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Honolulu Pickleball Co. Sword & Shield-J5 16mm vs Reload RLD 1-16 16mm

Side-by-side comparison with lab-tested specs

Specs Comparison

Spec
Honolulu Pickleball Co. Sword & Shield-J5 16mm
Reload RLD 1-16 16mm
Price
$165.75
$200
Swing Weight
129
124
Twist Weight
6.14
6.37
Weight
8.6 oz
8.3 oz
Core
16mm
16mm
Power
57 MPH
56.1 MPH
Pop
34.9 MPH
35.6 MPH
Spin
2067 RPM
2108 RPM
Shape
Elongated
Elongated
Face
Composite
Carbon
Build
—
Gen 2
Balance
243mm
246mm

Honolulu Pickleball Co. Sword & Shield-J5 16mm

This paddle delivers mid-range 57 MPH power, plush 16mm+ feel — a versatile option in a elongated shape.

Pros

  • +Above-average power at 57 MPH (71th percentile, avg 56.4)
  • +Heavy swing weight of 129 (top 2%) delivers extra momentum and plow-through on drives
  • +Elongated shape gives extra reach on defense, overheads, and two-handed backhands
  • +Thick core (16mm+) provides a soft, controlled feel with a large sweet spot
  • +Competitive price at $165.75 (below the $197 average)

Cons

  • −Lower pop at 34.9 MPH (12th percentile, avg 36.1) — may feel sluggish in fast hands exchanges
  • −Very high swing weight of 129 (top 2%) can cause fatigue and slow hand transitions
  • −Narrower face means a smaller horizontal sweet spot
  • −Thick core trades some pop and hand speed for control

Best For

Singles PlayersTennis Converts
Buy at Official StoreAlso on Amazon
Code: PBSTUDIO — 10% OFF
Full details

Reload RLD 1-16 16mm

This paddle delivers mid-range 56.1 MPH power, plush 16mm+ feel — a all-court option in a elongated shape.

Pros

  • +Good spin generation at 2108 RPM (71th percentile)
  • +Heavy swing weight of 124 (top 7%) delivers extra momentum and plow-through on drives
  • +Elongated shape gives extra reach on defense, overheads, and two-handed backhands
  • +Thick core (16mm+) provides a soft, controlled feel with a large sweet spot

Cons

  • −Very high swing weight of 124 (top 7%) can cause fatigue and slow hand transitions
  • −Narrower face means a smaller horizontal sweet spot
  • −Thick core trades some pop and hand speed for control
  • −On the heavy side at 8.3 oz (88th percentile) — may cause fatigue for players with arm issues

Best For

Control / Touch PlayersSingles PlayersTennis Converts
Buy at Official StoreAlso on Amazon
Code: PBSTUDIO — 10%
Full details

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