GEARBOX GX6 PADDLE REVIEW

Gearbox GX6 Paddle Comparison and Review

To start with Gearbox Pickleball Paddles look a little different from everything else and thats because they are. Most pickleball paddles incorporate honeycomb technology inside the paddle and gearbox has developed their own that they call Solid Span Technology (SST). The paddles look more like a solid wood paddle with the thin design and edgeless frame. This post will start with my review and then cover a brief history of Gearbox before taking an in-depth look at the features and specs of the GX6 collection.

My Take on the GX6 Pickleball Paddle by Gearbox

Gearbox makes a high quality pickleball paddle and it is priced accordingly. The GX6 can be found on amazon and starts about $130+. Having experienced soft spots in my Paddletek and other pickleball paddles after extended use I really like the SST (solid span technology) because it eliminates this issue. While I am still able to get some good touch and feel on my shots I am not sure the SST of the Gearbox paddle has as much control as some of the high end honeycomb style paddles. If your goal is a great all around paddle that will last a long time and give you consistent play the Gearbox GX6 is perfect choice. If you have more than enough power and are looking for the best touch/control paddle I would lean more towards a Paddletek Tempest

• 

• 

• 

• 

GEARBOX GX6 PADDLE CHECK PRICE

Gearbox History

The interesting thing about Gearbox’s history is that it is just a decade old. But don’t let that fool you. It is the prowess of Rafael Filippini that lends perfection to each and every product manufactured by Gearbox.

Rafael Filippini is a renowned professional racquetball player with over 25 years of experience in the composite industry. His sheer dedication towards learning and creating revolutionary technology for athletes led to the foundation of Gearbox.

Initially, the company started with manufacturing racquetball rackets and equipment. Eventually, the company expanded its service bandwidth to reach out to pickleball players. Gearbox released its launched own pickleball paddle series in the year 2015.

Gearbox GX6 Pickleball Paddle Features – IN-DEPTH

The GX6 paddle features Gearbox’s patented solid span technology (SST) and comes in either Power or Control models. The patented SST uses an advanced proprietary molding process utilizing high strength unidirectional carbon fiber, that is meticulously hand laid and arranged at very precise angles. The angle configuration of these carbon fiber is critical and directly related to the paddle’s overall durability and playability.

Gearbox SST paddles are constructed from the core out. Patented Solid Span Core is carefully handcrafted, consisting of various graphite chambers. Each chamber is hand laid and organized section by section for optimum performance.

The entire structure (frame, face, handle) are placed into a mold to cure the resin with high internal pressure and heat. The structure then cools, yielding a superbly crafted one-piece molded construction.

Four key sections of the paddle are unified during this molding process:

• The Patented Solid Span Core
• The Surface of Paddle (front and back face)
• The Perimeter Frame of Paddle
• The Handle

With this technology, Gearbox engineers are able to achieve very precise specifications for power, control, balance, maneuverability, sound, feel, vibration, torque, shot accuracy, spin, weight, paddle thickness, durability, and so much more.

Every last detail has been researched and extensively tested. Patented Solid Span Technology yields a molded one-piece paddle with No Delamination, No Soft Spots, Excellent Performance and Unmatched Durability.

In addition to SST the GX6 Pickleball Paddle Features:

• Superb Sound and Feel: Offers an outstanding soft feel and sound
  • Starting with your first hit, Gearbox paddles will have you saying WOW. The paddle has a soft quiet sound and feels solid with control. The quiet sound is great for communities with noise restrictions. Gearbox dedicated endless hours of research and testing exclusively to both the sound and feel in a paddle. The goal was to create a paddle so outstanding in both sound and feel, that a customer would immediately feel that WOW factor.
• Slim Aerodynamic Frame: Maximized Maneuverability, Fast and Responsive
  • The slim design has less air drag; allowing a player to move the paddle in a fast and responsive manner. In addition, the paddle has excellent torque control, feels balanced and overall is very stable. With a slim frame, maneuverability is optimized, assisting with roll for ball spin. The trend in the industry is moving towards a “thick” paddle, Gearbox engineers understand the various disadvantages to this type of design for both playability and comfort. Playing with a “thick” paddle can compromise maneuverability, has more air drag and can feel very clumsy or uncomfortable during play.
• Carbon Fiber Edgeless Frame: Larger Hitting Surface Area, Reduced Mishits
  • The edgeless perimeter of the paddle expands the overall hitting surface area of the paddle face, all together helping to increase the size of the sweet spot. This design also helps reduce potential mishits. Further, this design eliminates the nuisance of a rubber bumper guard coming unglued and the paddle perimeter breaking apart.
• Massive Sweet Spot: Optimized Ball Response from Center of Paddle to Edgeless Rim
  • A Massive Sweet Spot is achieved in the GX6 with its patented core design. The Solid Span core, is handcrafted and meticulously hand laid chamber by chamber. Gearbox engineers can be very precise with the overall size and response of the sweet spot. This delivers a paddle with a remarkable ball response from the center of the paddle to its perimeter. This also gives the paddle a consistent performance, optimizing shot accuracy and returning more energy back to the ball with every shot. In contrast, a traditional honeycomb core paddle may have a limited sized sweet spot due to the use of honeycomb sheets at the core. Honeycomb sheets are mass produced as one large flat homogeneous uniform sheet; potentially limiting their usefulness when trying to achieve specific playability factors in a paddle. Due to the nature of this homogeneous type, the size of the sweet spot may also be limited. Lastly, the size if further restricted with the installation of rubber edge guard.
• Infinite Play: Consistent Performance from day one forward
  • With its high strength carbon fiber chamber design, the Patented Solid Span Core will not break down with time, giving you infinite play. You’ll love it from day one and on, as it maintains its initial feel and playability. In addition, the transition between your main Gearbox paddle and your back up Gearbox paddle is effortless. Enjoy play and weight consistency between any of your paddle collections. On the contrary, many Honeycomb core paddles can breakdown with just weeks of play, losing their initial feel, quality and overall playability. This also results in the same model feeling different from one another, leaving the player to rummage through their gear to find a “good” paddle to play with.

