Wilson Blaze Paddle Review: My In-Depth Thoughts

(Picture Richard Livornese Jr.)

First Look

The New Wilson Blaze paddle is Wilson finally trying to get into the high end pickleball paddle game. This paddle is the industry standard of carbon fiber, thermoformed, and a long handle and is similar to the other paddles that I have been reviewing. Wilson says

“When you’ve mastered control and can put the ball exactly where you want it to go, more power is the next tool to add to your toolkit. The Blaze Tour 16 is designed for the competitive player who’s looking to maximize power and spin while still maintaining control. The elongated paddle features a Thermoformed Edge, which is a carbon-wrapped perimeter that improves stability and stiffness, reduces vibration and expands the sweet spot.”

They go on about it but this is very close to the spiel that every new paddle pushes, well see how it stacked up on court.

(Picture Richard Livornese Jr.)

My Experience

Feel/Warmup

This paddle is solid overall. I didn’t have super high expectations for it, as Wilson hasn’t been making many new paddles in the last couple of years. However, I liked it right away. The first thing I noticed was its large handle end, which I actually appreciated since my hand very easily stayed on the paddle. Once I started hitting, I noticed the same sorts of things I usually do with a new carbon fiber paddle. The spin was solid, and the feel was good. Neither aspect blew me away, but I definitely thought players could really feel comfortable with it.

Control

I felt like the control was solid; this paddle had a very good balance of control and power. It felt good at the net hitting dinks and in transition with drops and resets. At the same time, the counters were solid—not as extreme as the Gearbox or the new JOOLA paddles, but very solid nonetheless. I found that dinking, especially, was very easy for me to adjust to, and I could see myself at the net with this paddle in a match, feeling confident.

Spin

The spin is solid and falls right in the middle compared to the carbon fiber paddles I have used. I was able to add spin to my drives and roll shots effectively. However, I noticed a slight reduction in topspin on my speed-ups and serves compared to other paddles. I believe that for players who primarily play singles, this difference might be more noticeable compared to other top paddles. But in doubles, the spin seems to align with what I’ve observed from most major paddle manufacturers.

(Picture Richard Livornese Jr.)

Comparative Analysis

This paddle, in my opinion, is very similar to the new CRBN paddles. It offers a good feel while still maintaining pop. I believe that both of these paddles are very solid, and many professional players, as well as amateurs, like the CRBN paddles. I think they would also appreciate this paddle. The main difference, in my view, is that the CRBN’s weakness may be its slightly too soft feel, whereas the Wilson paddle’s weakness is the spin. For both paddles, the slight weakness in one area is definitely not a big deal, and I consider them both to be high-end paddles.

Audience

The Blaze is Wilson’s flagship paddle, targeting serious players, particularly those of a higher skill level. This paddle focuses on spin and power, attributes that are highly beneficial for advanced players, while newer players may not utilize these features as effectively. While this type of paddle is suitable for anyone, less experienced players, who may not appreciate the nuanced differences, can find a more affordable option that meets their needs, which Wilson also provides.

I would rank it like this: