With their commitment to innovation and quality craftsmanship, Prodrive has emerged as a leading brand in pickleball paddles. From premium carbon fiber models to budget-friendly options, they offer a diverse range of paddles suitable for players of all skill levels. In this in-depth Prodrive Pickleball Paddle Review, we’ll be taking a close look at some of their standout paddles: the Ghost, Carbon, Drive White, Select Florida, and Drive Jr.
Prodrive Ghost: A Top-Tier Carbon Fiber Paddle
As the flagship of the Prodrive lineup, the Prodrive Ghost paddle is built for competitive players who demand the very best. With its curved aerodynamic shape and 16mm Kevlar core, the Ghost provides elite-level performance through unmatched power, control and feel.
Design & Construction
The Ghost has a distinctive curved profile designed to cut through the air with less drag for greater swing speed and ball action. The paddle features a unibody construction with thermoformed edges for durability and a consistent sweet spot across the face.
Inside, a 16mm Kevlar honeycomb core generates substantial power from the core while maintaining a lightweight feel. The surface utilizes raw carbon fiber from Japan for optimal touch and control on shots. At 8 ounces, the Ghost remains maneuverable while still providing stability for solid impact.
- Superb touch and power
- Aerodynamic curved shape
- Quick, agile maneuverability
- Excellent control from carbon fiber
- Tuned for competitive play
- High end pricing puts it out of reach for some
- Curved shape takes adjustment from traditional paddles
Performance & Feel
With its responsive carbon hitting surface and rigid Kevlar core, the Ghost offers exceptional precision and power. It provides unmatched stability and touch on shots throughout the court. The curved shape creates a larger sweet spot and added pop.
The Ghost feels extremely quick through the air yet solid on contact. It excels at driving balls deep with authority. The carbon fiber also provides great finesse on touch shots. For competitive players seeking an elite paddle, the Ghost is a premier option.
Prodrive Carbon: Excellent Control and Power
The Prodrive Carbon provides advanced construction and quality at a more affordable price point. With its 3-layer core and carbon fiber face, it delivers impressive precision, power, and feel for its cost. It’s an ideal step-up for intermediate players seeking more performance.
Design & Construction
This paddle utilizes a 3-layer core composition. The inner core uses a Kevlar honeycomb for strength and reduced vibration. On either side, polypropylene honeycomb adds further rigidity and a solid feel. The surface uses raw carbon fiber for optimal touch and control.
At 8.6 ounces, the Carbon is slightly heavier than the Ghost but still quick through the air. The core thickness of 19mm provides excellent stability and response. Thermoformed edges increase durability across the face.
- Quality power and feel at lower cost
- Great touch from carbon fiber
- Nice balance of control and stability
- Reduced vibration from multi-layer core
- Thermoformed edges increase durability
- Not as premium feeling as the Ghost
- Slightly heavier than other carbon options
- Three-layer core results in a thicker profile
Performance & Feel
Thanks to its multi-layer core and carbon face, the Carbon provides top-notch performance beyond its price. The paddle offers great touch on finesse shots along with plenty of pop on drives and smashes. Maneuverability remains a strength despite the added weight.
It has a very solid, consistent feel across the face. The carbon fiber allows superb control over shot direction and ball spin. For intermediate and advanced players, the Carbon represents an impressive value.
Drive White: Ideal Control and Power Blend
The Pro Drive White/Pink model provides versatile performance and quality at a very reasonable cost. With its 3-layer core and graphite face, it supplies a balanced mix of power, control, and smooth feel suitable for various skill levels.
Design & Construction
Like the Carbon, the Drive paddle utilizes a 3-layer honeycomb core configuration with a Kevlar center. This improves stability and dampens vibration. The surface uses a grit paint coating over durable graphite for added grip and spin potential.
Weighing 8.5 ounces, the Drive provides nice maneuverability and handling. The grip length and circumference are designed to fit most hand sizes. Thermoforming gives consistent performance across the hitting area.
- Quality construction with graphite face
- Nice mix of power, control, and feel
- Reduced vibration from honeycomb core
- Good value paddle under $100
- Ideal for intermediate players
- Composite surface doesn’t match carbon fiber feel
- Not as powerful or spin-friendly as carbon
- Graphics are a bit plain
Performance & Feel
Thanks to its blended core and graphite face, the Drive delivers steady performance across all shot types. It has good pop on drives along with control for touch shots and spins. The weight feels nicely balanced between maneuverability and stability.
The multi-layer core significantly reduces vibrations for a comfortable feel on off-center hits. The Drive provides a very well-rounded playing experience at an affordable cost.
