Friday, July 11, 2025

The Best Pickleball Bag – Züca Bag Full Walkthrough



Today I’m sharing why I switched to a Züca bag as my primary pickleball bag. In this video I provide a walkthrough of my Zuca and show each each compartment. If you’re tired of lugging a heavy backpack or running out of space for all your gear, this might be the perfect solution. In this video, I’ll show you: ✔️ How much Pickleball gear you can actually fit (up to 6-7 paddles, balls, clothes, chargers, grips, and more) ✔️ Why I love that it doubles as a sturdy chair that supports up to 300 lbs ✔️ How I organize everything so it’s easy to grab on and off the court The Zuca bag is a bit of an investment (around $270 new), but for me, it’s worth it because I can roll everything in and have a seat anywhere. The best place to buy one cheaper is through Facebook marketplace, but sometimes it hard to find, and the inserts are not in good condition or not your preference. If you’re curious about switching up your Pickleball bag setup or want a closer look at how it all fits, this video is for you! 👉 Let me know in the comments what bag you use and if you’d ever consider something like this. I am not sponsored nor paid by them, and these opinions are my own. https://zuca.com/collections/pickleball The price for the Pickleball Sport is $270 at the time of this recording. They do have the Pickleball Pro, which is taller which provides more space. Tech specs for the Pickleball Sport are below. DIMENSIONS 18"H x 10"W x 13"D 18"H x 12.25"W x 14.75"D (including wheels) WEIGHT 9.4 lbs CAPACITY 1,787 cubic in 29,292 cubic cm 29 liters Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell if you want more Pickleball tips and gear reviews!
#pickleballgear #zucabag #thebestpickleballbag


Thursday, June 19, 2025

Vapor Power Review: A Perfect Blend of Feel, Spin, and Control

As someone who’s spent a lot of time with the Vatic Pro Saga line—especially the Saga Flash 16mm and the Saga Bloom 14mm—I’ve come to appreciate different paddle builds for different styles of play. Lately, I’ve also been loving the Friday Fever, which brings that newer 3rd gen thermoformed feel to the game. So I was curious: is there a paddle out there that blends the best of all these worlds?

Enter the 11six24 Vapor Power.
If the Saga Bloom 14mm and the Friday Fever had a baby, it would be the Vapor Power. This paddle takes the spin and maneuverability of the Bloom and combines it with the powerful, poppy response of the Friday Fever’s 3rd gen build. And the result? A paddle that performs beautifully in both power and finesse play.

Here’s what I loved about it:

Great Power – Delivers pop and punch without needing added lead tape.

Sweet Spot & Feel – The response is solid across the face, making it reliable during fast hands battles and resets.

Spin Friendly – The surface grabs the ball well, giving you the confidence to shape your shots.

Lightweight Yet Stable – This is one of the few paddles that doesn’t feel like it needs extra weight added.

Comfort Grip – The handle shape and grip texture are my favorite yet—super comfortable even after hours of play.

Fast Shipping – Ordered and in hand quickly, which is always a bonus.


There was a minor vibration on off-center hits, but it was subtle and not something that took away from the experience.

Price-wise, this paddle sits at a mid-range level, but it feels premium. For what it offers in performance and feel, the value is excellent.

If you’re looking for a paddle that gives you both power and control with the advanced feel of a 3rd gen thermoformed design, this is it.


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Want to try the Vapor Power for yourself?
Use code JONATHANTORRES at checkout for a discount at 11six24.

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Switching Things Up with the Friday Fever Paddle


 

After spending a lot of time with the Vatic Pro Saga Bloom 14mm, I decided it was time to try something different—a true elongated Gen 3-style paddle. Instead of spending $280 on a Joola or even $120 on the Saga V7 14mm, I went with a more budget-friendly option and picked up the Friday Fever paddle in the Glacier Blue colorway.

This is a bit of a shift for me, moving away from the wider face of the Bloom to something longer and more tailored for reach and power. First impressions are solid, and I’m curious to see how it holds up on court over time.

If you're thinking about giving it a try, here's my affiliate link—using it helps support my channel and the content I share:
👉https://www.fridaypickle.com/JONATHAN40142

More thoughts coming soon in a full review on my YouTube channel!

https://www.youtube.com/@infotechyeti


Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Vatic Pro Saga Bloom 14mm In Action | Edited Gameplay

This video is all about showcasing the hits, serves, and returns using the Vatic Pro Saga Bloom 14mm paddle. I’ve edited it to highlight the paddle’s performance throughout the games. I'm the player with the light blue shirt and glasses. 

  If you're thinking of picking up a Vatic Pro paddle, you can use my code JONATHANTORRES at checkout or click the link below for a discount: 

  https://tinyurl.com/vaticpropb (add the paddle to the cart first in order to have the discount applied automatically or manually enter the coupon code at checkout) 

These are, hands down, the best paddles for the price—at the time of this video they’re **$129.99** before the discount, and their performance easily competes with paddles that cost much more. Right now, this is one of my main paddles, alongside the Saga Flash 16mm. 

