Vatic Pro Flash 14mm Pickleball Paddle Review (Power, Spin, Control)

The pickleball paddle market continues to grow and evolve in 2023. In 2022, hundreds of new paddles were approved, and dozens of new paddle companies have entered the market.

Some of these paddles and the companies behind them are poised to revolutionize the game this year, with the Vatic Pro line being a notable example.

The new company Vatic Pro, along with Legacy Pro and SixZero, has introduced an innovative carbon fiber paddle featuring thermoformed unibody construction, enhanced edge foam, and improved paddle facing that boosts spin. Remarkably, they have managed to keep their paddles priced under $200.

In this post, we will break down everything we know about the highly anticipated Vatic Pro Flash V7 14mm paddle.

This paddle has been recently redesigned to include a smaller, more compact, and denser honeycomb core pattern, along with tighter carbon weaving on the paddle face. These enhancements are expected to increase both power and spin.

You can also find more information about the elongated Vatic Pro V7 16mm model on this site.

Alright, let’s dive into the review.

Vatic Pro Flash 14mm Technical Specifications

• Price: $139 BUY
• Warranty: 4 Months
• Shape: Standard
• Core thickness: 14mm
• Face: Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber w/ Heat-Compressed Texture
• Average weight: 7.8 oz
• Grip length: 5.4′
• Swing Weight: 105
• Grip size: 4.125
• Core: C7 Polymer performance honeycomb
• Edge Guard: Anti-Abrasion TPU
• Total length: 16.2 in
• Width: 7.7 in

Vatic Pro Flash 14mm Quick Summary

I haven’t played with the newly redesigned Vatic Pro 14mm yet. It features new modifications to improve spin, touch, pop, and dwell time, along with new aesthetics and a fresh logo. My preordered model should be arriving soon for testing.

I’ve tested the majority of carbon fiber paddles on the market and really enjoy the Vatic Pro paddles. The Legacy Pro and Vatic Pro have given me the perfect balance I wanted in a paddle, all in one package.

The improvement in play and feel was immediate when I picked up the Flash 14mm. I feel a great balance of control and power with this paddle, enabling me to return shots and win hand battles with greater ease.

Compared to other 13/14mm paddles on the market, it’s not even close (except for the CRBN 1x 14mm, which is comparable).

This disparity is mainly due to the new technology that Vatic Pro is embracing.

The foam-injected edges and are becoming a standard for good reason. They provide added control, pop, and increase the sweet spot. This improvement is particularly beneficial for a 14mm paddle, as thinner paddles typically have smaller sweet spots than thicker ones. I’ve noticed that edge/mishits feel much better with this paddle compared to other non-foam-injected 13-14mm paddles.

The Flash offers excellent hand speed. It’s tied with the SixZero Double Black Diamond for hand speed among the gen 2 carbon fiber paddles.

When it comes to feel, this paddle simply feels right when held. Obviously, this is subjective, but I’ve held many paddles, and the Vatic Pro 14mm stands out. It might be the thermoformed construction, but it feels even better to me compared to some other thermoformed paddles.

I also notice the effect of the added shock absorbers in the paddle’s grip (two ethylene vinyl acetate inserts). Thinner paddles like this tend to have more vibration than thicker ones, which can be annoying, but I don’t notice much vibration with this paddle. This is great for people who struggle with tennis elbow.

The 14mm Vatic Pro does feel less powerful than the 16mm Vatic Pro. The reduced power is likely due to the lower swing weight. It’s a fine tradeoff for me, especially since it’s modifiable with weighted tape. When I added weight, the power felt more than sufficient.

It also has less pop than the 16mm Vatic Pro, but this should change with the newly redesigned paddles using a tighter paddle-face weaving pattern and a denser honeycomb layout that should increase pop, dwell time, and spin.

Overall, the Vatic Pro v7 Flash is a very solid paddle that’s among my top recommendations. It has the perfect amount of power and control for me.

Power Summary of Vatic Pro Flash 14mm

The Gen 2 carbon fiber paddles using thermoforming all pack a lot of punch. The Flash does quite well in the power department for a 14mm paddle, though it’s not going to dethrone the carbon fiber power king, the Legacy Pro.

