, but I just don't feel it gives up anything. The hand speed feels as good or better than the MUVN 13s, the pop is really nice and the spin is just awesome. I don't feel any undo twisting of the paddle when I hit off sweet spot shot either. The soft game just sings, dinking and drops are supurb. It is a first run paddle with the 4.5" grip so the impending twist weight change is not in play...
Very nice!!! I love this for you man. I do really like this paddle. Definitely watch my new lead tape guide I just released to learn more about how to make it even better!! I found out some new info!
@@stspickleballI will certainly check that out! That said, I'm still in the honeymoon phase with the BDI and I'm going to spend some more time drilling and playing with the stock configuration just to really know it before I make adjustments. But I do have a couple of other paddles that I now can experiment on...
I like it I think that's smart! Keep me posted :)
@@stspickleballBut I did order some of the Selkirk Tungsten tape just in case...
Yeah give it a shot! See what you think :)
Great review! Would this be easy transition from DBD 14mm?
Oh yes 100%! I think you’ll like it better especially with some tungsten tape on the sides like I showed in my lead tape vid!
@@stspickleball Awesome thanks!
How much power compared to the dbd? I’m using the dbd 14mm right now and considering the bd infinity
Going to be a fairly relative comparison actually. If anything I’d say the BDi will have more power than the 14mm DBD
Tried the mach 2 forza, can't tell if I will adjust to the shape of it within the 30 day return period. Went from DBD to Ruby. Loving the power and spin on the ruby..my drives have improved drastically, but my resets and drops aren't as good as with the DBD, and struggling with the hand speed at times at the net, especially after a few games. How would you compare the BDi to the mach 2 forza 16mm for my situation? I know we can't have it all.. 🤣 Should I give the mach 2 forza some more time to adjust to the shape/reach? (I'm 5'6, so not particularly tall or long armed 😅) Or maybe the BDi will be an easier adjustment if I want to improve hand speed? Thank you, and great review as always!
Hahaha yes we cannot have it all that’s for sure lol. I would give the Mach 2 a bit more time. But the BDi definitely has faster hand speed and is a bit poppier than all of those paddles for sure. So it depends on what you’d like to prioritize 😊😊
How does the face feel firm? Soft? Muted? I’m more concern on the feedback the paddles give now a days.
It’s firm. It has a rigid feel off the face but not as rigid as a CRBN 1x or a BNB Filth.
Are you going to do a review on the six zero ruby?
I am! Yes I’ve been working on it for a while. I didn’t want to rush the review as it’s a brand new material to be utilizing 100% Kevlar on the face and I wanted to make sure the durability would be solid! It’s coming soon!
@@stspickleball Sweet I’m looking forward to it
GREAT review as always, Steven! Would love your thoughts comparing the Infinity to the Ruby. Thx! 🙏🥊
Ruby has relative spin, a slightly larger sweet spot (due to the Kevlar and also to the edge guard/twist weight increase) I like it quite a bit better than the original DBD. Black Diamond Infinity is the new king of edgeless low swing weight paddles in my opinion, and the Ruby is the king of the hybrid paddle / all court paddle. I’ve been diligently testing the Ruby since before it was released I didn’t want to rush my review out like everyone else did since it’s new to be using 100% Kevlar and I want to make sure my viewers get accurate information to make sure their investment is safe long term. Look for the review coming in the next couple weeks!
Where would you suggest lead tape for the double black diamond infinity? I own the black diamond infinity and followed your suggestions in this video which was the perfect setup! Originally I thought oh boy, not liking the paddle, but when following your suggestion I love the paddle. So curious about your thoughts for the DBD infinity paddle. Thanks so much for the great info!
Honestly I’d do the same thing and just accept that the DBDi is softer and much more control oriented.
Glad it was helpful though I appreciate that!
Please do a test in a month to see how much spin you lose. SO much spin hype is from the peel ply texture which we all know goes away quickly. What we are left with is roughness from the face itself. We need more testing and data to see how much the smoothing out of the paddle surface correlates with spin loss. In short, i miss my day 1 Ruby spin :(. But its still nice. Not sure if you have week 1 Ruby spin numbers and current spin numbers and maybe make that part of your upcoming ruby video!
Interesting I haven’t noticed in my testing much of a loss of spin with the Ruby or the BDi and I’ve had the Ruby for months and the BDi for quite a while as well
I’ve had my BDi for about 3 weeks and honestly just compared it to a new one and wow. Almost all grit is gone and almost seems like you can feel/see the core thru the top ply.
This is discussed a lot in pickleball studio discord. Day 1 grit and spin is due to the rough peel ply that is placed over the face material, whether it is fiberglass, carbon fiber, kevlar, etc. After many hours of play, that peel ply gets worn and smooth. You still get spin from the face material but it's not as much as day 1 peel ply. So everyone does spin testing on new paddles but those spin numbers are likely only maintained for a short period of time. How much spin is lost when the surface smooths out hasn't been tested more than once to my knowledge by Johnkew. Definitely could use more people looking into this!
