Legacy Pro Pickleball Paddle Review

Pickleball paddle manufacturers abound these days. The industry seems to be in a frenzy, with new companies popping up all over the place. Unfortunately, many of these companies are simply peddling inflated replicas of paddles already on the market.

Occasionally, However, a pioneer emerges and revolutionizes the scene. Legacy accomplished this feat in September 2022 when they introduced their groundbreaking Legacy Pro 16mm paddle.

Legacy’s emergence from the horde of newer unpainted carbon fiber paddles was swift with this introduction. Their paddle quickly gained immense popularity, making it perhaps the most anticipated paddle of 2023, second only to the Joola Perseus.

When it was first released, orders flew off the shelves thanks to glowing reviews, orders have been flying off the shelves, leaving people waiting weeks, even months, to secure a Legacy Pro.

I didn’t get one, but luckily my friend did. So I played with his paddle for a while. I’d say it was fantastic.

In this article, we will take a deep dive into the Legacy Pro pickleball paddle. By the end of this article, any questions you may have about this paddle should be answered. Please feel free to comment with any additional questions you may have.

Best combination of control & power & spin

• Price: $150 on the Legacy 
• Face: Toray T700 Raw Carbon Fiber
• Edge Guard: Thermoformed Sealed Edges for added stability and extended sweet spot differential.
• Length: 16-1/2″
• Width: 7-1/2″
• Core Thickness: 16mm, Compressed 8mm cells to combat vibrations and help increase dwell time.
• Handle length: 5.3”
• Octagonal Handle grip circumference: 16mm=4.125″
• Weight: 8.0-8.4 oz
• Warranty: 6 Months – manufacturer defects

My initial expectations for this paddle were modest. I had read about the Legacy’s innovative construction techniques, but it wasn’t until I had it in my hands that I truly understood its nature.

From the first touch, the Legacy Pro has an unconventional feel that delivers powerful shots and impressive spins. It belongs to the emerging category of unadorned carbon fiber paddles that utilize unibody thermoforming and foam injection.

Remarkably, the Legacy Pro allows me to generate tremendous power and spin with minimal effort. Through my own testing, the Legacy Pro boasts an exceptional blend of power and spin that stands tall among carbon fiber paddles on the market.

No other paddle allows me to spin a pickleball with such commanding power and precision. Its sheer power occasionally leaves me in awe, while maintaining a plush and manageable feel.

Without a doubt, the Legacy Pro embodies a power-focused design, possessing the unique ability to explode off the face for powerful shots or offer a more deliberate pace and dwell time for softer hits.

Although the paddle’s 5.3″ handle length is slightly shorter than my preferred 5.5″, it remains comfortable, especially for those who prefer handle length for power and execute two-handed backhands. In addition, the neck tapers nicely, allowing for easy high grip maneuvers when needed.

For those concerned about tennis elbow, the paddle exudes solidity with minimal vibration. Legacy has mentioned modifications to the paddle core to reduce vibration, a claim I find to be valid.

While I’m not sure if they’ve incorporated additional vibration-reducing inserts into the handle similar to the Vatic Pro, I wouldn’t be surprised if they did. In fact, the Legacy Pro has earned a spot on my list of top paddles for tennis elbow relief.

The Legacy Pro is a fantastic paddle. Once you get used to its extra pop, the incredible blend of spin and power it offers is unparalleled. If you’re looking for an affordable paddle and want to support two truly remarkable individuals, the Legacy Pro is an unbeatable choice.

If you missed the video, you’re in for a spin revelation with the Legacy Pro. From the moment you pick up the Legacy Pro, the impact on your spin game is undeniable. Few paddles on the market can match the spin of the Legacy Pro; it’s a true spin champion in addition to its remarkable power.

With the Legacy Pro, adding spin across the board feels effortless. Topspin groundstrokes and backhand slices take on wild trajectories. Shots that seem destined to fly out often find their place in the net.

I’ve seen opponents surrender to balls they thought were going out, only to see them land perfectly in. That’s the Legacy Pro’s topspin drive at work.

Third shot drives are my favorite time to add spin with the Legacy Pro. There is an indescribable satisfaction in hitting the ball from the baseline, watching it dive emphatically over the net and drop sharply.

It’s a delivery I’ve struggled to replicate with previous racquets, with the possible exception of the Selkirk Power Air, which is known for its own premium spin potential.

My perspective is rooted in my extensive playing experience with high spin rate paddles (Vatic Pro, SixZero, CRBN 1X/2X) and supported by the testing of others. In particular, Chris at Pickleball Studio clocked the Legacy Pro at a spin rate of 1903 RPMs-truly top-notch.