Driving feels great with the Flash, especially when you hit the ball dead on. There’s no lack of power or pop with this paddle. It’s incredibly fun to use for hard-hitting shots, especially if you add some weight to it.

In the end, this paddle sacrifices some power for amazing hand speed. But considering its weight, it performs well above average in the power department. You won’t have difficulty playing aggressively with this paddle, especially when you incorporate some spin into your power shots, which this paddle excels at providing.

If you want more power, I recommend adding weight to the sides and/or top of the paddle. To keep the power and control well-balanced, consider adding tape to the throat and sides.

Control Summary

This paddle is quick and offers unmatched hand speed. Its potent spin provides great control for topspin drives.

Being a 14mm paddle, the Vatic Pro Flash doesn’t offer as much control as its 16mm V7 counterpart. Its thinner profile means it doesn’t handle mishits as well, especially near the bottom edges. Adding weighted tape to the throat can significantly improve this.

However, it does have a better sweet spot than other 14mm paddles, thanks to the foam-injected walls. I found it easy to control drops and resets with this paddle, although people transitioning from a foam-injected 16mm paddle might notice a reduction in control.

It can take some players a few games to adjust to the pop of this thermoformed paddle if they’re used to a more cushioned paddle. Once you get a feel for it, it’s hard to go back. However, some players may struggle with resets and not enjoy the paddle because of the pop.

This paddle feels quite solid. If it feels too stiff or poppy at first, give it a week or two to break in. The new thermoformed paddles tend to soften up nicely over time.

If control is your top priority, I’d recommend the Vatic Pro v7 16mm or the Six Zero Double Black Diamond if you’re looking for one of the Gen 2 RCF paddles.

Spin Summary

All of the raw T700 carbon paddles have excellent spin potential, and the Vatic Pro Flash is no exception. The Flash made it onto my list of the best paddles for spin performance.

I’ve hit plenty of topspin serves and drives that dipped dramatically. Both my opponents and I often thought the ball would go out, only for it to arc in at the last second due to the high spin.

After playing with it for a while, I’ve been able to shape my shots even better, and the resultant spin has improved my game considerably.

Note that the newer version of this paddle, currently on preorder, is expected to have even more spin, likely comparable to the Legacy Pro. This is due to the tightened honeycomb cores and the improved Toray paddle-face weaving. I’m in love with the spin on my Legacy Pro and am very excited to see what the new 14mm Flash can do.

Durability Summary

The Vatic Pro paddles excel in durability thanks to their one-piece thermoformed construction. They’re comparable to GearBox in this regard and could set a new standard in paddle-making.

This is a relief for players who have struggled with unreliable paddles (looking at you, Joola).

There were some delamination issues on the paddle faces in the early batches of these new Gen 2 raw carbon fiber paddles, affecting about 2% of the paddles made. Vatic has since addressed this by changing the adhesives and resins used.

Value Summary

The Vatic Pro stands out for its exceptional value. If you are considering switching to a T700 carbon fiber paddle, this one is an excellent choice!

The Flash is very similar to the CRBN Power Series but is $80 cheaper. Both paddles are made using essentially the same process in the same factory.

It’s a durable paddle featuring new technology at a budget-friendly price—a total win.

Should you buy the Vatic Pro V7 14mm paddle?

This is the paddle I recommend for players who prefer 14mm paddles and want the latest paddle technology. It’s likely to become one of the most popular paddles on the market once it gains more recognition.

The Flash is ideal for players seeking an excellent blend of power, spin, and pop. However, if you’re a newer player struggling with control, it might not be the best choice. Instead, you might prefer a dedicated control paddle like the SixZero Double Black Diamond. It features the latest tech but is focused on control and has the least pop of the Gen 2 carbon fiber paddles.

The Legacy Pro and Vatic Pro 16mm V7 are also great options. These paddles are elongated, which some players prefer. They have a larger sweet spot and are easier to control, but they have higher swing rates (less speed) and are less modifiable in terms of weight. The Vatic Pro 16mm currently doesn’t feature the tighter weaving and thinner polymer cores that the redesigned 14mm Flash has.

Interestingly, Vatic Pro is planning to release a 16mm Flash model and a brand new thermoformed paddle, potentially in March. Keep this page bookmarked for updates.

FAQs about Vatic Pro Flash 14mm