[GIVEAWAY!] The COMPLETE Gherkin Draco Explainer & Giveaway! | NCP vs MPP #GherkinPickleball

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]All right, pickle people. Today's video is a really good one. We are covering a paddle brand called Girkin. You might have heard of them, you might not. If you haven't, you will be because this is a brand on the rise. I think they're going to be up there at the Honolulu's, up there at the 6. They've been working really hard. They've been putting out paddles left and right, fine-tuning what they do, and it it's just super super impressive. and we are covering their latest full foam line, the Draco series.

[00:00:30]And we're going to go into all the nitty-gritty in a bit. But first, I want to let you know we will be giving one of these bad boys away for free. So, make sure you stick around till the end of the video to see how to enter. But if you want to get a head start, make sure you slam that like button, give us a subscribe, and now let's talk a little bit about Girkin as a brand before we get into all the details with their latest drop.

[00:00:54]Okay, so Girkin has been around for a beat. I think maybe two years or so.

[00:01:00]When they initially launched their first line of paddles, they were these really interesting paddles with these massive silicone rubber edge guards. They were just super hefty, very I had never seen something like that before. They were super fun, but they were a bit on the heavy side. And since then, they have released a lot of paddles. They've just been iterating and fine-tuning and figuring out what the market wanted, what players wanted, and they've done a really great job. One of the standouts has been their Gen 3 take. This is the Wraith paddle. This thing is only 121 bucks.50 after promo code Matthew K.

[00:01:33]This thing lives up there with the Yola paddles, with the Honolulu Plus paddles.

[00:01:37]This is a very, very good Gen 3 paddle.

[00:01:40]My co-host over on my podcast loves this thing and it's just a really, really good deal. But Girkin isn't all just about releasing just high performing paddles. They're they're about the fun.

[00:01:51]And you know you know Matthew K.

[00:01:53]Pickleball is about the fun. They dropped this little thing here. This is called the G-spot trainer. I'm not going to go into why it's named that, but basically it helps you just like any training paddle. Learn the sweet spot within pickle ball. That's what I'm talking about, folks. And this thing is just way overengineered. This has a carbon fiber fiberglass carbon fiber layup. just just too much for a sweet spot trainer. It's got 10 millimeter cell honeycomb. Like it's just super super unique. Unfortunately, this thing I believe is sold out on their website right now, but I would definitely track the site because this thing is a lot of fun. If you want a training paddle, this is the one I would look at. And then I just like their other gear, too. This hat, I've had this hat for a long time.

[00:02:36]This is kind of like a cross between a performance hat and a trucker hat. I just love the simplicity. I love the pronounced Girkin font. I just I I I just I just love their stuff. It's just fun gear. But while Girkin is about having fun, they're also about making really high-erforming pickle ball paddles. And that's what we're going to talk about today. This here is the original Draco. It dropped probably a few months ago. This is their hybrid version. And since this one came out, they have released a widebody and elongated. I'm going to go over all the differences today. Don't worry. But the builds of all of these paddles are pretty similar. This is a Gen 4 paddle.

