The Diamond Pickleball Paddle by Yalla Athletics: My Thoughts

(Picture Dennis Rodriguez)

Background & First Look

Yalla Athletics is a company that was founded in 2021 out of Chicago, with the initial focus being on pickleball accessories. They launched their own paddles in 2023 and have since come out with a variety of paddles which include the one they sent me out of their Premier Collection. “The Diamond” by Yalla Athletics definitely has a sleek and clean look to it. It has a nice feel in your hand and honestly has a much more stable and durable feel in comparison to other $50-70 paddles I’ve tested. What really stood out to me was all the accessories that come with the paddle, something I would not have expected to receive for that price.

(Picture Dennis Rodriguez)

Performance

Power

After a few play tests and letting some of my students use the paddle, I was more than pleased with the amount of power I was able to generate with my drives and serves. The paddle came in with a stock weight of 8.21 oz which is in the mid to high range of stock weights. This definitely contributes to the added power. Being such a balanced paddle, it did not feel too heavy in my hands. That being said, I did have a couple females, who are on the smaller side, say that it felt a little heavy for them. For the average player though, I don’t see this weight being an issue.

Soft Game

Drops were very easy to execute with The Diamond. If I had to compare it to a more familiar company, I’d say it felt a lot like using the 16mm Halo XL from Selkirk. For half the price, that’s saying something! Dinking felt very controlled as well. Being 16mm the dwell time of the ball to paddle is a little longer and that really contributes to the added control. Simply put the ball stays on the paddle face just a bit longer.

Spin

I’ve become a bit spoiled when it comes to spin. As a paddle reviewer, I’ve had the privilege of testing many of today’s top performing paddles so when I see a paddle with decent spin, I have to remember its price point. The Diamond by Yalla came in around 1700 RPM which is definitely enough for that beginner to intermediate player. Now if you compare it to some of today’s $200-280 paddles which are reaching RPMs of close to 2200+, 1700 might seem low but, in all honesty, it wouldn’t be noticeable to an intermediate level player. After speaking with the owner, Yalla does have plans to start incorporating a T-700 Raw Carbon “performance” paddle in the near future, which will most likely up the spin closer to 1900-2000.

Overall Impressions

Overall there is no arguing that Yalla has a solid entry level product here! With an abundance of color/design schemes as well as accessories, Yalla has to be one of the most reasonably priced paddle companies on the market. The days of buying a cheap $60 paddle off amazon that breaks within a few play sessions definitely seem to be coming to an end. I would highly recommend these paddles to newer players looking to either purchase their first paddle, or upgrade from those Amazon paddles we all know are out there. If you’re all about fashion and quality, Yalla’s got you covered on both fronts.

Hey guys, my name’s Dennis. I’m a full-time Firefighter and “part-time” Pickleball Instructor who honestly loves coaching, teaching, and competing in sports. I played baseball & tennis throughout highschool and college and fell in love with pickleball. My goal with Pickleball Portal is to give you the most honest and reliable info on everything related to pickleball gear and equipment! I want to arm you with the knowledge to feel confident in your paddle choice by giving thorough reviews and comparisons through my hands on testing. Also hoping to share some tips and tricks with you to help your game and continue the growth of this awesome sport! [email protected]