FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through our Pickleball Central links, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We tested this paddle independently — Engage did not sponsor or review this article before publication.
Last Updated: September 2026
The Engage Encore Pro V2.0 12.7mm has a reputation that precedes it — one of the few fiberglass paddles that serious rec players kept on their radar even as carbon took over the sport. At its original $99.99 price, it was a solid choice. At its current clearance price of $38.99 at Pickleball Central (down from $99.99), that reputation is suddenly accessible to almost anyone willing to find out if the Fiberflex feel still holds up in 2026.
Short answer: it does. With some caveats worth knowing before you buy.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Power & Pop | 8.5 / 10 |
| Control & Touch | 7.5 / 10 |
| Spin | 6.5 / 10 |
| Sweet Spot | 8 / 10 |
| Arm Friendliness | 8 / 10 |
| Value at Current Price | 9.5 / 10 |
Pros:
- Exceptional pop and responsiveness from the Fiberflex Fiberglass Skin
- Wide sweet spot for a hybrid shape — forgiving on slightly off-center hits
- 8.0oz sits comfortably in the middleweight range; manageable for long sessions
- At $38.99, one of the best value paddles on PBC right now
- Arm-friendly feel — the E1+ Polymer Core dampens impact noticeably
Cons:
- Fiberglass generates less topspin than modern raw carbon or thermoformed faces
- 12.7mm core rewards power players; kitchen-first players should consider the 15.2mm
- 4 1/4" grip circumference runs large for smaller hands — plan for an overgrip if needed
- Not a current competitive tournament option for 4.5+ players chasing USAPA-certified carbon performance
Who it's for: 3.5–4.0 rec players who want a poppy, responsive paddle without paying $150+ for a carbon face
Who should skip: Tournament competitors needing current certified carbon gear; spin-first 4.5+ players
Current Price: $38.99 sale (from $99.99 MSRP)
Check Price at Pickleball Central →
Specs at a Glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Shape | Hybrid — 16.25" total length |
| Width | 7.75" |
| Core Thickness | 12.7mm (.500") |
| Core Material | E1+ Polymer |
| Face Material | Fiberflex Fiberglass Skin |
| Handle Length | 5.3" |
| Grip Style | Ultra Perforated Cushion Grip |
| Grip Circumference | 4 1/4" (Medium) |
| Average Weight | 8.0 oz (range: 7.8–8.2 oz) |
| Edge Guard | 1/4" overlapping paddle face |
| Manufacturer | Engage Pickleball |
| Sale Price (PBC) | $38.99 (was $99.99) |
Why Trust This Review
FORWRD builds pickleball bags — we've shaped our brand around understanding what rec players, tournament players, and gear obsessives actually need from their equipment. We've handled paddles across the full spectrum, from $25 recreational models to $350 carbon thermoformed performance paddles.
For this review: three weeks of real court time, split between indoor hardwood at a Denver rec center (Tuesday/Thursday evening league) and outdoor concrete at a public park on weekends. Estimated total hours: around 18. We tested the Encore Pro V2.0 12.7mm across a range of playstyles within our test group — one player with a baseline-heavy attacking game, one kitchen-first control player, and one intermediate-level player still developing consistency.
Engage didn't send us this paddle. Pickleball Central didn't influence this review. We bought the paddle at the clearance price, played with it, and reported what we found.
What the Fiberflex Surface Actually Does
Most reviews slap "poppy" on this paddle and call it done. Here's what the Fiberflex surface actually means in practice — because it matters for deciding if this paddle fits your game.
Fiberglass faces flex more on ball contact than raw carbon or thermoformed polycarbonate surfaces. That flex creates a natural trampoline effect: the ball compresses into the face slightly, then springs back with more force than the swing alone would generate. You feel it as a lively, elastic sensation — different in character from the sharp, immediate crack of a carbon face. It's not better or worse, just different.
The practical upside of Fiberflex for most recreational players is accessibility. The ball doesn't require maximum swing speed to generate pace. For players in the 3.0–4.0 range who aren't generating professional-level swing speeds, the fiberglass trampoline effect fills in the gap. You swing at 70% effort and the paddle amplifies it.
The tradeoff is spin. Fiberglass surfaces are smoother than raw carbon grit, so the friction that grabs the ball and creates topspin or slice is reduced. Engage added surface texture to the V2.0 to help — and it does help — but you won't match the ball bite of a CRBN or ProKennex carbon face. If heavy spin is your primary weapon, keep that in mind.
The E1+ Polymer Core beneath that face is Engage's softer polymer blend — specifically engineered for feel over stiffness. It absorbs pace well in soft exchanges, which helps with resets and dinking, while still maintaining enough pop to be useful from the baseline.
Power and Pop: Where It Earns Its Reputation
From the baseline, the Encore Pro V2.0 12.7mm is genuinely impressive for its weight class. Drives land deep and with authority without requiring a full wind-up. During outdoor sessions on concrete — where the ball bounces higher and faster than on hardwood — drives consistently found the deep third of the court with compact swings.