[00:03:16]It's in a floating configuration. We've seen that kind of paddle build in the past. You can think of Honolulu's FC Plus paddles. I believe Bread and Butters Loco paddles are also floating builds, but this is where Gerkin's take is different. It is made out of a foam called NCP or nanoellular polymer. And this stuff is unique. Girkin actually provided a chart that breaks down the differences between EP, which is what most full foam paddles are made out of, expanded polyropylene, as well as MPP, which I've been covering a ton on the channel. I'm a huge fan of MPP. Think L inferno, think of the Packlefuse, those very stiff feeling paddles. And now this one though is made out of NCP. And if you look at their chart, you can see that Girkin is claiming that nanocellular is a more durable than even MPP as well as stiffer or more rigid at least than MPP. And we're going to talk about this in the performance section, but yes, I do think this plays super stiff. If you like MPP paddles, if you like that stiffer feeling kind of foam paddle, this is one you're going to want to pay attention to because there are some things that differentiate it from MPP. Firstly, Girkin claims it is more durable just because of how the foam is created. I don't really have a way to verify that just yet. I haven't had enough time on any of these paddles to really test that claim for myself. And as far as I know, this is the only paddle on the market using NCP foam. But I do think the fact that Girkin has a limited lifetime warranty on these paddles is a good sign that they really do believe this stuff is durable. And what Girkin is claiming about NCP is that this foam loads and releases energy efficiently according to Girkin and is extremely maneuverable, customizable, and incredibly stable. And we will be talking about that in the performance section, but I do have to agree. I think that statement is right on. And as far as the rest of the core build or how it's constructed, I do believe it is utilizing a ring of Evva foam. So this is a multi-density paddle. Gerkin hasn't confirmed that, but that's what a lot of reviewers are saying. And then I think there might be, because I looked at their X-ray pretty closely, I think there might be a little extra weight in the cheeks, but once again, Girkin has not confirmed that. And as far as the hybrid version, like all the other shapes, this has a carbon fiber, fiberglass, carbon fiber layup. It's a 16 mm build, and it is once again that Gen 4 multi-density foam construction in a floating configuration with the NCP and EVA surrounding it. And this paddle is 16.25 in long by 7.75 in wide, a 5.5 in grip, a 4.125 grip circumference. And Girkin aims for a static weight actually for all the shapes at 7.9 O. The swing weight of the hybrid is supposed to be close to 111. The twist weight 6.6. And then this paddle comes with a ton of accessories and including a really nice paddle cover. And then once again, going back to that durability claim, this thing has a limited lifetime warranty and it costs 162 bucks after promo code Matthew K knocks off 10% and it is USP approved. And this hybrid shape is just pretty unique. I haven't seen these kind of cut corners on the top except for maybe Honolulu's uh J6CR paddle. Kind of has that language as well, but you know, it kind of gives you a little bit more heft, a little bit more swing weight on your drives, which I do really like. And Girkin was actually debating if they wanted to make an elongated version because this thing is just a hair taller than the hybrid, but I'm really glad that they did because I think this actually has a bit of a different personality than the hybrid. And I really like this one. And so this is built just the same as the hybrid. It comes in that crazy light 7.9 ounce static weight. And then they're aiming for a 113 swing weight and a 6.4 twist weight. But this paddle is just a bit longer at 16.5 in by 7.5 in. So, it's a little longer, but it's a little skinnier. And this thing is is a lot of fun. We're going to we're going to talk about that. Don't worry. And then they didn't just stop there. They didn't stop with elongated and hybrid. Girkin made this crazy standard shaped one, the same kind of cut corners at the top, that same language that they had in the others. And this thing is a pop beast.

[00:07:35]Uh, and we'll you'll see in the footage hopefully hopefully I got a good clip showing this thing off. But this thing I had to put quite a bit of weight. We're going to talk about my setup in a little bit. But this thing is aggressive. It's built just the same. It has that same super light 7.9 ounce static weight and a very light 108 swing weight and a massive sweet spot with a 7.1 twist weight. And so you're always hitting sweet spot with this thing. This thing has some massive firepower. Okay, so uh you probably already figured out I really like how these paddles perform, but I want to go into a little bit more detail. So, I had the hybrid for quite a while. This one came out first, then the other shapes followed. And if you're a fan of the channel, you know I'm pretty much all in on MPP. I love that material for pickle ball paddles. It kind of reminds me of how honeycomb used to feel. That's what I learned how to play on. And I always kind of had issue with the EP paddles that sort of kicked off the whole foam paddle race because it kind of messed up with the timing of my shots because the ball just dwells differently. It then propulses off the face oftent times. And so the timing of my shots, especially in the soft game, just never lined up, never got in sync with what I was used to with honeycomb paddles. Once again, that's what I learned on. And I think tennis players, badman players, any person that like learned the sport with a stringed racket really probably went all like all in on EP because that dwell is something that they were already used to. But I am like pickle ball OG. Like I learned on Gen One paddles. Like I didn't come from a stringed racket sport and switching to foam was just like something that I just didn't love for the longest time. And then MP came around and I just really fell in love with the feel. The dwell on the head was very similar to what I would have with Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 3 honeycomb paddles, but I would have the power assist that foam paddles have as well as that durability or that extra durability compared to honeycomb. And NCP is very, very similar in feel to MP.

[00:09:49]And I love that Gerkin is claiming that it has even more durability. And this foam paddle does feel rigid, does feel stiff, like MP, but it took me a beat to really figure out these paddles because I think Girkin did something a little different than what a lot of the MPP paddle companies are doing. I don't think they included sidewall weight. If you check out my video over on the enhanced turbo lines, for example, they included sidewall weight. Speed Up includes sidewall weight in their MPPP paddles. And I just think these kind of rigid foam paddles need sidewall weight to really give you a good lock on the ball. Typically adding sidewall weight kind of enhances the sweet spot and makes, you know, it easier to hit the ball or to get power, but I think in these rigid paddles, sidewall weight also just helps lock the ball on the head a little bit, which just makes you feel more secure while you're playing and it gives you that honeycomb feel.

[00:10:46]And I didn't have that weight on the paddle for the longest time cuz I generally like to test out the paddles stock that I get and that's kind of how I review them. But then eventually I was seeing how much everyone really liked the Girkin Draco paddles. And so I started tinkering cuz typically I only add weight to paddles I'm reviewing down at the throat to kind of reduce launch angles. But I wasn't having issue with the launch angle with these paddles. And so I didn't customize it at first. But then I ended up adding weight to the sidewalls. And boy, that changed things with this paddle. Like that made this paddle so much fun. This thing lives up there with all the top MPPP paddles. I'm talking the OG King, the L Inferno, and then even like the Packle Fuse, all the new ones that folks are really loving.