But what fuels the Legacy Pro’s extraordinary spin potential? Part of the secret lies in prioritizing friction over grain on the paddles surface. Rather than relying on overt grit, the paddle employs a peel-ply coating and texture that’s 2-4 times more intricate than most paddles.

This friction pattern, also used by SixZero paddles, also contributes to their impressively high rpms. This is why the Legacy Pro paddle has an insane amount of spin potential.

In today’s market, the Legacy Pro is the epitome of a well-rounded power paddle. It’s an absolute powerhouse, a dream come true for power players looking for the hardest hits. The paddle does much of the heavy lifting, requiring minimal effort to deliver fast, powerful and penetrating shots.

Incorporating the Legacy Pro transforms drives into true weapons. I’ve noticed an increase in winning shots and opponent errors that can be attributed solely to the paddle’s formidable power, improving my overall performance.

Prepare to amaze not only your opponents and teammates, but even yourself with the Legacy Pro’s awesome power. Getting used to the power of the Legacy Pro can take some time if you’re not familiar with other high-powered paddles like the ProKennex Black Ace or Selkirk Power Air.

As you adjust to the power of the Legacy Pro, you may find yourself accidentally sending balls out of bounds. Rest assured, generating plenty of power with this racquet doesn’t require big swings; the blade does most of the work.

When I took Legacy Pro against a long-time Vatic Pro Prism Flash user, I had a good laugh. After the match, he was ready to secure his own Legacy Pro.

The beauty of the Legacy Pro’s power is that you don’t have to sacrifice control or finesse to access it. While power paddles like the Power Air and the Black Ace have immense power, their control, especially beyond serves and drives, is a challenge. They also require more effort than the Legacy Pro to harness their power.

The Diadem Vice may mirror the Legacy Pro in terms of power, but due to its construction and EVA foam core, it falls short in terms of spin and, most importantly, maneuverability.

With power paddles, the Legacy Pro’s prowess shines, offering an exhilarating fusion of power and control few can match.

While more controllable than prominent power paddles such as the Power Air, Invikta 002, or Black Ace, some individuals may still find the Legacy paddle a bit challenging to handle.

In particular, recent batches of Legacy Pros have shown improved controllability due to changes Legacy has made to address delamination issues. This, coupled with reduced delamination, greatly improves the controllability of the paddle.

One of the strengths of the Legacy Pro is its generous sweet spot, which surpasses other power paddles in terms of control. It has less stiffness than these power paddles, resulting in better weight distribution and balance points. The overall balance point of the Legacy Pro is remarkably comfortable.

To master the control of this paddle effortlessly, refined soft hand skills or adeptness with angles are crucial.  Otherwise, quality resets and dinks may be temporarily compromised.  If you’re used to unibody thermoformed or power paddles, the transition to Legacy Pro control should be relatively seamless.

Engaging in hand battles and drives becomes an enjoyable experience with the lower swing weight and decent dwell time. However, as mentioned earlier, the Legacy Pro’s stiffness and high pop/deflection can be challenging during blocks and resets. Initial adjustments may be necessary to match your expectations for third shot drop.

Considering lead weight with a Legacy Pro? Adding weighted tape to the throat and lower edges can improve stability and control while slightly increasing paddle weight. This refined stability requires minimal effort to return incoming drives to your opponent.

Experimenting with grip pressure is another approach to controlling this paddle. A lighter grip will increase the smoothness of your game. Remember that this blade does a significant amount of the work.

Overall, some players may find a dedicated control paddle to be a better fit than the Legacy Pro.

If you are in this group, you may want to explore options like the SixZero Black Diamond control paddle, which uses the same unibody thermoformed technology with an eye toward improved controllability. The Vatic Pro V7, also a relatively soft and controllable thermoformed paddle, might be another worthy consideration.

The Legacy Pro offers a unique blend of plushness and stiffness, resulting in a pronounced high-level pop. However, this pop comes with a dual nature that presents both benefits and challenges.

On the positive side, this pop greatly enhances maneuverability, giving you the upper hand as the ball quickly leaves the racquet’s surface, often confounding opponents’ reaction times. My doubles counterattacks have reached an unprecedented level – a significant improvement.

When my opponent delivers a slightly imperfect shot at a faster pace, I now have a confident opportunity to execute a winning counter and close out the point. In addition, I’ve noticed an increase in successful body shots, catching my opponent off guard due to their reduced reaction time compared to the speed of the paddle.

