Well, JOOLA says the Hyperion CFS 16mm is the paddle Ben Johns uses to win titles. But is that the paddle you should be using on a Tuesday night against a 60-year-old who never misses a return? I’ve been coaching at my club since 2019, and I’ve had the Hyperion in my bag for over a year. I’ve also logged 60+ paddles in my demo rotation. The short answer: the Hyperion is a brilliant paddle hiding a couple of serious flaws, and the grip size chart you’re looking for is only half the story.
Related: How To Replace Pickleball Paddle Grip
Here is what I’ve learned living with these paddles, and how to figure out the grip size you actually need before you spend a dime.
JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm Swift Pickleball Paddle - USAPA Approved for Tournament Play - Carbon Fiber Pickle Ball Racket - Maximum Speed with High Grit & Spin
Insane spin, huge sweet spot, thermoformed power
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Selkirk Sport Amped Control Pickleball Paddles | Fiberglass | 16mm X5 Core
Experience balanced play with the Selkirk AMPED Control, a refined selkirk pickleball paddle. Building on the original AMPED innovation, this paddle is designed for those seeking consistent control an
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Paddletek Bantam EX-L Pickleball Paddle | Professional Pickleball Paddles with Honeycomb Core, Polycarbonate Surface, Bantom PolyCore & High Tack Performance Grip | USAPA Approved
Soft touch for third shot drops, well balanced
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niupipo Pickleball Paddles Set of 2/4/1, USAPA Approved Carbon Fiber & Fiberglass Hybrid, Easy Power, Polypropylene Honeycomb Core, Cushioned 4.72" Grip, Bag/Cover, Pickleball Paddle Set for Men Women
Experience balanced play with the Selkirk AMPED Control, a refined selkirk pickleball paddle. Building on the original AMPED innovation, this paddle is designed for those seeking consistent control an
Visit on Amazon →How I Test Grips (Since You Asked)
I don't test a paddle for an afternoon. I play with it for a minimum of two weeks of doubles. I also keep a log, because memory lies. I write down the grip circumference, the handle length, the weight, and how the paddle feels after a 2-hour session when my hands are sweating through my overgrip.
My dog Wrigley, a 65-pound golden retriever, also has a role. He curls up on the paddle boxes, and if the packaging survives him, it’s decent. That’s my quality control.
The Grip Size Chart You Actually Need
Forget the marketing. Here are the real numbers. Most paddles come in at 4.25 inches in circumference, which is the standard. The handle length is where things get tricky. The Selkirk Amped S2 has a handle that one buyer, a woman with small hands, said fits her perfectly. Another buyer, coming from a Gamma paddle, said the Selkirk handle is “much shorter” and took a day to get used to.
If you have larger hands or play a two-handed backhand, you need a handle that’s at least 5.5 inches long. The Paddletek Bantam EX-L has a “very short” handle, per a buyer I trust. That’s a dealbreaker for some.
Measure your hand. If your ring finger touches your palm when you wrap your hand around the grip, you need a smaller circumference. If there’s a gap, you need a thicker grip or an overgrip. It’s that simple.
JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm: The Spin King With a Dirty Secret
The version I own is the 16mm, and the first thing you notice is the CFS surface. It’s gritty. It grabs the ball. One buyer said other players “constantly remark about the spin coming off this thing,” and they aren’t lying. My serves have more rotation than anything else in my bag. Topspin slices that used to float now dip and bite.
The foam-injected edge is also real. The sweet spot is massive. You can hit the ball almost anywhere on the face and still get a decent response. That’s a huge deal for intermediate players who don’t hit the center every time.
But here’s the problem. The grip is a disaster. One buyer described it as “made out of Soap or maybe candle wax.” That’s not an exaggeration. It’s slick, and when your hands sweat, it slips. I’ve seen a player at my club nearly drop this paddle mid-swing. That’s dangerous.
And the edge guard. At month one, there was a slight wiggle. By month four, it was completely loose. For a $220 paddle, that’s unacceptable. The spin is great, but a paddle that falls apart isn’t worth the money.
If you buy this, budget for an overgrip immediately. It’s a $5 fix that changes everything. But you shouldn’t have to fix a $220 paddle on day one.
Choose this paddle if you’re a 4.0 player who wants spin and control. Skip it if you have sweaty hands or you’re not willing to replace the grip.
Selkirk Amped S2: The Big Sweet Spot, But a Short Handle
The Amped S2 is the paddle I recommend to most of my recreational players. The buyers are right about the sweet spot. It’s bigger than the Hyperion, and it delivers on both control and power. That’s not a compromise, that’s engineering. The balance is forgiving, and it won’t punish you for a lazy third shot.
The grip, though, slips when you sweat. One buyer said “your paddle will slip and may even drop.” I’ve had the same issue. The factory grip is too smooth. I ended up putting on an ADV overgrip, which fixed the problem but added width to an already-thick handle.
The handle length is also a concern. It’s shorter than a Gamma paddle. If you have big hands or play two-handed, this might not work for you. One buyer with small hands loved it, and that’s the key. This is a paddle for players with smaller hands who want a bigger sweet spot.
At $150, it’s a solid mid-price option. It’s not perfect, but it’s a better value than the Hyperion.
Paddletek Bantam EX-L: The Control Paddle That Chips
The Bantam EX-L is the paddle I hand to players who need to work on their third shot drop. The soft touch is real. One buyer said it provides “a softer touch and more control,” and that’s exactly what I’ve found. The ball doesn’t explode off the face. It thumps. That’s a feature for control.
But the durability is a concern. The edge guard scrapes more easily than a ProLite, and the paddle “can easily get chips” because it doesn’t have an outer protection layer. I’ve seen this on my own paddle. After a few months, it looks beat up.
It’s a great-feeling paddle, but it might not look great after a few months. If you’re okay with that, it’s a great option. If you’re particular about your gear, look elsewhere.
Niupipo Explorer Pro: The Value King With a Thumpy Feel
This is the paddle I recommend to beginners who don’t want to blow $200 on something they’ll outgrow. At $40, it’s a no-brainer. One buyer said it “performs as well as paddles costing much, much more,” and that’s not an exaggeration. The quality is much more impressive than the price suggests.
The feel is thumpy. The ball doesn’t rocket off the face, which is a good thing for beginners who are still learning to aim. One buyer said, “I had extremely good control of the ball.” That’s what you want when you’re starting.
The downside is the shrink-wrap on the handle. It’s a nightmare to remove without damaging the grip. And the sweet spot is smaller than the other paddles here. But for the price, it’s the best value in this lineup.
How to Choose Your Grip Size
I don’t track prices day to day, so I won’t pretend to know next week’s deals. But here’s what I do know. The grip size is the most neglected spec in the industry. You can fix a bad grip with an overgrip, but you can’t fix a handle that’s too short.
Measure your hand. If you’re between sizes, go smaller and add an overgrip. If you have big hands, look for a handle that’s at least 5.5 inches long. The Selkirk and the Paddletek both have shorter handles, so be careful.
My Honest Bottom Line
The Hyperion is the best paddle I’ve played with, and the worst paddle I’ve owned. The spin is real, but the grip and edge guard are inexcusable at that price. The Selkirk is the best all-around option for most players. The Niupipo is the best value. And the Bantam EX-L is the best for control, if you can live with the chipping.
Buy the grip you need, not the grip they give you. And always budget for an overgrip.