I'm fresh from testing the brand-new Holbrook Fuze pickleball paddle, which launches today, and I did not want to put this one down. I'm blown away by how good it is. This is a paddle that can boost literally any player's game.
I love that they offer plenty of choice across models. You can choose any shape (widebody, hybrid, elongated) and a 14 or 16 mm core. I tested the elongated 16 mm model.
I'll explain why this is the best paddle Holbrook has released and why it's in the early running for the best pickleball paddle of 2026.
The Holbrook Fuze is a top-tier paddle at a mid-range price. It's hands-down one of my favorite paddles I've ever played with. It's a rare one that I can recommend to players of any skill level. It's very powerful, controlled, and insanely quick in the hands. If you want an elite paddle for a little under $200, you'll love the Holbrook Fuze.Today's best deals
Buy or pass?
Buy if:
You want top-of-the-line power:
the Fuze competes with the most powerful paddles like the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV and Selkirk LABS Boomstik but costs a lot less.
You also want elite control:
very few paddles score 10 out of 10 on power and control – this is one of those paddles.
You like to play a fast game:
I've never played with a 16 mm elongated paddle this fast. It just flies through the air.
Pass if:
You want the highest levels of spin:
spin is on par with other high-performance paddles, but it's just shy of the peak spin performance of the RPM Friction Pro and CRBN TruFoam Genesis.
You prefer pop-based power:
instead of a poppy feel where the ball rockets straight off the face, like the Thrive FURY, the Fuze has that "trampoline" power with increased dwell time.
You want a budget alternative:
if you don't mind sacrificing power, the Warping Point Neon is an insanely good paddle in the $100 range.
The Holbrook Fuze gives you everything
The Holbrook Fuze looks great and feels perfectly weighted right out of the box. I usually add weighted tape to my paddles, but I felt no need to here.
It has a lightweight 8-ounce static weight and a full high-density foam core. When engineered right, foam pickleball paddles give you the best balance of power and control, and Holbrook absolutely smashed it with the Fuze.
The elongated 16 mm worked wonders for me. It gave me the reach and power boost of an elongated shape. Meanwhile, the thicker core provided more cushion and dwell time for the ball.
The surface has aramid fiber blended with carbon, which is meant to improve touch and forgiveness. I've seen aramid used on the Pro Line Energy S and Honolulu Sword & Shield J2K, and these paddles have an excellent soft feel for control. Holbrook took that idea and amped up the power massively, making this much more rounded and impressive.
This is a lightning-fast paddle that's very maneuverable at the net. It slices through the air quicker than any 16 mm elongated paddle I've seen (usually you get this level of aerodynamics with a 14 mm widebody paddle). That really boosted my reaction times.
The Holbrook Fuze doesn't have any major weak points. I genuinely recommend it as a beginner pickleball paddle, an intermediate-level paddle, and even a paddle for advanced players. At $195.50 (with our 15% discount), it can save you $80-100 over big brands like JOOLA, Gearbox, and Selkirk.
Paddle Weight
7.8-8 oz
Paddle Length
16.5 inches
Paddle Width
7.5 inches
Handle Length
5.5 inches
Grip Circumference
4.25 inches
Paddle Face Material
CAC (carbon-aramid-carbon)
Core Material
Dual density foam
Core Thickness
14 or 16 mm
Sweet Spot
Large
✅ Pros
So much power
The Holbrook Fuze is right up there with the very best power paddles. I was placing my serves with so much aggression that my opponents were scrambling to get to them.
That simply doesn't happen a lot in pickleball, and I got some great aces too. My drives, speed-ups, and counters were insanely good.
Control to match
What's amazing is that you get all that power in a paddle that's still so easy to use. It's not overwhelmingly explosive for newer players. In fact, it's one of the best control paddles. I filmed one of my games and ran it through AI to see my stats. Out of 90 shots, I only missed three. That's phenomenal.
Great price
Holbrook is making a statement with this price. This paddle easily rivals the popular $280 JOOLA Pro IV series. By pricing the Fuze at $230, they're throwing down a serious challenge.
The only paddles in this mid-range tier that I see competing with the Fuze are the Bread & Butter Loco and Honolulu J2NF. These were two of the best paddles to come out of last year. Could 2026 be the year of Holbrook?
❌ Considerations
Dwell-based versus pop-based power
The power you get here is that trampoline-like power based on the amazing dwell time this paddle has. In other words, the ball doesn't just launch off the face like a pop-based paddle. Instead, it lingers a moment and trampolines off.
I like it, but it's not for everyone. If you prefer poppy paddles, consider the Thrive FURY and Gherkin Nightshade instead.
Read about the difference between dwell-based and pop-based power.
Some paddles can get a little more spin
Spin is the only attribute that isn't absolutely top of the line. Even then, it's still excellent and scores 9 out of 10. You can use the power and control to complement spin.
If you're looking for a paddle with the most intense grit and spin generation, read our list of the best spin paddles.
How the Holbrook Fuze plays
| Category | Rating | Notes |
| Power | 10/10 | Power is effortless. My drives were a weapon because the ball was staying low and forcing my opponents to react quickly as it came on them. My speed-ups were so difficult to handle. On counters, when my opponent attacked I could effortlessly divert the power right back at them. |
| Control | 10/10 | I was able to fully commit to each shot knowing exactly how the ball was going to come off the paddle face. When people were driving at me, I could get good angles to end the point. My drops were on point too. |
| Spin | 9/10 | On a par with other high-end paddles. The excellent control and power work with spin to hit fast, spinny balls that stay in. |
| Forgiveness | 9.5/10 |
The foam core boosts forgiveness. Almost every time I mishit and had a soft shot, the ball still floated perfectly over the net. |
| Weighting | 10/10 |
A rare paddle where I didn't feel the need to add lead tape. I added a little weight just to see and it didn't change the paddle at all. So, you can add weight if you like or you can play without. |
| Grip | 9/10 | I like the length (5.5 inches) and thickness (4.25 inches) of the grip. However, it started slipping a little when I sweated so I'll add an overgrip. |
| Durability | 9/10 | After 10 hours of play, there are no soft spots on the face, just minor scratches. I dragged this paddle along the floor during one shot and thought I scraped it all up but it wasn't a bad scratch. |
| Aerodynamics | 10/10 | This is super maneuverable and fast. Opponents immediately stopped speeding up to me because I was able to react so quickly.
|
Holbrook Fuze price - is it worth it?
This is an amazing paddle that really makes a name for itself in the sub-$250 price range. There are great paddles around the $200 mark, like the FLiK F3, SLK ERA Power, and Six Zero Coral. Honestly, though, the Fuze blows them out of the water.
It's perfectly priced to beat out those paddles and provide competition to the $250 plus paddles above it. Why spend $280-330 when you can get this for less than $200 (with our 10% discount)?
If you're a pro player, you might justify the extra dollars on a JOOLA or Boomstik that gives you a touch more edge. For everyone else, though, the Holbrook Fuze is a no-brainer. This is an elite paddle at a mid-tier price.
Today's best deals
Alternatives to the Holbrook Fuze
If the Holbrook Fuze isn't the right paddle for you, here are some alternatives I recommend:
Pop-based power
Thrive FURY Hybrid 112
Most intense spin
RPM Friction Pro
Best budget paddle
Warping Point Neon
What even more options? Try my 30-second quiz and I'll recommend the best paddles for your play style and budget.
Find the perfect paddle
I've personally tested over 200 paddles. Take the quiz to see which ones fit your game best.
