Paddle Evaluation

Paddle Manufacturer: The Paddle Company

Paddle Model: Mariposa

Retail price: $112.00

Dimensions

Length- 18 ¼”
Width- 9 ¼”
Weight- 15.9 oz. as tested
Thickness- Tapers from 7/8” to ¾”
Balance Point (Measured from end of grip)- 10 ¾”
Sweet Spot Location (center measured from end of grip)- 13”

Face

Finish- “Grit”
Length- 10 5/8”
Width- 9”
Rim (y/n)- No

Grip

Length- 6”
Diameter- (No original on hand)
Lanyard Length- (No original on hand)

Conclusions/Opinions

Please note that the following are subjective conclusions and opinions, wholly those of the author and reviewer. Your experience may vary.

What’s in a name?
Many times it’s an accurate description of a place, person or thing.

Such is not the case with The Paddle Company’s latest offering for paddle-sports- the “Mariposa.” Mariposa means “butterfly” in Spanish. You’re thinking “light, colorful and fragile,” right? You’re partially right. Colorful and attractive it is, with its unique hole pattern and abstract butterfly motif on its face.
Light and delicate? By no means.

This is one brute of a paddle, people.

Touch the hitting surface and you’ll feel its almost 40 grit roughness. Press down on the face with your thumb and you’ll get very little give. Pick it up and you’ll feel heft like no other paddle in TPC’s extensive line up. Swing it and you may be dissuaded from buying it just because it’s so weighty. But again- don’t go by that first impression.

This is a paddle that you just have to play with for a week or two to really appreciate and learn all it can bring to your game.

Text Box: My paddle’s as tested weight’s probably 1 ounce or so over the bone-stock Mariposa but even so, swingin’ the stock paddle’s no cinch. One has to learn proper technique or blow out one’s elbow or shoulder. If you’re a beginner, move on to another paddle. This one’s for the experienced player who’s got all the basics and mechanics of the various swings of our sport down.
The “plus” side is the rewards this paddle gives one. With all that mass, it takes just a slight hit to get the ball up to the wall. Learn to use wrist-snap with it, time it just right and the ball moves. This thing packs one hell of a punch, sounds great, has great feel and transmits hardly any vibration to the wrist, elbow or shouder. It won’t hurt you that way but lack of technique in its use will. The sweet spot is huge- I’ll go on the record as saying the top 2/3’s of this paddle’s all sweet spot.
More days with the Mariposa and you’ll learn how to put the Grit to good use. The “digs” you can make using that Grit and a little tap will amaze you! That ball’s not going to slide off the paddle and into the dirt- it’s gonna make it to the wall, so be ready!

It is not a paddle for the “quick” game due to its weight- but shorten your grip on it and you’ll find it surprisingly maneuverable for those quick “wrist-flick” kills or lobs.

The grip is typical TCP stock; slightly cushioned and adequately tacky for good control. As I said, this thing’s a brute and it’s rugged but a paddle this good deserves a good, thick layer of protection along its edges. Don’t forget!

Given a week, you may just call this your favorite paddle.

Two weeks and you’ll be like me- calling this one of TPC’s very best.