Luzz Pro Cannon – the most powerful budget paddle on the market

I had the honor of being the first Pickleheads’ reviewer to test a paddle from Luzz Pickleball – the Luzz Pro Cannon. This is a power paddle with a difference. Most power-heavy paddles are priced upward of $200, but this one is cheap. I’ve seen the Pro Cannon listed for as low as $109.

What’s great is that the low price does not lead to a big dropoff in power. This paddle hits hard with a head-heavy design that helps you drive the ball.

The downside to the heavier build is that you lose some balance, control, and forgiveness. This might put off newer players, but if your focus is on getting a lot of power without spending big bucks, this is for you.

I’ll go into full detail below in my review of the Luzz Pro Cannon so you can decide if this budget power paddle is right for you.

The Luzz Pro Cannon is the most powerful budget paddle I’ve seen. It’s not the most rounded paddle – the sweet spot is tight and can be a struggle for beginners – but it’s ideal for players who appreciate weight and stability over a forgiving sweet spot.

If you want a better balance of power and control, you may have to spend more on a paddle like the Bread & Butter Loco ($200) or Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control ($180). If you mainly want power at a really affordable price, though, it’s an excellent paddle.

The Luzz Pro Cannon really delivers powerful drives and counters, maintaining ball speed so effectively. It’s not 10/10 power like expensive hard hitters (Selkirk Boomstik, Gearbox GX2 Power) but for a $110-120 paddle, it’s incredibly powerful.

A lot of the power is down to the density of the paddle. This dense feel really helps with volleys against hard-hitting players because it helps the paddle to not turn in your hands.

The elongated face is ideal for tennis players transitioning to pickleball as it’s the most similar to a tennis racket. It also helps bring more power and the heavier feel, compared to hybrid- and standard-shaped paddles, which are usually lighter.

Despite the smaller sweet spot, this paddle still offers a solid feel without excessive feedback on mishits. That means that some of your mishit shots will still land in the court and keep the point alive. They won’t fly into outer space like some powerful paddles.

With this paddle’s power comes a head-heavy design that can be cumbersome for some players. If you like quick net play, you’ll want a lighter paddle that swings faster. Try the Friday Challenger or Honolulu Sword & Shield J2NF.

The sweet spot is tight in the center of the paddle. It demands precision on contact, which makes the paddle a bit unforgiving. If you want a more forgiving paddle that maintains strong power, spend up and get the 11SIX24 Alpha Pro Power.

This isn’t a bad thing if you don’t mind adjusting your paddle. I added lead tape to my model to optimize it. It made the sweet spot larger, balancing out the paddle. (You can read more about using weighted tape on your pickleball paddle in our handy guide to tape.)

Also, the grip can become slippery during sweaty matches so you might have to add your own overgrip.

Simply put, the Luzz Pro Cannon really is a cannon for players on a budget. You won’t find any other paddles in the $100-120 range that hit this hard.

I don’t see many beginners using it because it lacks the forgiveness that new players need. It’s more for competitive players in the 4.0 to 5.0 skill level range, particularly those transitioning from tennis who value power and stability.

If you don’t require a very forgiving paddle but prefer to dominate with brute strength, and you can handle the weight and need extra punch in your shots, go for it.