Vatic Pro V7 - Pickleball Paddle Review | Pickleheads (2024)

The Vatic Pro V7 is the elongated version of the Flash, which I named the best intermediate pickleball paddle in 2023. Vatic Pro paddles consistently offer some of the best value in pickleball in my opinion, so I was really excited to test this one out.

Read my Vatic Pro V7 review to see how it scores on performance and value.

My verdict4.5The V7 plays right up there with other Vatic Pro paddles. It has great control, surprisingly good spin, and more power than the Vatic Pro Flash. While I still think the Flash is the best option for intermediates since it offers more forgiveness, the V7 is an excellent option if you need more power and reach.

Buy or pass?

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Review summary

If you read my other reviews, you'll know I'm a huge fan of Vatic Pro. They consistently show up on my "best of" lists because they're great value. The V7 is no different. This is a solid all-court paddle for only $140, and a great paddle for intermediate players who want a bit of extra reach.

This is the elongated version of the Vatic Pro Flash. It's a thermoformed paddle, so you get the usual stiffer feel, but more power than the non-thermoformed PRISM series.

The V7 has a bit more power than the Flash. It's still not a power paddle, though, and I had to swing hard to get the putaways I wanted. Big power players will probably feel that this one is too soft.

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Despite its extra power, this is still mainly a control paddle like the other Vatic Pro paddles I've tested. I'm able to rein in the pop thanks to the paddle face's dampening effect, which helps with control. This is also the softest thermoformed paddle I've used so it has a great cushioned feel to help my control game.

Spin is this paddle's most surprising feature. I was happy to find that I could get lots of spin with it—I can hit huge topspin serves and drives. I'd even say it's up there with elite paddles like the Legacy Pro and the Bread & Butter Filth.

The elongated shape means a smaller sweet spot than the Flash, so you get less forgiveness. However, it's still a really forgiving paddle with a large sweet spot, especially for a thermoformed paddle. I find the sweet spot larger and more consistent than the cheaper Vatic Pro PRISM V7.

This paddle is noticeably heavier than the Flash and PRISM paddles, which unfortunately makes it a bit slow at the kitchen. I often feel like I'm behind the ball in fast hands battles.

Like any thermoformed paddle, it takes a while to get used to the feel, but the V7 does feel less stiff than most. If that stiff feel isn't for you, however, I highly recommend the non-thermoformed PRISM V7.

I find this a comfortable paddle to play with, but I do get a bit tired of having to swing hard for power. If you're prone to injury or fatigue, you can easily wear yourself out playing like this.

Finally, the design of the V7 is nothing fancy. It's a black paddle with a little pop of color. I like that, though. This paddle is all about providing good performance at an unbeatable price. It's for players who don't want to pay for fancy designs and unnecessary bells and whistles.

Features

Vatic Pro is known for offering affordable paddles with the kind of tech you usually find in $200 or more paddles like the JOOLA Hyperion and the CRBN-3X Power Series.

Let's see how the Vatic Pro V7 is built.

Thermoformed unibody construction

A unibody build is something you'd more expect in expensive paddles, not ones at this price point. With the thermoforming process as well, this is a strong, durable paddle. It also gives it a stiffer feel and more power.

My testing confirmed that the V7 has decent power, but it's nowhere near the levels of a paddle like the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control.

Raw carbon fiber face

The paddle surface is made of Toray T700 raw carbon fiber, which I see a lot in premium paddles like the Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power. This is what gives the V7 such great spin.

Foam injection

Paddles with foam injected in the walls usually have more stability and extended sweet spots. While I agree the V7 has a good sweet spot, it's smaller than the Flash. That said, it does have more stability than the Flash. This is a tradeoff that suits my game well.

Anti-abrasion TPU edge guard

There's a strong edge guard on the V7, which should help the paddle hold up over a long time. It's made from TPU (a type of thermoplastic).

Performance

Power: 8/10

I'm going up a half-point here over the Vatic Pro Flash, but power is still a tad lacking from this paddle. That said, I can play a pretty aggressive game with hard drives and serves.

