This has been my main for a month. I have a college tennis background, but don’t consider myself a banger. I’m a hybrid of a QD style (for big drives) but mix in a lot of soft drops and try to have an more of a Ben Johns complete style of play. The greatest thing about this paddle is that while yes, it’s in the 75% for power and pop (per pickleball effects), you DO NOT HAVE TO MODIFY YOUR SWING MECHANICS. With all these other “power style” paddles, you really have to dumb down your mechanics, and with this paddle you don’t! So no it’s not a 90% percentile power and pop paddle, but it is top tier and you get that without sacrificing the time to change your game…that’s HUGE to me. No core crushing or anything like that in about a month of play 3-4x a week. Love this paddle. I have the weight in the same location and and started with .5g but then double it up on each side and put some weight in the handle, and I’m still at around only 8.4…
The Apollo was my very first upgrade, and the Olympus is my current main paddle. I didn't run any metrics like you did, but compared to paddles with established power/pop readings, it's definitely around 75-90th percentile power/pop like but it still has a great amount of control for a 14mm (i.e. it has the control of a 16mm). Truly a unique hybrid paddle. The spin feels top-tier, and I agree that the paddle feels very stable despite its advertised twist weight. With that being said, my paddle came with a stock swing weight of around 114, so while it's light, it isn't nearly as manuverable as my Apollo, and I can't help but shake the feeling that my Olympus could have been that much better (i.e. had a SW of 110) if I had just waited to get an official release paddle instead of pre-release. Regardless, I currently play with 3g at the 4 and 8 o'clock positions, and it's been an absolute monster. It took me around 3 weeks to get used to playing with it (coming from the Apollo), but it's so worth it. So far we have a top-tier widebody all-court and a top-tier hybrid all-court (or power) paddle. Spartus knows what they're doing, and I can't wait to see what they have in stock for us next.
Thank you for the detailed breakdown! I prefer the higher stock SW. I understand wanting the lower SW to modify it more but I like starting higher because I think it just performs better stock out of the box. Going too low in SW can be bad sometimes for power and stability. That being said 114 is still great for a hybrid.
I too am using the apollo and am loving it more by the day. I also g9t approved for Spartus's ambassadorship so felt compelled to get an Olympus as well. Is it possible to interchange between the two and play with both of them? Or are they really different fundamentally?
@@joonsiu_ They're quite different. There's technically nothing stopping you from using both, but I personally felt that after transitioning to the Olympus, I had such a large preference for it that the Apollo had nothing better to offer. I still visit the Apollo on occasion but find that it's severely underpowered. Plus, the Olympus already has some of the best (if not the best) control for a 14mm power paddle. Not only that, but mine got hotter after playing with it for 2 weeks and is now about as powerful/poppy as my Bantam TKO 14.3mm (i.e. around 90th percentile power/pop).
I really enjoy your videos. You have a very relaxed style of speaking but you impart a ton of useful information. Very easy to listen to and very informative. Thank you.
i find 5.75" is perfect. My 6" hurache control was a little too long, but the 5.75" monarch all court was perfect. the all court and spartus apollo are my two favorite paddles depending on my mood, conditions, and ability on a given day, so i think this paddle may be a winner for me. just wish it was 5.75"
Great paddles comparison video and lesson on tungsten tape! I think the “ball dust” theory has been the best indicator of what shape paddle one should use and where to put weight. Thanks for another great review!
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball I have found the dust pattern on my Apollo covers the entire face (including edge guard). Where should I put the weight? 😂 Should I quit? My theory is I hit a very tight dead center pattern 😁from the baseline, and the entire paddle in firefights. My theory and I’m sticking with it … don’t judge.
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball Good thinking … if I put weight everywhere it will be where I need it, and the electrical tape will hide my glaring inadequacies (and edge guard ball dust). Did you hear Titanium is polyester? 🤣
Another great content and review Jacob props to you being the first paddle reviewer to review the Spartus Olympus that paddle is fire 🔥🔥🔥🔥, will be there a 16mm version
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleballI'm so intrigued with the Olympus, while the Bantams TKO's series increased in price is no brainer to go for the Olympus and is under $200.00
I just added weight around the entire perimeter. Looking forward to seeing how it hits tomorrow. I did the same thing for the alw 12.7m and i loved it.
