Why I Love The Prince Spectrum/Response Pickleball Paddle

Barrett Kincheloearticle, Gear, review, Reviews 23 Comments

When I first saw the Prince Response and Spectrum paddles, I thought that they looked just like any other paddle that’s ever been made. But that was before I saw the shape. Honestly, I had to do a double take. “Wait, an oval-shaped paddle? What sorcery is this?” Well, it’s no sorcery; at least I don’t think it is. They’re the new paddles from Prince and this review will help you discover them for yourself.

By the way, if you need help choosing a paddle, I’ve got a resource dedicated just for you. Head over to my recommended paddle page if you need help!

Let’s start with the basics

If you’re not already aware, Prince is a manufacturer of top-quality tennis rackets. Recently in 2018, they partnered up with Paddletek to create their first pickleball paddle. What came out of the partnership is the Prince Response Pro and the Prince Spectrum Pro. For the purpose of this review, I’ll be referring to them as the Spectrum and the Response.

As usual, let’s start with the basics.

Specifications

  • Core: polymer honeycomb
  • Face: UV coated fiberglass
  • Average weight: 7.2– 7.6 oz (lightweight) 7.7 – 8.3 oz (midweight)
  • Paddle length: 15 ¾”
  • Paddle width: 8 ¼”
  • Grip circumference: 4 ⅜” (perforated grip) or 4 ⅛” (thin grip)
  • Handle length: 5 ½” (Response) or 5” (Spectrum)
  • USAPA approved

At the end of the day, the paddle is pretty standard when it comes to the specifications. Like a lot of paddles these days, you can either go with the lightweight or midweight versions (more on that later). And you can also go with a thick or thin grip depending on your hand size.

I’m not surprised to see Prince go with a polymer core here. It’s a standard in the industry and that probably won’t be changing anytime soon.

The Response and Spectrum also feature a fiberglass face which isn’t a surprise either. Fiberglass gives you plenty of power to your shots and can help you get a bit more spin. But you do miss the explosive or “pop” feeling of a graphite face.

We’ll talk more about this later, but you’re probably curious. The only difference between the Response and the Spectrum is the handle length. More on that later.

The unique shape

I can’t go too far in this review without talking about the shape. It’s easily the most unique element of this paddle and it’s the first thing that people notice. So what’s the deal with the rounded shape?

Like I said earlier, Prince is used to developing tennis rackets. As you know, tennis rackets have oval shapes. The reason they do this is to round out the sweet spot of a racket in order to give the ball a more uniform “sinking” surface. When the ball sinks into the strings, the rounded sweet spot will ensure that the ball goes in a consistent direction.

And that’s exactly what they’re trying to do with the Response and Spectrum. Except this time the pickleball doesn’t sink into the paddle, but a mishit can certainly sink into the net.

My new baby!

This is what the unique rounded shape does in a pickleball setting. It allows the sweet spot of the paddle to be larger, more consistent and more like the shape of the ball. It rounds out the sweet spot. It’s amazing and I can’t believe it hasn’t been done like this before.

I’ll talk more about how this performs later on, but the most important thing to understand here is that the because of the shape, the sweet spot isn’t as rigid as it once was. It’s now much more flexible because there are no true corners on the paddle!

A sweet spot to die for

Speaking of sweet spots, this one is glorious in every way imaginable. Quite frankly, it’s phenomenal. I rank it up there with the Paddletek Tempest Wave which is a high bar to even get near. But it’s not just the feel of the sweet spot itself. It’s also how consistent and applicable the sweet spot is.

When I explain this paddle to someone, I like to say that the sweet spot on the paddle is very consistent and forgiving. This is mainly due to the rounded shape.

This is especially the case with the neck or hozzle of the paddle. Check this out:

Important note: I know that the Tempest Wave (the one on top) looks wider than the Response below it, but it’s not. The camera angle is playing tricks on us. The Response is slightly wider.

What do you notice about the necks of both these paddles? The neck of the Response (the one on the bottom) flares out sooner than the Tempest Wave on top. This makes mishits that hit the neck of the paddle far more forgiving than usual.

Because of the shape of the paddle, the sweet spot is now larger, wider and much more forgiving. So how does it perform? Unbelievably well.

Overall performance

This is one of the best performing paddles I’ve ever played with. It’s up there with the Engage Poach Advantage and the Paddletek Tempest Wave.

If you’re familiar with any paddle advice I’ve given, you’ll know that I recommend to players that they figure out their preferred weight range. It can be very useful to know what kind of paddle weights you can tolerate. It will make your purchasing decisions much easier.

However, it’s a bit different with the Response and Spectrum. I was shocked when I got my first one (the Spectrum) in the mail. It weighed 8.3 oz, but it felt more like a 7.6! I couldn’t believe it. What this means is that a lot of the weight, especially in the Spectrum, is in the handle rather than further up the paddle face.