I just have to really amp up my swing speed to do so. This will tire players out after long sessions, especially those prone to fatigue.

The good news is that since this paddle is so soft and forgiving, it's easier to keep your accuracy when you swing really hard. No matter how hard I swing on a serve, the ball almost never goes out, and I really like that.

The flip side is there are times when I need more pop and power. I feel this with volleys that land short for my opponents to recover, and easy putaways that just don't have enough zip to finish. If you're a pure power player, this may not be the paddle for you.

Control: 8/10

I'm scoring this the same as the Flash, but maybe I'd go a quarter-point lower if I had to. The V7's heaviness makes it a little less controllable, but I adjusted pretty quickly in my first session.

Once I was used to it, I liked the control. Third-shot drops have always been the hardest for me (as with many players), but I'm able to hit them consistently and with ease. Whether I'm doing a simple drop or a more advanced low topspin drop, this paddle hardly ever misses.

While this is a thermoformed paddle (and therefore less control-oriented than the PRISM V7), it's the softest thermoformed paddle I've played with so far. That helped my touch game.

Spin: 9/10

This paddle has great spin. Given its low price point and more control-oriented play, I find this really surprising.

I'd even put it up there with top spin paddles like the Legacy Pro and the CRBN-1X Power Series. With the V7, I can still generate the kind of topspin that dips at your opponent's feet, even if the shot didn't have the same power behind it that those paddles can deliver.

Forgiveness: 8.5/10

I scored the Flash 10/10 for forgiveness, but the V7's shape unfortunately leads to a smaller sweet spot and playing surface. That's quite normal for elongated paddles, though, so I expected it.

Still, 8.5/10 on forgiveness is very high for a thermoformed paddle. I'd even say it's one of the paddle's best attributes.

Unlike many thermoformed paddles, the ball didn't pop up too much for me. This will help the average intermediate win more games compared to a powerful paddle like the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control.

Weighting: 7.5/10

The V7 has decent weight distribution, but it does feel head-heavy to me. This slows me down and impacts my game. If you have slow hands like me, I'd recommend checking out the Flash over the V7.

Grip: 8/10

Given the price of this paddle, I wouldn't expect anything fancy with the grip. It's sufficient for long play, but more advanced players will probably customize with overgrip.

Durability: 9/10

With the raw carbon build and strong edge guard, this paddle should last long term. What's amazing about these Vatic Pro paddles is that you can't tell the materials are any cheaper than those used in the $220 JOOLA Perseus.

Aerodynamics: 8/10

I knocked this down a point from the Flash because of its bulkier, elongated shape. While it gives you more power, it's less aerodynamic.

Is this paddle right for you?

Before buying a paddle, it's important to make sure it fits your game. That's why I created a 30-second quiz that recommends the best paddles for your play style and budget.

Give it a try and see if the Vatic Pro V7 makes the list:

Pricing

I've been saying for a while now that Vatic Pro paddles are probably the best value in all of pickleball. The Vatic Pro V7 is currently priced at $140, the same as the Vatic Pro Flash. Does it offer similar value for money?

Value for money

The answer is yes. I can't score this higher for value. Don't let the price fool you—this is a premium paddle. It's on par with the Bread & Butter Filth, the Six Zero DBD Control, and CRBN-1X.

Like its fellow Vatic Pro paddles (the PRISM V7, PRISM Flash, and Flash), I consider the V7 some of the best value you can find in a pickleball paddle.

Bottom line

The Vatic Pro V7 is an intermediate's dream. You get a powerful, thermoformed paddle with the softness you need to help you win games.

If you've heard good things about the Vatic Pro Flash but are worried it won't have enough power, I'd really recommend this paddle. At $140, it's a great choice for anyone who doesn't want to pay $200 for a paddle.

If you're not ready to adapt to the stiffer feel of a thermoformed paddle, check out the PRISM V7 and the PRISM Flash. You'll also save $40.

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