More power and pop than the shapeshifter. Control will be easier for most with the shapeshifter if you don’t like pop. Both have great spin, the Olympus get a little more.
Hi Jacob, you’ve got me excited about this paddle. Ever since you showed a glimpse of it in one of your videos I thought it looked really cool. I’ve played with elongated paddles and hybrid paddles and I think I like hybrids better. How would you compare the Olympus to the Thrive Azul? With your enthusiasm on this paddle I might have to buy this one. Great review as always!
I like it a lot more than the Azul. You get more pop and power than the Azul with a less stiff feel. Sweet spots are pretty similar and the Olympus gets more spin. The Olympus is already coming in at a lower SW then the lowest SW you can choose for the Azul.
Heard about this one not long ago. The performance looks good in the play video but at this price range, it's not the investment I'd make at this point in time even if it looks like will work for the double back hand. All the best for the tournament.
how is it going, Ive seen a lot of videos of this paddle and no one has talked about the sound of the paddle. Does it sound like a foam paddle like the joola 3s or even the new ripples? Does it sound like a classic gen 2 paddle? Just want to get this cleared up.
Ok so I finally decided to up my game from the Mach 2 Forza. I’ve been playing with the Forza for 8 months. I have at least 250 hours on this paddle. I wanted an upgrade so I got the Olympus! All I can say is POWER POWER POP POP so much! As you know the Mach 2 has literally no overhead put away compared to this thing. My serves, my drives, my overheads are so powerful and controllable stock on the Olympus! I love it for that. But man my resets, my drops, my counter attacks and dinking went south in a really bad way… Ughh. What can I do to this paddle to tame it down? Will the tungsten tame it down? What about a splice in the handle? I may just use it as a singles paddle. That being said what would be a step up paddle similar to the Mach 2 Forza where I can still get a soft game but a little more plow through. This Olympus paddle is on steroids compared to the Forza! Thanks and always love your content
Adding weight will definitely help with your resets. If you want something with similar power (a little less) but better control and less pop the Vatic Pro Saga Flash would be a great option. The Neonic Flare Prime X is another option if you want a widebody.
So many paddles, so little time.. lol.. looking forward to getting mine. I've turned lots of players in our area on to the Apollo and I think this is really going to fit the bill for the power hitters
Great review on this! How is the control/pop compared to the Pikkl Hurricane Pro 14mm? I currently use Hurricane and I'm considering buying the Olympus. Is the amount of pop/control close to between the 2 or I'll have to adjust a bit with the Olympus? Thank you!
How does the OLYMPUS compare to the NEXUS which has core cells filled in? Was hoping to "hear" the ball strike sound. I really want the "plush" "soft touch" feel. I heard a guy playing this paddle, and it was super quiet.
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball I have a NEXUS and it sounds nothing like what I was hearing coming off the OLYMPUS??? May have been a "broke in" sound I was hearing. May need to take a chance since the SPARTUS reutrn policy is very lenient.
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball Should I buy an Olympus, a J2K (14 or 16?), both, or neither at this point?? This is a serious question...please answer! 😂😂 TIA! It's two months later...what is/are your main/s now?
@ I use the Olympus and J2K. If you want a good combo of power and pop and are comfortable adding weight Olympus. If you need help with control or want the best all around hybrid all court then get the J2K.
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball Thank you! I sure wish that there was a place that I could try paddles out...in the Bay Area...because "knowing what I want" is a chicken & egg problem! I guess I need both haha! I mean it is my birthday and Christmas this month!
Love the Olympus. If you really want a Gen 3 Scorpeus/Persues replacement/upgrade wait for the Ripple if you need an excellent power paddle now get the Olympus
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball would you say the power and pop on the Olympus is comparable to the 6.0 black diamond 16mm? Or does it have more power and pop ? Control ?
@@JoseSantiago-ll1ck Sorry, I only hit that briefly not enough time to tell you a good answer. I would guess the Olympus has more power but pop could be similar.
