Wild Monkeys Spirit - pickleball paddle review

I love when a new brand comes on the scene ready to make a strong statement and Wild Monkeys is the latest one to do just that. Their Spirit paddle is a thermoformed carbon fiber performance paddle at a value price. From its Japanese folklore-inspired branding to its generous add-on goodies, there's a lot to like here.

My main question is: can the Spirit challenge other intermediate paddles at the $150 mark like the Pickleball Apes Pro Line Energy S or is it all looks and no substance? Read my in-depth Wild Monkeys Spirit review to find out.

The Wild Monkeys Spirit is made for new intermediates who want a decent carbon fiber paddle with advanced tech without having to pay the usual high price tag. Also, if you're bored of the typical black Amazon paddles, the Spirit has a unique design that'll stand out on the courts.

The Spirit just falls short of being a top-tier intermediate paddle because it lacks the forgiveness and control of the Pickleball Apes Pro Line Energy S. The sweet spot is frustratingly small, even by normal elongated carbon paddle standards.

I frequently mishit volleys, drops, and even routine drives. It's also quite stiff like a lot of thermoformed paddles, so try the Bread & Butter Shogun or Vatic Pro V7 instead if you want a paddle that plays much smoother.

The Spirit redeems itself with its solid blend of power and spin. While my drives aren't hard enough to overwhelm my opponents like they are with my Six Zero DBD Control or Bread & Butter Filth, the pop is good enough to introduce new intermediates to a more advanced power game.

Watch my first thoughts on the Wild Monkeys Spirit:

This generates a decent amount of spin thanks to the carbon friction surface. The 15 mm core strikes a nice balance between the traditional 14 mm (for power) and 16 mm (for control).

When you add all these factors together, it's a good step-up paddle that offers the right amount of power, spin, and control for anyone leaving their beginner paddle behind.

On top of that, the branding is so unique that it will appeal to a lot of players. It takes inspiration from the spirit monkeys of Japanese folklore, and the message is all about adding "chaos" to the court.

They throw in some of the best add-ons I've seen. The pre-cut lead tape is a real winner for rec players, as you don't need to get out your measuring tape and start experimenting—you can stick them on and go.

The overgrip is already installed and it's one of the best grips I've ever played with. There's also a paddle eraser to help you care for your paddle. If the Spirit suits your game, it's worth the $150 price tag—even without all the added extras.

The Wild Monkeys Spirit is the first in the brand's new Elite series and includes the tech you'd expect in a performance paddle like the JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus, but for $100 less. Let's take a look at some of the features.

You rarely open your paddle box to find freebies that are actually useful. Wild Monkeys go the extra mile here with a pre-installed overgrip, making the handle one of the comfiest I've ever held. There's a paddle eraser too, but best of all are the pre-cut lead tape strips.

Most rec players don't want to bother with optimizing their paddle as it takes time. You then have the added cost of buying lead tape, then cutting it to size. Not here—these can be slapped straight on to boost the weight. I added a couple to hit my optimal 8.3-8.4 oz weight.

I was curious to see how a 15 mm paddle performed. Landing between 14 mm (for power) and 16 mm (for control), this paddle hits surprisingly hard while still supporting my soft game.

The added protection from the edge guard makes me confident that the paddle face will hold up well.

This is pretty standard for performance paddles these days. The T700 carbon fiber and Carbon Friction Surface (CFS) mean you can easily hit topspin, sidespin, and backspin.

The Spirit's power is good, but it didn't blow me away. The paddle is thermoformed, so your shots will naturally have some pop. However, my drives don't have the oomph to overwhelm my opponents when I try to rip a winner or intimidate their blocks.

As pickleball gets faster and faster, I need more in the power department. Check out the best power paddles if you're a banger like me.

Despite its 15 mm core doing some work to boost my control game, I had to knock this paddle down a couple of points. It's challenging to dial in touch shots like drops because of the pop and inconsistent sweet spot.

This is a carbon paddle so the spin is what I expected. Topspin, sidespin, and backspin all work well enough but they're not on the same level as the Pickleball Apes or Bread & Butter Filth.

The sweet spot is surprisingly small and I have a frustrating number of mishits on almost every type of shot, including drives, dinks, and drops. While it's not as inconsistent as the Gearbox Pro Power, it's not far off.

The Wild Monkeys Spirit has a good stock weight of 8-8.2 oz, feeling solid without being sluggish. I'm adding a half-point for the included pre-cut lead tape strips that let you customize the weight to your liking.

Aside from the Spirit, the Selkirk LUXX Control is the only other paddle I've scored 10/10 for its grip. The difference is the LUXX costs just over $100 more. The Spirit nails it thanks to the pre-installed overgrip. I've never seen this before, so I hope other paddle makers take note.

The grip is white, so it does get dirty over time. That doesn't bother me personally as I don't care as much about looks, but some players might.

From what I can tell, the Spirit is made from high-quality materials and feels durable. Even with the paddle's low price, I'm confident it will hold up well. The edge guard will help protect the paddle face as well.

The elongated shape makes it less aerodynamic. It plays noticeably slower at the net when compared to Six Zero Ruby and other hybrids. If you like playing with two hands, you might not mind this as much.

Rating:

At $149, the Wild Monkeys Spirit is right in competition with the $150 Pickleball Apes Pro Line Energy S. As well as being one of the best intermediate paddles, the Energy S also has a similarly unique design to the Spirit.

Compared to the Energy S, though, the Spirit doesn't perform well enough across the board for me to recommend to most players. That said, the Spirit will definitely appeal to some—especially if you like the sound of the free add-ons.

If you're a new intermediate looking for a solid step-up paddle, you might prefer the Spirit as the others might be too advanced for you. I usually recommend the Energy S to rising intermediates who want a paddle that pushes them toward the advanced level.

The Wild Monkeys Spirit can introduce power and spin to your game without overwhelming you, making it a nice transition for beginners as they progress to intermediate level.

If you don't mind spending $150, this paddle is worth it—especially with so many good add-ons and an eye-catching design. It will definitely stand out on the courts.

If the Wild Monkeys Spirit isn't for you, check out these alternatives:

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