GAMMA First Version Obsidian Pickleball Paddle 13 & 16, Raw Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle, Premium Pickleball Paddles

I have now played with the Obsidian 16 paddle about 6 different times. The longer handle fits my hand much better. I seem to be able to put even more spin on the ball with the Obsidian 16. I also seem to be able to hit the touch shots more consistently. Overall this was a great purchase and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a performance type paddle.

The best in my opinion.

This paddle plays well. It has good control and plenty of power. I loved the long handle which helps me with two handed backhands. The paddle was lighter than I like. It weighed about 7. 5 ounces which is less than the specifications. That's is pretty easy to adjust with lead tape. I would like to know what type of carbon fiber is used. I've found it is not all the same and some seems to wear faster than others.A good paddle for beginners who are ready to move up to intermediate. I gave it to my wife who is extremely delighted with the paddle. I found as I played with it that the 4 1/8 handle is just too small for me. I usually use a 4 1/4 - 4 3/8. I didn't think it would matter to me but for me it was hard to hold without it slipping.

I’ve got quite a few paddles, most of them with the carbon fiber surface for generating topspin. I come from a tennis background so I’m much more comfortable with spin than the flat hits that more traditional Pickleballers use. Having said that, what I’ve found with even the top brands is that the carbon facing wears down over time. So far with almost every one of my high end paddles have gotten a shiny and slick oval right where the sweet spot is on my paddles leading to less and less spin. I’ve noticed a degradation in some of my paddles in just a few weeks even with using an eraser to clean off the ball fibers. (My routine is about 3-4 hours/ day for about 5 days a week which may be a bit more than most people play.)I’ve now played with this paddle for about 3 weeks, alternating between this and another paddle so that I can minimize the degradation evenly. I can see the degradation of the carbon fiber but not at the same rate—again it may be due to alternating paddles. I give the paddle 4 stars not because there’s anything wrong with it, it’s just that I’m not used to different shape of this paddle where is slightly wider on top than the bottom. It’s more of a preference than anything else so it may not be fair to ding the extra star. The paddle itself is a good weight and has a very stable feel even with off kilter shots and the grip is nice although I did put an overwrap on it just because my hand sweats like crazy now with the summer sun beating on us. I’ll see how long this surface lasts in an update. Overall it’s still a very good paddle for the solid intermediate player.

Nice design and looks great. The white and black is nice. Very comfortable and doesn't cause fatigue.

I’ve played a lot of Pickleball over the last few months and after starting out with one of the ubiquitous beginner sets I’ve had the chance to try a few higher end paddles. I’ve gotten a feel for some of the differences that are meaningful as well as figuring out which styles and materials suit my game the best. The Gamma Obsidian is my favorite by far. I love the larger grip and elongated face, it really help to snag some of the low outlier shots that have been difficult to reach. The face is very textured and exerts tremendous spin on the ball. I have a high degree of control, previously my serve was struggling but now I’m consistently able to place the ball deep.The only negative aspect is the fact that a higher end paddle like this doesn’t come with a case but that’s unfortunately the norm.This paddle is a game changer, I’d highly recommend checking it out. The elongated grip allows for exploring both a two handed backhand as well as the style some of the pros use where they hit all shots two handed except far reaching forehands.

The Gamma Obsidian 16 paddle weighs 7.62 ounces (measured with scale) and has a slightly longer grip than my existing paddle. The longer grip allows room for a two-handed backhand. The grip wrap has a good feel and provides a secure grip. The paddle felt a little light, as I am used to a heavier paddle. I added some lead tape and changed the weight to 8.11 ounces. The paddle provides more pop on volleys and drives. Per the paddle's literature, the carbon surface helps to generate greater movement (spin) on the ball, even though the paddle's surface is smooth. My opponents said at times there was more spin on the ball but I wasn't sure if it was due to the paddle or technique. A friend (4.5 player) also tried the paddle and said it felt light for him too, even with the added weight, since his own paddle is at 8.5 ounces. But he liked the paddle as well and thought it had good feel/control & power. This paddle is a good value and compares well to my own paddle that is more expensive. I plan on using this paddle more, as it feels better than my existing paddle. Rated 5-stars.

I love this paddle. It is super lightweight, and that's the first thing everyone notices when they pick up this paddle to check it out. I usually play with a different brand paddle that costs about the same as this one, and this Gamma Obsidian 16 has been an easy switch. I hardly notice that I'm playing with a different paddle, and that says a lot, since often you have to adjust your game with a new paddle a bit. I've let others play with it to help me test it out and everyone loves it. The handle is slightly longer which helps for those shots that require extra reach. The feel of it is good, the touch is nice, the sweet spot is large, the power is good. I've played indoors and outdoors with it, and it's just a great paddle that's easy to get used to. My old paddle has now become my back up.