INTRODUCTION
I’ll admit that I had never heard of Eleven Zero until recently. But when I discovered that the company offered both 14 mm and 16 mm foam-core paddles, I decided I had to try them. I contacted the company and it provided two paddles for me to test and evaluate.
My first review is of the EZ Speed E16, the 16 mm version.
One thing worth mentioning right away is that this paddle is UPA-A certified, meaning it is approved for competition in events that recognize UPA-A certification, including the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball. However, it is not currently listed as approved by USA Pickleball (USAP).
That’s an important distinction if you play in sanctioned tournaments.
Given its construction and performance characteristics, I believe the E16 is primarily intended for advanced players, although intermediate players who enjoy power paddles may also find it appealing.
TRIZONE FOAM TECHNOLOGY
One of the more interesting features of the E16 is its TriZone foam core.
Rather than using a single foam material throughout the paddle, Eleven Zero combines three different foam components:
- Floating EPP foam center: Designed to provide energy return and a responsive hitting surface.
- Soft EVA foam band: Intended to improve feel and dampen vibration.
- Firm perimeter foam: Provides additional structural support and stability around the edges.
The idea is to combine the power of a responsive foam center with the comfort and control of softer materials, while maintaining stability through the perimeter.
The paddle also features a three-layer carbon fiber and fiberglass face, with the layers arranged in a carbon fiber/fiberglass/carbon fiber (CF/FG/CF) configuration.
The result is a paddle with a solid but surprisingly plush feel.
That’s an interesting combination for a paddle designed to generate power.
Of course, all this technology sounds impressive, but the real question is:
How does it play?
PERFORMANCE
Power and Pop
The E16 is definitely a power paddle.
Its elongated shape (16.5 inches long and 7.5 inches wide), combined with the TriZone foam construction, produces a solid, direct response with plenty of natural power.
Drives come off the face quickly, and the paddle has enough pop to finish points without requiring an exaggerated swing.
What impressed me, however, was that the power didn’t seem excessive.
Some foam-core power paddles produce so much rebound that controlling the ball becomes a challenge, particularly during faster exchanges.
I didn’t have that problem with the E16.
It delivers plenty of power, but it’s power I can control.
That’s an important distinction.
Spin
Spin is another strong feature of the E16.
The textured face generates excellent grip on the ball, allowing me to produce considerable topspin on drives and serves.
I can hit hard, relatively flat drives that suddenly dive toward the court, as well as higher-trajectory topspin shots when I want more net clearance.
Sidespin and underspin are also easy to generate.
For players who use spin to control ball placement and keep opponents off balance, the E16 provides plenty of capability.
Reach and Maneuverability
At approximately 8.0 ounces, with a published swing weight of 114, the E16 is relatively maneuverable for an elongated paddle.
That’s particularly important at the kitchen line, where reaction time can make the difference between winning and losing a firefight.
The elongated design also provides a little extra reach on wide balls and volleys.
Some elongated paddles feel head-heavy and slow during fast exchanges.
The E16 doesn’t.
It moves quickly enough that I never felt I was sacrificing hand speed to gain power and reach.
Net Play
This is where the E16 surprised me.
Given its power-oriented construction, I expected that dinking might require some adjustment.
It didn’t.
The paddle performs very well around the kitchen, allowing controlled dinks, touch shots, and even offensive lobs off dinks.
And when a dink rally suddenly turns into a firefight, the E16 has enough pop to counter aggressively without requiring a big swing.
That’s exactly what I want from a power paddle.
Transition-Zone Resets
Resets are easy with the E16.
The plush feel of the TriZone foam core makes it relatively simple to absorb pace and return the ball softly into the kitchen.
I found this particularly useful when moving forward from the baseline and dealing with hard shots directed at my feet.
The paddle provides enough feedback that I can control the depth of my resets without feeling as though the ball is jumping unpredictably off the face.
Third-Shot Drops
Players who prefer to drive their third shot—the so-called bangers—may initially think of the E16 as a paddle better suited to third-shot drives followed by fifth-shot drops.
And it certainly performs well in that style of play.
But I found that third-shot drops were just as comfortable.
The paddle’s power doesn’t prevent it from performing well on softer shots.
In fact, the combination of a responsive face and plush feel makes it relatively easy to switch between a hard third-shot drive and a soft third-shot drop.
That versatility is one of the things I like most about the E16.
Serves
The E16 is excellent on serves.
It provides plenty of power for deep serves, and the textured face allows me to generate substantial topspin and sidespin.
Underspin is also available when I want to change the ball’s trajectory and bounce, although its use on serves depends on the serving rules and technique.
What I particularly like is the combination of depth and spin.
I can hit an aggressive serve without feeling that I have to sacrifice control to generate pace.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Face: Triple-layer carbon fiber/fiberglass/carbon fiber (CF/FG/CF), 90°/0°/90° orientation
- Core: TriZone foam (EPP center, EVA band, firm perimeter foam)
- Shape: Elongated
- Length: 16.5 inches
- Width: 7.5 inches
- Thickness: 16 mm
- Weight: Approximately 8.0 ounces
- Swing Weight: 114
- Twist Weight: 6.2
- Grip Circumference: 4¼ inches
- Construction: Thermoformed
- Feel: Plush
- Certification: UPA-A
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER THIS PADDLE?
I think the E16 will appeal particularly to advanced players who want the power and spin associated with modern foam-core paddles but don’t want to sacrifice the soft game.
Its combination of power, maneuverability, and control makes it well suited to aggressive players who like to drive the ball, counter at the kitchen, and use spin to create offensive opportunities.
But I wouldn’t limit it exclusively to advanced players.
A solid intermediate player who wants to move toward a more aggressive game could also benefit from the E16, provided they’re comfortable with a responsive power paddle.
The important consideration is tournament eligibility.
If you regularly compete in USA Pickleball-sanctioned events, you’ll need to select a paddle that appears on the USAP approved list.
If you play recreationally or compete in events that accept UPA-A certification, the E16 is certainly worth considering.
BOTTOM LINE
The Eleven Zero EZ Speed E16 is an impressive paddle from a company that was new to me.
Its TriZone foam construction is interesting, but what matters most is the way the paddle performs.
It delivers:
- Plenty of power without feeling uncontrollable
- Excellent topspin, sidespin, and underspin
- A solid but plush feel
- Good maneuverability for an elongated paddle
- Excellent performance during kitchen-line firefights
- Predictable dinks, drops, and resets
- Strong serving performance
What impressed me most was the balance between power and control.
The E16 has enough power for an aggressive, advanced game, yet it doesn’t punish you when you need to slow things down.
And that’s something I particularly appreciate in a modern power paddle.
If you’re looking for a UPA-A-certified foam-core paddle that combines excellent power and spin with surprisingly good touch, I highly recommend the Eleven Zero EZ Speed E16.
PURCHASING
The Eleven Zero EZ Speed E16 Paddle sells for $219.95, a very good price considering the value of the paddle. If you follow this link, https://elevenzerosports.com?sca_ref=12770287.vtkJc1UqZh
and use the code GREGHANSEN10, you will get 10% off your order.
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