Honolulu Pickleball J2FC+ Paddle Review

Introduction

No honeycomb. No polypropylene. No fiberglass. And yet, this might be one of the most balanced, complete, and enjoyable paddles I’ve tested all year.

This is the J2FC+ from Honolulu Pickleball—a full foam-core paddle built for control-first players who don’t want to give up power or spin. It’s fast in hand, plush on contact, and surprisingly stable for how maneuverable it feels. What makes it unique is the way it blends foam technologies—EPP in the center, EVA around the perimeter—and pairs them with a raw carbon face that grips the ball with authority.

In this review, I’ll break down how it’s built, how it actually plays, and how it stacks up against the best control paddles on the market right now. I’ll also share X-ray visuals of the internal structure so you can see exactly what’s going on under the surface.

For transparency: Honolulu sent this paddle out for testing, but they had zero input on this review. All impressions are based on hands-on gameplay and full-session testing across resets, drives, counters, and more.

If you’re thinking about trying one, you can use code MPB to save 10% on any Honolulu paddle—or MPBK to save $20 specifically on the Kevlar models. Now let’s get into who this paddle is really for.

In-Depth Playing Experience

The J2FC+ stands out the moment you step on court—not because it’s flashy, but because of how connected and consistent it feels across every phase of play.

On drives, you’ll notice the linear power profile. There’s no trampoline effect or artificial bounce—what you put in is what you get out. If you swing with intent, you’ll get solid depth and pace, but the paddle doesn’t do the work for you. This level of control is especially valuable for players who want to dictate tempo without sacrificing accuracy.

Resets and drops are where the J2FC+ really shines. The plush feel gives you time to absorb pace and place the ball deliberately. Compared to thermoformed paddles—or even Honolulu’s own J2NF—the dwell time is longer, the response more grounded, and the paddle doesn’t jitter or wobble under pressure. It’s easy to stay in system, even when you’re scrambling.

On punch volleys, the paddle delivered a measured 36.3 MPH in our pop speed tests—right in line with expectations for a balanced control-oriented build. There’s just enough rebound to keep exchanges quick, but not so much that the ball launches unexpectedly. This makes hand battles feel predictable—you know how the paddle will respond, which gives you confidence to speed up or pull back mid-rally.

Where the J2FC+ separates itself is in spin potential. It clocked in at 2307 RPM, putting it in the 90th percentile of everything I’ve tested. That raw carbon face bites the ball cleanly, and because the texture is baked into the material—not sprayed on—it should retain that spin performance over time. You’re not chasing diminishing returns after a few weeks of use.

Despite its light swing weight (~108), the J2FC+ feels surprisingly solid on contact, thanks to its high twist weight (~6.9). Even on mishits near the upper edges, the paddle holds shape and returns clean energy. That’s not typical for something this maneuverable—and it’s one of the biggest reasons I haven’t added any tungsten yet. It plays dialed right out of the box.

Across several sessions, I saw no signs of delamination, rattle, or core breakdown, and all units I tested came in at consistent specs. That level of manufacturing precision is rare, especially in the foam-core category.

If you’re coming from something like the Selkirk 008 or Diadem BluCore, expect more feel and better touch here—without giving up power entirely. And if you’ve played the J2NF or J2NFK, the J2FC+ brings more control, more dwell, and less pop, making it one of the most well-rounded paddles in Honolulu’s growing lineup.

Paddle Design and Technology

The J2FC+ takes a different approach from most high-performance paddles on the market. Instead of building around a honeycomb core with added edge foam, it uses a full foam core architecture from the ground up. And that changes everything about how it plays.

At the center is an EPP (expanded polypropylene) floating core—shaped like a diving board—that compresses on contact and rebounds with a linear, grounded energy return. It’s lightweight, springy, and responsible for the paddle’s smooth, consistent power delivery.

Surrounding that EPP core is a dense EVA foam perimeter, forming an inverted U-shape along the top and sides of the paddle. This EVA layer doesn’t just dampen vibration—it actively stabilizes the paddle on mishits and keeps the paddle face from warping under pressure. It’s one of the key reasons the J2FC+ feels so controlled in fast-paced exchanges, even with a low swing weight.

What’s notably missing? There’s no polypropylene, no honeycomb grid, and no fiberglass filler in the surface layup. This is a pure foam core from edge to edge, structurally reinforced with EVA, and topped with raw carbon fiber—not a blend, not a composite overlay. Just clean carbon layered directly over the foam.

The paddle measures 16.2 inches long by 7.8 inches wide, which classifies it as a hybrid shape. That slightly wider build improves forgiveness without feeling slow, while the nearly 5.5-inch handle gives you room for two-handed play. Combined with the internal structure, it offers a rare balance of hand speed, reach, and control.

If you examine the X-ray of the paddle, you’ll see exactly what sets it apart: no hollow cavities, no honeycomb voids, just a consistent foam density through the face—anchored by the curved EVA frame. That structure is what gives the paddle its quiet confidence on court. You feel it every time the ball hits the face.