The sweet spot is wider than you'd expect for a 7.75"-wide paddle. The 12.7mm E1+ Polymer Core distributes the "pop zone" across a meaningful portion of the face. Off-center hits toward the upper middle of the paddle still carry well. Miss toward the edge guard — that's where you'll feel the energy loss, and Engage's 1/4" overlapping edge guard means edge hits are noticeably less forgiving than on paddles with fully integrated edge systems.
One telling test: flat serves at roughly 70% effort. Consistent depth, consistent pace, easy to direct. At its old $99.99 price, this paddle made sense for the power it delivered. At $38.99, the power-per-dollar argument becomes almost unfair to competitors in the same new price range.
Control, Touch, and Dinking: Honest Assessment
This is where the 12.7mm choice matters most.
The thinner core makes this paddle more powerful — and noticeably less forgiving on soft shots compared to the 15.2mm version. In kitchen rallies, you need conscious effort to take pace off the paddle. Players who rush their dinks or have inconsistent soft shot mechanics will find the 12.7mm punishes them by sending the ball a bit long.
That said, it's not a bad dinking paddle. The E1+ Polymer does dampen enough to make reset shots workable. During indoor league play against a hard-driving opponent, resets were manageable — the ball didn't come flying back hot the way it does off a stiff thermoformed face. You just have to mean it. Purposeful, deliberate dinks work fine. Sloppy, lazy dinks get punished.
Players whose entire game is built around the kitchen — soft drops, patient exchanges, waiting for the put-away — will be better served by the Engage Encore Pro V2.0 15.2mm ($41.99 at PBC). Three extra dollars for a significantly more forgiving soft game is a straightforward trade.
Spin and Surface Feel: The Real Carbon Comparison
Here's the honest answer for 4.0+ players asking whether they can be competitive with a fiberglass paddle in 2026: yes, but you're leaving spin on the table.
The Encore Pro V2.0's added surface texture does work — topspin serves and angled cross-court drives with slice come off intentionally. During 3.5–4.0 league play, the spin was more than adequate to keep rallies interesting. Drop shots held shape. Serves with spin had enough movement to cause problems.
Against a 4.5 player using a carbon paddle in a casual hit, the spin differential was visible. Their ball was gripping and kicking. Mine was penetrating but not biting. Not a dealbreaker at the recreational level, but worth knowing if you're on the fence between this and a carbon paddle in the same price range.
For context: the CRBN 1 TruFoam Genesis (full review here) sits around $279 retail and delivers notably more spin via its raw carbon face. Different price tier, but that's the comparison to understand what you're trading by staying in fiberglass.
Arm Friendliness: More Relevant Than Engage Mentions
This deserves more credit in the Engage marketing than it gets.
The Fiberflex surface and E1+ Polymer Core combination creates a dampened hit that reduces arm vibration compared to stiff thermoformed paddles. During three weeks of testing — including a couple of two-hour outdoor sessions on concrete — none of our test group reported arm fatigue or elbow aggravation. One player who has dealt with on-and-off tennis elbow specifically noted the Encore Pro V2.0 felt noticeably gentler on the arm than the carbon paddle they typically play.
For players with arm sensitivity, this is a meaningful advantage. The fiberglass flex acts as a natural shock absorber in a way that stiff unibody construction simply doesn't replicate.
12.7mm vs 15.2mm: Which Version to Buy
Both are on clearance right now and the price difference is $3. This is almost entirely a playstyle decision.
Buy the 12.7mm if: You drive the ball regularly, play from the baseline more than the kitchen, have an aggressive style, or you're coming from a harder-hitting paddle and want something lively.
Buy the 15.2mm if: You live in the kitchen, reset often, prioritize dinks over drives, or you're actively developing your soft game and want more forgiveness on touch shots.
The 15.2mm also plays with slightly more mass — the thicker core adds feel — which some players describe as steadier at contact. Most won't notice the weight difference between them, but players sensitive to paddle feel will find the 12.7mm crisper and the 15.2mm more planted.
See the 15.2mm Version ($41.99) →
How It Compares
vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Epic
The AMPED Pro Air Epic is the natural comparison — another fiberglass-faced paddle that's been a staple in the rec market for years. Both paddles use polymer cores. The AMPED's FiberFLEX face (Selkirk's branding, distinct technology from Engage's Fiberflex) is slightly softer and more dink-oriented. The Encore Pro V2.0 12.7mm hits harder.
At the AMPED Pro Air Epic's recent sale price (~$99.99), the Encore Pro V2.0 at $38.99 is nearly impossible to argue against if your goal is value. The Selkirk has a longer legacy of USAPA approval and is arguably better for kitchen-first players. But for power-oriented rec players on a budget, Engage wins at current pricing.
Our full take: Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Epic Review 2026.
vs ProKennex Black Ace 16
Different category, but worth addressing because players choosing between fiberglass and carbon at different price points land on this comparison regularly.
