The Honolulu J6CR is a cannon and a half. It hits as hard as the CRBN Waves ($280) and Selkirk Boomstik ($333) but costs $195. You can take that down to just $175.50 when you use our exclusive 10% PICKLEHEADS discount.
Now, this paddle is not for everyone. It frontloads on power at the expense of control. For that reason, I see it landing mostly with bangers in the upper intermediate to advanced levels (4.0 to 4.5). If that's you, this is a bargain power paddle that your opponents will struggle to compete against.
The Honolulu J6CR hits hard – really hard. It's extremely good at what it does, producing huge power. At the net, I was destroying the ball, putting it away easily and giving my opponent no chance of hitting it back. The only downside is that it's hard to tame this power. Beginners and intermediates will struggle with control so I'm recommending this paddle to 4.0 to 4.5 players who play a fast, aggressive game and want to hit the ball extremely hard. It's a beast and the most powerful paddle under $200 yet.Today's best deals
Buy or pass?
Buy if:
You play a fast, hard-hitting game:
this is a quick and lively elongated paddle – the ball pops off the face with extreme force.
You don't want to break the bank:
many raw power paddles cost $250-330 – this is a great alternative under $200.
You're in the 4.0 to 4.5 skill level range:
upper intermediates and advanced players who play a power-focused game will get the most out of this poppy paddle.
Pass if:
You're playing at a level lower than 4.0:
you'll have a harder time controlling this paddle – check out our best intermediate paddles and top paddles for beginners.
You're at the 5.0 level:
at the other end of the scale, elite players who want more versatility across power and control may need a more advanced paddle or a pro paddle.
You want a paddle with dwell-based power:
the Volair Shift is a paddle whose power you can control (thanks to dwell time on the paddle face), as opposed to this pop-based power.
A weapon in the right hands
The Honolulu J6CR is a rocket launcher, one of the most powerful pickleball paddles I've played with. It reminds me of the CRBN TruFoam Waves and Selkirk LABS Project Boomstik, two of the most expensive and hardest-hitting on the market.
While I could destroy opponents with the raw ferocity of my shots, there's a catch. This is a difficult paddle to control. Whenever I was hitting up on the ball especially, I struggled to not launch it far. That's why I'm cautioning beginners and most intermediates to try something that's easier to control like Honolulu's previous paddle, the Sword & Shield J2NF.
If you do want raw power at a fraction of the cost of a JOOLA Pro V, this is for you. At just $175.50, when you avail of our 10% discount, it's a very appealing choice for bangers who are confident they can keep the ball under control.
Paddle Weight
8-8.2 oz
Paddle Length
16.48 inches
Paddle Width
7.52 inches
Handle Length
6 inches
Grip Circumference
4.125 inches
Paddle Face Material
CFC (carbon fiber-fiberglass-carbon fiber)
Core Material
Multi-density foam
Core Thickness
16 mm
Sweet Spot
Large
How the Honolulu J6CR plays
| Category | Rating | Notes |
| Power | 10/10 | Power is crazy, up there with the best-ever power paddles. I loved it on counters and overheads. If it came at me shoulder height or above, that ball was getting put away. My opponent was not getting it back, no matter how good their hands were. |
| Control | 8/10 | I had a hard time keeping my serves and returns in because there was so much power – the ball launches fast. |
| Spin | 8.5/10 | Because of how powerful and poppy it is, I couldn't roll the ball as much as the best spin paddles. I was able to get some spin on it, though, especially on volleys and counters, where it came at my opponents fast. |
| Forgiveness | 9/10 | It has a great sweet spot that makes up for the lack of control. You can rest assured that the ball is going to come off the paddle the same way almost every time. That makes mishits rare, even if it launches off quickly. |
| Weighting | 9.5/10 | For an elongated paddle, this is extremely well weighted. It never hurt my wrist, nor was it too light that it strained me. It's very playable right out the box. |
| Grip | 10/10 | I really liked the grip. It's tacky yet doesn't get saturated when your hand starts sweating. It's a good thickness, universal for male and female players and great for smaller hands. I didn't need an overgrip. The longer handle lets you hit two-handed shots easily. |
| Durability | 9/10 | After eight plus hours, there's the usual wear and tear, some ball scratches on the grit. The edge guard is great – it's strong and because it's white you can't see where I dug the paddle into the ground on a shot. |
| Aerodynamics | 9.5/10 | Some elongated paddles are head heavy and harder to swing. This one cuts through the air because it's so well balanced in weighting. They did a great job engineering it and I felt the speed on counters and in hand battles. I was able to get into position quickly when someone was driving at me. |
Taylor’s full bio