The Joola Agassi Champion 12mm is the first entry level paddle by Tennis legend Andre Agassi. Designed with an “Agassi shape”, the new paddle is sure to win over tennis fans. But is the paddle good for pickleball players and beginners to the sport?
In this article, the Bros take a close look at the Joola Agassi Champion paddle. We dig into the paddle shape, pricing, and specs to help you decide if you need Andre Agassi in your Pickleball life. Let’s kick it in.
Joola Agassi Champion: The Verdict:
The Joola Agassi Champion 12mm is a high quality paddle at a great price. The paddle takes inspiration from tennis racquets, designed by an icon and delivered by Joola. The stars aligned on this one.
It’s a great lightweight and comfortable paddle for beginners and intermediate players. And especially for tennis fans that want to come over to pickleball land.
PROS
- It’s an Agassi Paddle!!!!
- Perfect for beginner or intermediate players
- The price is right (below $100)
- Fun to play with, feels good on court.
- USA-A Certified Paddle
CONS
- Hard to fault at the moment… sorry.
Joola Agassi Champion – Full Review
Welcome to the Joola Agassi Champion Paddle Review. The Agassi Champion paddle is a an all-rounder, designed for players looking for control and stability. But also perfect for players new to the game. The Champion is the Ultimate paddle for tennis fans crossing over to Pickleball.
The Bros continue to try out and review pickleball paddles in their Pickleball journey. And our inner-tennis nerds came out when the new Agassi paddle was announced. We have mentioned numerous times, the Bros love Agassi going back to his glory days in tennis. So we are excited that the paddle has landed in Australia.
The Agassi Champion is a 12mm paddle, and it has a 16mm version called the Agassi Edge. The Bros decided to take a look at the Champion first, as that would be more suited for beginners being a 12mm paddle. And the price point is perfect for new players wanting a paddle under $100 AUD.
That is a nice price point for any tennis fan wanting to splash on a paddle.
Let’s take a closer look.
Joola Agassi Champion: Paddle Specs
The first thing you will notice about the Agassi Champion is the new “Agassi paddle shape”. The paddle has an elongated paddle face with a slight tennis racquet shape. It provides an extended sweet spot, designed to be more forgiving for beginners playing pickleball.
The paddle face has a sandblasted surface, designed for enhanced spin and improved control. The fiberglass provides a responsive feel and it can generate some serious power.
The Agassi Champion also has a longer paddle grip, perfect to peel out a double-handed cross court backhand. Another nod to Agassi’s previous life in tennis. Which of course, we love.
The 12mm paddle core is also ideal for beginners. It gives you a good feel for the game. And feeling the pop on a big tennis stroke on a pickleball court will feel great for any beginner starting out. And the paddle is ideal for any Agassi tennis tragics making their first foray into Pickleball land.
Let’s take a look at the specs.
- Paddle Core Material: Polypropylene honeycomb Core
- Paddle Size: 39.5 cm/16.5 inches (L) x 19.05 cm/7.5 inches (W)
- Grip Length: 14 cm/ 5.5 inches
- Paddle Face: Sandblasted fiberglass
- Core Thickness: 14mm
- Paddle Weight: 7.8oz (221g)
- Price: $99 AUD/$60 USD
First Impressions: Look & Feel
The Joola Agassi Champion has a simple design. The Agassi branding is subtle on the paddle face, and the branding on the sides of the paddle face are a nice touch. The colors pop and look unique when compared to other paddle designs. And the splashes of white on the paddle face and grip bring it all together in a slick looking paddle.
The shape of the paddle is really nice. The Agassi shape is subtly different. And these differences become more apparent when comparing the paddle with others. It’s almost a miniature tennis racquet. And the extra inch or so on the paddle grip is great.
The paddle grip uses the Joola “Feel-Tec Pure Grip” technology. Its designed for non-slip, cushioned comfort to absorb shock and feel good while playing. The grip feels super comfortable and feels nice and soft in your hand.
