Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 - pickleball paddle review

Are you looking for an all-court paddle with a lot of power? Ever since the JOOLA Gen 3 paddles were banned, I’ve been hunting for a replacement—something with next-gen tech and huge power and pop. Lots of people recommend the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0, so I was excited to check it out.

My biggest issue with the JOOLA Gen 3s is that they have too much pop and not enough control. Read on to see if the Pursuit Pro1 6.0 manages to nail that all-court balance, and if it justifies having a high $259.99 price.

If you want an advanced pickleball paddle that delivers exceptional power and control, check out the Pursuit Pro1 6.0. Engage's unique proprietary tech really makes it behave differently depending on your swing speed (I'll explain more later).

Swing slow and you can easily land drops and dinks. Swing fast and the paddle becomes a new beast with lots of putaway power. It generates awesome spin too, as good as the best pickleball paddles for spin. It's also really forgiving thanks to the large sweet spot.

Watch my initial thoughts on the Pursuit Pro1 6.0:

There are downsides to this though. The pop can be too much, making some of my drops and resets challenging. I find the 4.25” grip a bit bulky and uncomfortable.

It’s also not the fastest paddle given the moderate swing weight. I have slow hands so I feel this against higher-level players, though I did get used to it after some adjustment. Ultimately, I decided it’s a good compromise between a bulky elongated power paddle and a light square or edgeless control paddle.

These Pursuit Pro paddles don’t come cheap (the Pursuit Pro EX 6.0 is also $259.99). Compared to that, the Pro1 justifies the price tag way more as it has increased power, control, and spin. Not everybody can afford it, so consider the Six Zero’s DBD series or the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C for cheaper alternatives.

If you have the budget, this is a unique paddle that will boost your all-court game. It’s a great replacement for the banned JOOLA Gen 3 paddles. It's powerful enough for pros yet forgiving enough for intermediates, so it suits anyone above beginner level who is serious about advancing their game.

Engage makes some of the best paddles for pickleball elbow and arm fatigue because of their multiple vibration-dampening technologies. Unlike other paddles, this tech isn’t just in the handle. Bonding and composite injections in the outer cells and edge guard provide better weight and force distribution too.

Let's dive into the features you'll find in the Pursuit Pro1 6.0.

This is Engage’s new innovative proprietary core technology. According to Engage, the core delivers maximum power while extending the hold time at point of contact. In other words, it helps with spin and control.

This really works too. It feels like this paddle has two faces: control/all-court when you swing light, and big power when you ramp up your swing speed. I love how it feels.

This is another tech that’s unique to Engage. This means that the faster you swing, the more the paddle flexes and simplifies your spin and power. I’m always wary of marketing jargon but it actually works. The spin (10/10) and power (9.5/10) combo is one of the best I've ever seen in a paddle.

The shape is elongated (16.5 x 7.5”) but the curved hybrid-style top makes the sweet spot larger than standard elongated paddles. It also boosts the paddle’s aerodynamics, making it faster than it otherwise would be. Without the curve, this would be a bulky elongated paddle.

You end up with a great mix of reach while keeping the swing weight moderate and somewhat quick at the kitchen.

Make no mistake, this paddle rips. I prioritized testing it because I heard it could match the (now-banned) JOOLA Gen 3 paddles on power. While those paddles edge it on power (especially the JOOLA Perseus 3), the Pro1 is darn close.

The harder you swing, the more you can access its power. On putaways, if you get any loft on the ball, you can easily put opponents on the defensive and power your way through the point. You’ll like it on overheads.

I almost won a 5.0 tournament (above my level) at the Chicken N Pickle using a “shake and bake” strategy. I would rip a hard drive and my opponent would crash the net hoping for a pop-up. Then if I had any opportunity for a pop-up, I could absolutely rip back and quickly end the point.

Compared to JOOLA Gen 3s, this is way better on control. I feel in tune with my drops. As long as I'm watching my swing speed and not taking a big backswing, I can land them consistently.

It's the same with dinks. If I focus on good technique and a moderate swing and follow-through, I can win long dink rallies with patience and precision.

If it weren't for the (occasionally) excessive pop, it would be 10/10 here. While the control is great, it still skews toward pop and power, which makes some of my drops and resets challenging. Especially if you’re resetting a hard shot, you really have to work to take pace off the ball. Otherwise, you’ll get a pop-up.

This paddle will give any rec player all the spin they need and more. I’ve seen fellow reviewers post spin tests of 2,200+ RPMs and I’m not surprised. This is up there with the best paddles for spin like the Proton Series One, Diadem Edge 18k, and Gearbox Pro Power.

I can hit technical shots like third-shot drops with tons of topspin, and they'll dip to my opponents’ feet. I don’t use backspin nearly as much, but I do with much with the Pro1. I can hit heavy backspin off my backhand that many rec players return right into the net, earning me cheap points.

I also use this paddle for a new super-technical shot I’m working on: the drop/drive hybrid that Zane Navratil showed me. You hit a 60% power drive with enough spin to dip it at your opponents’ toes like a drop. It's a killer shot that I used at a recent 5.0+ tournament.

This is another surprisingly good score. Usually, high-power pro-level paddles don’t optimize for forgiveness because advanced players can find the sweet spot consistently. However, the Pro1 6.0 has a very generous sweet spot thanks to its hybrid curved shape. I can’t recall many mishits (or any at all).

While this paddle is a bit sluggish at the kitchen in fast hands battles, I’m adding an extra point because they offer a LITE model. While I haven’t tested that one, it’s great that they’re giving lower-level players that option.

The grip feels bulky and oversized. I don’t love the stock grip feel either. I threw an overgrip on (I always do for sweat resistance in the Phoenix heat) but then it felt even bigger and unnatural.

The reason I didn’t score it lower is that I got used to it over time and stopped noticing it so much, so maybe it won’t bother some people.

The Pro1 is made in the USA with raw carbon fiber and premium materials, so I have no reason to believe this won’t hold up. One thing I’ll be watching is the spin grit. I’ll report back after months of heavy use.

It can play a tad on the heavy side—especially if you get a paddle at the top end of the 8-8.3 oz range. If you struggle with fast hands like me, you might want an ultra-fast paddle.

I tested the Six Zero DBD Infinity before this and found myself missing its speed, particularly against higher-level (5.0) players. I just feel behind the ball when the game speeds up.

That said, the Pro1's curved top helps with aerodynamics and swing speed, which unlocks its awesome power. Once I adjusted, which was pretty quickly, I felt it was a good compromise for increased power.

Rating:

At $259.99, the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 is right at the top end of the market, just below the Proton Series One, Gearbox Pros, and JOOLA Gen 3s (before they were delisted).

This is the first Engage paddle that I feel has earned the high price point. The Pro1 outshines the Pro EX 6.0 in every attribute. It almost matches the Gearbox Pro Power and JOOLA Gen 3s on power and spin, while far surpassing them on control and forgiveness.

If you’re a tournament player in 2024, this is my #1 pick for you right now. At an event in Phoenix in September 2024, I had my best tournament result ever with this paddle.

It‘s made in the USA, features a ton of unique tech, plays like no other, and gives you a true all-court performance. While it suits lower-level intermediates, you'll get more out of it the more advanced you are, unlocking its huge power and then reining it in on your touch shots.

For these reasons, the Pro1 is a rare paddle that justifies being over $250. If you’re budget-conscious, don’t worry—you’ll get a similar all-court performance from the Bread & Butter Filth and Six Zero DBD, while saving around $100.

If the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 isn’t for you, check out some other paddles I recommend:

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