Tested by Matt Khoury
4.5 player · 2 yrs testing paddles · 630+ reviewed
Reviewed
JUNE 2026
Updated OCTOBER 2026
Wika Sports Bao Fire Evolution 2 16mm Pickleball Paddle Review
MATT'S VERDICT
The Bao Fire Evolution 2 is an elongated Gen 4 foam-core paddle with a thermoformed carbon fiber face, priced at $189. What sets it apart is the surface.
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Retail Price
$189.00
Promo Code
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Matt's Feel Profile
Stiff + Hollowstiff face with a crisp, resonant pop
How players classify this paddle
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All measurements
- Serve speed
- 61.3 mph
- Serve speed percentile
- 97.5%
- Serve speed z-score
- 1.260
- Punch volley speed
- 39.2 mph
- Punch volley speed percentile
- 82.7%
- Punch volley speed z-score
- 0.857
- Spin
- 2300 rpm
- Spin percentile
- 84.8%
- Spin z-score
- 0.679
- Swing weight
- 116.3
- Swing weight percentile
- 66.0%
- Swing weight z-score
- 0.400
- Twist weight
- 6.2
- Twist weight percentile
- 29.4%
- Twist weight z-score
- -0.492
- Static weight
- 7.81 oz
- Static weight percentile
- 15.4%
- Static weight z-score
- -0.941
- Balance point
- 23.6 cm
- Balance point percentile
- 12.7%
- Balance point z-score
- -1.061
- Surface roughness (Ra)
- 9.69 µm
- Surface roughness (Ra) percentile
- 94.2%
- Surface roughness (Ra) z-score
- 1.563
- Firepower
- 90/100
- Control score
- 38/100
- Power rating
- 5/5
- Control rating
- 2/5
- Spin rating
- 5/5
- Pop rating
- 5/5
- Forgiveness rating
- 3/5
- Matt's star rating
- 4/5
- Balance offset from center
- +2.6 cm
- Core thickness
- 16 mm
- Shape
- Elongated
- Length
- 16.5 in
- Width
- 7.5 in
- Handle length
- 5.75 in
- Handle circumference
- 4.125 in
- Surface material
- Carbon Fiber
- Core material
- EPP Foam
- Surface texture
- Peel Ply (Coarse)
- Manufacturing process
- Thermoformed
- Classification
- Gen 4
- Approval body
- USA Pickleball
- Feel stiffness
- 18/100
- Feel hollowness
- 86/100
- Feel profile
- Stiff + Hollow
- Punch volley rank
- #50 of 522 measured paddles
- Market comparison
- 518 measured paddles across 9 metrics