Radical Elite
HEAD · Widebody
- Power
- 5.5 out of 10
- Control
- 7 out of 10
- Spin
- 4 out of 10
- Sweet spot
- 8 out of 10
Onix · $90
Onix Z5 Graphite
The paddle half of America learned on.
Check price at Pickleball CentralSimilar paddles
If you buy through our link we may get a small cut. The price is the same and scores never change.
Our take
Wide, forgiving, and everywhere for a reason. It still does the job — but it's a design from another era, and modern raw-carbon paddles have lapped it on spin and feel.
- Best forFirst-paddle buyers who want the proven, boring, safe choice.
- The catchFeels dated next to modern carbon paddles — especially on spin — and the old-school core is loud and firm rather than plush.
Scores
Out of 10.
How it plays
- PowerSneaky good
- 6 out of 10
- ControlGreat
- 7.5 out of 10
- SpinDecent
- 4 out of 10
- Sweet spotGreat
- 8 out of 10
For you
- Pop-up safetySneaky good
- 6 out of 10
- Arm comfortSneaky good
- 6 out of 10
- Beginner-safeGreat
- 8 out of 10
- ValueSpicy
- 7 out of 10
Scores synthesized from independent reviews and community consensus as of mid-2026. We keep refining them as real Noobs (including us) log court time.
Specs
- WidebodyBiggest sweet spot, least reach
- 7.5–8.2 ozeasy to swing, quick at the net
- 5" handleone-handed
- 12mm corethinner: more pop
- Honeycomb coreThe usual build: crisp, and quieter when thick
- Composite facebalanced power, control and spin
- $90typical price
- USA Pickleball approvedfine for tournaments
Good for
- BeginnerNew, or under 6 months
- LightweightEasy to swing
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