The foam-core revolution is officially here, and it’s getting loud. If you’ve been hanging around the courts lately, you’ve probably heard that deep “thud” of a foam-filled paddle. It’s a completely different feel than the hollow “clack” we’ve all used for years.
Today, I’m putting two of the newest and most hyped 2026 releases against each other. In one corner, we have the Honolulu J2NF, a paddle being hailed as the “Forgiveness King.” In the other, the 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2, a brand-new “value disruptor” that just launched with a surface texture—HexGrit—that looks like it could peel the paint off a car.
I’ve spent the last week rotating between these two in competitive play. While they both use foam, they represent two completely different philosophies of the game.