Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control 16mm Paddle Review

Six Zero Double Black Diamond is a burgeoning pickleball paddle brand hailing from Australia, where it has garnered a dedicated following. While they initially focused on the Australian market, they expanded their reach to the US and overseas in late 2022. Their introduction to the scene in 2023 with their thermoformed paddle line has been nothing short of explosive. The demand for their paddles was so high that they sold out their initial stock within 48 hours, followed by subsequent runs before they even hit the shelves.

What sets Six Zero apart is their commitment to innovation. Their paddles represent a new wave of “Gen. 2” technology, incorporating robust unibody thermoforming, edge foam, and premium Toray T700 carbon fiber. This advanced thermoforming technique is poised to make waves in the pickleball community in 2023. The more I play with these paddles, the more impressed I am, with the Double Black Diamond standing out as a personal favorite.

With their reputation for innovative designs at affordable prices, Six Zero paddles are poised to continue their rapid ascent in the US market. It’s clear that word of their quality and value is spreading quickly.

Please note that this review specifically focuses on the 16mm Double Black Diamond. There’s also a 14mm version available, which I’ve reviewed separately. Additionally, I’ve created a comparison post exploring the differences between the 14mm and 16mm versions. Six Zero also offers another paddle in the same family, the Black Diamond Power, which has its own unique features. I’ve provided insights into this model as well as a comparison between the Double Black Diamond and the Black Diamond. For more information, I recommend checking out my Complete Six Zero Paddles Buyer’s Guide.

Double Black Diamond 16mm Technical Specifications

• Price: $180 BUY
• Type: Control/All-court
• Shape: Hybrid
• Core thickness: 16mm
• Face: Toray 700 Raw carbon fiber
• Average weight: 8.1 oz
• Grip length: 5.5”
• Swing Weight: 114
• Grip size: 4.25”
• Core: 8mm Honeycomb polymer
• Total length: 16.3”
• Width: 7.5” to 7.7″
• Warranty: 6 months for defects

Double Black Diamond 16mm Quick Summary

The Double Black Diamond paddle offers an unparalleled sense of solidity and precision that sets it apart from others I’ve tried. Despite its price tag of less than $200, don’t be deceived—this paddle boasts elite performance that rivals models priced at $250 or more.

It’s remarkable how this paddle manages to combine top-tier power, spin, and control, especially considering its thermoformed construction. With every game, it proves itself to be a formidable weapon on the court, demonstrating its capabilities even further.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• All-around performance. Excellent spin with a great balance of power and control. You can shape shots with spin and deliver powerful drives and putaways with ease.
• Feel. Great feel, handle length/circumference, paddle shape/sweet spot, and weight
• Sweet spot. generous sweet spot provided by the unibody thermoforming and sealed edge foam. More shots go where you want them to
• Control. More controllable than other unibody thermoformed paddles
• Shape. Its hybrid-elongated shape plays with the forgiveness of a standard-shaped paddle but has the added extra reach of an elongated paddle
• Durability. Great durability with the robust thermoformed design. No exposed foam/polymer. Highly resilient paddle face surface with proprietary composite Toray T700 face materials.

Cons

• Lacks the plush control of Gen 1 raw carbon fiber paddles. While it’s softer than other unibody thermoformed paddles, it’s still stiffer and not as plush as a typical raw carbon fiber paddle. I’d personally categorize the Double Black Diamond as an all-court paddle.
• Requires a bit of a learning curve. It takes time to get used to hitting this (and any unibody thermoformed) paddle. Expect some pop-ups and out-of-bounds shots as you adjust to the pop and power. The hybrid-shaped paddle also takes some getting used to.
• Handle length. While the 5.3″ length is the same as the Vatic Pro and Legacy Pro, I found that the DBD’s handle felt shorter than advertised due to how the handle ends abruptly at the neck taper.
• Balance. While mostly balanced, it’s a tiny bit head-heavy, although not as much as the Hyperion CFS. You can easily remedy this by adding weighted tape lower on the paddle.

Power of Six Zero Double Black Diamond

SixZero’s more recent batches of DBD paddles exhibit a slightly softer feel compared to their original line. Modifications have been made to the paddle to address delamination issues. However, after numerous hours of play with the new DBD, it has loosened up and now delivers comparably powerful hits to my original model.

While marketed as a control paddle, I’ve never had difficulty generating significant power with the DBD. Being a unibody thermoformed paddle, it holds its own in the power department.

This becomes evident quickly when drives, overheads, and putaways catch opponents off guard. Power is readily available when needed, allowing for pacey speedups and snappy shots with ease.

To my knowledge, no other control paddle offers as much power as the Double Black Diamond. It surpasses paddles like the CRBN 1, Pursuit EX 6.0, Joola Hyperion, Volair Mach 1, and GBX in terms of power output.

While not as powerful as newer models like the Legacy Pro, Black Diamond, Vatic Pro, or CRBN 1X, which are focused more on power, the DBD still stands out as a thermoformed control paddle with remarkable power capabilities.

Since the paddle typically weighs around 8.0 ounces, adding weighted tape can further enhance its power potential if desired.

Pop Summary of Six Zero Double Black Diamond

While the Double Black Diamond may not offer the same level of pop as its fiberglass-faced sibling, the Black Diamond, it still outperforms non-unibody, edge-foamed raw carbon fiber paddles in terms of pop.