Prodrive Select Florida: Agility and Spin for Competitors
Created for tournament-level play, the Prodrive Select Florida provides elite precision, spin, and quickness. Its flex-curve shape, 16mm core, and carbon fiber face equip it with high-end performance attributes to compete at the top level.
Design & Construction
The Select Florida features a specialized flex-curve profile with curved edges that reduces drag through the air for faster swing speed. The 16 mm polypropylene core optimizes rigidity for enhanced ball control.
The surface utilizes T700 grade carbon fiber for optimal touch and feel. It also incorporates a grit paint pattern to maximize ball grab and spin generation. Weighing 8 ounces, the Select Florida has a agile yet controlled feel.
- Tour-ready performance attributes
- Flex-curve profile for quickness
- Impressive control and finesse
- Maximal spin from grit pattern
- Superb for competitive play
- Very expensive for recreational players
- Stiff feel requires refined technique
- Flex-curve shape has a learning curve
- Lacks versatility outside competitive play
Performance & Feel
With its responsive carbon hitting surface and rigid honeycomb core, the Select Florida delivers exceptional quickness and finesse. The flex-curve head shape requires less movement for lightning-quick returns.
The carbon fiber face allows for superb directional control and stability. The paddle excels at keeping balls deep through a blend of speed, spin and precision. For competitors seeking a maneuverable, high-performance paddle, the Select Florida is an excellent solution.
Prodrive Drive Jr: Ideal for Young Beginners
The Prodrive Drive Jr paddle is specifically designed for young players ages 5-12 who are just learning the game. With its compact size, lightweight feel, and quality construction, it allows youngsters to build skills with excellent equipment.
Design & Construction
Weighing just 7 ounces, the Drive Jr is significantly lighter than regulation paddles for easy handling. The smaller 13.78” length and 7.36” width fit a child’s grip and swing range comfortably.
The surface uses a carbon fiber hitting area for durability and performance. The core utilizes a Kevlar honeycomb for rigidity and vibration dampening. The shorter 4.5” grip with 3 15/16” circumference suits small hands well.
- Specifically sized for kids 5-12 years old
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver
- Compact size improves targeting
- Quality carbon fiber and Kevlar construction
- Versatile training tool for all ages
- Smaller size limits playability for adults
- Shorter grip not ideal for larger hands
- Younger kids may lack strength for solid hits
- Less durable than regulation models
- Minimal graphics and style elements
Performance & Feel
The Drive Jr’s lightweight design allows young players to maneuver it smoothly while building coordination. The smaller sweet spot improves accuracy as kids refine their technique. The construction materials provide a solid, consistent feel even for off-center hits.
While designed for kids, the Drive Jr can also help adults and teens develop precision targeting and handling skills. It introduces beginners to quality equipment in a fun, accessible package.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ghost prioritizes control and finesse with its lightweight design and spin/touch generating face. The Carbon maximizes power using advanced materials and a thicker core. The budget-friendly Drive White aims for all-around playability and versatility.
The Drive White is the best Prodrive option for beginners. Its forgiving design, medium weight, and affordable price provide a accessible introduction to help develop skills.
The Carbon is built to deliver maximum power, using advanced materials to add stability and pop. The thick core and rigid carbon face transfer serious energy into driving shots.
The Ghost is engineered for control and feel, optimizing spin, shot shaping, and touch thanks to its responsive polymer core and carbon fiber construction.
It’s best to demo different Prodrive paddles to find the right fit. Consider your skill level, playing style, stroke mechanics and priorities like power or control. Prodrive offers paddles suited for various needs.
Prodrive paddles are available at most pickleball specialty retailers. Many facilities also allow demoing different models before purchasing.
With regular use, Prodrive paddles can last 1-2 years or more. Signs of needing replacement include cracks, large chips, excess warping, or decline in pop/control.
The Verdict
Prodrive consistently delivers some of the top paddles across the spectrum of player skills and budgets. With models like the elite Ghost and competition-ready Select Florida, they provide excellent carbon fiber options for competitors seeking high performance.
The Carbon and Drive paddles offer versatile blends of control and power at more affordable pricing for developing players. And the Drive Jr helps introduce the next generation to the sport with appropriately sized, quality equipment. Overall, from Prodrive Pickleball Paddle Review, it is concluded that Prodrive’s diverse paddle selection has options suitable for nearly any player’s needs and playing style.
I am a professional physiotherapist and the author of the BallSportsPro. I worked with athletes of all levels, from amateur to professional, and i helped them overcome injuries and improve their performance. I am a certified Pickleball instructor and has been playing the sport for over 10 years.