Engage Pursuit V2.0 - pickleball paddle review

Are you shopping in the $150-200 range and looking for a carbon paddle with a good blend of power, control, and spin? If that's you, check out the Engage Pursuit V2.0.

This paddle is part of Engage's new Enthusiast range, which they're marketing as more budget-friendly alternatives to the high-end Performance range (including premium paddles like the $260 Pursuit Pro1). Read my Engage Pursuit V2.0 review to see if it's worth the $179.99 price tag.

If you like what Engage is offering with their high-performance paddles but want a more mid-range budget option, you'll like the Pursuit V2.0. At $179.99, it's $80 cheaper than the likes of the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 6.0.

I really like this paddle. Of all Engage's new "Enthusiast" paddles, this one has the best power and pop. They're right up there with the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C and Six Zero DBD, two of my favorite paddles for power. Spin generation is great too—very similar to 16 mm carbon fiber paddles like the Bread & Butter Filth.

Watch my initial thoughts on the Engage Pursuit V2.0:

The slightly elongated (hybrid) shape and long 5.3" handle help you put even more spin on the ball. Control is good too. The 15.2 mm core gives a softer touch than a 14 mm paddle, providing a nice balance against the pop. Overall, this is a top all-court paddle.

Every paddle has its weak spots. With the Pursuit V2.0, you have to beware of pop-ups. If you're a beginner or intermediate player who struggles to dink, you'll prefer a softer paddle like the Vatic Pro PRISM Flash, PIKKL Hurricane Pro, or Pickleball Apes Pro Line Energy S.

I'm surprised the Pursuit V2.0 isn't part of Engage's Premium paddle range—it's clearly meant for players who know how to navigate extra power and pop. Even for an advanced player like myself, the power takes some getting used to. It can be tamed and provides great control, but you'll need practice to avoid popping the ball up too high.

If you're at an advanced pickleball skill level (4.5+) but aren't ready to spend over $200, this paddle is ideal for you. You can play an aggressive game while having enough control and forgiveness.

I like the paddle design and the different colors available for the edge guard. The bullseye on the face is cool and gives it a nice premium look. Let's dive into the main features.

I'm not sure what "amplified" means here but Engage did a good job because the spin on this paddle is fantastic.

The paddle face can generate great pop, allowing for effortless power—especially when attacking pop-ups at the kitchen. I can easily hit quick wrist snapping attacks when dinks come up a little too high.

The core provides a good level of feedback when hitting softer shots like dinks and drops. It also means elite-level power. You don't have to swing crazy hard to put high pop-ups away, so there's no additional strain on your shoulder and arm when playing.

The hybrid shape (16.25 x 7.75" with a 5.3" handle) gives a nice balance between reach, speed, and forgiveness. Not to mention, it still provides comparable power to elongated paddles. The paddle feels fast when in kitchen battles and has the pop to end kitchen fights.

This paddle has great power and pop. I'm able to hit drives from the backline that hit my opponent's feet. I can attack shots in the mid-court too, which create pop-ups that I can then put away to end the rally.

I easily attack high dinks when quick flicks at the kitchen line result in powerful shots that catch my opponents off-guard. It's great for defending against speed-ups because if you can block attacks at the right angle, the paddle has enough pop to put the ball down hard and past your opponent.

I should mention that the paddle does have an adjustment period. However, once you get used to the extra pop, you get a lot of control because the power is consistent and the sweet spot goes throughout most of the paddle.

The 15.2 mm core helps to provide a soft touch on everything from third-shot drops to dinks. The paddle has great feedback where it feels like the ball is being absorbed by the paddle face and then released back with accuracy.

I have no problems with my control, even in long dink rallies against advanced players. I can easily switch from sliced backhand dinks to double backhand topspin dinks to forehand dinks—all without hitting a pop-up. I have no trouble working my way up to the kitchen with multiple drop shots and resets.

I'm still not sure what "amplified carbon fiber" means, but it works. I can hit effective 60% drives that start with the apex of the ball well over the net, then dip down with aggressive topspin to land in the kitchen. This forces the other team to step back instead of taking the ball out of the air. Getting sidespin to curl the ball around the post is easy too.

I can hit great topspin drops and drives from the backline with both my forehand and my two-handed backhand. I can aggressively slice my third-shot drops and my backhand dinks at the kitchen too.

While the sweet spot runs nicely throughout the paddle, if I had to nitpick, there are some dead zones near the throat. If I hit the ball closer to the handle, it bounces off significantly weaker. That makes it hard to reset balls at times when under pressure from the other team.

Besides that, I'm happy with the forgiveness. The ball consistently goes where I want it to go, no matter where I am on the court. All in all, it's plenty forgiving for an advanced player. Lower-level players might struggle a little though.

The weighting is nice. This paddle is lightweight and feels really balanced. It's fast at the kitchen and easy to swing quickly when you want to generate power.

I don't have the biggest hands so I like the 4.25" grip circumference—it's not too thick or thin. If I were to put an overgrip on, I'd probably take the base grip off and put the new grip directly on top of the wood.

Engage's grips aren't sweaty or uncomfortable for me. They hold up great after hours of playing.

The spin on the carbon fiber should last a long time, and the paddle is holding up really well for me. The edge guard should protect the paddle as well. The way the power hits doesn't give me the feeling that it will delaminate quickly.

The paddle moves smoothly through the air when swinging quickly to generate power. It feels comfortable moving from backhand to forehand in kitchen battles.

Rating:

The Engage Pursuit V2.0 is good value for money at $180. It's a real competitor with top hybrid paddles in this price range, like the Six Zero DBD and Ronbus R1 NOVA.

If you've been looking at Engage's Premium paddles but are put off by the $260 price tag, the Pursuit V2.0 is the next best thing. It's the most advanced paddle of the Enthusiasts line.

I would recommend this paddle for any advanced player who likes to hit aggressive spin shots from the backline, like 60% drives or big topspin drops. It's also great for any control-focused players looking to add more aggression to their game.

If you're not at an advanced level yet, check out the best intermediate paddles and best beginner pickleball paddles for some inspiration.

If the Engage Pursuit V2.0 isn't for you, don't worry. Here are some other paddles I recommend:

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