The hugely popular budget brand Vatic Pro is back with a revamped paddle for 2025. Just as their older paddles – like the PRISM Flash – gave beginner and intermediate players cheaper versions of the thermoformed carbon paddles then dominating the market, the V-SOL line is up to date with current trends. This is a foam paddle that’s priced really low at just $110 (or $100 with our discount code).
I spent 12+ hours playing with the new Vatic Pro V-SOL Pro, using the hybrid-shaped Flash model. The foam feel is there from the start, giving me top-level control and spin, with plenty of power too.
This paddle isn’t perfect, and I had some issues around lightness and feedback, but I still think this is the best budget pickleball paddle of 2025 so far. It’s incredibly reliable for players across the high beginner to high intermediate range.
We test so many paddles at Pickleheads. Some we don’t care for, some are good but not enough to shout about. Every now and then a paddle comes along that we just know is going straight into our best pickleball paddles list.
The Vatic Pro V-SOL Pro is one of those paddles. At this price range, it offers something unique – a high-level performance, the most up-to-date tech, and an all-court game that can boost your skill rating fast. It’s a much more worthy successor to the PRISM line than the Vatic Pro Saga paddles were.
Incredible performance for a cheap paddle
The first thing that stood out to me was the lightness – this is the lightest 16 mm paddle I've held in my hand and it makes the paddle so maneuverable. What surprised me in the first ten minutes of play was how easy I could control and manipulate the ball. The dip I could get was wild, making it so easy to get the ball back up over the net from low angles. I barely ever hit a ball into the net.
The downside is I got a lot of feedback when I mishit outside the sweet spot, which isn’t massive. I’ll talk more about that below.
Overall, though, I’m really impressed with this paddle. I let other players hit around with it and they were comparing it favorably to the Honolulu Sword & Shield J2NF ($195) and even the JOOLA Gen 4 paddles ($280).
The only other recent paddle in this price range that I see giving the Vatic Pro a run for its money is the Ronbus Quanta R3, which I’d definitely recommend if you prefer the reach of elongated paddles. If you want a faster hybrid paddle with more control, get the Vatic Pro V-SOL Flash.
✅ What stands out
Foam dwell time
If you like that foam feel where the ball dwells on the surface of the paddle a touch longer, you’ll love the V-SOL. It adds so much control and makes up for a lack of forgiveness from the tight sweet spot.
Hits hard
For a $100 paddle, this hits very hard, which surprised me as I was expecting a straighter control paddle. It’s similar to the Ronbus Quanta R3 on power.
Incredible topspin
The topspin you can get on this paddle is unreal. It’s honestly up there with the best pickleball paddles for spin, many of which cost more than double the price. The dip I was getting on drives was crazy.
Two of my favorite shots with this paddle were baseline drives and hitting cross-court from the far corner. Both times I was getting the ball to drop into the kitchen at my opponent’s feet, making their returns challenging and often winning the point outright.
Ball manipulation
Your ability to manipulate the ball is really notable. I was able to hit the ball from underneath the top of the net and keep it in. It’s easier to do that with this paddle than a lot of higher-end paddles I’ve played with.
Also, when people were trying to drop on me, I could take balls out of the air easily and just roll them back over the net. It was incredibly good in that regard.
❌ What to consider
Feedback on mishits
When I mishit the ball, the feedback I got from this paddle was instantaneous. I ended up hitting the ball less powerfully because I felt like I was getting tennis elbow. I had to take breaks to stretch and use some compression on my arm. I’m not sure if anyone else felt this, though.
Light weight
A pro for some players, but something to consider for others. This paddle is so light, which is great for speed, but I felt some drawbacks in hands battles. I was actually getting to the ball a little too early with counters, and hitting them too high. Personally, if I was to use this paddle long term, I’d add a lot of weighted tape to stabilize it.
Thin handle
The 4.125-inch handle circumference felt thin to me and other players I let use it. I’d definitely put some overgrip on this one to make it more comfortable.
How the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro plays
| Category | Rating | Notes |
| Power | 8.5/10 | It's not lacking power. In fact, it’s extremely powerful for a $100 paddle. It just isn't up there with the super-powerful paddles on the market. |
| Control | 9/10 | Very reliable and accurate, with great dwell time on the paddle thanks to the foam core. |
| Spin | 9.5/10 | Simply phenomenal spin generation. The dip you can get is insane. |
| Forgiveness | 8/10 | This paddle wasn’t very forgiving when I mishit. You have to try to hit the center of the paddle face. |
| Weighting | 8/10 | The lightest 16 mm paddle I’ve tested. This is either a pro or con depending on your preference. If it’s too light for you, the good news is you can add weight. |
| Grip | 8/10 | A few people I gave this paddle to agreed that the grip is thin. It’s fine, just nothing exceptional. I’d put an overgrip on it for sure. |
| Durability | 8.5/10 | With everybody using my paddle and smacking it into the ground, there are a few scratches. For the most part, it held up very well, and the foam core should be durable. |
| Aerodynamics | 10/10 | It is super quick. I was actually getting to balls early because of how fast this paddle moves. |
Features that matter
- Three shapes: there’s the Bloom (standard/widebody), V7 (elongated), and the Flash (hybrid). I played with the Flash.
- Foam core: the full EPP foam core replicates more expensive paddles from premium brands, who are almost all using foam in their cores now. This should make this paddle last longer than one with a traditional honeycomb polymer core.
- Two handle sizes: you can choose from a Long Handle (5.6 inches) or Standard Handle (5.3 inches) paddle.
Who the Vatic Pro V-SOL Pro is for
I would recommend this paddle to anybody in the 3.0 to 4.5 skill level range – it’s a strong intermediate paddle with power and spin, but importantly high levels of control. It works for beginners too but the lack of consistency and the feedback might throw you off when you’re still learning.
The V-SOL Pro is the lightest 16 mm paddle I’ve tested. That makes it highly maneuverable, allowing you to manipulate the ball to an insane degree with huge spin. Watch out for some feedback in your arm, but if you want a cheap paddle this is the best budget choice right now. It’s built with a foam core to rival much more expensive paddles, and gives intermediate players a complete all-court game.Today's best deals