Just had my first use yesterday because of your review. I’m coming from a Ronbus original Pulsar R1 been using for 2 years. I noticed that I had to dial back all my strokes for the most part. If I went for it with my drives it sailed hella long lol. Basically you don’t have to swing as hard to generate power, has that been your experience?
Especially coming from the original Pulsar the Olympus is a big power upgrade. You’ll get used to it overtime and be able to put more into it as you dial it in.
@@karensermersheim9110 The core is giving it the power and pop here. Some of the stiffer kevlar/carbon fiber paddles have good pop and power but not power at this level
How is the maneuverability compared to the Apollo? I love the little flicks and rolls I can get off with the Apollo and at just 110 swingweight I’m excited this can do something similar but am wondering if the hybrid shape prevents it from being as maneuverable as the standard shaped Apollo
I think you’ll always sacrifice a little maneuverability moving from the Apollo to a hybrid shape that is just the pros and cons tradeoff you get with shapes. For me the pop and power difference is big enough for the tradeoff to be worth it and your shots can be more compact with the paddle doing more of the work.
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball I play with Apollo weighted to 8.6 oz (3g at 4,8,12, replaced stock grip and overgrip). Wife’s paddle is Vatic Pro Flash 16mm … no added weight except overgrip … 8.2 oz. I would take my Apollo all day long on return of serves (I don’t want pop assistance, I want control), but her Flash on flicks and rolls (effortless point and shoot, pop huge asset). The problem with pickleball paddles in doubles is the tradeoffs aren’t just between player types, they are also shot tradeoffs for a player. Want the best overhead and forehand drive … head heavy elongated. Want best kitchen play … lose that head heavy elongated. Very frustrating mystery. I keep intending to pull my V7 back out and immediately after getting to kitchen play with choked up grip (which in my mind turns it into a fast low swingweight standard paddle 🤪).
Bruh I’m struggling lol. All my best shots are gone. Back hand drop, back hand dinking and volleys out the air in general have been the hardest adjustments. So far in day 2. How long did it take you to adjust. What was the best way to do it? Drilling or trying the shots during rec?
Probably a few games but I adjust faster trying so many paddles. I would try adding some weight it definitely helps it play better. Then I would go drill you’ll dial it in way faster.
@ So far I’ve done 4&8 to the throat. The I added 2in of .5 tungsten cut in half at the top 2 corners. I was thinking your 9in 4.5G on each side down the sides might be way too much, but I’m getting desperate lol. Plan to try your set up and/or 9in from the throat all the way up the sides. Usually I like my tape at the throat. Been a little frustrating as I’ve felt I had good control and am one of the better players in my area. Expected to adjust sooner I guess.
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball Update. Been a week and I think I finally found it 😂. I tried your 9in set up at 10-2 going down but it felt too head heavy for me, and I was still struggling. Settled on moving it back to the throat 6in up to 3&9. Then stacking 3in from 4&8 to 3&9 (still totaling 9in 4.5G). But imo the gm changer was adding the weight to the bottom of the handle. I put 9gs there and it made all the difference. I’m finally able to play close to normal. Finally seeing the light lol
Would you say these play a lot better ? Coming from a 4.0 player looking for something with more power and quicker hands at the net. Currently playing with the neonic flow
So I own the J2K. I prioritize control but feel like I could use a little more maneuverability, spin and maybe power. I like the dynamics of Kevlar but not sure if there is a better hybrid out there for me. Some say the Ruby is the slight bump I’m looking for but other recommend the DBD, a power paddle, etc. I don’t want to lose control too much and still want to be quick. Your thoughts?
You could go with a Chorus Shapeshifter which has more power but isn’t as hard to control as the Olympus. I think the Olympus is one of the easier power paddles to control and when you get adjusted to it the control is really good. Just depends if you can get adjusted to the pop which isn’t as much as some other power paddles.
CoreTek has entered the chat. I believe they were first to fill the entire honeycomb with foam. What I’m curious to see is how this compares to the Kiwi Labs upcoming paddle that went with a foam square pattern versus filling all the cells.
It went not as planned haha but that is on me for sure not the paddle. It performed very well and honestly did everything I could hope for. I’ll continue rotating between it and the J2K/J2Ti
Is anyone else finding the sweet spot very small? My balls drastically die if I dont hit the sweet spot dead center. Im finding this annoying and will probably end up returning it.
