TMPR Sports Pickleball Introduction

I received some comments based on my post and thought I would share them here:

Gold Coast, Australia user
Very popular in Australia. I love the TMPR Sports Oculus!

(My comment: Why had I not heard of these paddles until now? They seem to be quite popular)

Shawn Burns (Atlanta, GA)
The first “good” paddle I bought was the TMPR Expanse. It really made a difference in my play. I think it’s very forgiving with a good sweet spot. I would definitely try their other paddles.

Donald James Parker
TMPR donated paddles for my movie shoot – http://pickleballprincess.net

(My comment: shows TMPR’s community involvement)

Reminder:

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

Original Post

I had never heard of TMPR (pronounced temper) paddles, and I have to wonder why not. As shown in the picture below, the company has a wide-ranging selection of paddles, as well as a very nice selection of gear. I particularly like the backpack that they offer.

Note that all of TMPR’s paddles are made in their factory in Buchanan, Michigan.

There are a lot of positive aspects to the company, not the least of which is that they are very good promoters of the sports. TMPR has teamed with H2 Pickleball, a Michigan company, to provide training games in and around Michigan. The games are essentially drills that focus on placement and movement, essential pickleball skills.

There are pros associated with TMPR in other places, and I’m going to investigate whether we can get some games hosted in my area (Blairsville, GA).

Anyway, I think a quote from another reviewer sums up the company quite well: TMPR is very progressive with the shapes of their paddles and is not afraid to break the status quo. They’ve done their research and have developed a series of paddles that each have their own strengths. I’ve been very impressed with all the paddles in this series and am confident you can find one that fits your game. (https://pickleballeffect.com/equipment-reviews/tmpr-sports-tantrum-lx-pickleball-paddle-review/)

Also, the “Crazy Pickleball Lady” had this to say: TMPR Sports originated in 2018 and is a small, but growing paddle company out of Niles, Michigan.  It is owned by Doug and Diana Clark along with their son Taylor.  I can’t say enough good things about the Clark family; their friendliness, their commitment to quality, and their hands-on customer service. 

The company offers five different series of paddles, but I am only going to review two of those series: The Terra Series and the Tantrum Series. The ones I am not going to review are (there is only so much time in a day):

  • ASCEND XT XT: The Ascend XT is a medium weight power paddle. It was designed especially for players coming from tennis or racquetball backgrounds who value the aerodynamic shape, making it easier to rapidly move the paddle and add spin to the ball.
  • ASCEND LX LUXE: Also designed especially for players coming from tennis or racquetball backgrounds
  • EXPANSE GXT: A medium weight paddle made with a unidirectional graphite face and honeycomb polymer core, .
  • TANTRUM GXT: Made with a carbon fiber face and honeycomb polymer core, the Tantrum GXT is a medium weight paddle with an extra-soft touch.
  • OCULUS: Paddles that are more rounded, similar to the shape of a tennis racquet or ping pong player. They are very similar in shape to the ProKennex Kinetic paddles.

So, whatever your preference, there is a TMPR paddle for you.

I am going to review four paddles from the company in individual blog posts. The order in which I review them will be as follows:

  • The Terra TC-13
  • The Terra TC-16
  • The Tantrum LX
  • The Terra LX

Terra Series:

The Terra paddles are available in 13mm or 16 mm thickness, and all have elongated handles for two-handers. All are square with rounded edges.

Tantrum Series (you have to love that name):

The Tantrum paddles are available in 13mm or 16 mm thickness, and all have elongated handles for two-handers. All are square with rounded edges.

There is something else I like about ordering paddles from TMPR—you can specify weight ranges on some paddles, as well as specify grip size. A few other paddle companies offer weight classifications, but I have yet to see one that lets you specify a grip size. Perhaps I have not tried hard enough. You let me know.

Anyway, see the pictures below to see how you specify each category.

There are also options for smaller handles.

Another feature that I like is the “Paddle Guide” feature. It is located in the “Resources” menu of the TMPR website:

You will be asked a couple of questions and the website will recommend a paddle for you. But, to be sure, take advantage of the demo program in which you can try up to 10 TMPR paddles for 2 weeks. The great thing about this program is that you can select the demo package and weight range option you prefer.

You can shop the TMPR website for paddles and other gear. If you use the discount code LUCKY10, you will get $10 off any paddle you order as well as backpacks.

Here is a link to the website: https://tmprsports.com?aff=170

Here is a link I created that describes a bit about the company: