Honolulu Sword & Shield J2K review

If you're looking for a paddle that combines high levels of spin and control, the Honolulu Sword & Shield J2K is worth checking out. Priced at $155, this is a hybrid-shaped paddle with a Kevlar® face and a 5.5" handle.

It's been getting great reviews online, so I was excited to test it for myself. Read on to see if the Honolulu J2K lives up to the hype.

If you want a high-performance paddle that combines plenty of spin and control, you'll like the Honolulu Sword & Shield J2K. This is really popular with rec players and I can see why. As well as saving you more than $100 against paddles like the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C and CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1, it has top-tier spin, control, and forgiveness.

This is one of the only paddles I've scored 10/10 for forgiveness (even higher than the PIKKL Hurricane Pro). The sweet spot is large, and I never feel like I'm losing control when I catch the ball near the edges of the paddle.

It's also very stable in your hand, so I don't feel much twisting or instability on contact. The added forgiveness makes long dink rallies much easier and more comfortable. Spin and control are awesome too. If you like to set up points rather than overpower your opponents, this paddle fits that playstyle well.

If you rely on aggressive baseline play, or power shots, I'd recommend looking elsewhere. The J2K lacks putaway power and pop. Since it's lightweight, I can get to balls quickly in hand battles. However, I have trouble finishing points because the ball doesn't jump off the face like it does with the Six Zero DBD Control or Bread & Butter Filth.

Overall, this is a great investment for the right player. If you want control, spin, forgiveness, and speed, and you're less worried about power, the J2K should be on your radar. Its $155 price tag puts it fairly between a $100 paddle like the 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean and a $200+ paddle like the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0.

Even though this is a hybrid paddle, it has a really high twist weight (7.10) and really low swing weight (115). That gives it a good combination of stability and speed. On the design side, it's simple but elegant. The red tint tells you it's made of Kevlar® and it has a premium look with a cool Sword & Shield logo.

Let's review the tech and features.

This is a Kevlar® paddle like the Pickleball Apes Pro Line Energy S and Six Zero Ruby. The face provides a soft feel for touch shots but firms up on harder swings.

While this helps with control (and is great for spin), it doesn't create the same pop as fiberglass or carbon fiber. The result is a paddle that's fantastic for resets and dinks but struggles with putaways.

The J2K combines elements of an elongated paddle and a standard paddle, the idea being to give you power while maintaining control. While I don't think it delivers much power, the design does give you a nice balance of hand speed and stability. The improved sweet spot is noticeable, making it easier to find consistent contact.

This paddle absorbs shock extremely well, making it very comfortable to play with. There is little to no vibration on contact, which helps reduce strain during long matches. If you deal with arm fatigue or joint pain, this is a paddle worth considering.

The power is lacking, so I find myself relying on placement rather than pace to win points. Serves and drives don't have much behind them. This makes it harder to put pressure on opponents, as they have an easier time countering.

Overheads, putaways, and speed-ups require extra effort to finish points, which makes playing aggressively at the kitchen a bit frustrating. If you rely on power, this paddle will feel underwhelming, so try one of the best power paddles instead.

The J2K is one of the best paddles for control I've ever tested. Dinks, drops, and resets feel effortless, so I can easily play a control-focused game. The soft feel helps with touch shots, and I feel very comfortable keeping the ball low. I'm able to take pace off my opponents' shots and reset the ball low into the kitchen without much effort.

Even when dealing with speed-ups, this paddle lets me slow the game down and keep points in my favor. It's one of those paddles that allows you to play with precision, giving you confidence in extended rallies.

Spin is easily one of the best features, thanks to the Kevlar® face. On serves and returns, I can get plenty of shape on the ball, making it tougher for opponents to counter. Whether I'm rolling dinks with topspin or slicing deep shots from the baseline, it's easy to control spin-heavy shots.

Spin makes up for some of the lack of power. I can use it to be aggressive at the kitchen, keeping speed-ups low and lobbing my opponents with topspin so that the ball goes over the players and stays in the court.

Very few paddles score 10/10 on forgiveness. The last one was the Vatic Pro Flash all the way back in October 2023!

The J2K's large sweet spot makes off-center hits much more playable. Even when I don't hit the ball cleanly, I still have good control and consistency. I can take balls out of the air on volleys and flick them into the kitchen without worrying about mishits.

Defensive resets are easy to execute. Even when I'm stretched wide, this paddle is stable enough for me to guide the ball back into play. This extra forgiveness helps me stay competitive in long rallies without having to place the ball perfectly on every shot. The stability also means I don't have to worry as much about twisting or mishits.

This paddle feels lightweight and maneuverable, making it easy to react quickly. The weight distribution is neutral, so it doesn't feel too head-heavy or too light. I don't feel any extra strain on my elbow or shoulder when I swing, even when I have to hit multiple overheads, because the power on the paddle is underwhelming.

The thin grip is comfortable and easy to hold, and feels natural in my hand. If you prefer a thicker grip, you may need to add an overgrip. Otherwise, it feels solid and secure.

The paddle construction feels premium and doesn't show any signs of wear and tear after my testing. The Kevlar® is sturdy and the spin shouldn't degrade.

While it's not as quick as some recent paddles I've tested like the CRBN TruFoam 2 or Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Widebody, the J2K feels fast at the kitchen and swings through the air easily. I don't feel disadvantaged during hand battles.

At $155, the Honolulu J2K is great value for money if you're in the market for a control paddle with plenty of spin. It's as good as the Selkirk LUXX Control, which costs $100 more.

This is ideal for doubles players who prioritize touch shots, resets, and strategic play. It's a great paddle for beginners, and even intermediate players. However, it may be too soft for advanced players, mostly because the power isn't as strong.

If power is a big part of your game, you may want to look elsewhere to a JOOLA paddle, the Paddletek TKO-C, or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Power Elongated.

If the Honolulu J2K isn't for you, check out these alternatives that I also recommend:

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