@AllDriveNoDropPickleball That's a possibility. Ball goes dead with a thump below the very small sweet spot. I'm a 4.0+ player and have never experienced any issues like this before I'll reach out to Spartus and inquire.
The one I got is awful! Tiny sweet spot with a huge drop-off in power. Inconsistent and can't play reliably with it. 4.25 player here. I complained to Spartus and returned it. They said nothing was wrong with it; I absolutely don't agree. Charged me a 25% restocking fee to return this awful paddle.
Good to know seems like I need to measure my hands. It was fine for me no handle issues, I’m over gripping right away for every paddle because most stock grips get slippery.
This has been my main for a month. I have a college tennis background, but don’t consider myself a banger. I’m a hybrid of a QD style (for big drives) but mix in a lot of soft drops and try to have an more of a Ben Johns complete style of play. The greatest thing about this paddle is that while yes, it’s in the 75% for power and pop (per pickleball effects), you DO NOT HAVE TO MODIFY YOUR SWING MECHANICS. With all these other “power style” paddles, you really have to dumb down your mechanics, and with this paddle you don’t! So no it’s not a 90% percentile power and pop paddle, but it is top tier and you get that without sacrificing the time to change your game…that’s HUGE to me. No core crushing or anything like that in about a month of play 3-4x a week. Love this paddle. I have the weight in the same location and and started with .5g but then double it up on each side and put some weight in the handle, and I’m still at around only 8.4…
That is a great background and breakdown. Yeah, I’ve been loving the weight setup really boosts the paddle even more.
I'm happy to hear that this paddle is as good as I hoped it would be. Thanks for the great review!
Thanks for watching!
The Apollo was my very first upgrade, and the Olympus is my current main paddle. I didn't run any metrics like you did, but compared to paddles with established power/pop readings, it's definitely around 75-90th percentile power/pop like but it still has a great amount of control for a 14mm (i.e. it has the control of a 16mm). Truly a unique hybrid paddle. The spin feels top-tier, and I agree that the paddle feels very stable despite its advertised twist weight. With that being said, my paddle came with a stock swing weight of around 114, so while it's light, it isn't nearly as manuverable as my Apollo, and I can't help but shake the feeling that my Olympus could have been that much better (i.e. had a SW of 110) if I had just waited to get an official release paddle instead of pre-release. Regardless, I currently play with 3g at the 4 and 8 o'clock positions, and it's been an absolute monster. It took me around 3 weeks to get used to playing with it (coming from the Apollo), but it's so worth it.
So far we have a top-tier widebody all-court and a top-tier hybrid all-court (or power) paddle. Spartus knows what they're doing, and I can't wait to see what they have in stock for us next.
Thank you for the detailed breakdown! I prefer the higher stock SW. I understand wanting the lower SW to modify it more but I like starting higher because I think it just performs better stock out of the box. Going too low in SW can be bad sometimes for power and stability. That being said 114 is still great for a hybrid.
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball Totally makes sense now. I see where you're coming from, and I appreciate the insight!
I too am using the apollo and am loving it more by the day. I also g9t approved for Spartus's ambassadorship so felt compelled to get an Olympus as well. Is it possible to interchange between the two and play with both of them? Or are they really different fundamentally?
@@joonsiu_ They're quite different. There's technically nothing stopping you from using both, but I personally felt that after transitioning to the Olympus, I had such a large preference for it that the Apollo had nothing better to offer. I still visit the Apollo on occasion but find that it's severely underpowered. Plus, the Olympus already has some of the best (if not the best) control for a 14mm power paddle. Not only that, but mine got hotter after playing with it for 2 weeks and is now about as powerful/poppy as my Bantam TKO 14.3mm (i.e. around 90th percentile power/pop).
I really enjoy your videos. You have a very relaxed style of speaking but you impart a ton of useful information. Very easy to listen to and very informative. Thank you.
Thank you appreciate it!
i find 5.75" is perfect. My 6" hurache control was a little too long, but the 5.75" monarch all court was perfect. the all court and spartus apollo are my two favorite paddles depending on my mood, conditions, and ability on a given day, so i think this paddle may be a winner for me. just wish it was 5.75"
Great paddles comparison video and lesson on tungsten tape! I think the “ball dust” theory has been the best indicator of what shape paddle one should use and where to put weight. Thanks for another great review!
