R1 PULSAR FX

This is an improved version of the original Pulsar R1.I love the power but the biggest difference maker for me is the contol that I have with this paddle. It has a great soft game compared to the original version. The control that I have on the soft dinks and resets is awesome. The spin and power are the same as original which is awesome but to have that power, spin with control makes this a truly amazing paddle. Well Done Ronbus team!!

Simply put, this is better version of the original Pulsar. I would argue every category is on par with the original. However, control, feel, and stability get a big bump. Resets, drops, and dinks really shine with this paddle. The only set back may be slightly higher swing weight that the original. Not an inside for me. But might be for some.

This is such an amazing paddle overall. I am coming from the R1 Nova and R1 Pulsar and the FX combines the best traits of both those paddles while further upgrading those traits. It came in around 8.3 oz and I weighted to about 8.8 oz, adding two 5 inch strips of lead at the 4 and 8 oclock positions.First playthrough I was amazed that I had almost like no adjustment period for resets and my softgame. I immediately noticed the upgrade in spin with the new peel ply texture and had to aim a little higher on my aggresive drops and drives due the ball dipping more.Power and pop have definitely upgraded and noticed an improvement on my serves, counters and punch volleys.I am definitely digging the new texture and the capability of the paddle to grab the ball better, my rolls and flicks feel more aggressive while maintaining the ability to stay in.

I have been playing mostly with the R1 Nova since it was released. It has been my go to paddle ever since I had my hands on the Pulsar FX-R1 on February 29th. I intentionally made this review after 2 weeks, since my experience with the R1N, after break in of about 2 weeks, the paddle became more plush which I loved when grinding in the kitchen. So far the R1PFX stayed as powerful and poppy since Day 1 of play. Some specs of my R1PFX: Initially it was at 8.3 oz, with 5 grams of the 2 grams/inch lead tape @ 5&7, Ronbus overgrip, Profile Pro and protective tape. Currently sits at 9.3 oz which all my paddles are at 9.2 oz. Noticeably, the R1PFX has more power and pop. Significant dwell time was the first thing I felt on the first week of use. My serves and topspin drives were looping more and some would hit the fence. This I believe is due to the new 2D CF grid effect. Once I increased my swing stroke to compensate the dwell time, my drives now are more spot on. I can generate more power and spin with the R1PFX compared to my R1N. Topspin and slice returns hits closer to the baseline more often than the R1N. My resets, dinks and drops with less push and relaxed grip strength all stay in the target kitchen spots. Firefights seems to match the R1N besides the extra pop on the counters. My rolling volleys spin a lot more and drops sharply. My speed ups and drives have been very successful and sometimes gets my opponents caught out of guard. Overheads and volley putaways has more power and trampolines with a lot of kick. Really impressed with the new 2D CF grid technology on this paddle. Besides being a nice looking paddle (love the face artwork), it has delivered as expected of a higher performing paddle. This is now my first choice out of my bag.

I’m not sure if FX was meant to mean the ‘effects’ of the new Carbon Grid construction but as an owner of the current Pulsar R1 and the new FX version, I can say that it might mean Fully eXploitable. Don’t expect crazy power increases that may be hard to handle like some of the new crop of paddles – this is more about improving a good platform so that it’s abilities can be fully realized or exploited however the user chooses. The game is nuanced and this is not a one trick pony.I have the standard Pulsar R1 weighted up a little (3 grams @ the 4 & 8 o’clock positions) to help improve the stability and open up the sweet spot a bit. I’m playing the FX R1 at stock weighting and find the sweet spot and stability to be just as good but with a slightly quicker feel in the hand. The updated weight distribution along with the new Carbon Grid system delivers more feel on the soft shots yet imparts more spin on the ball when I need it. I’d say that the power is slightly higher than the standard Pulsar R1 and very manageable, but the biggest difference to me is the ‘feel’ of the ball on the paddle surface. This makes soft shots and deceptive changes in direction easier for me and makes what was already a really good, ‘all around’ paddle into an exceptional one. Ronbus did us a favor by not chasing the power game as the only improvement and gave us something that everyone can use and adjust to easily.JQ

This paddle has really nice feel. R1 has nice control and power if needed. Similar to the Nova feel.I like it far more than FX.R3 - I felt R3 was too head heavy.Nova is still my gamer but R1 is getting close.Great paddle.

Love this paddle. It's an upgraded version of the Pulsar. Great spin, power, and pop. Took a time or two playing to get used to the control but now that I have, I think this paddle is top tier. Ronbus did an outstanding job on this paddle. If there's one thing I would like to see, it would be to come out with a 13-14mm version of these paddles. Me, personally, I'm a fan of the thinner paddles.

I recently tried the Ronbus R1 Pulsar FX pickleball paddle and it's incredible. The flexible carbon fiber grid and textured surface give my shots more power and spin. It adjusts perfectly to my play style, providing a gentle touch for delicate shots and a firm response for power hits. It feels really balanced and durable, making a noticeable difference in my game

I bought this paddle on the first day they were released. I picked it up in the morning and played with it all weekend in a tournament. I was previously using the R1.16. Feels very better than the R1 and I have way better control. Feels great in your hand and feels very balanced. I have also noticed there is no dead spots in the paddle compared to the R1. I have also used the Pulsar and this paddle definitely has less pop. The price point is awesome and I would highly recommend giving this paddle a try. The only thing I didn’t like was the grip it came with.

I've been playing with my FX R1 for a few weeks now and I have to say, this is the paddle I've been waiting for and need. I started with the R1.16, then the R1 Pulsar. The FX truly has the best of both previous paddles- crazy control and more power than I expected. My drops are consistently on point and drives are low and deep. This paddle is a beast in singles. The top spins I get on ground strokes keep the balls in and the slices stay low. I was surprised how well my backhand passing shots cross court were dipping in. Amazing paddle!