Volair Mach 2 FORZA - pickleball paddle review

I'm fresh from playtesting the Volair Mach 2 FORZA, the wide body version of the elongated Mach 1 FORZA. The FORZA series is the thermoformed update to Volair's original bestseller, the 5-star Mach 1.

Check out my Volair Mach 2 FORZA review below. Note: I tested the 16 mm version, which clocked in at 8.1 oz for me.

The Volair Mach 2 FORZA is the standard-shaped, wide body version of the elongated Mach 1 FORZA. It brings more control and finesse and has solid all-court and defensive attributes. I think it suits intermediates better, as the Mach 1 FORZA is a challenging pro paddle built for Julian Arnold.

Let's start with this paddle's standout feature: its control. This is a defensive paddle at heart. It reminds me a lot of the JOOLA Scorpeus, and I feel like Collin Johns out on the court. I can block hard drives and reset with relative ease, which I like.

A big difference from the Scorpeus, though, is how good this paddle is on spin. I'm impressed. It's right up there with top raw carbon paddles like the Gearbox CX14E and Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta. I can hit big topspin on serves and drives. When the ball dips right on the line, I know that spin is working.

Watch my initial thoughts here:

Since this is a thermoformed paddle, you'll find plenty of power too. While it's not as lively in the power department as the Mach 1 FORZA, I actually prefer it that way. That paddle has way too much pop for me (and most intermediates I'd say).

Thanks to the low swing weight of 112, this is a very fast paddle. It's super quick in the hands. I have slow hands, but with this paddle, I find myself in front on hard drives and hand battles where I'm usually behind the ball. For that reason, I'd call this a good defensive paddle.

There are some negatives, though. This is very short and wide for a performance paddle. It doesn't have the reach of even a hybrid paddle like the Six Zero DBD Control. I lose on some down-the-line passing shots, which should never really happen in doubles pickleball.

Another issue is stiffness. These FORZA paddles are some of the stiffest I've played with. They have some extra pop that can be hard to control, especially if you're not used to thermoformed paddles.

Even though the Mach 2 FORZA is a great control paddle, I still manage to pop up a drop or reset if I grip the handle too hard or take too big of a backswing. That said, this paddle is less stiff than the Mach 1 FORZA.

When it comes to design, I dig the futuristic Volair look, particularly the light blue theme they use on the FORZA models. It's simple but aesthetically pleasing.

The paddle feels premium, with a great grip and a solid yet light feel. I really like how this one sits in my hands, and it holds up well over repeated sessions.

The Volair Mach 2 FORZA is the standard-shaped paddle to the elongated Mach 1 FORZA. However, it has some unique specifications that make it different from other "standard" paddles.

The Mach 2 FORZA is an impressive control paddle with good spin and lots of power. Let's see what features Volair built into it.

I've never seen a paddle with these specific dimensions before. It's 15.88" long and 8.12" wide, making it one of the shortest and widest performance paddles I've used—0.1" wider than your standard shape.

It lacks in reach, but the wide face makes up for it somewhat with excellent control and defensive qualities.

Volair added a 5 ½" handle to this paddle, so you can hit a two-handed backhand just like Julian Arnold.

The FORZA series is Volair's thermoformed line ("forza" means "force" in Italian), so you know you're getting more power than the original Mach 1 and 2 paddles.

These FORZA paddles definitely feel thermoformed. They have extra power but they're stiff—even more so than the majority of thermoformed paddles. I will say that the Mach 1 FORZA is stiffer than this, so there's some improvement with the Mach 2 FORZA.

The unibody construction ensures this paddle won't snap, break, or flex easily. This is partly why I gave it a 9.5/10 for durability.

This is another feature that makes this a sturdy, durable paddle. More and more, I'm realizing what a difference foam injection makes. I was happy to find this tech in the Volair Mach 2 FORZA, just like some of my favorites like the Legacy Pro and CRBN-2X Power Series.

I was pleased to find I could get even more spin off this paddle than with the Mach 1 FORZA. The T700 raw carbon fiber face really works.

I'm hesitant to call this a pure control paddle, mainly because of the surprising power it has. While I mostly play solid defense by blocking at the kitchen, I can always put the ball away whenever I have an opening. I think that's the thermoformed build at work.

What's funny is that the Mach 1 FORZA is meant to be the power paddle, but I find it too poppy. I was sailing so many balls long with that paddle. I prefer the power on this one, despite it being marketed as a control paddle. I win a lot more games with the Mach 2 FORZA, plain and simple.

I play with the 16 mm version and it's good on control. This is a defensive paddle at heart, and it performs best on blocks and resets against hard shots. At 8 oz, it's light in the hands and you can take pace off the ball once you get the hang of it.

The big spin will also help your control game, especially if you're more advanced and use topspin on your drops and dinks like I do.

The Mach 2 FORZA generates big spin—even more than the Mach 1 FORZA. I've seen RPM scores upwards of 2,000 with this paddle, and I can really feel that on the court. It's right up there with the Six Zero Black Diamond Power.

I can put hard topspin on almost every shot, from drops and dinks to serves and drives. I knew the spin was big when I could dip a winner right on the line that everyone (myself included) thought was sailing long.

I like the texture that's built into the face. I don't see it degrading over time.

Thanks to this paddle's widebody shape, I noticed a huge improvement in forgiveness from the Mach 1 FORZA. The larger playing surface really expands the sweet spot.

This is still a stiff thermoformed paddle, though. It's relatively easy to pop the ball up, but I find it more user-friendly and forgiving than the Mach 1 FORZA.

Like the original non-thermoformed Mach 1, this gets top marks for weighting. It's light without sacrificing power.

Thanks to the low swing weight, it's fast in the hands against advanced players who are great in hand battles. If you're someone with slow hands like me, the Mach 2 FORZA can boost your game.

This paddle checks all the boxes when it comes to the grip, which is rarer than you might think. It's premium, comfortable, and just the right size.

I can tell this paddle will last. The materials feel top-notch, almost identical to a $250 JOOLA paddle. It's made from carbon and has a good edge guard, so it won't get beat up on the court.

Since there are no special aerodynamic features, I can't give it top marks. That said, it feels light in the hands thanks to the good job they did on weighting.

Before buying a paddle, it's important to make sure it fits your game. That's why I created a 30-second quiz that recommends the best paddles for your play style and budget.

Give it a try and see if the Volair Mach 2 FORZA makes the list:

At $180, this is the same price as the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control, which I named the best pickleball paddle of 2024. This price range is competitive, with quality offerings from the likes of Bread & Butter, Gearbox, and Ronbus.

So, how does the Volair Mach 2 FORZA compare?

While I think Six Zero and B&B offer better overall paddles, the Mach 2 FORZA stands out because of its wide body shape. It makes this a unique defensive paddle at this price range.

The Mach 2 FORZA plays really similarly to the $250 JOOLA Scorpeus. In fact, I like this paddle much better than the Scorpeus. Given it's a whole $70 cheaper, I think Volair have found a great niche in the market with this one.

Like the JOOLA Collin Johns' Scorpeus, this paddle is ideal for a doubles player who likes to play a defensive game. That doesn't mean it skimps on power and spin, though. This paddle will appeal to intermediates through to advanced players as an all-court paddle.

If you like Julian Arnold, this is also an opportunity to support him and his company.

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