Conversely, controlling a racquet with such remarkable pop can be challenging. Players unfamiliar with such intense pop may encounter pop-ups that cause frustration. Frequently sending easily smashable dinks to opponents and overshooting the baseline due to the power-pop synergy can be exasperating indeed.

While certain paddles, such as the Power Air, offer even more pop, players accustomed to softer paddles, such as the Electrum Model E or Joola Hyperion, may require an adjustment period to fully utilize the Legacy Pro’s pop potential.

Once this adjustment period is over, the extra pop of the Legacy Pro will undoubtedly prove to be an advantage for most players, making it well worth the effort.

The durability of the edge guard and throat of the Legacy Pro paddle outperforms the competition, plain and simple.

After my experience with the Head Spark Elite and Franklin Ben Johns paddles, I decided to avoid paddles with edge guards altogether.

This led me to try the Gearbox and the Selkirk Power Air (although I found that the Gearbox lacked the spin I was looking for and I couldn’t relate to the feel of the Selkirk Power Air).

I was tired of investing in paddles only to have their edge guards practically fall off after a minor collision with a partner’s paddle or accidental ground contact while reaching for a ball. Dead spots became a common occurrence.

However, the Legacy Pro’s edge guard proved to be exceptionally tough. It held strong, even under my typically rough paddle handling. Rest assured, the edge guard doesn’t bend, and this is coming from someone who puts his paddles through their paces.

At $150 (currently), it offers a more budget-friendly option compared to leading competitors like CRBN ($180), Electrum ($170), and Joola ($170-$220). At the same time, the customer support is unparalleled.

Legacy’s customer service also stands out. As a small, family-owned business, they maintain a strong online presence and are easily accessible through various social media platforms, including Reddit and Discord.

Having discussed its many strengths, what are its weaknesses?

I really liked the soft touch of the Electrum Model E. I was a little hesitant to move on from it, even though their customer service wasn’t great. But as it turned out, that soft touch wasn’t doing much for my game. Surprisingly, the lack of pop was holding me back. I was losing too many rallies and missing easy shots.

Based on my experience, here’s the order of hardness: Electrum is the softest, followed by Joola, and then CRBN/Legacy fall on the “harder” side of the spectrum in terms of how they feel when you hit the ball.

So if you’re used to a super soft paddle, it might take some getting used to to go to a slightly firmer and louder paddle on impact.

By now you probably understand that paddles tend to gradually lose performance over time, especially raw carbon fiber paddles that have a more abrasive texture.

In my estimation, I don’t believe the average player will experience a significant drop in performance with the Legacy Pro paddle (or any raw carbon fiber paddle) after a year of use.

While some of the grain may wear off, it’s unlikely to have a noticeable impact on your game.

However, for dedicated pickleball enthusiasts, I think it’s wise to consider getting a new paddle every year, or even every six months if your budget allows.

As you probably understand, it is always a process that takes time and a transition period to get used to the variations.

When I first switched to the Legacy Pro racquet, I found myself hitting a lot of volleys past the baseline. The ball seemed to have more pop off the paddle than I was used to. In comparison, my previous paddle didn’t generate enough power to get the ball out.

So I slowly changed my technique to make sure that the face of the paddle was more down on impact. Regardless of what paddle you’re switching from, it will take some time to get used to the increased pop of the Legacy Pro.

Is the Legacy Pro pickleball paddle worth purchasing?

The Legacy Pro is a great deal and has secured its place among my top favorite paddles of all time. If your style of play tends towards power and/or spin, this paddle was made for you. Remarkably, it has single-handedly reshaped my approach and redirected me toward drives with remarkably positive results. The Legacy Pro instills unwavering confidence in every swinging.

Its lethal combination of power, pop, spin and control is undeniable. The overall improvement in my drives, mano a mano exchanges, overheads, and winning shots has been unparalleled thanks to this racquet. It’s hard to part with the Legacy Pro’s effortless power and all court capabilities. When I switch to another paddle, the absence of the Legacy’s power and versatility is sorely felt.

Considering the price, this paddle is not expensive.

Numerous pros have experimented with the paddle and are actively working with their sponsor companies to develop similar models. Be prepared to see more paddles like the Legacy Pro in the foreseeable future.

However, if you’re a beginner who doesn’t prioritize power or spin, this may not be your ideal match.

On the other hand, if you’re up for a challenge and willing to fine-tune your dinking and soft game to eliminate pop-ups, the transition to this racquet would likely be a satisfying endeavor for virtually any player willing to take on the task. It has seamlessly earned a spot on my list of top intermediate pickleball paddles.

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