Gherkin PHANTOM
US$125 at Gherkin
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Weight7.9–8.3 oz
Core16 mm
Swingweight114
Specs
| Shape | Widebodyestimated from width |
|---|---|
| Core thickness | 16 mmbrand |
| Weight | 7.9–8.3 oz (224–235 g)brand |
| Size | 16 × 8 inbrand |
| Handle | 5.5 inbrand |
| Grip | 4⅛ inbrand |
| Swingweight | 114high for a widebodybrand |
| Twistweight | 7.2high for a widebodybrand |
| Balance | not published |
| Core material | not published |
| Face | not published |
| Approval | USAP approvedlisted as Phantom |
Who it suits
- 16 mm core. Thicker cores feel softer and steadier; 16 mm is the core the sources suggest for newer players and most others today (Onix, Paddletek, Pickleball Effect).
- Midweight, 7.9–8.3 oz. Between Paddletek's lightweight (7.3 oz and under) and heavy (8.5 oz and over) classes: the range suggested for beginners and for sore arms (Paddletek).
- Widebody (shape estimated from the paddle's width). The most forgiving shape and the best on comfort measures (Pickleball Effect): a good start if you're undecided (Pickleball Effect).
- 5.5 in handle. Room for a two-handed backhand: 5.4 in or longer is what Pickleball Effect recommends (Pickleball Effect, PickleballUS).
- High swingweight for a widebody. More weight behind drives; the sources pair it with power (Pickleball.com, Paddletek).
- High twistweight for a widebody. Steadier on off-centre hits, which the sources rate highest for newer players and sore arms (Pickleball.com, Pickleball Effect, Paddletek).
- 4⅛ in grip. Grips of 4⅛ in or larger tend to need less squeezing (Pickleball Effect); if it's big for your hand, there's no making it smaller, so try before you buy.
See where it ranks for your answers →
Similar paddles
Other widebody paddles nearest in weight and core thickness.
- Honolulu J3CRWidebody · 16 mm · 7.9–8.3 oz · US$195
- Honolulu SWORD & SHIELD J3NFWidebody · 16 mm · 7.9–8.3 oz · US$195
- Honolulu SWORD & SHIELD J4k PROWidebody · 16 mm · 7.9–8.3 oz · US$165
- Honolulu SWORD & SHIELD J3 SUPER SALEWidebody · 16 mm · 7.9–8.3 oz · US$145
- Honolulu SWORD & SHIELD J3k PROWidebody · 16 mm · 7.9–8.3 oz · US$165
- Honolulu SWORD & SHIELD J3Widebody · 16 mm · 7.9–8.3 oz · US$145
Lab reviews
Independent labs measure swingweight, twistweight, power and spin; their data is theirs, so we link rather than copy it: Pickleball Effect · Pickleball Studio · John Kew.