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PickleballIntermediatePickleball Paddles
JOOLA →JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm Pickleball Paddle
4.5
£129
The JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm is the paddle most UK players graduate to when they outgrow their starter bat, and it earns that status. It is the signature frame of Ben Johns, the dominant player in the sport, and the engineering lives up to the name: an elongated 16.5-inch shape that adds reach and leverage, a 16mm Reactive Honeycomb polymer core that gives a plush, long-dwell feel for control at the kitchen line, and JOOLA's Carbon Friction Surface, which is where the real spin comes from. At around 215-230g it sits mid-weight, so you get pop on drives without the head-heavy fatigue of a true power paddle. At roughly £149 in the UK on Amazon UK and pickleballuk.co.uk it is a genuine investment, not a first paddle — buy it once you have 50+ sessions in and know you prefer an all-round game over pure control or pure power. The elongated shape trades a little forgiveness on off-centre hits for reach and spin, so players who mishit often may prefer a standard-shape 16mm. UK stock can be patchy on specific colours since JOOLA's primary market is the US, so check availability before committing to a colour.
Something wrong? Suggest an edit →Our Review
Worth £75-100 once you can reliably hit the sweet spot; wait three months if you have just started.
Ben Johns has won everything pickleball can give him, and the Hyperion CFS 16mm is the paddle that built his early career. Even though the 14mm thinner version is what most pros now use for power, the 16mm sits in a sweet spot for UK club players who want spin and control without the harshness of a thinner paddle.
The Carbon Friction Surface is the headline feature and it deserves the attention. Topspin on a third-shot drop drops noticeably more than off a smooth fibreglass face, and rolls at the kitchen line bite into the ball in a way that just is not available at this price point from most other brands. The Reactive Honeycomb polymer core is on the softer side of polymer paddles, which gives you a longer dwell time and better touch on dinks and resets.
The elongated 16.5 inch shape extends your reach by about an inch over a standard, which matters more than people realise on a stretch volley. The trade-off is a smaller, more concentrated sweet spot — mishit it on the throat and you will feel it.
Ideal player is the 3.5-4.0 DUPR player who is past their first paddle and ready to commit to a real signature stick. Wrong owner is the absolute beginner who has not yet got reliable contact — you will outgrow the JOOLA in two years, but you should not buy it on day one.
UK availability through Total Pickleball and Pickleball Nation routinely puts it £75-100, often with a free cover.
Hand-written editorial — not auto-generated. By Gary, RacketRise.
Specifications
| Weight | 215-230g |
| Shape | Elongated |
| Core | Reactive Honeycomb polymer |
| Surface | Carbon Friction Surface |
| Grip Size | 4 1/4" |
| Core Thickness | 16mm |
Pros
- Ben Johns signature paddle
- Excellent spin and control
- Carbon fibre face
Cons
- Mid-range price point
- 16mm may feel stiff to some
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Head-to-Head Comparisons
How the JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm Pickleball Paddle stacks up against its closest rivals — specs, prices and a clear verdict.
- JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm vs JOOLA Scorpeus CFS 16
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- JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm vs Onix Graphite Z5
- JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm vs Diadem Warrior
- JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm vs JOOLA Solaire CFS 14