This creates a paddle that is incredibly well-balanced and doesn’t have that top-heavy feeling (assuming you don’t like top-heavy paddles). But yet it’s still a beefy paddle in terms of weight. Thus, you get the extra power from the weight without feeling like you’re holding a lead hammer.

Slightly mindblowing to be honest.

Overall, the paddle is powerful, accurate and absurdly forgiving. The rounded sweet spot gives you the confidence to go for shots that you may have avoided in the past such as those pesky dink volleys.

Differences between the Response and the Spectrum

You’re probably wondering what the difference is between the Response and the Spectrum. It’s really simple. The only difference is that the Response has a 5 ½” handle and the Spectrum has a 5” handle.

That’s it!

That’s the only difference between these two paddles. However, there’s more to it than meets the eye. Let me explain.

As I said, the only physical difference between the Response and the Spectrum is the length of the handle. But this has profound impacts and will give you a different experience.

Check out the image above. Notice anything? Both paddles are the exact same height. But since the Spectrum (the blue one underneath) has a shorter handle, it gives way for a longer paddle face. This gives you more face to work with to make the paddle more forgiving than it already is.

That’s a significant difference in the size of the sweet spot

But it also changes the way the paddle functions. When you use a paddle with a smaller handle, you’ll feel more of the weight of the paddle even though it’s not any heavier.

Also, it’s hard to get more “pop” or whip when using the Spectrum. The Response feels more powerful on punch volleys and smashes. The reason is that all the weight from the Response is further away from your hand than the spectrum since the handle is longer. The gives you a paddle that has more whip, and thus more power to it.

This is primarily why I use the Response over the Spectrum. However, if you don’t’ care much about that and you’re OK with smaller handles, then the Spectrum will be a good fit.

Who should use this paddle?

In general, this paddle is great for people who have a really hard time hitting the ball solidly and need the forgiveness. Similarly, people who routinely hit the ball on the neck (the spot right above the handle) of the paddle will benefit greatly from using this paddle.

When it comes to recommending the Response or Spectrum to tennis players, it’s probably going to be hit or miss. Most tennis players that I know prefer to use a top-heavy paddle like the Bantam EX-L or the Engage Poach Advantage. Considering this, I can’t entirely recommend the Spectrum or Response, but of course, that’s in the eye of the beholder.

But overall, if you love top-heavy paddles, you’re probably not going to like either of these paddles.

Personally, I’ve already made the switch from the Paddletek Tempest Wave to the Prince Response Pro. Don’t get me wrong, the Tempest Wave is a fantastic paddle, but the Response is just giving me more of what I need: consistency and accuracy. Yes, I lose that explosive feeling of a Tempest Wave smash. But I gain more forgiveness, which is what’s truly important.

If you don’t mind a paddle that isn’t top-heavy and you want more consistency, I would start looking at this paddle seriously.

Just give it a shot

If it’s feasible, I recommend giving this paddle a try. Even if you don’t like top-heavy paddles, just give it a shot.

Having played with this paddle for a week or so, I can confidently conclude that it has aided me in upping my game. My mishits have gone down significantly and my consistency has improved remarkably. If you do give it a shot, please let me know what you think!

Comments 23

  1. Would like your advice. I’d guess I’m about a 3.0 player and I’ve been playing for some time. I started out with a light paddle (Onyx Stryker) at 7.0 oz. which was actually pretty good, but frustrating to me because it lacked power especially outside. Went up to a Selkirk aluminum core paddle at 7.5 oz. which felt pretty good in my hand but again, seemed lacking a bit on drives. My latest paddle is a Paddletek TS-5 Pro at 7.8 oz. At first this seemed like the right weight but I found
    over time that I was not able to cover hard shots at the kitchen line as well, I don’t seem as fast. Surprisingly, going to the shorter (4.75 in.) handle length also seems to bother me. Do you think one of the Prince paddles might help me here, and if so, do you think I could maintain my current power level at a lighter weight? Alternatively, would my current weight seem faster/lighter with the Prince? Thanks.

  2. I have been playing for a year and the Response Pro is my second paddle. I have used it for three months and it was a great addition to my game. My paddle selection is limited because I am 6’-7” with hands to match. I needed the length and larger wrap. This paddle gave me a better dink shot and kitchen power forehand (which I use as a kill shot). The sweet spot is large and as you said very forgiving. All I have to do is get the paddle on the ball when someone hits a difficult shot at me. I can recommend this paddle!

  3. Do they make a left handed version?
    Just kidding.
    I’m a righty and I said “all righty, let’s order one!”
    Can’t go wrong with a paddle that my favorite instructor uses.
    That would be you.
    Plus my ONIX Graphite Z5 kills my ears when I pop one back near my head level.
    Happy Day!

  4. Pingback: The Best Pickleball Paddles To Look For In 2019 - Holy Family Pickleball Club

    1. Post
      Author

      The Prince Spectrum will have a shorter handle, will feel significantly lighter and won’t have as much power.

  5. My Response Pro was in the mailbox when I got home from playing pickleball this morning. Now I am going to be itching to play until Sunday night.

