Vatic Pro Saga Bloom review

If you're in the market for a high-performance control paddle in the $150 range, check out the Vatic Pro Saga Bloom. This is a standard-shaped paddle with a long 5.6-inch handle and a Toray T700 carbon fiber face.

I've already tested the Vatic Pro Saga Flash (hybrid) and Vatic Pro Saga V7 (elongated), so I'm excited to try the widebody Bloom model. Right out of the box, it feels fast and smooth. I'll be testing its control, forgiveness, spin, power, and more.

The Vatic Pro Saga Bloom is a great-value paddle, especially for beginner and intermediate players. It's super fast and it generates the highest levels of spin. It's soft and controlled, with a large sweet spot that makes mishits way less punishing.

Watch my first thoughts on the Saga Bloom:

I'm blown away by the spin I can get with this paddle. It's up there with way more expensive paddles like the Selkirk LABS Project 008 ($288), Engage Pursuit Pro1 Innovation ($280), and Gearbox GX2 Elongated ($270). Since I don't get a lot of power, I rely on spin to stay aggressive, and it delivers every time. Combine the spin with the smooth and soft feel – and the predictability you get from the consistent sweet spot – and you have a top-tier control paddle to challenge the PIKKL Hurricane Pro.

There are just two drawbacks here. For one, it lacks the putaway power needed to finish points at higher levels. It reminds me of the Honolulu J2K – another paddle with amazing control and spin that lacks a bit of power. The second limitation is the lack of reach you get from standard-shaped paddles. Players who like attacking at the kitchen, or reaching into their partner's side for aggressive plays, will feel limited by the shorter paddle face.

If you value the extra speed and forgiveness you get from a widebody paddle, though, the Saga Bloom is one of the best you'll find. It's ideal for those who want a soft feel with high forgiveness, making it great for players at any level (so long as you don't need power).

Beginner to intermediate players will see a big jump in consistency using this paddle compared to a cheaper beginner pickleball paddle like the Friday Original or SLK NEO 2.0.

The Saga series design is sleek, with a cool samurai-inspired look that stands out. These paddles have a 16 mm core and the Bloom model has a 5.6-inch handle, which is a lot longer than the standard 5.25 inches for this paddle shape.

Let's see what else the Saga Bloom has got going on.

The proprietary multi-layer composite surface with a Toray T-700 carbon fiber top layer provides exceptional spin. The ball stays on the paddle longer, allowing for precise shot shaping and control. Even after multiple sessions, the spin potential remains high, and I don't notice any drop-off in performance.

I'm not sure why the core is called a "power" core because this paddle is very soft, with a controlled feel and good shock absorption. It does a great job of softening the ball and allowing for effective resets, dinks, and drops.

This feature is advertised as providing more control, power, and feel to the paddle. I didn't see an increase in power but the paddle does have a great feel when you hit the ball. The sweet spot goes throughout the entire paddle too. This feature, along with the unibody (one-piece) design, should bolster long-term durability too. Vatic Pro has a strong reputation for making long-lasting paddles. Even their budget Vatic Pro PRISM Flash holds up a really long time.

Even for a control-focused standard-shaped paddle, the Saga Bloom is soft. It's difficult to generate power on drives and putaway shots, so I have to rely on topspin and placement instead. When trying to attack from mid-court, the ball doesn't jump off the paddle as much as I want it to. Overheads require extra effort, and even then they don't feel as dominant as with the elongated Saga V7.

This paddle is best suited for a player who builds points strategically rather than ending them with power. If you rely on aggressive baseline play, check out the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C or JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus Pro IV. If you want a more powerful widebody paddle, try the Paddletek ESQ-C or Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Widebody.

The touch on this paddle is outstanding thanks to the soft feel of the carbon fiber and 16 mm core thickness. Dinks, resets, and drops all feel smooth and precise, making it easy to place the ball exactly where I want.

When dinking, I can move my opponents around effortlessly, alternating between soft slices and quick topspin flicks. Resets off hard-hit shots feel smooth, as the paddle absorbs pace and allows me to place the ball accurately into the kitchen. I can hit third-shot drops with ease, whether it's a backhand slice, a forehand roll, or a two-handed topspin drop.

This paddle has top-level spin, on par with the best carbon fiber paddles. It's the highest spin of all the Saga series paddles. My topspin drops have a lot of shape, dipping down quickly and hitting my opponent's feet. Slices skid low at the kitchen, creating unpredictable bounces that make it hard for opponents to control. Even my serves have noticeable spin, with deep looping arcs that force weak returns.

ATPs (around the post shots) are easier to execute because this paddle generates crazy sidespin. Like the Honolulu J2K, the Saga Bloom is so effective at manipulating the ball's movement. I can put heavy topspin on drops and aggressive slice on resets. Since I can't hit with much power, I use spin as my main offensive weapon, and it works great.

The sweet spot is big, and I rarely mishit the ball or lose control. Even when I stretch for defensive or hard-to-reach shots for resets, the ball still bounces strongly off the paddle. I feel comfortable defending against hard drives, knowing that the ball won't die on the paddle if it misses the sweet spot.

On serve returns, I rarely feel the ball twist off the paddle, which is a common issue with paddles that have a low twist weight like the Six Zero Infinity DBD. The Saga Bloom has a high twist weight of 7.02, which is in the 87th percentile. That gives it a stable and reliable feel. This extra forgiveness helps a lot in longer rallies where control matters most.

The paddle is lightweight and maneuverable, making it easy to react at the net. The weight is well distributed, so it doesn't feel head-heavy or off-balance.

The grip is slim (which I like) and easy to hold. It doesn't get slippery or uncomfortable during long sessions. I'm 5 feet 7 inches and I don't have the biggest hands, so I like when brands have a thinner grip. That way, I can add extra grips if I need to. Players with larger hands may want to add an overgrip for extra comfort.

I don't see any reason why this paddle would break down. The spin comes from the carbon fiber itself rather than a rough topcoat, so I expect it to last a long time without losing effectiveness. The core is built to resist delaminating or crushing, meaning the paddle's bounce should stay predictable. If it holds up like I expect it to, this will be a great-value paddle like other Vatic Pros.

This paddle swings fast, making it easy to react in hand battles. I'm able to stay quick at the kitchen, keeping up with speed-ups and countering with well-placed blocks. In fast exchanges, the paddle moves effortlessly, allowing me to redirect shots without feeling sluggish.

It's not quite as fast as paddles like the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C and ESQ-C, but it's on a par with the JOOLA Agassi Pro and CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2. It gives me the confidence to stay aggressive at the net. The balance between speed and stability make it great for players who rely on quick reflexes in hand battles.

At $149.99, this is a great deal for players who want control, spin, and forgiveness. It competes with paddles that cost $100 more, like the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Widebody and Paddletek ESQ-C. It just doesn't have the power those paddles have. I'd put it right alongside the PIKKL Hurricane Pro as one of the best control paddles. Both are in the $150-160 range.

If you're an advanced player, you'll likely get frustrated with the lack of pop and power. However, if you can generate a lot of power on your own, and you want something that will help you have more control and consistency, this is a good option.

If you want to save $50, check out the best pickleball paddles under $100, where you'll see more great options from Vatic Pro.

If the Vatic Pro Saga Bloom isn't for you, here are some other paddles I recommend:

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