For sure, I like the name the ball dust theory!
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball I have found the dust pattern on my Apollo covers the entire face (including edge guard). Where should I put the weight? 😂 Should I quit?
My theory is I hit a very tight dead center pattern 😁from the baseline, and the entire paddle in firefights. My theory and I’m sticking with it … don’t judge.
@@65atBestPB doesn’t hurt to add some weight along the edges then wrap it with electrical tape to add a little weight all around
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball Good thinking … if I put weight everywhere it will be where I need it, and the electrical tape will hide my glaring inadequacies (and edge guard ball dust).
Did you hear Titanium is polyester? 🤣
@@65atBestPB I did haha but it still looks cool 😎
Another great content and review Jacob props to you being the first paddle reviewer to review the Spartus Olympus that paddle is fire 🔥🔥🔥🔥, will be there a 16mm version
Thank you, no 16mm version planned to my knowledge but anything is possible.
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleballI'm so intrigued with the Olympus, while the Bantams TKO's series increased in price is no brainer to go for the Olympus and is under $200.00
I just added weight around the entire perimeter. Looking forward to seeing how it hits tomorrow. I did the same thing for the alw 12.7m and i loved it.
Awesome!
I've been waiting for this one! Thanks Jacob!
good review. I’ll keep using my Paddletek’s. More of what I want.
This is my #1 paddle of 2024!!!!
🔥
Another great paddle. Love your effort.I hope the grip thickness is a mistake. 4 1/8 would be better for us smaller hands
I’ll measure, but I believe it is 4.25”
How does the paddle compare to the chorus shapeshifter since they both are hybrid with that fiberglass layer
More power and pop than the shapeshifter. Control will be easier for most with the shapeshifter if you don’t like pop. Both have great spin, the Olympus get a little more.
Great review. I have a HUDEF Mage Pro, which is a purple edge. Now its gold edge also attracts me to buy.
Yeah, report back to HuDef HQ
What about a paddle made by aliens?👽🛸 Nexus ProStar
Hi Jacob, you’ve got me excited about this paddle. Ever since you showed a glimpse of it in one of your videos I thought it looked really cool. I’ve played with elongated paddles and hybrid paddles and I think I like hybrids better. How would you compare the Olympus to the Thrive Azul? With your enthusiasm on this paddle I might have to buy this one. Great review as always!
I like it a lot more than the Azul. You get more pop and power than the Azul with a less stiff feel. Sweet spots are pretty similar and the Olympus gets more spin. The Olympus is already coming in at a lower SW then the lowest SW you can choose for the Azul.
Heard about this one not long ago. The performance looks good in the play video but at this price range, it's not the investment I'd make at this point in time even if it looks like will work for the double back hand. All the best for the tournament.
Fair enough the the price is getting up there these days with the power paddles
how is it going, Ive seen a lot of videos of this paddle and no one has talked about the sound of the paddle. Does it sound like a foam paddle like the joola 3s or even the new ripples? Does it sound like a classic gen 2 paddle? Just want to get this cleared up.
Sounds like something between the two has a different sounds than gen 2s and the gen 3 Joolas. It is not as loud as the gen 3 Joolas.
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball okay, would you say it sounds foamy?
Ok so I finally decided to up my game from the Mach 2 Forza. I’ve been playing with the Forza for 8 months. I have at least 250 hours on this paddle. I wanted an upgrade so I got the Olympus! All I can say is POWER POWER POP POP so much! As you know the Mach 2 has literally no overhead put away compared to this thing. My serves, my drives, my overheads are so powerful and controllable stock on the Olympus! I love it for that. But man my resets, my drops, my counter attacks and dinking went south in a really bad way… Ughh. What can I do to this paddle to tame it down? Will the tungsten tame it down? What about a splice in the handle? I may just use it as a singles paddle. That being said what would be a step up paddle similar to the Mach 2 Forza where I can still get a soft game but a little more plow through. This Olympus paddle is on steroids compared to the Forza! Thanks and always love your content
Adding weight will definitely help with your resets. If you want something with similar power (a little less) but better control and less pop the Vatic Pro Saga Flash would be a great option. The Neonic Flare Prime X is another option if you want a widebody.
