Engage Pursuit Pro1 Innovation review

Looking for a heavier power paddle with tons of spin and a long handle for two-handed shots? The new Innovation paddle from Engage might be just right for you.

Engage's Pursuit Pro1 paddles are some of the most recommended in pickleball (their Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Elongated is one of the best pickleball paddles on the market), so I was excited to try this model. Read my Engage Pursuit Pro1 Innovation review to see if it's worth $280 for the right player.

If you prefer a quick, aerodynamic paddle with pop, you'll like the Engage Pursuit Pro1 Innovation. This is an elongated paddle with an extra-long 6" handle. If you're a power player, you'll want to check this one out. It goes hard on power with a heavier feel.

While it's similar to the Selkirk LUXX Control in how it generates explosive topspin off a full swing, the Pro1 Innovation has more power and aggression. It makes me want to drive more often, especially on third and fifth shots, knowing I can swing hard and still keep the ball in with topspin.

The 6" handle is a standout feature. It's perfect for my two-handed backhand. This paddle has a similar feel and control to the Six Zero DBD Control, but with more reach and a cleaner contact point for both hands.

There are some negatives, though. Like the Vatic Pro Saga V7, the Innovation is unforgiving if you hit outside the center. If I don't catch the ball cleanly (especially lower on the face), I can feel a drop in power and control. It's also head-heavy, which makes it feel bulkier in hand battles.

Overall, while this paddle is an investment at $279.99, the price point makes sense for competitive players. This is a hard-hitting paddle with great spin and plenty of control and forgiveness. It's very reliable against advanced players too. If you like a premium feel and next-gen tech, you'll also like this paddle.

This paddle looks premium – sleek and bold. I like that one side has a minimalist look while the other keeps the classic Engage target design. You can tell it's designed to stand out both visually and on the court.

Engage is known for putting unique tech into their paddles. Let's see what they've done here.

Engage's new SpinCore tech is more than just marketing. I can feel the enhanced dwell time and grip when shaping balls with spin, especially on dipping topspin forehands or sliced resets.

The first few times I played with it, I had trouble hitting the ball out of bounds because the ball dips down so nicely. I was hitting more balls into the net than long. However, after some adjustment, I can now easily shape balls over the net and low to my opponent.

This paddle is clearly engineered for power and torque. The weighting in the head lets you generate whip and speed with full swings, which I notice most when hitting deep forehand drives or big serves. Compared to other Pro1 models, this one feels like it adds another gear in baseline power.

I will say that the 15.2 mm version feels sluggish at times, or at least not as quick as the 12.7 mm or other Pro1 paddles, even including the Engage Pursuit Pro1 Elongated model.

The 16.6" paddle length and 6" handle give you elite-level reach without sacrificing comfort. As someone who plays a lot of two-handed backhands and midcourt counters, I feel totally at home.

I get the same two-handed shaping ability that I get with the Selkirk LABS Project 008 and 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean, and I love it.

While the pop at the kitchen isn't as impressive as some of the best power paddles, it's strong enough to win hand battles.

Where this paddle shines is when you're taking full swings. From deep baseline drives to midcourt putaways, the Pro1 Innovation can rip the ball with authority. I can consistently hit aggressive drives that still dip in with spin.

It reminds me of the Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air with a slightly softer touch that makes drops and resets more reliable, especially with the 15.2 mm model.

For a power paddle, the Innovation still has enough softness to hit your typical control shots (dinks, resets, and drops). I can drop the ball into the kitchen and reset under pressure, though the occasional pop-up happens if I don't hit the sweet spot.

The 15.2 mm version gives you an extra level of touch, but you sacrifice the speed and pop of the 12.7 mm.

This is one of the best spin paddles I've tested. Whether it's dipping topspin drives, aggressive serves, or sliced crosscourt resets, it does it all. The raw carbon face and inner layering create real bite on the ball.

I love hitting aggressive dipping third-shot drops with this paddle. I can get the ball to hang just long enough before diving into the kitchen, drawing either a pop-up or causing people to lean too much into the kitchen and hit the ball into the net. Even slice returns and cross-court backhand flicks are easy to shape.

This reminds me of the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid. There's solid forgiveness when you're near the sweet spot, but it drops off at the throat and sides.

I don't have as many pop-up issues with the 15.2 mm version compared to the 12.7. However, like with any power paddle, I need to be careful with the paddle angle to avoid giving gifts to my opponents.

While the static weight is not super heavy (7.8-8.2 oz), the weight distribution is toward the head. If you like solid, head-heavy paddles, this does help with spin and power. However, it slows things down in hand battles.

Over time, the top-heavy design can feel a little tiring, especially if you're playing long tournaments or doing a lot of quick flicks and resets. If that's an issue, consider adding tape at the throat or try the 12.7 mm version for a slightly lighter feel. Overall, though, it has a clean, connected feel in the hand.

Engage grips tend to be a little thick for my taste. This one is okay. It has plenty of cushion and stays dry, but I still prefer thinner grips for a better feel and shaping. If you're like me, an overgrip swap might help.

After multiple sessions, this paddle holds up without any signs of wear – no delamination, and the spin stays consistent. The edge guard feels secure and the materials are definitely high quality.

Compared to the Pursuit Pro1 Hybrid, this does feel slower in hand battles. The 12.7 mm is a little quicker than the 15.2 mm model, but it's not a dealbreaker. When I'm defending speed-ups or trying to catch up to quick exchanges at the net, I notice the drag and feel like I'm just a hair slower than I want to be.

At $279.99, this is a premium paddle. If you're an aggressive player who likes to swing big and shape your shots with heavy topspin or slice, it 100% delivers the performance to back the price.

Players with a tennis background will feel right at home with the head-heavy torque and longer handle. If you value speed or forgiveness, I wouldn't recommend this one. However, if you like to drive the ball and attack from anywhere on the court, the Pro1 Innovation will feel like a weapon in your hand.

If you're not a tournament-level player or someone who values top-tier performance tech, it might be hard to justify the cost. If you're on a budget, I'd look at the Pursuit V2.0, Six Zero DBD, Pickleball Apes Pro Line Energy, and Bread & Butter Shogun for cheaper alternatives.

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

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