Gearbox Pickleball Paddle Reviews
Gearbox pickleball paddles are known for their wide range of options and high performance. From the largest paddles to the lightest ones, Gearbox has something for everyone.
Some of their paddles are also great for players who are just getting started in the game. So you can find the ideal paddle for yourself.
So without further ado, have a look at our picks for the top 7 Gearbox pickleball paddles.
Gearbox Paddles CP7
Quick Stats
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Weight: 8 ounces
- Dimensions: 16.34 x 7.32 x 1.18 inches
- Size: One size
- Age Range: Adult
- Core Measurement: 7 × 13mm
- Core Material: Polypropylene (PPE)
- Size of the Handle: 4 inches of circumference
- Length of the Handle:5 inches
- Warranty: One year
PROS |
CONS |
|
✔️Light in weight ✔️Not over expensive ✔️Gives great power ✔️Large sweet spot ✔️Good for beginners |
❌Cheaper quality than its competitors ❌Gives little control ❌Not suitable for the pros |
Quick Review
The Gearbox CP7 is a good choice for beginner and intermediate players as it is light in weight and provides power.
Also, it doesn’t tire out your arm as quickly. However, you might face some problems if you’re planning to play pro shots.
Detailed Review
No doubt, Gearbox CP7 is one of the top pickleball paddles of the company. I mean, this paddle is sold for only some bucks and costs way less than many other giants of the pickleball industry.
Starting with weight, which is the most important aspect for many people. This paddle can be purchased in either the size of 7.8 ounces or 8.5 ounces.
If you’re not familiar with the weight specifications of a paddle, let me quickly explain it to you. According to the official authorities, you can only play with the paddles with an average weight of 7.8 and 9.5 ounces.
Therefore, this paddle is ideal for a beginner or for a person who faces wrist issues. Now let’s come to the build quality of Gearbox CP7.
The core is 13mm thick so it provides a good amount of power. But should we talk about the surface material? I mean it’s great as it is a mixture of glass fiber and carbon fiber.
The core was strong like many other paddles, but the fact that the surface materials are also so strong gives you great power. That is why we love this aspect of the Gearbox CP7.
The 7.8 oz paddle will be a problem for those who like to play aggressive shots. It’s light in weight and will require a lot of wrist action which may even cause strain.
So the Gearbox CP7 that has 7.8 oz of weight is a good fit for beginners, while the one with 8.5 is good for the intermediates.
Gearbox GX5 Power Pickleball Paddle
Quick Stats
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Weight: 8 or 8.5 ounces
- Length: 15 ⅞ inches
- Width: 8 inches
- Dimensions: 3 x 11.57 x 2.09 inches
- Size of the Handle: 3 ⅝ inches of circumference
- Length of the Handle:
- Warranty: One year
PROS |
CONS |
|
✔️Large sweet spot ✔️Light in weight ✔️Gives a good power ✔️Have a feeling of expensive paddles |
❌Grip size can be small for some players ❌Expensive than many other paddles |
Quick Review
Perfect for beginners or intermediates who want to have more power on the paddle. The build quality of GX5 Power is top-notch. The grip size may be small for some people, however, it can be adjusted with the edge guard.
Detailed Review
These paddles come with an expensive feel. When you’ll hold it, it will feel like a premium paddle, and why not, it comes in great colors and also has good quality materials.
The slim aerodynamic frame is probably the main reason for this premium look as this feature makes GX5 slimmer. Not just that, this aspect also provides less resistance to air so it will be easy to hit sudden shots.
The grip of Gearbox GX5 is slim which is good for some players. But many of the players prefer a large grip size. But the good news is that you can adjust it with the edge guard.
So this wouldn’t be a big problem if you prefer a large grip size of a pickleball paddle. Now coming to the weight, there are two options; 7.8 ounces and 8.5 ounces.
There are only two color options; green and blue for this paddle. So if you’re someone like me who wants to have certain options, you’ll have to make some compromises.
Although the company advertises the paddle to have complete vibration control, it can’t absorb the vibrations of the ball effectively. This may cause a wrist strain if you hit the shot aggressively.