So many paddles, so little time.. lol.. looking forward to getting mine. I've turned lots of players in our area on to the Apollo and I think this is really going to fit the bill for the power hitters
I know once you find one you see another shiny new one
And the HUSH..lol
great review.. i couldn't find what the warrenty was anywhere. Do you know what the warrenty is for the Olympus?
3 months it says on their site
Great review on this! How is the control/pop compared to the Pikkl Hurricane Pro 14mm? I currently use Hurricane and I'm considering buying the Olympus. Is the amount of pop/control close to between the 2 or I'll have to adjust a bit with the Olympus? Thank you!
Pop is more and control is going to be less. You’ll have to adjust a little but it will be a huge power upgrade.
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball - As always, I appreciate all the help. Thanks for responding to all the questions here.
How does it stack up to the DBD?
More pop
And power by far with a better feeling. DBD has a better sweet spot. 9”
Super thorough take, Jacob! Awesome work as usual! Is that the same amount of weight you did with the TMPR?
I believe it is but don’t quote me haha
How does the OLYMPUS compare to the NEXUS which has core cells filled in? Was hoping to "hear" the ball strike sound. I really want the "plush" "soft touch" feel.
I heard a guy playing this paddle, and it was super quiet.
Nexus is more in line with that feel than the Olympus. Definitely softer/more control than the Olympus
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball I have a NEXUS and it sounds nothing like what I was hearing coming off the OLYMPUS??? May have been a "broke in" sound I was hearing. May need to take a chance since the SPARTUS reutrn policy is very lenient.
Great review, Jacob! I just got my Olympus. Have you ended up preferring this over the J2K?
Back and forth for me
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball Thanks, Jacob!
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball Should I buy an Olympus, a J2K (14 or 16?), both, or neither at this point?? This is a serious question...please answer! 😂😂 TIA! It's two months later...what is/are your main/s now?
@ I use the Olympus and J2K. If you want a good combo of power and pop and are comfortable adding weight Olympus. If you need help with control or want the best all around hybrid all court then get the J2K.
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball Thank you! I sure wish that there was a place that I could try paddles out...in the Bay Area...because "knowing what I want" is a chicken & egg problem! I guess I need both haha! I mean it is my birthday and Christmas this month!
I’m on the fence between getting the Olympus or waiting on the ripple . Which do you like better ?
Love the Olympus. If you really want a Gen 3 Scorpeus/Persues replacement/upgrade wait for the Ripple if you need an excellent power paddle now get the Olympus
@ thank you ❤️
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball would you say the power and pop on the Olympus is comparable to the 6.0 black diamond 16mm? Or does it have more power and pop ? Control ?
@@JoseSantiago-ll1ck Sorry, I only hit that briefly not enough time to tell you a good answer. I would guess the Olympus has more power but pop could be similar.
Been seeing solid reviews on this thing, may need to check it out...
Just had my first use yesterday because of your review. I’m coming from a Ronbus original Pulsar R1 been using for 2 years. I noticed that I had to dial back all my strokes for the most part. If I went for it with my drives it sailed hella long lol. Basically you don’t have to swing as hard to generate power, has that been your experience?
Especially coming from the original Pulsar the Olympus is a big power upgrade. You’ll get used to it overtime and be able to put more into it as you dial it in.
Has anyone moved from the Apollo to this paddle? I love my Apollo but wish it had a bit more power.
Definitely not an easy transition but not too hard. It has been a beast of a paddle for me and I used the Apollo a lot
how does it compare to 14mm j2k?
More power, pop, and spin. It is a better 14mm for sure just price is where the J2K 14mm would be better
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball what about this new core...Ascension core 14mm vs. 100% Kevlar or Kevlar/Carbon Fiber mix?