    The core is softer than my Epic Prime but less spongy than the Amped Epic I was test driving. However, just bouncing a ball on it I can already tell that the sweet spot is monstrous and should have as much, or more, vibration dampening ability as the Amped Epic. It just uses the large sweet spot in place of the spongier core to do so. Can’t wait to get back out and hit a few.

    Thanks for the terrific review!

    1. Post
      Author

      You’re welcome, Rick! Yeah, it’s going to be very, very different than your Epic Prime for sure! Let me know how it goes!

      1. Man, this bad boy is everything you claimed it to be! The Responce Pro (I went orange) seems to be all sweet spot. My only problem is catching the edge or even the plastic piece where the grip attachs. That, of course, is not the paddle’s fault as I’m still reorienting from tennis.

        I haven’t really noticed a loss of power from it, as compared to my Selkirk Epic Prime. Seems like it will hit as hard as you want to to.

        Again, small sample size, I’ve only tried three different paddles but, boy, they all had different “personalities”. I can see why you like the Prince Responce Pro so much!

        1. Post
          Author

          Amazing isn’t it? For that issue, try to not hit the ball with your hand. When you’re swinging through, trust the fact that there’s much more paddle away from your hand than you think. When people are hitting the ball on their handle, it’s typically because they’re unconsciously trying to hit with their hand. Let me know if that helps.

  6. Hi Barrett –

    The Prince models are really interesting. They don’t seem to have partnered with too many of the online retailers.

    I’m nitpicky on the grip. While I can do some mods, I really hate having to do too much. Could you please comment a bit more about the grip shape? Looks like it is 8-sided like a tennis grip (which would be awesome). Some makers seem to only have the 4 sides. Also is it more square or is it more of a rectangle? Finally, the butt cap looks a bit different (almost like a bulb) than the usual ones seen on other manufacturers. Wondering if that is actually the case or just the way they slapped on the grip?

    How do you compare it to the Epic Amped?

    Thank you for the reviews!

    1. Post
      Author

      You’re welcome, thanks for stopping by.

      I’m looking at my paddle right now. The grip is definitely more rectangular than it is angular. If you’re looking for a grip that is very “sharp” and 8-sided then I would look at the Onix Outbreak. The cap on the bottom has the little pointy thing sticking out, know what I mean? If you want, I can send you some pics to your email. Let me know.

      The AMPED Epic and the Prince Response are quite similar. They have the thick core, but the Response’s sweetspot is a bit more rounded.

    2. Argh!

      “My only problem is catching the edge or even the plastic piece where the grip attachs” TOO OFTEN.

  7. After demoing many paddles recently I have the Response Pro and it is working pretty well. I didn’t like more top heavy paddles like the Poach Advantage. I was using an old-school Magnum Graphite Stealth until now. The paddle handles quickly which is important to me. The sweet spot does seem somewhat larger but also it’s not as if the entire paddle is a sweet spot. There are still shots that will sputter off weakly if not well hit. But there does seem to be some more forgiveness overall. Also a correction: in your last paragraph under “Just give it a shot”, you meant to say “Even if you like top-heavy paddles, just give it a shot.”

    1. Post
      Author

      Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll look into that. Hitting on the edge of the paddle will always produce a worse result, but in general, it should be better. How long have you been using the Response Pro for?

      1. Hello again. Sorry for the delay…didn’t realize you had responded and asked a question. I’ve been using the paddle for 4 weeks now, almost daily. I play with more confidence, especially in the short dinking aspect of the game. I used to get pretty antsy and impatient after a few dinks. Also this is my first polymer core paddle, and I think this type of core offers more control than other types. It handles that durafast 40 ball pretty well. I think it’s a keeper 😉

  8. What is the difference between the Prince Response paddle and the Prince Response Pro paddle? Is it just the weightling and grip sizes?

    1. Post
      Author

      I don’t know unfortunately because I have not seen them. But it probably won’t be a massive difference. Sorry!

  9. Hi Barrett,
    I recently started playing pickleball after playing tennis for 35 yrs. I played mostly doubles tennis with an emphasis on serve and volley. I always preferred a hefty headlight tennis racquet for volleying purposes. It sounds like that may a characteristic of these Prince paddles. I’m currently using a Paddletek Bantam TS5 pro at 7.8 oz, how these Prince paddles would compare? Thanks

    1. Post
      Author

      Hey Tedd,

      The older Paddletek models like the TS-5 are actually a bit more top heavy than the newer releases. So the Prince paddles sound right up your alley. They aren’t top-heavy at all, it’s kind of amazing really. I would definitely give it a shot. They should feel similar to your TS-5, but will feel a bit lighter and quicker.

    1. Post
      Author

      They are two very different paddles. I would say the biggest difference is in how well you can drive the ball. The Invikta is made more for a power game, or at least being able to use a third shot drove on a relatively consistent basis. Whereas I think the Response/Spectrum is more about consistency and forgiveness. The sweet spot is very different as well. The Response/Spectrum sweet spot, naturally, is much larger.

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