I have known about the Beatnik brand for quite some time, so I was elated to get some of the Beatnik paddles to compare. I was not familiar with the term Beatnik, but I researched and found that a Beatnik was essentially a non-confirmist in the 1950s and 1960s. Very interesting, and I hoped that Beatnik had some unique features that played into the brand.
I own around 60 pickleball paddles now, but I really like this odd hobby because I can provide a lot of feedback about each individual paddle as I have tried and own so many.
What I love about Beatnik before trying the paddle is that the company uses different materials and technologies that I don’t see in other paddles.
Also, many paddles are made in China, but discussing with the CEO, I found out that the X Monster is not made in China.
We’ve got a lot to cover in this article, so let’s start with first impressions.
First Impressions
First impressions are everything, right? Here’s what stood out to me the second I took the X Monster out of the envelope.
What stood out to me at the very beginning is the unique grip, which I will talk about later. In addition, I really liked the edgeless boarder, and I could tell right away that the material was different than 90% of my other paddles.
What else stood out to me was the design of the paddle. I really like how the brand uses a lot of different colors to bring out a unique B on the paddle.
It’s also fun to see that they quote the 3k carbon fiber technology.
In addition, I really liked the size of the racket. It doesn’t feel like a wide body paddle like my Volair Mach 2 Forza or Fat Boy, but the edgeless design gave me a feeling that I could have more of a sweet spot.
Let’s talk about some of the things that make this paddle a Beatnik.
Unique Features
Firstly, I absolutely loved the grip’s uniqueness. I do not have any other paddles that have a grip like this, and it really felt like the grip molds in with my hands to allow me to grip the paddle better than any other paddle.
In addition, I really loved the face. I believe I have some other paddles that have 3k carbon fiber, but this definitely stood out to me as quality.
Let’s cover playability as that’s most important.
Playability
The Beatnik X Monster is an absolute monster of a paddle. I could really not believe the amount of power and control I got from this paddle. In addition, I had my father in law compare the X Monster to another paddle I was testing, and he 100% preferred the X Monster.
Many of my power paddles lack control, but I didn’t feel that with the X Monster. It was incredible, so let’s cover power first.
Power
I plan to compete my power paddles against each other again, but I would not be surprised if this is the best power paddle out there.
I was able to deliver such power and spin on my serves that I was actually getting aces on serves or high balls when that usually isn’t the case.
Control
I was shocked by the amount of control I had with the X Monster.
When serving from right to left, I was able to place the ball in the back right corner with a spin that forced a back hand return.
I did this multiple times, and felt that I had solid control even comparing to some of my best control paddles.
Spin
Beatnik pitches this X Monster paddle as a power and spin paddle. With the 3k carbon fiber and the grit applied to the paddle, I 100% felt that I could spin the ball.
What I really liked is that I could spin the ball with power. Often my control powers have ample spin, but power paddles lack some of those other features.
That was not the case with the X Monster. I felt that I had both power, spin and control.
Specifications
Here are the X Monster’s technical features. Again, this paddle has a ton of features like the reinforced fiber glass tubular braid that I have never seen before.
Face: 3K Carbon Fiber
Weight: 8.1 oz
Grip Circumference: 4.25 inches
Grip: Anti-vibration Pro Grip
Handle Length: 5.15 inches
Paddle Length: 15.87 inches
Paddle Width: 7.83 inches
Core Material: Polypropylene honey comb
Core Thickness: 16mm
Edge Guard: Reinforced fiber glass tubular braid
This paddle is incredible, but is it worth a spot in your paddle collection?
Should You Purchase the Beatnik X Monster?
For me, the answer is 100% yes. This paddle is currently one of my top 3 paddles that I will play with and has a power/control combination that I do not see in many of my other paddles. I would argue that this is an intermediate paddle or an advanced paddle, so that’s one thing to consider.
I am currently reviewing my paddles for the best power paddles, and I absolutely see this paddle ranking in the list.
I plan to soon compare the Beatnik X Monster to the Beatnik Air Blast, so stay turned!
If helpful, take a look at how Beatnik paddles compare to one another. It’s a really cool, creative graph that really explains the features of what Beatnik paddle may be best for you.
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