Vatic Pro Saga V7 review

If you want an elongated paddle in the $150 range, check out the Vatic Pro Saga V7. As one of the most popular pickleball brands, Vatic Pro makes great-quality paddles at affordable prices. Their PRISM series includes some of the best paddles under $100.

The Saga V7 comes in standard handle (5.3 inches) and long handle (5.75 inches) versions. It should have more power than the hybrid-shaped Vatic Pro Saga Flash. I’ll also be reviewing its spin, control, forgiveness, and more. Read on to see what I think after more than ten hours of on-court testing.

You don’t have to be a Vatic Pro fan to appreciate this paddle. If you’re looking for a beginner or step-up intermediate paddle with plenty of power and spin, the Saga V7 is a solid choice. At under $150, it’s great value for money too. You can even save another $10 with our exclusive code.

Watch my initial thoughts on the Saga V7:

It’s not for everyone, though. While it has good power, it lacks the pop of more explosive paddles like the Six Zero DBD or JOOLA Agassi Pro. The ball doesn’t bounce off the paddle with the same level of force.

It’s a bit slow and heavy too, and there are dead spots when you hit outside the sweet spot – common with elongated paddles. If you’re a beginner, you might prefer a more forgiving paddle like the PIKKL Hurricane Pro or 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean.

On the flipside, this is a great paddle for newer players who want power and spin without losing control. I get excellent power on drives and overhead attacks, and the carbon fiber surface gives great touch and feel on shots, as well as premier-level spin.

The extra length from the elongated design combines with the power and spin to give you an aggressive paddle. In that sense, I prefer it to the Saga Flash. It comes in handy when I’m reaching into the kitchen and speeding balls up that are dinked a little too high.

I prefer this model over the Saga Flash. While I lose a bit of speed, it gives me more reach and power. It also has slightly better control and forgiveness on touch shots, which is a surprise – elongated paddles usually sacrifice these.

If you’re shopping in the mid range, this is a great-value alternative to an advanced pickleball paddle. At $149.99, it’s well worth the investment until you’re ready for a premium paddle.

The Saga paddles have a sleek premium design, with a cool samurai artwork. They have a 16 mm core with a choice of handle sizes. You can choose a standard (5.3 inches) or a long (5.75 inches) handle. Let’s take a look at the main features.

Vatic Pro always uses high-grade carbon fiber, which explains why even some of their budget paddles (like the Vatic Pro PRISM Flash) are some of the best paddles for spin.

They’ve changed it slightly for the Saga series, bringing in a “multi-layer composite surface” with the Toray T-700 carbon fiber added as a top layer. I haven’t noticed much of a difference, though. The Saga V7 generates the same great spin as always. The grit hasn’t worn down after more than ten hours of play.

The handle is wrapped in multiple layers of carbon and has two polyurethane inserts. It’s designed to reduce shock and help with tennis/pickleball elbow. While I haven’t had tennis elbow in a while, I feel a slight pain in my elbow and shoulder sometimes. With this paddle, I can swing hard without feeling any pain.

The foam walls and unibody construction (where the paddle is made from one piece) increase durability. This paddle should last you a long time. It’s already been proven by Vatic Pro’s previous paddles, which are really durable.

The Saga V7 generates great power on shots like drives, overhead attacks, and serves. When I swing fast, it reminds me of the Paddletek Bantam line, which is a great compliment.

It feels very natural when hitting the ball hard – you can really grip the ball and rip it wherever you want. The familiar feel that the carbon fiber face and polymer core provide means I get very few surprises when I’m attacking a ball. Paddles with fiberglass or metal-infused faces (like the Bread & Butter Invader) take some getting used to when hitting the ball with more force.

The only reason I didn’t score this as highly as the best power paddles is because it lacks pop. You can’t put balls away with small amounts of force like you can with a Gearbox GX2 Elongated. That’s where the Saga V7 feels like a cheaper paddle by comparison. Quick attacks or counters to speed ups just aren’t as effective.

Despite its power, the Saga V7 maintains a surprising level of control for an elongated paddle. The 16 mm core provides a good feel for the ball, making dinks, drops, and resets manageable. I feel like I can hold my own in long dink rallies, and maneuver the ball to different spots on the court.

Like with the best carbon fiber paddles, you can rely on the Saga V7 to generate excellent spin. The texture is gritty enough to bite the ball, allowing for aggressive topspin serves and dipping passing shots.

My favorite shot with this paddle is the 60% power third-shot drive, where I focus on hitting the ball with as much topspin as possible to create a high-to-low dip that throws my opponents off. The extra leverage from the elongated shape makes it feel like you can provide more torque on the ball.

I’m pleasantly surprised by the forgiveness. The 16 mm thickness and foam-injected walls boost stability, which I can feel when I’m reaching for balls when I’m out of position.

Off-center hits are still noticeable on touch shots, as is expected with this head shape. In cross-court dink rallies, if I hit the ball outside of the sweet spot, my dink dives into the net. Still, the sweet spot is generous for an elongated paddle.

This paddle feels a little heavier right out of the box, but nothing that feels too straining. The weight is balanced throughout the paddle, so it doesn’t feel top heavy. You can hit hard without tiring your arm or elbow, though it is quite slow during hand battles or when I’m attacking balls out of the air.

The grip feels sticky or tacky at first, but it ends up being comfortable. The paddle doesn’t slip out of my hand. The 4.125-inch grip is on the thinner side and suits my hands (I’m 5’7 and I don’t have the biggest hands).

Vatic Pro has proven they know how to make durable paddles. Their PRISM paddles, for example, hold up really well. The Saga V7 feels no different to me. The grit hasn’t worn down and the core sounds the same after multiple sessions. I have no doubt this paddle will last a long time.

The Saga V7 is naturally a little slower than the hybrid Saga Flash. While it’s comfortable to swing and has minimal drag, it’s just not as quick as some others I’ve tested recently.

The swing weight ranges from 120 (short handle model) to 125 (long handle). This puts the Saga V7 in the upper twenty-fifth percentile (according to Pickleball Effect), which means it’s one of the heaviest to swing.

In hand battles at the kitchen, I don’t feel that confident or quick. If you’re looking for a really fast paddle, check out the budget-friendly Engage Evolution Aero. If you’re willing to invest a bit more, try a premium paddle like the Selkirk LABS Project 007, Selkirk Project 008, CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2, or Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid.

At $149.99, this paddle is fairly priced. Its performance is right between a $100 paddle like the Engage Encore Pro V2.0 and a $200 paddle like the Pickleball Apes Pulse S. If you’re buying your first upgrade paddle or you want premium features at a budget price, this is a solid option.

This paddle is for beginners to intermediates who want to play a more aggressive game with spin and power. It provides some extra cushion that other power paddles lack and that will help beginners be more consistent.

While you could use this paddle at the advanced level, I think it’s worth spending the extra $100-130 for something with more pop like a Paddletek Bantam or the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV.

If the Vatic Pro Saga V7 isn’t the right paddle for you, check out some other paddles I suggest:

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