Tested by Matt Khoury
4.5 player · 2 yrs testing paddles · 630+ reviewed
Reviewed
FEBRUARY 2026
Updated OCTOBER 2026
Vulcan Dark Matter Hybrid 16mm Pickleball Paddle Review
MATT'S VERDICT
The Dark Matter Hybrid sits between the elongated and widebody in swing weight but demands the most precise contact due to its lower twist weight. When struck cleanly, it delivers a balanced mix of power, pop, and control within the series’ distinctive dense-hollow response profile.
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Retail Price
$249.99
Promo Code
20% off at checkout
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All measurements
- Serve speed
- 60.8 mph
- Serve speed percentile
- 83.1%
- Serve speed z-score
- 0.831
- Punch volley speed
- 39 mph
- Punch volley speed percentile
- 63.3%
- Punch volley speed z-score
- 0.623
- Spin
- 2279 rpm
- Spin percentile
- 62.6%
- Spin z-score
- 0.450
- Swing weight
- 114.15
- Swing weight percentile
- 48.5%
- Swing weight z-score
- -0.002
- Twist weight
- 5.85
- Twist weight percentile
- 7.9%
- Twist weight z-score
- -1.169
- Static weight
- 7.87 oz
- Static weight percentile
- 22.7%
- Static weight z-score
- -0.639
- Balance point
- 24.8 cm
- Balance point percentile
- 89.1%
- Balance point z-score
- 1.184
- Surface roughness (Ra)
- 6.02 µm
- Surface roughness (Ra) percentile
- 17.7%
- Surface roughness (Ra) z-score
- -0.838
- Firepower
- 73/100
- Control score
- 36/100
- Power rating
- 4/5
- Control rating
- 2/5
- Spin rating
- 4/5
- Pop rating
- 4/5
- Forgiveness rating
- 2/5
- Matt's star rating
- 4/5
- Balance offset from center
- +4.2 cm
- Core thickness
- 16 mm
- Shape
- Hybrid
- Length
- 16.25 in
- Width
- 7.5 in
- Handle length
- 5.5 in
- Handle circumference
- 4.125 in
- Surface material
- Carbon Fiber
- Surface texture
- Peel Ply (Coarse)
- Classification
- Gen 4
- Approval body
- UPA-A
- Punch volley rank
- #133 of 522 measured paddles
- Market comparison
- 518 measured paddles across 9 metrics