Proton Series One Type A - pickleball paddle review

If you're looking for an all-court paddle skewing on the power side or one with incredible spin that won't weaken over time, the Proton Series One Type A was designed for you. I was excited to get my hands on this one after it was sold out for months.

I wanted to see if the unique NanoTac surface really does offer something new in long-lasting spin generation, and if it's worth its high $280 price tag (or $255 with our exclusive discount). Read on for my honest review.

If you're looking for a paddle with the highest levels of spin that won't degrade over time, I'd recommend giving the Proton Series One a try.

Thanks to the new "NanoTac" paddle face, the spin is not only better but it also lasts much longer as there's no grit to wear away. So, when it comes to long-term value, it outshines gems like the Diadem Edge 18k and Gearbox Pro Power as the best spin paddle in 2024.

That said, it's still a great choice for anyone wanting an all-court paddle. The power and forgiveness round out the performance, so you can play a strong all-court game whether you're an early intermediate or advanced.

These aren't for everyone, though. While some power players won't mind it, the heaviness does mean a sacrifice on speed. Try the Bread & Butter Filth if you want a powerful, lighter paddle. It's also easy to pop up drops, so you might prefer the Selkirk LUXX Control for a softer, advanced alternative.

If you have the budget, this is easily one of the best pickleball paddles in 2024 and the only one I've tested that can justify a $280 price tag. It has tech we haven't seen before and offers high performance across spin, power, forgiveness, and control.

You can also get $25 off with our PRO-PICKLEHEADS code at Pickleball Central. Think about it this way—either pay $255 (after discount) for this paddle which will last you over 2 years, or $150-200 for a paddle that might wear its grit down in 6 months. I like that tradeoff.

There are four models to choose from here. You can choose an elongated or square version and an 11 mm or 15 mm core.

The paddles are made from high-grade materials and you can feel it—it's smooth, sleek, and super premium feeling. Let's take a closer look at its unique NanoTac tech first.

This is the paddle's #1 feature and by far one of the most unique in pickleball right now. It's what gives it such great, long-lasting spin. Instead of using a grit that's applied onto the face, Proton uses microparticles that are integrated into its "Aerospace-grade" carbon fiber surface.

I'm happy to confirm that it works! Spin is not only top tier, but the face won't degrade over time (which leads to a loss in spin quality) like textured faces. This is a game-changer for sure—especially for value as you won't need to replace your paddle as often.

You can choose either the elongated paddle (16.75 x 7.25") or the square-shaped paddle (15.75 x 8.25"). I ended up going with the square version as the elongated paddles play too slow for me.

You can also choose your core size and paddle weight. The 11 mm paddle has an average weight of 8.2 oz, while the 15 mm paddle is around 8.5 oz. I find this way too heavy personally.

I feel most comfortable with the 11 mm square-shaped model, which I played with for six straight hours at a pre-launch event in Phoenix. I liked it so much that I asked the founder if I could take that exact paddle home. Thankfully, he agreed!

This paddle hits like a rocket. I find myself wanting to drive every ball. My drives have won many cheap points against less-experienced players and created opportunities for an easier fifth-shot drop or a harder drive from the transition zone against higher-level players.

Almost every pro I've seen use this paddle hits a laser-like hard third-shot drop to set up an easy fifth-shot drop. If that's part of your game strategy already, you'll like the way this paddle plays.

While the elongated paddles have more power, I can still hit hard with the 11 mm square model (the one I usually play with). It's way more powerful than your average square paddle, and the thin core helps here.

If you use too big of a backswing or too much arch, it's easy to pop the ball up. I find myself yelling "high" to my partner more than I'd like on drops.

I've since shifted to a third-shot drive strategy to set up easy drops where I'm less likely to pop the ball up—I've won lots of games this way. However, if you play a precision drop game, you may not like how this paddle plays out of the box.

While control isn't the Series One's strongest suit, I do find it adequate given the 9-10 scores across power, spin, and forgiveness. That's why I'm calling this an all-court paddle skewing on the power side.

The Proton gets a perfect score on spin for two reasons. Firstly, raw spin generation is at the very high end—up there with top paddles like the Six Zero DBD Control and Diadem Edge 18k.

You'll appreciate this if you play with a lot of topspin like me. You can load up spin on serves and drops, which means you get to swing hard and still keep the ball in play. I got a 1,853 RPM spin test at the Proton x Pickleball Central launch event in Phoenix, as recorded by fellow reviewer John Kew.

Secondly, the spin quality doesn't decrease over time like other paddles because the face is actually smooth. Selkirk's sprayed-on grit might erode quickly, but even the weave on a Bread & Butter Filth degrades over time.

This isn't the case with Proton paddles as there's no grit or weave to wear down. The rec player I fear the most at my local courts (shout out to Craig) has been using a Proton for four straight years. His paddle looks beat to heck, but he's still ripping huge topspin (and beating me).

All models have a larger sweet spot than I'd expect from a pro-level performance paddle. With the square-shaped 11 mm, I can't remember a single mishit I had during over 6 hours of play.

You'll lose points with the excess pop and control but mishits generally won't cost you many points. I find the paddle lively even in traditionally dead areas like the edges and throat.

If I could change one thing about the Series One, I'd make it more lightweight. I'm confident Proton could maintain the same power and make the paddles faster if they tried.

Both elongated models are out of the question for me as they're just too slow. It's a shame because I know many players prefer the reach of an elongated paddle. I hope Proton make a hybrid model and take the weight down.

Proton have a lot of experience in softball equipment and they've brought that over to pickleball. The result is a better-performing and more comfortable grip than 99% of standard grips I'm used to playing with (even expensive paddles like the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C).

This is one of the few paddles that doesn't need an overgrip, though I'd still use one for durability reasons.

I know these paddles last because my local court in Phoenix was lucky enough to receive the first batch ever made from Proton's founder and CEO, Charles Darling. Some players have been using them daily for years and they still play like new.

This is a testament to the advanced "aerospace-grade" materials. It's also what makes them great value for money even with the hefty price tag, since you won't need to replace them as often.

The swing weight is relatively high on all models, but especially the elongated ones. I'd recommend starting with the square paddles if speed is a concern for you.

That said, I wouldn't call this a fast paddle. If you want a truly aerodynamic paddle, try the Six Zero Infinity DBD. It has similar levels of power and spin to the Series One but is much faster.

Who uses the Proton Series One Type A?

Proton paddles were made famous by APP #1 Andrei Daescu, who uses my favorite model: the square 11 mm. He was the MLP Atlanta Champion in 2023 with the Orlando Squeeze and PPA silver medalist in the 2024 Mesa Open.

Rating:

At $280, the Proton Series One is the most expensive paddle I've reviewed so far, alongside the now-banned JOOLA Gen 3s. However, even without our Pickleheads discount taking it down to $255, it's the only paddle I can imagine justifying this price tag.

For one, you won't find a paddle with spin like this because no other paddle uses nanotechnology. Secondly, the surface won't degrade, meaning the spin won't decrease over time.

Sure, you can get a great spin paddle like the Diadem Edge 18k for around $200 or even cheaper. However, if you have to replace it after 6 months of heavy play, the real cost is much higher. For this reason, the Proton can save you money in the long term.

While similarly-priced paddles like the Gearbox Pro Power ($275) and Engage Pursuit Pro EX 6.0 ($260) are only worth it for certain players, the Series One appeals to a much wider audience thanks to its big spin, power, and forgiveness. I can see early intermediates to advanced players getting a lot out of this paddle.

If the Proton Series One Type A isn't right for your game, check out some other paddles I recommend:

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