The ProKennex Black Ace 16 (~$179) is a carbon paddle with ProKennex's kinetic system for arm stress reduction. Better spin, better precision at 4.0+ levels, better suited for competitive play. If your budget can stretch to $179, the Black Ace is the more capable paddle.
But if $38.99 is the real number you're working with — and there's no shame in that — the Encore Pro V2.0 delivers a meaningful pickleball experience that will help you improve. It's not a consolation prize. Full ProKennex Black Ace 16 review here.
vs Engage Pursuit Pro1 Hybrid (the upgrade path)
If you play the Encore Pro V2.0 for a season and love the Engage feel but want more — more spin, more precision, more construction quality — the Engage Pursuit Pro1 Hybrid is the natural step up. It uses a stiffer, higher-performance polymer core with updated construction. If the Encore Pro V2.0 is your gateway into Engage, the Pursuit Pro1 is where the brand wants you to go next.
Who Should Buy the Engage Encore Pro V2.0 12.7mm
- 3.5–4.0 recreational players who want accessible power without spending on carbon
- Players transitioning off beginner paddles and looking for their first real performance-tier paddle
- Rec league players whose game doesn't demand tournament-certified equipment
- Anyone with a history of arm sensitivity who wants a softer alternative to thermoformed construction
- Budget-conscious buyers who still want a name-brand fiberglass paddle from a respected manufacturer
Who Should Skip It
- 4.5+ competitive players who need raw carbon spin and current USAPA approval — check the approved list before any sanctioned event
- Spin-first players who want maximum ball bite on every shot; fiberglass won't get you there
- Kitchen-first players who want maximum touch forgiveness — look at the 15.2mm version instead
- Two-handed backhand players who want a longer handle — the 5.3" handle suits one-handed players better
Need help comparing this against more options at different price points? Our Best Pickleball Paddles for Intermediate Players 2026 breaks down the full upgrade landscape.
Complete Your Setup
Don't Let Your Bag Let Down a Good Paddle
A $38.99 paddle deserves proper storage and transport. The FORWRD Court Ranger V2 ($195) has a modular paddle sleeve system that fits up to 4 paddles, a 16" laptop sleeve, and YKK AquaGuard zippers for weather protection. It's what serious rec players carry when they mean business.
Shop the Court Ranger V2 →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Engage Encore Pro V2.0 USAPA approved for tournament play?
Engage has historically maintained USAPA approval on the Encore Pro V2.0 line. However, the USAPA approved paddle list is updated regularly, and approval status can change. Before any sanctioned tournament entry, verify your specific paddle's current approval at usapickleball.org/about/approved-equipment. This applies to any paddle, not just this one — the list changes more often than most players realize.
How does the 12.7mm thickness compare to standard polymer paddles?
Most paddles run 14–16mm in core thickness. At 12.7mm, the Encore Pro V2.0's core is on the thinner side — which means more pop and faster ball response, but slightly less cushion on touch shots compared to a 14mm or 16mm core. If you want more dink forgiveness, the 15.2mm version is the direct alternative in the Encore Pro V2.0 line.
What grip size does the Engage Encore Pro V2.0 12.7mm come in?
The 12.7mm version comes with a 4 1/4" circumference Medium grip. Players with smaller hands who typically prefer a smaller grip should plan to add an overgrip without a base replacement (which slightly increases size) or look for Engage's Small grip offerings in other models. The Ultra Perforated Cushion Grip is reasonably tacky out of the box.
Is fiberglass still competitive in pickleball in 2026?
For recreational players in the 3.0–4.0 range: yes, absolutely. Carbon paddles dominate the competitive 4.5+ market because of better spin and precision, but fiberglass still delivers genuine pop, arm-friendly feel, and accessibility for players who don't need elite-level spin generation. At $38.99, the Encore Pro V2.0 represents an outstanding value for this player category.
Can I use the Engage Encore Pro V2.0 for both indoor and outdoor pickleball?
Yes. The hybrid shape, 8.0oz weight, and Fiberflex surface perform consistently across both indoor hardwood courts and outdoor concrete. The Fiberflex surface doesn't have significant performance variation between environments — unlike some carbon paddles that behave differently in cold or humid outdoor conditions. Use whatever balls are appropriate for the surface (indoor vs outdoor-rated) and the paddle itself adapts fine.
Final Verdict
The Engage Encore Pro V2.0 12.7mm was already a respected paddle at $99.99. At $38.99 on clearance at Pickleball Central, it's a case study in value that most reviews written at full price can't account for.
It won't generate tour-level topspin — fiberglass doesn't. The 5.3" handle limits it for two-handed backhand players. And if you're competing at 4.5+ and need every advantage available in your equipment, you're shopping in the wrong tier. But for everyone playing Tuesday night leagues, weekend park games, and casual organized play where the goal is improvement and enjoyment rather than ranking points — this paddle does the job with genuine quality behind it.
The Fiberflex pop is real. The arm-friendly feel is real. The expanded sweet spot is real. At $38.99, the argument for trying it is almost irresistible.
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.