Review of the Jolle Kevlar MAX XL

Introduction

During my search for pickleball paddles with Kevlar/carbon weave faces, I discovered Jolle Pickleball, a company based in Elk Grove, CA. Jolle Pickleball, the only company in the Sacramento area dedicated to selling paddles and gear to pickleball players, is soon expanding nationwide. I decided to try one of their paddles, the Kevlar Max XL, due to its handle being suitable for a two-handed backhand.

Specifications

The company’s website offers limited specifications, but here’s what it provides:

  • 16 mm thickness
  • 5.3 in. grip length
  • 4 1/8 grip circumference
  • Hybrid Kevlar & Carbon Fiber surface
  • Thermoformed construction
  • Foam-injected walls
  • Unibody construction
  • Grit: Not evident, but does not affect spin capability

While I assume it has a polypropylene core like most paddles, the exact ratio of carbon to Kevlar and the thickness/type of Kevlar are unspecified. However, performance is the key factor.

Performance

I began by testing the paddle with some dinking. I was surprised at how quiet, responsive, and soft it felt, especially given its weave face. It performed excellently for both straight and crosscourt shots.

Next, I tried third-shot drops. Again, the paddle was quiet and responsive. Minimal effort was required to get the ball to float over the net, even with underspin drop shots.

For serves and returns of serve, I managed to hit deep serves with good topspin, despite the paddle not being “gritty.” For returns, I tried various shots, including underspin returns. The paddle offers a nice amount of “pop” without causing the ball to fly off the face.

Overall, I would classify this paddle as a control paddle with slightly more power than typical control paddles.

Price

At $180, the Kevlar Max XL is moderately priced—more expensive than some paddles but less than others. Given the cost of materials like carbon fiber and Kevlar (based on my experience patching whitewater kayaks), I find this paddle reasonably priced.

Here is the link to the Jolle website where you can see all of their paddles:

https://jollepickleball.com/