@sts have you felt a brand new ruby recently and compared to how yours feels? I think you'll notice a big difference in surface texture.
@@omadscience7358 that should definitely not be the case. I’ve had mine for a month or so and I’ve been playing with it a lot and it still feels and looks basically new. Do you keep your cover on it and keep it safe outside of play?
Great vid! What mic do you use BTW??
I use a Rode video mic pro+ 😊
Thanks!!@@stspickleball
Great review! Thanks! I'm really interested in this one. Their site says initial launch will have 4.5 grip circumference which is too big for me, was yours 4.25 and do you know when 4.25 will be available?
Let me message Dale and see I got a 4.25" as I requested it but let me see when it will be available for you.
Thanks so much for the follow-up!
Dale got back to me (owner of 6.0) and he said some are shipping this week. So you’d be 100% by next week 😊
Thanks so much!
@@danmorton8564 he actually replied again and said you’re good to go. He said the 4.25” handles are what’s in stock now so you’re golden!
Can you do a review on the Electrum Stealth series(All 3 new Stealth) please? They have Been rated 2200+rpm, 6.9ozoz - 7.5oz) 90's swing weight. I would like your review and take on them. Thanks!
I’ll definitely look into it!
Great review! When you say that the Ruby is a more balanced paddle, do you mean a more all court paddle or weight wise? It would seem that the BDI would be balanced or a little head light with the swing weight difference. I have been playing with the DBD 16MM since it came out and really like it. I think the only advantage to switching to the BDI would be the hand speed and spin. Im just concerned about controling the soft game. Your thoughts?
It’s the issue of all paddles that there really is no perfect paddle. Always some pros and cons. I meant balanced as in an all court style paddle. As in just doing everything well 😊. The BDi is super fast hand speed, great spin, and poppy with controlled power. Soft game is above average but not like amazing.
More control but less power and a bit less sweet spot ?
Yes and it makes sense right. No edge guard and a lower swing weight = less power. Less swing weight and less power = more control. No edge guard = smaller sweet spot. All checks out.
What's the difference between this and the Infinity Double Black Diamond? Six Zero calls the Infinity DBD a "control" paddle and the Infinity Black Diamond a "power" paddle.
Yeah honestly the DBD Infinity for me is a miss. I have a review coming out on it soon, but being edgeless with lower spin (even though it’s a bit more plush off the face) it doesn’t have any characteristics to justify the loss in stability and the price tag. I wouldn’t with the original DBD (or my preference is the Ruby) or the Black Diamond Infinity. I think these are the best paddles Six Zero makes right now.
Thanks!@@stspickleball I have the DBD and Ruby. Love them both for different reasons. How does the BD Infinity compare to the Ruby?
@@mrswitters1974 BDi is going to be lower in swing weight and firmer off the face. Much faster in the hands. If you prefer power and a more balanced paddle I’d stick with Ruby. If you’re looking for fast hands, top tier pop, and a bit less power than the Ruby I’d go BDi. Both are around 2300rpm spin. So it really just comes down to hand speed, power, and pop. Ruby will be more powerful and more balanced overall. BDi will be noticeably way quicker in the hands and poppier / firmer off the face 😊
@@mrswitters1974 so you have to ask yourself if faster hands and more pop would benefit your game given your current strengths and weaknesses. There really isn’t a bad paddle these days, just nuances that can help your game in certain ways.
Super helpful, thanks. tbh, even the Ruby feels like it has too much pop for me at times (e.g., with resets and dink volleys), and I go back to the DBD for more control. I can generate a lot of power myself but struggle with control. But the power and spin of the Ruby are addictive, so I'm trying to learn how to manage it. @@stspickleball
I liked your paddle review.
Thank you for the positive feedback!
Really appreciate your reviews.This paddle does somewhat interest me. I really seem to play better with paddles with a low swing weight. I really enjoy the gruvn Muvn 13s but this hybrid shape and swing weight is interesting. How do you like it compared to the gruvn muvn 13s?
That’s tough they are so different off the face! MUVN is more linear off the face as in where I want it to go is just where it goes. Infinity Black Diamond definitely has more pop and more power behind it. So I’d say if you feel you’re lacking those aspects with the MUVN it could be a great choice. 😊
The one paddle you need to do a review on is from Proton. Not a lot of info out there but they are making some waves and back their claims of the highest spinning paddle on the market
Have you ever tried the Selkirk 002? Even though it came out a while back, most of Selkirk's pros are still using it. It would be interesting to see if it still holds up compared to modern power paddles.
Most of Selkirk sponsored pros are using it for the advantage at the line. It’s the most powerful / poppy paddle Selkirk makes. It doesn’t have great spin or really any other solid characteristics. They just want an advantage in hand battles and for speed ups. If they weren’t sponsored they wouldn’t be using that paddle as there are better more poppy paddles that create far more spin and are better overall 😊😊