• Dampener System: Perfect vibration control, Amazing Feel
  • Gearbox paddles are manufactured from the core out. Featuring an embedded dampening system within the paddle to reduce vibration and keep an amazing feel.
• Torque Stabilization: Balanced and Stable during play
  • Torque is reduced via an embedded counterbalance system within the paddle. The paddle is kept slim, with a solid feel remaining stable during play especially when resetting (blocking) a point.
• High Performance Grip Circumference: For Comfort and More Wrist Roll
  • The High-Performance Grip is very comfortable and natural in the hand with its ergonomic shape. The collection is offered in two standard sizes including a 3 ⅝” and 3 15/16” grip. The grip can easily be increased to a larger size if desired with the installation of an overgrip. These handle sizes are excellent for all players but can be especially comfortable for players with smaller hands. In addition, for those seeking added spin, these handle options allow for more wrist roll, helping a player create more top spin.
• Hyper Bite Spin Technology: Offers more Ball Bite for Max Spin on Demand
  • Gearbox achieves spin in its paddles with various technologies, including Aerodynamic Slim Frame design, High Performance Grip Circumference and Hyper Bite Spin Technology. Hyper Bite Spin Technology gives the paddle surface more ball bite, offering spin on demand.
• Control and Power Option: To Enhance your Game and Compete with Focus
  • The edgeless perimeter of the paddle expands the overall hitting surface area of the paddle face, all together helping to increase the size of the sweet spot. This design also helps reduce potential mishits.
• Extended Handle Length: For Comfortable Two Handed Shots
  • The longer handle length featured in the GX6 gives a player the ability to make two handed shots more comfortably, without the need to have your second hand on the face of the paddle. The Extended Handle Length also gives you maximum control during play.
• Slightly Longer Head: For Extended Reach 
  • The slightly longer head in the GX6, coupled with the longer handle, gives a player extended reach into the kitchen and provides an advantage when attacking a high overhead shot. It is also great for singles play.
• Durability: Trust your Gear. Play with Unmatched Durability
  • There is nothing more frustrating than your paddle breaking during an important match, loss of points during rally or having to constantly deal with warranty returns. Spontaneous breaks can even be scary and risk injury to yourself and/or other players. If you find yourself having constant durability and quality concerns, in turn, having to return paddles due to core breakdown, internal rattles, bumper guards coming off or edge breakdown, Gearbox has great news! You can 100% trust and rely on your Gearbox gear. No Delamination, No Soft Spots and with unparalleled Durability. Focus on what matters most, having fun and winning that match!
• No Delamination, No Honeycomb Core, No Soft Spots
• Hand Crafted Carbon Fiber Structure 
• Single Piece Molded Construction
• USAPA Approved

GX6 POWER SERIES – GEARBOX PICKLEBALL PADDLE

• 

• 

GEARBOX GX6 PADDLE CHECK PRICE

GX6 POWER SPECIFICATIONS:

• Material: Carbon Fiber
• Core Construction: Patented Carbon Fiber Chambers
• Weight: 7.8 oz (YELLOW) or 8.5 oz (BLUE)
• Handle Circumference: 3 5/8” or 3 15/16” grip
• Handle Length: 5-5/8″
• Paddle Length: 16-5/8″
• Paddle Width: 7-3/8″
• Paddle Thickness: 7/16″
• Grip: Gearbox Smooth Wrap – Black
• Warranty: 1 year

GX6 CONTROL SERIES – GEARBOX PICKLEBALL PADDLES

• 

• 

GEARBOX GX6 PADDLE CHECK PRICE

GX6 CONTROL SPECIFICATIONS:

• Material: Carbon Fiber
• Core Construction: Patented Carbon Fiber Chambers
• Weight: 7.8 oz (GREEN) or 8.5 oz (RED)
• Handle Circumference: 3 5/8” or 3 15/16” grip
• Handle Length: 5-5/8″
• Paddle Length: 16-5/8″
• Paddle Width: 7-3/8
• Paddle Thickness: 7/16″
• Grip: Gearbox Smooth Wrap – Black
• Warranty: 1 year