After being blown away recently by the Warping Point Neon – a $100 paddle that's now my main – I was excited to see what this Texas-based brand could do with a $150 paddle.
The Nightblade is a more unique type of paddle – it has a thin 14 mm core, a long 5.8-inch handle and an edgeless design. Here are my honest thoughts after putting it through an intense 9+ hours on the courts.
This is more of a niche paddle but some players are going to absolutely love it. Basically, if you want a paddle that's super aggressive, quick, long handled and edgeless, this is for you. It might be too explosive and unforgiving for beginners but it's an ideal fit for 4.5+ players who want to save at least $100 against the likes of JOOLA, CRBN and Selkirk.
A cool, aggressive, edgeless paddle
If you've never played with an edgeless paddle, it's good to know what to expect. Because there's no edge guard, you're getting a fast, aerodynamic paddle that cuts through the air. The flipside is that edgeless paddles tend to be less forgiving – an edge guard usually helps to improve forgiveness by expanding the sweet spot.
The Warping Point Nightblade is similar to the Six Zero Infinity DBD, another edgeless paddle. It's aggressive and fast and it works best as a paddle for more advanced players from level 4.5 up.
What stands out is its value. While the Infinity DBD costs $220, you can get the Nightblade for just $135 with our discount code. This is rare value in today's market, with most hard-hitting paddles priced above $250.
✅ What stands out
Great power for the price
This isn't as hard hitting as the top power paddles like the Selkirk LABS Boomstik or JOOLA Perseus Pro IV but both of those will cost you $280+.
For a $150 paddle, the Warping Point Nightblade packs a real punch. It's designed to attack and put the ball away. The lighter weight makes speed-ups powerful and gives you aggression in hands battles.
On serves, it's really easy to get to the baseline. On returns, the ball comes back at your opponents very quickly.
Long handle
The handle is super elongated at 5.8 inches in length, compared to a standard 5.5-inch handle. If you hit a lot of two-handed backhands, you'll love this paddle.
Edgeless design
It's a very purposeful design so it's not for everyone but I know players who love edgeless paddles. As long as you know that you're getting less forgiveness but more speed and pop, this could be a great fit for you.
❌ What to consider
Tough for newer players to control
It can be difficult to control your drops and returns against hard shots because this paddle also wants to hit the ball hard. You have to hit it cleanly or else it will pop up. It can be tough to get your placement right and control your angles.
I had to adjust my style and start hitting down the middle of the court to make sure I was keeping the ball in play. The power helped me here, so it wasn't a big issue, but less-experienced players might prefer a beginner-friendly paddle or an intermediate paddle with better touch.
Not a lot of dwell time
With the thinner 14 mm core, there's not much dwell time on the paddle face (i.e. the ball doesn't dwell on the paddle – it launches off it). This means you can't get the most natural dip and topspin like you get with the top pickleball paddles for spin.
I modified my approach – rolling up on the ball and using the aggressiveness to send it quickly at my opponents with good spin. Some players might not be able to handle that, though.
How the Warping Point Nightblade plays
| Category | Rating | Notes |
| Power | 9/10 | Not at the level of the JOOLA Pro IVs or the Selkirk Boomstik but very powerful for a $150 paddle. |
| Control | 8/10 | Beginners and lower-intermediate players will struggle to control this paddle. More experienced players will be better able to adjust their style to keep the ball in play. |
| Spin | 8/10 | There's not much dwell time for the ball on the paddle face. I found spin by dialing back and lifting the ball more. This made my drives hard to return because they were so aggressive. |
| Forgiveness | 7/10 | The sweet spot disappears near the edges, as with all edgeless paddles. Definitely not a naturally forgiving paddle but it's not designed to be. |
| Weighting | 9/10 | The weighting on this paddle is very interesting because of the long handle and slightly smaller face. It makes it surprisingly head heavy, which leads to more plow-through on the ball and more aggression. I liked that – it's light-feeling but also heavier-feeling when you need power. If you struggle with tennis elbow, you might not like the head heaviness. |
| Grip | 9/10 | The grip has nice tackiness and I didn't struggle with it slipping. The handle is the longest I've played with. I usually prefer shorter handles but if you want to grip comfortably with two hands, you'll love this. |
| Durability | 8/10 | The first paddle they sent me was core crushed. With a thinner 14 mm core made of honeycomb, this can be common. Warping Point immediately sent me a new one and I've had no core issues with it. It doesn't get scratched up in a noticeable way, which is nice. |
| Aerodynamics | 9/10 | Edgeless paddles are super fast. This one flies through the air and is awesome in hands battles. It has a light static weight but a heavier head so it's not 10 out of 10 here. |
Features that matter
- Lighter weight: the stock weight is 7.7 to 8 ounces, making this a top lightweight paddle.
- 14 mm core: the thin core lends itself to more pop and less dwell time.
- Great extras: my paddle came with a sweat wristband, a cool keychain, replacement grip and paddle cover.
Who the Warping Point Nightblade is for
If you want a great-value pickleball paddle with an edgeless design, the Nightblade is a no-brainer. This is a really cool paddle and I'm a big fan of Warping Point. They give you a lot for the price.
Just know that it's more of a niche paddle with its long handle and aggressive feel. Upper intermediates and advanced players will get the most out of it.
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