Six Zero Ruby - pickleball paddle review

You might have seen the Six Zero Ruby on your local courts and wondered: "What is that eye-catching red paddle?" Well, after Pickleball Apes recently shook up the game with their Pro Line Energy S, the Ruby is the newest Kevlar® paddle on the market.

If you've read my blog, you'll know what a huge fan I am of Six Zero's raw carbon Double Black Diamond Control. Read my Six Zero Ruby review to see if upgrading to Kevlar® has added anything new.

To me, this paddle is essentially the Six Zero DBD Control with more spin, a touch more pop, and a bit less control. While it's not too different from the DBD or top thermoformed paddles like the Bread & Butter Filth, it's a nice alternative that's worth checking out. The Kevlar® face makes this truly unique.

When I reviewed the Pickleball Apes Pro Line Energy S, it was my first time playing with a Kevlar® paddle. Straight away, I predicted we'd see a wave of these in 2024, and now here's Six Zero with their very own Kevlar® offering.

I'm naturally going to compare this to the Six Zero DBD considering it's my favorite pickleball paddle of the last year. I play with the DBD a lot, so the Ruby took some getting used to.

It's a touch heavier, and the Kevlar® face brings a unique new feel. It interacts differently with the ball than any raw carbon paddles I've tested.

Once I dialed it in, I found the same 10-out-of-10 spin I'm used to getting with Six Zero paddles. I can put big topspin on virtually every shot, keeping pressure on my opponents. I've seen spin tests over 2,000 RPMs for this, putting the Ruby right up there with the best spin paddles in the pickleball.

Overall, I feel this paddle has good control. Kevlar® paddles can give all-court performance just like pure raw carbon fiber paddles. The Ruby has a good mix of power, control, and spin, so I often find myself packing it when I head to the courts.

One thing people will either like or dislike is the pop. Compared to the more control-oriented Pro Line Energy S, the Ruby has a ton more pop, pushing it more into the power category. It reminds me of the DBD Control, and I like the pop on overheads and drives.

The pop is too much at times, though. It's too easy to pop up drop shots. This is a complaint I have with the DBD too, as good as that paddle is.

I wish this had a more plush feel and better control like some of the other Kevlar® paddles I've tested, which have a more responsive feel. The Ruby still plays very similarly to a raw carbon paddle.

Looks-wise, this is a paddle I always spot straight away at my local courts. It builds nicely on the DBD's design, adding a red tint and ruby gem logo. The Ruby keeps the hybrid shape that works so well on the DBD, with the tapered neck boosting the aerodynamics.

Six Zero claims they spent over 10 months designing this paddle, and I believe them. They tend to focus on the minor details, and the DBD Control took them 18 months to design.

The Ruby was made using a multi-stage hot and cold production process. This is more proof that the top companies are moving on from pure thermoformed paddles (which are made with hot pressing).

Like all Six Zero paddles, this has a premium build and feel. I'm certain it will last you a long, long time.

I'm loving all the technological advances we're seeing in 2024. It's a really exciting time to be reviewing pickleball paddles.

To see Six Zero upgrading from their signature thermoformed black raw carbon paddles is exciting. Let's see what's featured in the Ruby.

The paddle surface is made from 100% Aramid fiber, sourced from DuPont™ Kevlar®. This is a big change from the raw carbon fiber paddles we've seen so much of.

The Kevlar® paddles from Pickleball Apes are actually made from a blend of Kevlar® and raw carbon, so the Ruby is a purer Kevlar® paddle. Oddly, it feels much closer to the carbon DBD Control than I expected. The Pickleball Apes Kevlar® paddles feel more unique to me in this sense.

When I hear a paddle manufacturer claiming their "cross-weave cloth pattern is going to bump the spin, grip, and feel of the ball", I'm usually skeptical. It sounds like marketing jargon.

That said, I have to give it to Six Zero. The spin on the Ruby is really, really good. The paddle face truly grips the ball and loads up huge topspin.

This is the fancy name for Six Zero's method of foam injection around the walls. It's featured on the DBD Control and the Black Diamond Power too.

The tech is now pretty standard, and almost mandatory for me. Whenever I pick up a paddle that doesn't have foam injection, I can feel something lacking. It just really works for me, extending the sweet spot and improving stability.

I'm knocking this down a half-point from the DBD Control. After testing both paddles side by side, I can confirm the Ruby has less finishing power on overheads and less drive from groundstrokes.

While it still has plenty of power to serve deep and put pressure on your opponents, the DBD's raw carbon fiber is very slightly better in my opinion.

I'm scoring this another half-point lower than the DBD. This is purely down to the extra pop off the Ruby—I struggle to rein it in. Sometimes, I'll barely swing on a drop shot and get a flier that costs me a point.

I'll sometimes find myself longing for a Pickleball Apes paddle, which has a more consistent and muted feel on its touch shots.

That said, all is not lost on control. On dinks, this paddle works just fine. It's well-designed and is controlled enough to be a true all-court performer. I just put it slightly more on the power side than control.

The Ruby gets great spin—right up there with the best spin paddles. I can put topspin on virtually all of my shots, even dinks and drops, to keep my opponents off the kitchen line.

I'm impressed that it matches the DBD for spin, given the face material and grit are completely different.

I was also surprised to find the Ruby as forgiving as the DBD. Six Zero has again engineered a hard-hitting paddle with a surprising amount of forgiveness.

The hybrid shape and foam-injected walls both work to enlarge the sweet spot. Mishits are rare and the paddle feels stable at the kitchen when blocking hard drives.

Six Zero did a nice job on the weight distribution. It matches the performance well. You shouldn't have to customize this paddle with lead tape.

One thing that always frustrates me with the Six Zero DBD and BD is the grip. It gets sweaty on hot summer days. I was hoping they would update the grip on the Ruby, but it's the same one.

I really like the look—white with red highlights—but I suspect players will complain that it gets dirty quickly.

Just like all Six Zero paddles, this is made with super-premium materials. The added Kevlar® (a material often used in armor) should help to increase its long-term durability.

With the strong edge guard too, I'm confident your investment will hold up over time.

I like this hybrid shape a lot, with its curved top just like the DBD. It makes the Ruby quick at the net, feeling faster than the moderate-high 117 swing weight listed in the specs.

Before buying a paddle, it's important to make sure it fits your game. That's why I created a 30-second quiz that recommends the best paddles for your play style and budget.

Give it a try and see if the Six Zero Ruby makes the list:

The Ruby currently retails for $199, which isn't a huge increase from the $180 DBD Control. Is it worth the extra $20?

$199 is a fair price for this paddle. That said, compared to the best-selling DBD, you're only paying the extra $20 because there's Kevlar® included. I don't see enough of a boost to performance or uniqueness that would convince me to buy the Ruby over the DBD.

If you're a spin junkie who loves Six Zero paddles, then I think it's worth trying out. You'll love the new feel on topspin.

However, suppose you're looking for a Kevlar® paddle with a more unique feel than you get with carbon paddles and with better soft game attributes. In that case, I highly recommend the Pickleball Apes Pro Line Energy S instead. It's $50 cheaper too.

The Ruby plays similarly to the DBD, so I'd only recommend paying the $20 premium if you're a big spin player or you're already playing with the DBD and want to try something different from Six Zero.

If you're happy with your current thermoformed raw carbon paddle, I don't see a big reason to run out and buy the Ruby.

This article contains affiliate links from which we receive a small commission from sales of certain items. As a brand associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you!