@@karensermersheim9110 The core is giving it the power and pop here. Some of the stiffer kevlar/carbon fiber paddles have good pop and power but not power at this level
How is the maneuverability compared to the Apollo? I love the little flicks and rolls I can get off with the Apollo and at just 110 swingweight I’m excited this can do something similar but am wondering if the hybrid shape prevents it from being as maneuverable as the standard shaped Apollo
I think you’ll always sacrifice a little maneuverability moving from the Apollo to a hybrid shape that is just the pros and cons tradeoff you get with shapes. For me the pop and power difference is big enough for the tradeoff to be worth it and your shots can be more compact with the paddle doing more of the work.
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball
I play with Apollo weighted to 8.6 oz (3g at 4,8,12, replaced stock grip and overgrip). Wife’s paddle is Vatic Pro Flash 16mm … no added weight except overgrip … 8.2 oz.
I would take my Apollo all day long on return of serves (I don’t want pop assistance, I want control), but her Flash on flicks and rolls (effortless point and shoot, pop huge asset). The problem with pickleball paddles in doubles is the tradeoffs aren’t just between player types, they are also shot tradeoffs for a player.
Want the best overhead and forehand drive … head heavy elongated. Want best kitchen play … lose that head heavy elongated. Very frustrating mystery. I keep intending to pull my V7 back out and immediately after getting to kitchen play with choked up grip (which in my mind turns it into a fast low swingweight standard paddle 🤪).
How does the power/pop compare to the Engage Pursuit Pro-1's?
Limited testing of the Pursuit Pro 1s. I’d say pop is similar and the Olympus has the edge in power.
How does it compare with the J7K?
J7K is a little easier to control if you don’t like pop (Olympus has more) and Olympus weighted up has more too end power.
Core crush is an issue. Currently going through the warranty claim process so hopefully just a bad batch. Mines got barely any mileage on it.
They do a good job with warranty. Always a risk with thermoformed paddles
Thanks for your review. How does it compare to HUDEF Mage Pro Gen2 in the kitchen?
Great question stay tuned for the Hudef review
Bruh I’m struggling lol. All my best shots are gone. Back hand drop, back hand dinking and volleys out the air in general have been the hardest adjustments. So far in day 2. How long did it take you to adjust. What was the best way to do it? Drilling or trying the shots during rec?
Probably a few games but I adjust faster trying so many paddles. I would try adding some weight it definitely helps it play better. Then I would go drill you’ll dial it in way faster.
@ So far I’ve done 4&8 to the throat. The I added 2in of .5 tungsten cut in half at the top 2 corners. I was thinking your 9in 4.5G on each side down the sides might be way too much, but I’m getting desperate lol. Plan to try your set up and/or 9in from the throat all the way up the sides. Usually I like my tape at the throat. Been a little frustrating as I’ve felt I had good control and am one of the better players in my area. Expected to adjust sooner I guess.
@ Yeah, try my setup I think it will help. You can always go a little less like 3.5g on each side
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball Update. Been a week and I think I finally found it 😂. I tried your 9in set up at 10-2 going down but it felt too head heavy for me, and I was still struggling. Settled on moving it back to the throat 6in up to 3&9. Then stacking 3in from 4&8 to 3&9 (still totaling 9in 4.5G). But imo the gm changer was adding the weight to the bottom of the handle. I put 9gs there and it made all the difference. I’m finally able to play close to normal. Finally seeing the light lol
If I only have precut 3g lead stickers instead of a long strip, what would you recommend?
I’d try putting one in the middle on each side
Good job. Do you think you feel better after add weight?
Yes
Would you recommend this over waiting for ronbus ripple?
Unless you really want widebody or elonagted the Olympus is still my pick.
Hi, is your pop (Punch MPH) of 37.1 with or without the 9 grams? It does not specify on that side of your chart.
Without
@AllDriveNoDropPickleball Thanks. Did you notice a significant difference in pop MPH after adding 9 grams?
@ A little less pop with the weight due to higher swing weight and getting a little less speed for the punch
@AllDriveNoDropPickleball Thanks! Much appreciated.
Is the spin crazy good?
Yeah crazy good
Is the power curve exponential or more linear?
It is more linear than exponential until you get to the harder swings at like 80% and above effort
What is the volume level of the Olympus? I have tko-c 12mm and it is super loud. Was looking for something quieter. Thanks.
