Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle Review & Buyer’s Guide [2023]

There is so much to tell you about the all-new Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle. Lifting the words directly from Engage Pickleball themselves, the Poach Advantage is the “most technologically advanced paddle in the market” – and there is a good reason for their claims. The Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle brings a new generation of paddle skin technology to the market, thanks to endless commitment to the best pickleball paddle design and development. The skin features 6 different layers that have been sequenced in varying angles and patterns to produce the ultimate in paddle playability and ball-responsiveness. The focus being, to create a paddle skin that was capable of holding the ball on the paddle for longer, to give you a softer feel and more opportunity to influence the pickleball with spin and ball-rotation. The exclusive texture runs top to bottom across the paddle face and hits the USAPA’s guidelines for the maximum allowed roughness of any paddle surface – literally giving you the ultimate edge on-court.

Side to the exclusively designed 6-layer paddle skin, the Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle also features a brand new core, never before seen anywhere in pickleball. Unlike other polymer cores that run transparent, the Poach Advantage has a proprietory polymer composite core that is black, thanks to changing chemical attributes during the manufacturing process. Not only ensuring that the Poach Advantage looks amazing, but ensuring that the Control Pro ‘Black’ Technology works with the Poach Advantage paddle face/skin to give you even better playability. In fact, the Poach Advantage is Engage Pickleball’s first paddle to feature Variable Release Technology that has been designed to hold the ball on the paddle for longer. This Variable Release Technology gives the Poach Advantage the ability to hold the ball at slow swing speeds to increase ball-rotation, while deflection and power are maximized when the paddle is swung fast for hard-hits.

Also featuring a Cyclone Low-Profile Vinyl Edge Guard and Engage’s Ultra Perforated Grip, the Engage Poach Advantage is pimped out with everything that Engage Pickleball have to offer. Priced at the higher end of the market, the Poach Advantage is not cheap, however it gives you value in abundance out on-court. Check out our Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle review to find out everything you need to know before you buy.

Paddle Face & Edge Guard

The Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle face features Engage Pickleball’s Proprietary Variable Release 6-Layer Fiberglad Polymer Composite skin (what a mouth full!). Unlike most paddle faces that are comprised of 1-2 layers on the paddle face, the Poach Advantage features a 6-layer paddle face design made up of 6-layers of fiberglass polymer composite that are identical in thickness. The 6-layer design has been uniquely created to support the overall objective of the Poach Advantage – to give you control and playability in all areas of the game. When swinging the paddle at slow speeds, the Poach Advantage skin will hold the ball for longer allowing you to apply spin and ball-rotation, while at fast speeds, the Poach Advantage will use the deflection and responsiveness built into the paddle to whip the ball off the paddle with greater speed and power. The paddle face itself is also designed with a new texture that applies greater emphasis on the pickleball whenever you are looking to play spin – in fact, the Poach Advantage hits the upper limits allowed by the USAPA for paddle roughness.

If you love pickleball paddles that are built to influence the pickleball with spin and power, then you will love the Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle. What’s more, the paddle face is protected by Engage’s brand new Cyclone Low-Profile Vinyl Edge Guard. Not only will this protect the paddle face, but it ensures the Poach Advantage remains fast, aerodynamic and easy to swing.

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Paddle Core

The Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle core is also brand new. Featuring a Proprietary Polymer Composite core that works with the paddle face, the Engage Poach Advantage is a weapon when it comes to playing power shots and strategic shots at the net. The Engage Poach Advantage core includes Engage’s Variable Release Technology that holds the ball on the paddle at slow swing speeds, yet fires the ball with immense power when hitting hard. What’s more, the polymer at the heart of the paddle has been chemically changed during the manufacturing process to help with playability. Not only has this turned the core of the paddle black, but the chemical change also helps to give you a soft feeling when striking the pickleball – Engage call this technology, Control Pro ‘Black’ Technology.

If you are looking for an elite-level pickleball paddle that includes excellent balance, power, and control then you will love the Poach Advantage.

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Dimensions & Weight

The Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle is a medium weight paddle that weighs between 7.5 – 8.3 ounces. What’s more, the Poach Advantage has an elongated paddle face that makes the overall length of the paddle 16″ long. This extra paddle length helps to create even more leverage when striking the pickleball hard, while also giving you more reach around the net. The Poach Advantage measures 8″ wide across the paddle face, which also gives you a big hitting-zone and sweet-spot to help put away your shots. For those of you who also like to play with a pickleball paddle that looks great, the Poach Advantage has a target subtly printed onto the paddle face, showing you exactly where you need to connect with the pickleball to hit your next winner. 

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Handle & Grip

The Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle has a 5″ paddle handle, which is perfect for tennis converts or those who like a longer paddle to play two-handed backhands. The Poach Advantage also comes complete with Engage’s Ultra Perforated Cushion Grip. The grip’s surface is perforated to help draw moisture and sweat away from your palms during match-play, while the cushioning built into the grip helps to provide comfort out on-court. Like everything associated with the Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle, the paddle grip is designed to the highest quality spec, and won’t let you down.

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Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle Review Summary

In summary, the Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle is a brilliant elite-level pickleball paddle. Suitable for players of all levels, the Poach Advantage guarantees to improve your game by giving you more control and power on-court. The Variable Release Technology, combined with the unique 6-layer paddle skin will help you to control and spin the ball at slower swinging speeds while ensuring you can crash the ball back over the net when swinging hard. Available in a range of great colors, including blue, red, purple and green the Poach Advantage is one of the best-looking pickleball paddles in the Engage paddle range, and potentially throughout the entire paddle market.

It will be interesting to see how competitors in the market react to the release of the Engage Poach Advantage Pickleball Paddle, as well as the Engage Encore 6.0. One thing is for sure, if you want to pick up one of the best pickleball paddles available right now, then invest in the Poach Advantage.

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