The pop generated by the DBD is truly impressive, making it challenging for opponents to handle speed-ups, drives, and dinking shots due to the reduced reaction time.

In my opinion, the level of pop offered by the DBD is perfect. It provides enough pop to play aggressively at the net and win hand battles, without being overly difficult to control.

While most users will be pleasantly surprised by the amount of pop, some may find it challenging to adjust initially. However, in my experience, it’s well worth the effort to adapt to the pop of these thermoformed paddles, with the Double Black Diamond being one of the easiest to adjust to.

Control

Six Zero has made adjustments to the glue and other paddle components to address durability concerns inherent in thermoforming. These production changes have resulted in the Double Black Diamond being slightly softer and more controllable. While I appreciate this change, it does reduce the paddle’s power output slightly.

Among the new-generation unibody thermoformed paddles, the Double Black Diamond stands out as one of the best for your soft game. After getting accustomed to its power and pop and allowing it to wear in a bit, you’ll find your control game significantly improved.

It took me about a week of regular play to fully adjust to how the ball hits with this paddle. During this time, I noticed improvements in the control of my drives, resets, counters, and dinks.

The paddle’s large sweet spot greatly aids in control, comparable to the standout Hyperion CFS paddle in this regard. There’s no need to add a lot of lead tape to stabilize the paddle or improve the sweet spot.

Mishits are rare unless you hit the edge guard itself. The paddle’s throat is more responsive than non-thermoformed paddles, although hitting there is not ideal.

Surprisingly, the paddle snags and grips the ball well, allowing for easy re-angling of shots. Directional control is a standout feature.

Once you adjust to the pop, control at the net is excellent. The paddle feels snappy, crisp, and responsive, with a low swing weight contributing to quick hands. The generous sweet spot boosts confidence at the NVZ.

Drops require some adjustment due to the paddle’s firm feel. Hits from the center of the sweet spot can travel far and fast, requiring practice to control properly. However, once you become familiar with it, drops, resets, and blocks become effortless as the paddle does much of the work for you.

The added power and spin further enhance the paddle’s control, allowing you to place shots precisely and utilize spin to keep balls in play.

Spin

You can expect exceptional spin performance from the DBD. The spin capabilities of this paddle are truly impressive and should meet your highest expectations. In fact, it ranks among the best spinning paddles I’ve tested, earning a spot on my list of the best pickleball paddles for spin.

The surface material is tightly woven and dense, similar to the Legacy Pro, resulting in significant spin generation. It offers a spin output comparable to the Power Air, another top contender in the realm of spinning paddles.

Executing slices and deep top spin drives with the DBD is a joyous experience. Shaping the ball from any area of the court feels effortless, allowing you to place shots precisely where you desire. I’ve personally witnessed the spin from this paddle rescue numerous shots that seemed destined to go out.

For players with already proficient spin techniques, switching to the DBD can elicit a mixture of surprise and dismay from opponents. This paddle has the potential to transform your spin shots into a formidable weapon on the court.

Durability

Six Zero has made significant efforts to enhance the durability of their thermoformed paddles. Recent adjustments they’ve made have notably decreased issues associated with thermoforming, such as core-crushing, disbonding, and delamination.

Upon holding one of these paddles, it becomes evident that they are not cheaply made. They are constructed with solid, high-quality materials and thoughtful craftsmanship.

The Double Black Diamond stands out for its durability, boasting one of the sturdiest paddle bodies on the market. By utilizing unibody thermoforming and a carbon-forged handle, Six Zero ensures that the paddle remains intact even under rigorous play.

While early production models experienced some instances of delamination, where the paddle face separated from the paddle body, Six Zero has taken steps to address this issue. They have implemented new adhesion processes, utilized improved resins, and made other proprietary adjustments. As of March 2023, all new Six Zero paddles incorporate enhancements to prevent delamination.

Value

With a paddle like this at its price point, you truly get a lot of value for your money. As mentioned earlier, it’s an elite paddle offered at a reasonable price.

It’s inspiring to witness companies like Six Zero enter the scene and challenge the conventional notion of the cost of a performance paddle. There’s little justification for paying $250 or more when a paddle of this caliber can be purchased for significantly less.

Should you buy the Double Black Diamond 16mm paddle?

If you’re drawn to the idea of a unibody thermoformed paddle that offers both control and plenty of power, then the increasingly popular Double Black Diamond is a must-have. Playing with this paddle is an absolute pleasure.

If you’ve been using a beginner or mid-tier paddle, you might not realize what you’ve been missing until you try the Double Black Diamond. It’s that good and earns a top spot on my list of the best paddles for intermediate players.

The combination of exceptional touch, control, power, and spin puts it on par with, or even surpasses, every other paddle on the market. Having tested numerous paddles from various brands, I can confidently say that the Double Black Diamond is one of the best available. Compared to the dozens of paddles I’ve tried over the past year, very few come close.

Advanced players will appreciate this paddle as well, as it allows them to refine their control game while also adding significant speed and power to their shots, along with impressive levels of topspin. Many strong 4.0+ players have made the DBD their primary paddle and swear by its performance.

If you’re concerned that the Double Black Diamond might be too challenging to control and prefer a softer paddle, I recommend the Ronbus R1.16. Another excellent option in the $100 price range is Six Zero’s Sapphire paddle, offering exceptional value as one of the only unibody thermoformed paddles on the market for less than $100.

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