Gearbox GX5 Control
Quick Stats
- Material: Carbon fiber
- Weight: 8 or 8.5 ounces
- Dimensions: 3 x 11.57 x 2.09 inches
- Length: 15 ⅞ inches
- Thickness: 7/16 inches
- Width: 8 inches
- Age Range: Adult
- Size of the Handle: 3 ⅝ inches of circumference
- Length of the Handle: 15 ⅞ inches
- Warranty: One year
PROS |
CONS |
|
✔️Large sweet spot ✔️Provides a great control ✔️Different options for weight ✔️Comes with one year of warranty ✔️Approved by USAPA |
❌The grip size might be small for some people ❌Only two options for color |
Quick Review
If you’re someone looking for a paddle that provides extra control, this version of GX5 is a good fit for you. The only catch is that it has limited color options but if that’s not a big deal for you, you have found yourself a good paddle.
Detailed Review
The Gearbox GX5 Control is slightly similar to the Power version. For instance, these paddles are also available in two different weights; 7.8 and 8.5 ounces.
That is why we think that the G5 series is good for beginners. The only thing that distinguishes them is the power and control aspects.
However, this doesn’t mean that the GX5 control does not provide power at all. But the power generation is less in this version as compared to the GX5 Power.
Gearbox made this to provide options for the people who either prefer more power or more control. So if you’re someone who prefers more control over the paddle, we will recommend you purchase Gearbox GX5 Control.
However, if you’re someone like me who doesn’t like vibrant colors like orange or red, you would have to make some compromises.
The main difference between the two versions of GX5 power and control is the way carbon fiber is laid on top. In one version, the carbon fiber is laid at 0° while in the other version, it’s about 45°.
Gearbox GX6 Power
Quick Stats
- Material: Carbon fiber
- Weight: 8 or 8.5 ounces
- Length: 16 ⅝ inches
- Width: 7 ⅜ inches
- Dimensions: 93 x 10.39 x 2.17 inches
- The thickness of the Core: 7/16 inches
- Length of the Handle: 5 ⅝ inches
- Edge Guard: Edgeless
PROS |
CONS |
|
✔️Light in weight ✔️Has an ergonomic handle ✔️Provides more power ✔️Has an edgeless design |
❌The length might be large for some players ❌Slightly expensive |
Quick Review
There are several different options for this paddle in terms of weight and color. Also, it’s perfect for those who are looking for more power with the paddle.
Detailed Review
This paddle is made for those who crave power in pickleball. So if you’re someone who likes to hit the shots with great power, this paddle is a good pick for you.
The sweet spot of the Gearbox GX6 Power is larger than any other paddles. Because of the larger sweet spot, this paddle helps us to hit the shots with a quick response.
One of the unique features of Gearbox GX6 is the edgeless glass design which is loved by the pickleball community. When this feature combines with the large sweet spot, we get accurate and powerful shots.
No doubt, the edgeless glass design looks elegant and is also very practical in hitting accurate shots. Along with that, there is a vibration control on the paddle.
Gearbox GX6 Control
Quick Stats
- Material: Carbon fiber
- Weight: 8 or 8.5 ounces
- Dimensions: 93 x 10.39 x 2.17 inches
- Length: 16 ⅝ inches
- Width: 7 ⅜ inches
- Thickness: 7/16 inches
- Age Range: Adults
- Size of the Handle: 3 ⅝ inches of circumference
- Length of the Handle: 5 ⅝ inches
- Warranty: One year
PROS |
CONS |
|
✔️Edgeless frame ✔️Large sweet spot or hitting area ✔️Provide more spin ✔️Handle is longer ✔️Good build quality |
❌Not the best option for pros ❌No options for heavyweight paddle ❌Might be light for some players |
Quick Review
It’s a good pick for players who like to have control over the paddle. The low-weight version is more comfortable for the starters while the other version might be good for skilled picklers.
Detailed Review
Like the power version of GX6, there are two versions of this one as well. It comes in two different colors and has two options for weight.