After playing some games with the crew, I’m loving the power this paddle brings on serves. Out of all the Vatic paddles I’ve tried, the resets and power stood out the most for me. Dinks were solid, too, though I did have to soften up my touch a bit. But when it comes to volleys, serves, and returns, this thing really shines. It's definitely a paddle I’d recommend. 

Keep in mind—we’re still working on our game, and some of the players in this video are newer to the sport and just got out of work. But like a lot of folks around here, we’re hooked on pickleball. 

I am a Vatic Pro ambassador, which means they offered me a discount on the Saga Bloom and Saga Flash paddles, and I get to showcase the paddle on my platform. That said, all opinions shared here are completely my own, and I did not get paid to do this video. 

 This video is a display of how the paddle plays and all comments here are my honest take as a rec advanced beginner player who's still growing in the sport. 

 If you're in Connecticut and want to try one out, feel free to hit me up! 

 #vaticpro #vaticpropickleball #vaticprobloom #sagabloom #sagabloom14mm #pickleballgame #pickleballgear

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Personal Review: The New Vatic Pro Saga Bloom 14mm Paddle!!!

I had the chance to use the Saga Bloom 14mm paddle during a recent meetup with some friends, and I wanted to share my first impressions.

Power & Serves:
Right away, I noticed the power this paddle has—definitely more than the Saga Flash 16mm, in my opinion. I actually had to dial it back a bit so I wouldn’t overshoot the service box. That added power can be a big plus for players who struggle to generate pace on their serve. Personally, I can usually generate power on my own, but having the option to conserve energy and still get strong serves is a nice bonus.

Touch & Dinks:
It took me a little time to adjust to the feel on dinks, but that’s more because I’m coming from the Saga Flash 16mm, which is a very different paddle. Once I settled in, I found it solid. The paddle offers good touch and control, though it has a bit more pop than what I’m used to. I was cautious at first, and that led to some short dinks into the net, but again—that was on me, not the paddle.

Handle & Feel:
I personally prefer the shorter handle on the Flash and V7 models, but the Bloom’s handle still felt good in hand. I experienced little to no vibration, likely due to the widebody shape helping absorb impact. It gave me fast hands at the kitchen and great response during hand battles.

Weight & Balance:
I played with the paddle unweighted, and it felt very light and balanced—not top-heavy like the Saga Flash 16mm can be. I may consider adding a bit of lead tape to the sides for more stability and a larger sweet spot, but even stock, it performed really well.

Performance Highlights:
One thing I really liked was how well it handled drops. The ball traveled cleanly over the net with good consistency. The paddle had enough touch for resets, though if you’re overly cautious with its power like I was, you might leave some balls short early on.

Recommendation:
This paddle is excellent right out of the bag. I can see why the 14mm version sold out over the weekend (they’re back in stock now). I’d recommend it for players who enjoy widebody paddles, appreciate a slightly longer handle, want a generous sweet spot, and prefer a lighter paddle overall.

I’ll definitely be keeping this one in my bag alongside my Saga Flash 16mm. My closest comparison to this paddle would be the Prism Bloom 16mm, which I also enjoy for its plush, high-end feel during dinks, volleys, and swings.

I wouldn’t recommend the Saga Bloom 14mm for absolute beginners, but for advanced beginners or intermediate players—especially those who lack power and have soft hands for resets—it’s a fantastic option.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them below. Don’t forget to check out my recent YouTube quick review of the paddle!

Disclosure:
I am a Vatic Pro ambassador, but this review is entirely my own. I was not paid for this, though I did receive a discount and still paid over $100 plus tax for the paddle. If you’re in the market for a high-quality, widebody paddle at a great price, head over to the Vatic Pro website and use my name JONATHANTORRES for a discount at checkout.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review—looking forward to more dinks, volleys, and serves.
Zero Zero Start!

Saturday, April 19, 2025

How to Add an Overgrip to Your Pickleball Paddle



How to Add an Overgrip to Your Pickleball Paddle

If you've been playing pickleball for a while, you know how important grip can be—especially during long matches or in warmer weather. Adding an overgrip to your paddle is a simple and affordable way to improve comfort, absorb sweat, and give you better control on the court.

In this quick video, I walk you through exactly how to install an overgrip on your pickleball paddle. Whether you're new to using overgrips or just need a refresher, this step-by-step guide will have you wrapping like a pro in no time.

Check out the video below and let me know in the comments what your favorite overgrip brand is or if you have any tips of your own!

Watch the tutorial:

Watch on YouTube


The Gamma Pickleball overgrip is my go to grip right now.