I’ve been reviewing a lot of the big hitters in the pickleball paddle industry, so I wanted to find out if any of the up-and-comers were making anything worth trying. I found a new thermoformed paddle that I enjoyed playing with, and I can’t wait to dive into the review to share my thoughts.
I am talking about the Neonic Force 16mm paddle in this review. This is a very new pickleball paddle company out of Southern California and they only offer one model right now either with green or pink lettering that both look very nice set on an all black carbon fiber face.
Neonic Force 16mm Specs
Pros and Cons of the Neonic Force
- I want to touch on three big pros for this paddle, but it has many more. The first is how fast this paddle feels in your hands due to the balanced weight.
- The combination of the handle length being just right, and the weight made for some of the fastest hands I have had while playing.
- The second and third are the price point of $99.00 and the 30-day money-back guarantee making this one of the best deals on the market.
- The Neonic Force isn’t elite in any one particular category if you are looking to excel at one thing (power, control, spin etc.)
Other Features
- Thermoformed with Unibody Construction and Foam injected edge walls all along the perimeter into the handle.
- Warranty: 3 Months
- 30-Day Money Back Guarantee no questions asked.
My Personal Thoughts
The Neonic Force ended up being the paddle I took to my last tournament of the year and it really shined. The control and touch you get while maintaining the spin and power of a thermoformed paddle is a great combination.
Now you add the fact that they lowered the price from $130 to $100 and you have the best deal on the market. I will say I feel I am lacking a little power now with some of the recent additions on the market but let’s just say I can still put the ball away with the Neonic Force.
If anyone is looking to try their first thermoformed paddle then this would be my recommendation as it is an easy transition from an older carbon fiber paddle. It gives you more spin and power than gen 1 carbon fibers and keeps the control you need
Neonic Force Paddle Review
Power
My Neonic Force came in at 8.1oz and the power came with it. The power comes easily with this paddle, and I was not lacking anything on my overheads, serves and drives.
I didn’t feel like I had to swing any harder than normal to finish points. The power is slightly less than some of the thinner thermoformed paddles but that is to be expected and it isn’t by much.
I think the little power being sacrificed for extra control is worth it with this paddle.
Spin
The first thing I noticed about the Neonic when I got it in my hands was how gritty it felt. When I got out on the court the spin did not disappoint, it blew my expectations out of the water.
The spin the Neonic generates is top tier and you will love it. My drives and drops where dipping beautifully and with a little bit more bite than normal. I was able to crank up the power on my serves due to the spin keeping them in.
I was seeing people let my speedups go because they thought they were going long just to see them drop in at the last second. I was impressed with the spin and I hope it holds up because the Neonic does work.
Feel/Control
I think my favorite thing about the Neonic Force is the feel and control I had while using it. The paddle feels so plush when you are hitting it and I felt like the ball was programmed to go wherever I hit it.
Placing my shots felt so smooth on every type of shot I hit. Looking for a nice tear drop third shot drop? Done. Looking for silky smooth dinks? Got it. Want a nice dipping drive down the middle? Yes, please!
There was one slight issue I had, and I think it has to do with the balance of the weight. When it came to blocking hard drives and digging out overheads, I would sometimes feel the paddle does not respond as I wanted it to.
When I put lead tape on the corners the stability increased enough where I didn’t notice this problem anymore but that does require adding a bit of weight if that is an issue for you as it does come at an average stock weight of 8.1oz.
Durability
This is an area that is the biggest concern for new paddle companies as there just isn’t enough data to know how these paddles will hold up. After a month of using the Neonic Force I haven’t had any issues and it seems like the grit isn’t wearing down.
The best thing about Neonic is you can go use this heavily for 30 days and if it doesn’t hold up you can send it back and get your money back.
Neonic Force Vs. Vatic Pro V7
- Weight: 8.1-8.5 oz
- Length: 16.5 Inches
- Paddle Width: 7.5 Inches
- Grip Length: 5.3 Inches
- Tickness: 16mm
- Face: T700 Carbon Fiber
- Weight: 8.1oz
- Length: 16.5 Inches
- Paddle Width: 7.5 Inches
- Grip Length: 5.3 Inches
- Tickness: 16mm
- Face: T700 Carbon Fiber
I think the Vatic Pro V7 is the closest paddle to the Neonic Force. They both have the same specs with slightly different weights. The Vatic Pro V7 edges the Neonic Force in power and spin but just slightly in both. The Neonic Force beats the Vatic Pro V7 when it comes to control.
You can make your decision based on those tradeoffs and you can also factor in the different price tags with the Vatic Pro V7 priced at $139.99 and the Neonic Force priced at $100. Both are solid paddles and will keep you happy.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed using the Neonic Force a lot. I enjoy it so much that I am still using it and rotating it in with another new paddle (review coming soon). Is my Legacy Pro about to become a distant memory? Maybe.
The Neonic Force 16mm is a great thermoformed paddle at an amazing price point of $99. It has great balance in all aspects of game play, and I think this paddle would work for just about anyone. I was able to hit two-handed back hands easily with the 5.3” handle length and really enjoyed my time reviewing this paddle.