The 7.8 ounce paddle might be too lightweight for some people. But it supports the thin design of the paddle and makes it look more elegant. Moreover, there’s more control here.
However, the 8.5 ounce paddle might be heavy for the starters. Even though it’s a control version, starters might find it difficult to quickly control.
So the smaller version is for beginners and the heavier version is for those who have already acquired some skills in pickleball.
When you look at this paddle, you’ll see that it has an edgeless design that has provided more surface area. Moreover, the wide sweet spot is also seen on this paddle which will help you to hit accurate shots.
Because of the slim design and more surface area, we can gain more control. So if you’re looking for more control, go with the GX6 Control version.
Gearbox CX11E Pickleball Paddle
Quick Stats
- Material: Carbon fiber
- Weight: 8 or 8.5 ounces
- Length: 16 ⅝ inches
- Width: 7 ⅜ inches
- Thickness: 11mm
- Age Range: Youth
- Size of the Handle: 3 ⅝ inches
- Length of the Handle: 5 ⅝ inches
- Warranty: One year
- Versions: Control and power
PROS |
CONS |
|
✔️Large hitting area ✔️Great power and control ✔️Gives a good spin to the ball ✔️Only has a thickness of 11mm |
❌Pricey for some ❌Can be too light and thin for the pros |
Quick Review
The CX11 series is a new addition to the paddle collection of Gearbox. Some models of this series are made to give more control, while some give more power.
Detailed Review
Before moving in toward the main product, let us have a look at the division of CX11E. This series is one of the most recent ones of the Gearbox, which means we get to see more exciting stuff.
CX11E is divided into two main categories; control and power. Like most of the paddles of Gearbox, CX11E is an option for both; those who want more power and who want more control.
Once you decide between one of these, you’ll have to decide on the suitable weight. There are two weight options just like we see in other paddles.
Then you’ll have to choose between the few color options of CX11E. Unfortunately, there aren’t many color options with the paddles of Gearbox, so you’ll only have limited options to choose from.
The Gearbox G11 pickleball paddle was once the top-notch paddle of the brand but currently, this new series of CX11E paddles are replacing the G11.
Gearbox Pickleball CX14H Paddle
Quick Stats
- Material: Carbon fiber
- Weight: 8 ounces
- Length: 15 ⅝ inches
- Width: 8 inches
- Thickness: 14mm
- Size of the Handle: 3 ⅝ inches
- Length of the Handle: 5 ⅝ inches
- Warranty: One year
PROS |
CONS |
|
✔️Build quality is nice ✔️Better power and control ✔️Able to hit soft shots ✔️Light in weight ✔️Feels like a premium paddle |
❌Spin generation is not the best ❌Overly priced ❌Small grip size |
Quick Review
The Gearbox CX14H is a balanced paddle and gives both power and control. It also has a nice build quality. However, the price is quite high compared to many other paddles that are also offering the same features.
Detailed Review
The paddles of Gearbox are known for their carbon fiber designs. The Gearbox CX14H also has a premium build quality. Holding it in your hands is enough to recognize its premium quality.
Carbon fiber is used in the core because of which this paddle is light in weight and durable. On the outside, carbon fiber is used to make the surface which provides more power and control.
The SST or Solid Span Technology and Hybrid-Bite Spin Technology give more power and control over the paddle. Gearbox has also been mentioned to provide a good spin, but this spin is way less than its competitors.
These paddles are big in terms of length so it has a more hitting surface area. The sweet spot is also large which makes us able to play sudden shots.
While reading our other Gearbox pickleball paddle reviews, you might have realized that most of the Gearbox paddle reviews either come in 7.8 or 8.5 ounces of weight.
But in CX14H, the case guide is different. This paddle only comes in the size of 8.0 ounces. This size is neither too light nor too high. So it is a perfect balance for those who seek balance in their paddles.
FAQs
What is the Difference Between GX5 and GX6
Are Gearbox Paddles USAPA Approved?
What is the Solid Span Technology of Gearbox Paddles?
Where Does Gearbox Manufacture its Paddles?
Does Gearbox Make Good Pickleball Paddles?
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