Quieter than the tkos
Would you say these play a lot better ? Coming from a 4.0 player looking for something with more power and quicker hands at the net. Currently playing with the neonic flow
@@shalooom Yes, for sure a power upgrade over the flow
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball good to know! Would you go with these over there TKO-C 12.7??
@@shalooom Yes, I would go with the Olympus over those
Sounds awesome! I can’t find the link for to win it though. 😢
It is on the Spartus website you win it for $180 😂
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball 😂😭
wow, what a nice review. are they not thinking about 16mm?
I think this is the only planned shape and thickness for now
Because the ProStar comes in at 16mm🛸👽
@@NexusPickleballUSA Are they built with the same core?
@@novubrown2780 very similar core
So I own the J2K. I prioritize control but feel like I could use a little more maneuverability, spin and maybe power. I like the dynamics of Kevlar but not sure if there is a better hybrid out there for me. Some say the Ruby is the slight bump I’m looking for but other recommend the DBD, a power paddle, etc. I don’t want to lose control too much and still want to be quick. Your thoughts?
You could go with a Chorus Shapeshifter which has more power but isn’t as hard to control as the Olympus. I think the Olympus is one of the easier power paddles to control and when you get adjusted to it the control is really good. Just depends if you can get adjusted to the pop which isn’t as much as some other power paddles.
Kinda weird that there's no comparison with the MOD TA-15...
Super strange
They delisted Coretek???
Yes
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball unreal. I just got one for a review. Doubt USAP reimburses me like they should lol.
@@cmay3s well maybe they have new ones I don’t know about I haven’t been following them lately
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball ah okay gotcha. I have the alpha that is currently listed on their website. Thanks for the info.
@@cmay3s best thing is to just check the approval site
I don’t know how I can take this review seriously. Not ONE image of the Olympus with a rice cooker nearby? C’mon, man…
😂
Wasn’t sure how to work this one in 😂
How many inches of .5 gram per inch tungsten did you add per side?
About 9”
Very interesting, looks like a very similar core to our ProStar…
Very interesting 🧐 send one over and I’ll cut it open to compare
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball I’d hope you’d test it out first before you cut open our alien tech😂👽🛸
CoreTek has entered the chat. I believe they were first to fill the entire honeycomb with foam. What I’m curious to see is how this compares to the Kiwi Labs upcoming paddle that went with a foam square pattern versus filling all the cells.
How did your tournament go
It went not as planned haha but that is on me for sure not the paddle. It performed very well and honestly did everything I could hope for. I’ll continue rotating between it and the J2K/J2Ti
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball Do you use the 14mm or 16 mm j2k?
@@philiphuston6167 16mm
Is anyone else finding the sweet spot very small? My balls drastically die if I dont hit the sweet spot dead center. Im finding this annoying and will probably end up returning it.
Always could be a defect that hasn’t been my experience. Are you have trouble with them dying towards the top?
@AllDriveNoDropPickleball That's a possibility. Ball goes dead with a thump below the very small sweet spot. I'm a 4.0+ player and have never experienced any issues like this before
I'll reach out to Spartus and inquire.
First like!😊
First reply!
Handle is too short unfortunately
Sorry to hear that, need a few 6” handles for the big hands team
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball LOL i have 5.5 but olympus handle looks too small in your hand. doesn't look like even 5.5
@@gauravpatel2005 Thank you? Haha
The one I got is awful! Tiny sweet spot with a huge drop-off in power. Inconsistent and can't play reliably with it. 4.25 player here.
I complained to Spartus and returned it. They said nothing was wrong with it; I absolutely don't agree. Charged me a 25% restocking fee to return this awful paddle.
Definitely not the usual experience, hopefully you get to try a legit one
Disagree with handle length. Really disliked this handle, Couldn't comfortably fit two hands at all. Also squishy.
Good to know seems like I need to measure my hands. It was fine for me no handle issues, I’m over gripping right away for every paddle because most stock grips get slippery.
Check out the Nexus ProStar, we got you with a 5.5 inch handle🛸👽
@@NexusPickleballUSA hey bro gonna need you to chill with the shill
@@AllDriveNoDropPickleball let’s get you a ProStar for review!