GRUVN RAW-16E and 16H Pickleball Paddles Review

Tonight during our men's round robin league, I tried the GRUVN RAW-16Eand the GRUVN RAW-16H pickleball paddles.  I was not disappointed.  Actually, I REALLY enjoyed playing with the 16H paddle.  It surprised me.  So much that I will play with it again tomorrow night (and maybe the rest of the week /month).

INITIAL FEELING

The weight balance was very comfortable. From the first warm-up dink to the last point of the night, the paddle felt great in my hand.  I did not use an overgrip or lead tape for this demo.  The stock cushion grip is nice, however I'm used to a Tourna overgrip, so I kinda missed that feeling...but it did not impact my play.

There was a nice balance of power, feel and control.  To me the grip length was a bit long on the 16H.  I preferred the grip length of the 16E.  Side note, I do not use a two handed backhand, so the longer grip is not desired (personal preference).

GRUVN PICKLEBALL PADDLE: PROS

The comfort and balance suited my game.  These paddles felt great on the court.  They had power when I wanted power - but not too much power where you lose control.  TONS of spin with the carbon face grit. Nice control at the net and during shot out volley rallies.  And what I was most surprised with was the ability to reset shots.  Overall, great paddles and a I give this a "highly recommended" review.

GRUVN PICKLEBALL PADDLE: CONS

The only con I can give these paddles is a dead spot near the handle.  This is not unlike other paddles, however I did miss-hit a shot near the handle and the ball literally died (with a thud sound).

COMPOSITION

Raw carbon fiber paddles provide a grainy textured surface that allows for a lot of spin and enhances control. The combination of this paddle’s raw surface and the thick 16mm core results in a strong, stable paddle with consistent and accurate shots and more control.  The 16mm thick polypropylene honeycomb core was designed to evenly react to the force of impact and provide precision control, while also absorbing vibration and noise. 

COMPARISON

The closet comparison would be to the CRBN1 and CRBN2.

GRUVN RAW-16E PICKLEBALL PADDLE SPECS

Paddle Length: 16.5”/ 419.1mm
Face Width: 7.375”/ 187.3mm
Handle Length: 5.25”/ 13.3cm
Grip Size Circumference: 4.375”/11.1cm
Grip: Stitched Perforated Cushion Grip
Weight: ~7.8-8.1 oz/0.49-0.51 lbs/221-230g
Face/Paddle Surface: T700 Raw Carbon Fiber 
Paddle Shape: Elongated
Core Material: Polypropylene Honeycomb
Core Thickness: 16mm/0.63”
Honeycomb Cell Size: 8mm/0.3”
Edge Guard: Yes

GRUVN RAW-16E PICKLEBALL PADDLE SPECS

Paddle Length: 16.5”/ 419.1mm
Face Width: 7.375”/ 187.3mm
Handle Length: 5.875”/ 14.9225cm
Grip Size Circumference: 4.375”/11.1cm
Grip: 3DPerforated Cushion Grip
Weight: ~7.8-8.1 oz/0.49-0.51 lbs/221-230g
Face/Paddle Surface: T700 Raw Carbon Fiber 
Paddle Shape: Hybrid
Core Material: Polypropylene Honeycomb
Core Thickness:16mm/0.63”
Honeycomb Cell Size: 8mm/0.3”
Edge Guard: Yes

USAPA Approved for sanctioned tournament play 

GRUVN Pickleball Paddles

GRUVN continues to create new pickleball paddles, launching new sizes and styles each quarter (it seems like).  To keep up with several of the GRUVN Pickleball Paddles available, check this link for more information.