Enhance Gen 4.5 Pickleball Paddle Review: 3 Things to Know

The elongated Enhance Gen 4.5 is a new addition to the Enhance family, and its design allows players to combine control, spin, and power.

The elongated reach was also a nice feature to have for this paddle because it allowed for a further reach on close balls.

The sweet spot allows for miss hits to become solid shots, and the ability of the paddle to play all court gives players who are well-rounded an advantage. 

Later, I can cover whether I believe this pickleball paddles is one of the best pickleball paddles in 2025.

First Impressions

I thought this was a great introduction to playing with an elongated paddle. At first, when playing with the paddle, I was not hitting great with the paddle and could not find a solid balance between swings.

I almost felt like I was hitting off because I was not used to the length of the paddle in comparison to the ones that I normally play with or demo.

Once I got used to the elongated shape of the paddle, which was similar to a tennis racquet, I had the swing down and was hitting shots very cleanly.

When I got used to the paddle, I began to love the way it played and helped me to have great shots at each part of the court. Moving forward, I would be interested in trying more elongated paddles.

Playability

This paddle is great for players who are looking for an all-court paddle. I don’t think that the paddle has one strength, but rather has an equal balance of control, spin, and power.

I do think that for players who are looking for quick swings and wrist movements, this paddle may feel a little slower due to the shape. 

Control 

The elongated shape of this paddle allows players to have great control over points. The paddle has a foam core, which typically allowed me to feel like I was shaping the shots that I was hitting. I was able to control dinks, drives, and shots at the net that helped me feel like I was setting up for the next shot and ultimately to win the point.

Even then, I felt that I was also able to hit the ball at an odd angle or off-center, but still get solid shots. I also felt that I was able to change the pace of the game fairly well with this paddle, which also let me be in control of the points. 

Spin

Though the paddle has great all-court playability, I found that the spin was arguably the best feature of the paddle. The texture and grit on the surface of the paddle allowed for it to have high spin potential, and I found that I was able to get massive spin on shots without even really trying.

Drives, slices, and dinks were better with the amount of spin, and I found myself impressed with the amount of spin I got off of shots without even trying. When I tried to create more spin on important shots, I was easily able to do this. I think the spin you are able to get on shots is a great part of this paddle, and if you are looking for a paddle that will provide you with a great amount of spin without losing the all-court playability, then this might be the perfect paddle for you. 

Power

I found this to be the weakest aspect of the paddle, but I was still impressed by the amount of power I was able to get on shots. I typically was able to get pop on my shots, and found that my game on the net was specifically enhanced by this paddle.

For example, I was able to hit the ball down at opponents with solid power while also being able to grab balls that I would not have been able to reach without the elongated head to the paddle. I found that I did get solid pace on the ball, and when it was paired with the control and spin, this was a great feature to have.  

Cost Implications

This paddle currently retails for under $200 on Enhance pickleball’s website below. I could not find this paddle on Amazon.

In my opinion, this is a decent price point for an all-court paddle that has a good amount of spin. 

Paddle Specifications

Per the website, here are the Enhance Gen 4.5’s specifications.

• Average Weight: 8.1 – 8.3 oz
• Swing Weight: 118 – 120 
• Twist Weight: 6.25 
• Shape: Elongated 
• Thermofoamed: Yes 
• USAP Approved: Yes 
• Grip Circumference: 104 mm (4.1 in) 
• Handle Length: 145 mm (5.7 in) 
• Paddle Length: 417 mm (16.4 in) 
• Paddle Width: 189 mm (7.4 in) 
• Core Material: EPP Foam
• Force Material: T700 Raw Carbon Fiber
• Core Thickness: 16 mm 

Conclusion

This is a great option for players who are looking to upgrade their game with an all-court paddle. This paddle allows for control, spin, and power, as well as the ability to pick up extra balls and keep yourself in play longer. That said, I am not sure how this will rank in the best pickleball paddles list.

For players who are looking to gain spin while maintaining positives in each part of the game, this is a great paddle. This is an overall great paddle for both intermediate and advanced players, and is likely a great paddle to add to your arsenal if you are looking to upgrade your game.