[00:11:31]This thing is right there. And it is probably even a bit more rigid. So, if you like that fast that that fast play off the face, if you don't love a ton of dwell on your foam paddle, this is just really really fun to play with. Like, you can just really pop things back at your opponent. And then once again, because it's so lightweight, you can do that customization. And if you're someone that wants to add even more power, you can add power up at the head.

[00:11:58]And as for the other shapes and how they perform, well, I want to talk a little bit about the elongated. This paddle, just like the other Draco, is 7.9 oz static weight. So, once again, Girkin made it super lightweight. And I did eventually add some 3 g on each side of tuning weight on the sidewalls, but a little lower than the hybrid because this one had an even more relaxed hold on the ball compared to the hybrid. This one was a little less rigid. And I think it's because it's got a bigger head with the weight spread out more because it's the same static weight. And then I think the paddle face with that stretched out dimension is allowing more flex. So it's kind of holding on to the ball a little bit longer. So if you want that rigid feel of these stiffer foams or MP or NCP, I do suggest adding some weight to increase that lock on the ball, get that hold. And I don't mean like pocketing.

[00:12:52]What I am talking about is like just once again creating a rigid feel similar to those really really poppy, really stiff older generation pickle ball paddles with honeycomb. Think the OG paddle techs. And so this one comes in at that 113 swing weight. So just a little less than the hybrids 111. And that sweet spot is a little smaller on paper at 6.4 to 6.6. But to be honest, I thought this one was a little bit more controllable than the hybrid. So, if you're looking for a little bit easier control, a little bit of an easier time placing your shots, I would look at the Elonga. But then you get the benefit if you know how to do a good drive, if you know how to do a good serve, if you know how if you've got good mechanics, this this shape, this is fully 16.5 in long, you can get a ton of driving power with this thing. And I really really started to really like this paddle. So, if you're looking for a lightweight banger and you want to get one of these more rigid foam paddles, this is one to look at. And now I want to chat a little bit about their widebody. This thing once again is 7.9 ounces, but it's a smaller silhouette, a smaller package, so there's obviously more weight per inch in this paddle. And this has a 108 swing weight, but this thing has more power than that number indicates. And then it has a massive a massive 7.1 twist weight. The sweet spot is huge on this thing. And what I'm finding out about these more rigid foam paddles, the smaller the paddle head, the less opportunity there is for flex. And so this plays even stiffer than even the hybrid or the long. This is becoming a common theme of these stiffer or more rigid foams in these smaller shapes. And so this thing, if you like pop, if you want to be a freaking machine gun at the kitchen, if you want to have fast hands and be aggressive, this is the one to look at. It was so aggressive for me. I ended up adding that weight down at the throat that I talked about earlier to help just kind of reduce the pop a bit.

[00:14:46]I still have that sidewall weight to get that lock on the ball with this paddle because once again, I do think you need this weight here to really get that feel that you're used to with these rigid foams. And then after that, this thing is a monster. If you want something that pops, this is one to look at. I think if you're disappointed with the new Analy Waters paddles from Franklin and you want something aggressive in this form factor, Girkin hit this one out of the park. It might be too poppy for me. I don't know if I control it, but it is a lot of fun. So, all of these paddles are very, very high performers. I will probably stick with the hybrid, although I really did like the elongated as well.

[00:15:26]But which one is right for you? We will talk about that in a bit. But first, I wanted to just talk value. So, this paddle costs $162 after promo code Matthew K. And I actually think that is a very, very fair price. I'm going to talk about some comps in a second, but first I want to highlight everything you get with that price tag. You get a high-erforming paddle with a foam that is potentially even more durable than MPP that is backed up by Girkin's limited lifetime warranty, which is becoming less and less common within Pickable. And then another thing I'd like to point out is that this paddle is USAP approved. So I know a lot of folks are getting really excited by UPA only certified paddles and there are a lot of good reasons to look at those. I've covered them on the channel already.

[00:16:12]Those include Honolulu's CBE paddles which I've covered on the channel and a number of others including 11624s. But here's the thing. If you get a UPA only certified paddle, you might have a great paddle for rep play, but then if you decide to go do a local tournament, you might not be allowed to use that paddle.

[00:16:30]So then you're going to have to buy another paddle to play with in your tournament and that is kind of a problem. And so I appreciate that this is USP approved and it's got that extra durability from the foam. I I I I do appreciate that. And then with Girkin, once again, I said they were cool. I said they make great stuff. They include a lot of accessories with this thing.

