Alchemy (13.5 & 16mm) (Includes Paddle Cover)

I've been using the Alchemy for the past six months and absolutely love it. Definitely what I play my best pickleball with.

The Alchemy is probably the most misunderstood and underrated paddle on the market. It's an all-court paddle where it's biggest strength is not power or control, but precision. I feel with overheads and groundstrokes the ball is going exactly where I want and how I fast I want. Its quick in hands and I'm able to react to shots I didn't know I could return before, making counters really nice. With the hole, its like having a extended hybrid paddle instead of an elongated paddle - you get the extra reach with the same maneuverability.

To me, this paddle is like a "blank slate" that benefits the most from your form/technique/finesse, or whatever you want it to call it, rather than it having inherently great power or control. It does have great power if you generate it, it does have great control when you're focused on hitting the ball correctly (I will say the soft game takes a lot of getting used to with this one), and its great for hand battles no matter where the ball is going - This paddle lets you shine as a player instead of the other way around.

This also makes the paddle unforgiving too if you're beginner like me, but I will say its made me so much better overall. You get instant feedback if you make a mistake, and its easy to know where you can improve on your next shot (i.e 'I need to push the ball a little harder when dinking', 'I need a more compact swing', 'I need better footwork', 'I need to hold my paddle flatter on counters', etc etc).

Again, It's a paddle that lets your finesse and technique shine more than anything else, which makes it harder to use, but I love it for that.

Quick notes:
- The swing pattern is super unique and feels lighter than it actually is. If you don't like the way normal paddles usually feel, you'll definitely want to try this. Some say it feels like a tennis racket.
- I took out the rubber guard recently and imo it plays much better without it. Swings faster, hits harder, balance point feels the same. Doesn't look great without it, but no one is looking at your paddle during a game.
- Never really found the ball landing on the hole. Sometimes I forget its there tbh.
-It looks great. Love how the hole is shaped like a 'V' for the brand. The moon logo is cool too. love the orange, white, and black color scheme.
- My tip to get used to the soft game is to actually hold the paddle a just little bit tighter then you're used to. Oddly enough the looser my grip was, the more it popped up or hit the net. Its pretty poppy overall, so gripping the paddle a smidge tighter let me to dink more accurately and aggressively.
- Not a paddle for everyone and takes time getting used to, but very rewarding once you're dialed in with it.

I've tried 8 different paddles. Including the vatic pro. For me, this offered the best for control and power. Great feel.

The lip around the opening impedes play.

Wasn’t sure what to expect from the smaller air flow hole than what I was used to seeing from the likes of the Selkirk power airs or Luxx paddles, but after getting some real time on this paddle it’s become one of my favorites. I was skeptical at first from all the YouTube reviews and whatnot, but figured I’d still give it a shot since I’d loved the flash paddle. At first I did notice the weight difference, but after getting a couple games in, got accustomed to it. The swing and feel of the paddle has felt great. I don’t notice a drastic change in my hand speed at the kitchen, but definitely a little quicker with the air flow hole. As for my full swing from the back line, they feel much more solid and the touch I feel I get is nice. The swing on this paddle feels more natural and may be due to the tad bit heavier weight. It may not be for everyone, but I’ve come to really love this paddle, and it’s been my go to as of late.

I have pretty much all the Vatic paddles and have so for about a year plus now. After playing other brands i like Vatic the best. The Alchemy however is not my favorite. Though I like the way it plays for me , I prefer the 16 mm Flash as my favorite. I love its combination of control and power and would have ordered another one as it’s at the end of its life but I tried the Alchemy instead. All good. No matter what other brand I try, Vatic is my Paddle. Thank you.