Volair proves its dedication to creating the best pickleball gear on the market with its debut paddle model: The Volair Mach 1. Pro pickleball player and founder of Volair, Julian Arnold, developed the Mach 1 by pulling from his experience while playing at the highest level of competitive pickleball.
Having played 50+ hours with it, we've found that the Volair Mach 1 lives up to the hype. With a ton of control and plenty of power, you'll find that it meets your needs regardless of your playing style. Oh, and we love the soft oversized grip.
Use code PBUNION for 10% off at checkout!
The Specs
| Thickness | 14mm and 16mm |
| Weight | 7.4oz for the 14mm and 7.9oz for the 16mm |
| Length | 16.5 in |
| Width | 7.5 in |
| Handle Length | 5.5 in |
| Grip Circumference | 4.3 in for the 14mm and 4.45 in for the 16mm – feels slightly oversized, but we enjoyed the soft grip feel. |
| Core | Polypropylene Honeycomb |
| Paddle Face | Raw T700 Carbon Fiber |
Overview
Now that we’ve broken down the paddle’s stats, how does the complete product feel when playing with it? What sets the Mach 1 apart from other paddles on the market?
A Paddle For Control
Throughout our time testing the Mach 1, it’s clear that it plays similarly to other midweight carbon fiber paddles: it’s unmatched for control at the kitchen line. The paddle’s surface feels softer, allowing for ample flexibility when adding spin and quickly shifting shot direction.
However, this increase in overall control comes at a significant cost in power. You can set yourself up quickly at the kitchen with dinks and resets, but it can be difficult to put on pressure in firefights at the net.
Carbon Fiber Surface
You can still absolutely pull off some impressive drives with the Mach 1; it’s just much more proficient in games that focus on finesse.
The Mach 1’s large paddle face plays well with its focus on its grippy carbon fiber surface, granting the paddle a broader sense of a sweet spot. Yes, the large paddle face alone will often naturally create a greater sweet spot, but the added grip granted by the T700 carbon fiber surfacing gives you more dwell time on your shots.
More dwell time = More shot control = Shots going where you want them to. The Mach 1 leans heavily into prioritizing the enhancement of spin and control within your game.
Enhanced Grip
The unspoken hero of this paddle: the grip. Volair clearly put a lot of thought into every detail of the paddle, and the grip is no exception. Their grip technology is top-tier, and the grip-heavy weight balancing adds to the paddle’s theme of being control-focused.
It feels super comfortable out of the box, and the extended 5.5 in paddle length allows you more flexibility with your grip preference. However, the 16mm model does have a relatively thick grip circumference, clocking in at around 4.45 in. So, we’d recommend spending a lot of time focusing on whether or not that thickness feels suitable for your playstyle.
Pros
- Raw T700 Carbon Fiber paddle face adds incredible feel and spin
- Easy playability for both pros and beginners alike
- The comfortable elongated grip adds to the sense of control
Cons
- Slightly less power and pop when compared to other CFS paddles
- Thick grip circumference could be uncomfortable for players with smaller hands
Conclusion and Comparison
The Volair Mach 1 is a paddle we’d recommend for intermediate players who prefer to play games of finesse and have increased control over a shot’s trajectory and spin or even beginner players looking for an incredibly responsive paddle.
Compared to other popular paddles, it stacks up similarly to the Joola Hyperion CFS 16 and the Selkirk Halo Control XL. All three paddles have incredibly similar specs, so we recommend giving each a test run to see which clicks best with you!
We were so impressed with the Mach 1's performance that we placed it on our buying guide titled; 5 Best Pickleball Paddles For Intermediate Players
Should I Buy The Volair Mach 1?
As far as midweight paddles go, the Mach 1 is precisely the type of paddle you’d want to see from a paddle company’s debut model. Julian Arnold brought his knowledge and experience to the table during the development process of this paddle because it is so easy to pick up and play with for players of all skill levels.
So, if you’re looking for a midweight paddle that will improve your command at the kitchen line, the Volair Mach 1 is worth a shot!
Having played 50+ hours with it, we've found that the Volair Mach 1 lives up to the hype. With a ton of control and plenty of power, you'll find that it meets your needs regardless of your playing style. Oh, and we love the soft oversized grip.
Use code PBUNION for 10% off at checkout!
