JOOLA Magnus Pro IV review

I've been putting JOOLA's latest Pro IV paddles through rigorous testing on the courts, and the latest one I'm reviewing is the Magnus. This is pro player Tyson McGuffin's signature paddle, and it's built for his style. It's forehand-heavy, quick, and very powerful.

Read on to find out if the JOOLA Magnus Pro IV offers anything different from the 5-star Perseus, Hyperion, and Scorpeus.

If you want the explosive power of the Perseus and Hyperion Pro IV paddles but prefer a shorter handle, check out the JOOLA Magnus. Some players won't like it, but the 5-inch handle does give you a slightly larger paddle face. This should help enlarge the sweet spot, but it's not noticeable to me compared to the two elongated models.

Don't get me wrong – I really like the Magnus. It's solid and fast in the hand for an elongated paddle. It's easy to swing and doesn't wear you out. I can play a drive-heavy third-shot game and generate real pace and spin easily. The ball flies off the face with that signature JOOLA responsiveness, and there's control and forgiveness there too if you can adapt to the pop.

For me, the main issue is the grip length. It's just not comfortable for my backhand and limits the paddle's versatility for my game. However, if you're a one-hander or you don't mind a shorter grip, it should feel great for you.

The Magnus is more of a niche paddle, but if you play with an aggressive forehand-reliant style, it justifies the $280 price tag. The other Pro IV paddles have a wider appeal, especially the Perseus for bangers and the Scorpeus for all-court performance.

If you're a newer player or you struggle with pop-ups, you might get more value from softer control paddles like the PIKKL Hurricane Pro, Selkirk LUXX Control, or the Selkirk LABS Project 008.

The Magnus' clean face, modern branding, and white grip give it a professional and sharp look. It feels really high-end. The slightly larger face is noticeable, but it doesn't feel bulky when you're swinging. Overall, it looks and feels like a pro-level paddle. Let's explore the main features.

JOOLA's TFP tech is what gives these Gen 4 paddles a solid combo of maneuverability and pop. The overall feel is similar to the other Pro IVs – the Magnus feels balanced, fast for a power paddle, and easy to handle.

This isn't some spray-on surface that'll wear down quickly – it's embedded into the face and performs from day one. I can shape spin from both sides of the paddle and really lean into my topspin and backhand rolls without hesitation.

This is where all that energy return and pop comes from. You can feel the paddle flex slightly and shoot the ball off with power.

It's less raw than the now-banned Gearbox Pro Power Elongated – more refined and controlled. It creates a trampoline effect that works especially well on full swings and flicks. You feel like you're getting free power without losing your touch completely.

The Magnus Pro IV delivers top-tier power on all fronts. If you like hitting hard without having to overswing, this paddle rewards that play style in a big way.

I can hit explosive third-shot drives, put away high balls with ease, and swing confidently even when out of position. The Magnus really shines on shake-and-bake points where you're trying to drive first and crash second. Every ball I hit feels like it has the weight and pace to set up a winner.

There's a ton of pop for hand battles and speed-ups. I can flick through tight spaces and still generate real pace without having to take a big swing.

Even the 16 mm model has enough pop to put volleys away without overswinging, which makes countering at the kitchen a big strength. You don't sacrifice much on pop compared to the 14 mm – you just get a little more margin for error.

The Magnus has impressive control considering how much pop and power there is. If you're experienced with power paddles, you'll be able to manage the short game without too much struggle, especially with the 16 mm. It's not a Selkirk LUXX or Engage Pro1 6.0, but it's still very capable for finesse players.

I make small tweaks to my resets and soften up my hand pressure, especially when countering fast balls. Once I adjust to the paddle's responsiveness, I'm able to play a slower, more tactical game when needed – especially if I'm up against someone who doesn't like long dink rallies.

My backhand dinks aren't quite as stable as I'd like because of the short handle, but forehand drops and resets feel dialed in. If you're worried about reining in the pop, check out the best beginner paddles or the best paddles for control.

While it's not 10/10, this is still one of the best paddles for spin, matching the Perseus and Hyperion models. If you play a spin-heavy style, this paddle gives you the tools to build points around movement and deception.

The friction surface is very consistent. I can shape forehand topspin rolls, backhand slices, and dipping cross-court dinks with ease. I really like how the paddle lets me mix in lobs from the kitchen. I can get the ball to dip back down into the court reliably. The 16 mm gives you a touch more dwell time to shape the ball.

If you want the highest spin generation of all the JOOLA Gen 4 paddles, check out the JOOLA Agassi Pro or Scorpeus Pro IV.

The Magnus is forgiving for a power paddle, and the larger face helps slightly with stability. The bounce off the surface feels consistent, even when you don't hit it dead center. I haven't run into many "dead" balls. When I'm stretched or countering fast drives, I can usually still keep the ball in play.

Compared to the Hyperion and Perseus, the Magnus' sweet spot feels a touch more generous, but not enough to change the score. The added edge foam and TFP tech definitely help even things out a bit, but you're still going to get punished on the occasional off-center swing.

The Magnus feels slightly head-heavy compared to the other Pro IV paddles, but not by much. It's still a very balanced feel that doesn't put strain on your arm or wrist. There's room to experiment with lead tape to add even more stability to the paddle.

This is where the Magnus loses points for me. The grip itself feels great – tacky, slim, and easy to hold – but the length is limiting. The 5-inch handle is just too short for how I like to play, especially when hitting a two-handed backhand.

I constantly feel like I'm adjusting mid-rally to find space, and that messes with the consistency of my backhand slices and counters. Even on one-handed backhand flicks or rolls, the paddle feels a little unstable through contact compared to the Hyperion or Perseus.

So far, the Magnus is holding up great – no issues with grit wearing off or any visible surface breakdown. Like with the other Pro IVs, my only hesitation is the propulsion core. JOOLA's previous models had some core breakdown issues, so I'll be watching this one closely.

Despite having a slightly larger paddle face, the Magnus is still a fast paddle. I have no issue getting it into position quickly during rapid-fire exchanges or when transitioning from defense to offense. The aerodynamic profile up top helps the paddle cut through the air, and it's responsive enough to hold up during hand battles.

This is the signature paddle of pro Tyson McGuffin, one of pickleball's most recognizable players. He's one of the top-ranked pros and has won 82 medals at the time of writing.

At $279.99, the Magnus Pro IV is consistent with JOOLA's other premium paddles. If you hit mostly one-handed backhands or don't use the full handle often, the Magnus is a great option with pro-level performance.

Players who rely on a longer handle for two-handed backhands or extra control should look at the Hyperion or Perseus models in the series. They give you the same overall performance with more flexibility.

If the JOOLA Magnus Pro IV isn't the right paddle for you, take a look at some alternative paddles I recommend:

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