The Joola x Agassi collaboration doesn’t disappoint. And with one of the Bros playing tennis his entire life, holding the latest paddle from his tennis hero is super exciting.
The first impressions were very positive. The Champion is such a cool looking paddle. It has Agassi’s fingerprints all over it. And the Bros couldn’t wait to take this one out and have a hit.
First Impressions: On the Court
The Joola Agassi Champion has a light, comfortable feel. The elongated shape and extended sweet spot worked well for the Bros. This is ideal for beginners so they can land more shots while playing.
And the longer grip felt great and secure in our hands. It gives your hands that little bit of extra breathing room and it felt comfortable throughout extended matches. And peeling out an Agassi double-handed backhand was awesome!
The paddle is aimed at beginners, and the lightweight, slim feel makes it easy to play with. It has some great power to it and a nice pop. There is great balance and decent control to the paddle and it felt nice while playing those big shots.
The paddle face is designed for spin, with the sand blasted surface. You can feel that texture when you touch the paddle. And although beginners may not worry about generating spin, the paddle is equipped with the goods and can produce some serious spin.
The Bros enjoyed using the Joola Agassi Champion. The paddle felt comfortable from any corner of the court. The lightweight feel was nice at the net. And it looks so cool! We enjoyed every minute with this bad boy.
Where the Bros all differ in Pickleball ability, we all enjoyed using the paddle despite our skill level or playing styles. Beginner and intermediates cannot go wrong if they are looking to spend less than $100 on a sweet paddle.
Joola Agassi Champion: Is this Paddle for You?
The Agassi Champion is a really nice paddle. We see it as a great cross-over paddle for tennis fans to get started playing pickleball with an Agassi paddle. But Pickleball players will also appreciate the shape, extended sweet spot and the feel of the paddle.
The price point is spot on, sitting under $100 AUD, you cannot go wrong with this paddle. And it’s fun to play our Agassi shots… with an Agassi paddle. Life is grand.
This is seriously a great paddle.
Final Wrap: Joola Agassi Champion
The Joola Agassi Champion is a high quality paddle at a great price. The paddle takes inspiration from tennis racquets, designed by an icon and delivered by Joola. The stars aligned on this one and the Bros are pumped for any Agassi paddle.
And wouldn’t you know, the latest Agassi Pro was just released. The same paddle he used during the Pickleball Slam 3 Tournament. Maybe the Bros need to treat these Agassi paddles like Pokemon, we gotta catch ’em all.
Anyway, let us know what you think in the comments.
Pickle on.
The Aussie Pickleball Bros.
FAQs
1. Is the Joola Agassi Champion worth it for under $100 AUD?
Absolutely! For players looking for an affordable pickleball paddle with a solid blend of power and control, the Joola Agassi Champion is a fantastic option for under 100 clams.
2. Is the Joola Agassi Champion paddle good for beginners?
Heck Yes! The Joola Agassi Champion is a great beginner-friendly pickleball paddle. And tennis fans transitioning to pickleball it’s a nice option. It has a generous sweet spot, lightweight feel, and affordable price.
3. Joola Agassi Champion vs. other Joola paddles – which is best?
Compared to Joola’s higher-end paddles, like the Joola Hyperion or Joola Perseus, the Agassi Champion is more affordable and beginner-friendly. However, it has a thinner 12mm core, making it less control-oriented than premium models.
4. Does the Joola Agassi Champion paddle generate good spin?
Yes, but it’s not the best spin paddle on the market. The textured surface helps, but players looking for maximum spin may prefer paddles like the Joola Ben Johns Hyperion or Engage Pursuit EX.
5. What makes the Joola Agassi Champion paddle unique?
The paddle was designed with tennis legend Andre Agassi, and it uses the “Agassi shape”. It has extended reach, a large sweet spot, and a thin core for faster swings.