Review of the TMPR Tantrum LX

I decided to review this paddle first simply because I love the name!

If, after reading this review, you use the discount code LUCKY10, you will get $10 off a paddle (and backpacks). Be sure to use this link: https://tmprsports.com?aff=170

SPECIFICATIONS

Here are the specs of the paddle:

  • Paddle Weight: 7.6 – 8.0 oz (You can it in a weight of 8.1-8.5 if you want more power from a heavier paddle)
  • Paddle Face Material: Fiberglass (composite, maximum texture allowed for USA Pickleball approval.)
  • Rounded Edges: curved sides for increased response and improved performance
  • Paddle Core Material: Honeycomb Polymer Core
  • Paddle Shape: Elongated – Note: the paddle face is longer than most and, because it does not have an elongated handle, I consider it to be elongated.
  • Paddle Length: 16 1/4 inches
  • Paddle Width: 7 3/4 inches
  • Grip Size: Standard – 4 1/4 inches
  • Handle Length: Standard – 5 inches
  • Handle Vibration Dampening Technology

TESTING

I tested this paddle using my standard set of tests:

Dinking

This paddle is soft and quiet, and is excellent for dinking. My wife and I did straight on dinking, cross-court dinking, and a “windshield wiper” exercise.

Third shot/transition zone shot

I hit two kinds of third shots—a long “dink” and a push drive (not a blast). The paddle worked very well for all these shots.

Around the World

This is a new test we have incorporated. It works as follows:

You put down six targets on the court, three across the middle, and three across the baseline.

  • One player is the feeder, and the other player the returner. The feeder hits a ball to the player starting at the NVZ and the drill proceeds as follows:
  • The returner moves across the court, first hitting dinks from the NVZ, the transition zone and the baseline.
  • The returner drops back to the middle and crosses in the other direction, again returning to the feeder.
  • The returner then drops back to the baseline, crosses in one direction and then again in the other direction.
  • The returner goes to the middle and ultimately the NVZ again, finishing where he started.

When this is done, the feeder and the returner switch roles. Then, when the second round is finished, the feeder moves to the middle and ultimately to the other end of the court. This drill accomplishes the following:

  1. Dinking (or drop shots) from different positions on the court, emphasizing different distances and directions.
  2. Dinking to a specified point in the opponent’s court
  3. Moving your feet so that you are ready to hit the ball.

You wind up hitting 16 shots, with the goal of getting all of them back to the feeder and in the NVZ. I messed up once each time I was the returner, each time from the transition zone. My problem, not the paddle’s problem. Actually, missing only once is quite good (for me).

Serving/ground strokes

This is a powerful paddle – which means, in my opinion, it is not intended for beginners, but for intermediate and advanced players. If you have good control of your ground strokes, you can hit very strong shots.

Volleying

Great at the net. After we drilled, my wife and I played some doubles. We had quite a few firefights, and I had good success.

Two-handed ground strokes

The longer handle makes it perfect for anyone with a two-handed backhand (and a two-handed backhand dink, which is what I use now).

Spin

I could hit both top spin and side spin with this paddle, with the side spin kicking off the court.

Lobs off a dink

This is a new test I have added. When you lob off a dink you want to accomplish two things: (1) you don’t want to give a way the fact that you are lobbing, and (2) you want to hit the lob high enough to get if over your opponent’s reach but not so high that your opponent’s partner can get to it and hit it back. I’d say we practiced this for about fifteen minutes and it worked perfectly. All of my lobs were in (okay, if not in, pretty close) and I did not telegraph my shot.

SUMMARY

After researching fiberglass vs. carbon-faced paddles surfaces, I understand now where the Tantrum gets its power. Fiberglass has less stiffness than carbon fiber, which means it will be more flexible on contact. In other words, a fiberglass surface offers more rebound as the ball hits the paddle surface, resulting in a more powerful response. Carbon fiber is a stiffer material that offers refined touch and feel due to the material absorbing a pickleball’s energy at impact and more evenly distributing it across the face of the paddle, resulting in more control and shot precision. Since I (think) I have good control of my shots, I appreciated the extra pop I got from the fiberglass surface.

The TMPR Tantrum LX is an excellent pickleball paddle for experienced players looking for control and precision, and for intermediate players looking who want to hit a heavier drive with more control. Its impressive accuracy and power make it suitable for both attacking and control play.