[00:16:51]With this paddle, you get a Girkin logo lanyard, a Girkin keychain, Girkin stickers, as well as a paddle cover. I mean, you're going to be girking out because you're going to have all the swag. And if you like extra goodies with what you buy, this is this this is the brand. And so that $162 price tag after promo code Matthew K, I think is actually very very competitive. Remember the Serk Boomstick, that foam paddle, that's 333. Yolo's Pro 5s, they jumped the price for a honeycomb paddle to $299.95.

[00:17:26]The MPPP King, the L Inferno, is $194.65.

[00:17:31]And Girkin's take on Gen 4 even beats out the Honolulu CR, which comes in at about $175.50 after promo code Matthew K. So, there is a lot of value in this. And the only kind of competition with this paddle price-wise are your Speed Up Tide, which is a 14mm paddle, and that's MPPP. And that really might not fit everyone's style. And then there are the $100 MP paddles from Packle and Enhance. But there are some trade-offs. I think the Packlefuse is definitely not for everyone. It is very, very powerful and not necessarily the easiest to control.

[00:18:06]And then enhances MPPP turbo. The ones I've hit with, I I think they are very very good, but they definitely don't have the grab and the spin that this puppy here has. And then don't forget with Girkin, you're getting all those goodies as well as that lifetime warranty and potentially extra durability with the NCP instead of the MPP as its foam material. And I also just want to emphasize, you really got to pick which horse you're going to bet on in the pickle ball paddle space because consolidation is happening.

[00:18:36]companies are going out of business.

[00:18:38]There are reviews that I made on companies that no longer exist. And so, you got to choose which company you want to support. And I think Girkin, what they've proven, they're dedicated to kind of improving as they go, listening to their customers, listening to the reviewers. And I think they are a great company to support. And so, I think they're worth, you know, kind of shelling out your hard-earned cash. I know times are tough. I know, I know you want to buy four, five, six paddles, so you got to be careful. And I do think Girkin is a really good company to support and I just wanted to add that because I think that's important. And I think what Girkin has done is just is just great. They have been working on different lines, different kinds of paddles for a really long time. And these here, these are top level for sure. As for which shape is right for you, I need to just emphasize these all have quite a bit of firepower. They're probably not for beginners. Although, if you wanted to, you know, jump into the deep end right away, you definitely can.

[00:19:35]But the hybrid and the elongated are probably the easiest to recommend to most people. If you want a little bit more control with maximum reach, go for the elongated. This one's got great power, especially if you've got great mechanics on drives, on serves, anything from the baseline. And then you get the extra reach for, you know, those hard-to-reach balls. The hybrid, of course, is a bit faster in the hands and it is plenty easy to control in my opinion. Once again, don't forget to add that sidewall weight. But as far as the widebody goes, this one is definitely more niche. This is for someone that plays aggressive, that's probably higher level and just needs to be fast and cover everything. If you're kind of sitting on the right side a lot and maybe you're the one that gets all the balls your way and you need to respond fast and you need to be aggressive, this is the one to look at. If you like the paddle techs, if you like Annal Lee Waters paddles or the paddles she plays with, this is the one you want to look at over from Girkin. And if you want to win one of these paddles for free, hold on. I'm going to tell you how to enter.

[00:20:35]But first, I want to let you know there is another giveaway on the channel for a free Thrive Ignite paddle. That is Thrive's take on a full foam build. And it's a lot different than Girkens. It's a bit more plush, but it is a thin build, so it's got a lot of pop. It is stiff, but it is an EP paddle. very unique. I did a whole video on that paddle. Go check that out if you want to win one of those for free. As for today's giveaway, if you want to win a free Girkin, this is what you've got to do. You got to like this video. You got to subscribe to the Matthew K Pickball YouTube channel. Why aren't you subscribed? You got to subscribe. You got to hit that like button if you got it. And then you've got to comment down below which shape you want and why. And then I've got a Google form in the description. You've got to go fill that out so I have your contact information in case you do win. And that's how I'm going to contact the winner via email. I am not going to be commenting down below. You won. You need to go drive to Albuquerque and cut me a check and all XYZ. You don't need to join Discord.

[00:21:32]None of that. There are some Matthew Kickball imposters. Can you believe it?

[00:21:36]Someone thinks they can be me. No one wants to be me. Trust me. So, don't listen to the imposters. I will contact the winner via email. So, I will run the raffle about a month after this video goes live. So, make sure you stay tuned to your inbox. And then if you found this video helpful, please use promo code Matthew K on your next pickle ball gear purchase. I'll be sure to leave a link to Girkin site right at the top of the video. Doing that helps the channel.

[00:21:59]It's always super appreciated. Helps keep these lights on. Look how bright it is. Like I need some lights, folks. And then of course doing all the YouTube stuff helps as well. Like, hype, comment, do all that. Please subscribe.

[00:22:10]But more than anything else, I hope you get to pickle soon. Just don't forget it's about having fun.

[00:22:16]Heat. Heat.