CPX Pickleball Paddles Compared: Air, Pro, Max, Ultra, Hyper and Hyper+ Specs Side by Side

CPX Pickleball's homepage compares six paddles, but the store lists more builds than that once you count the signature editions, the limited Hyper+ runs and a $29.97 Mini. All of them are sold direct by CPX Pickleball from its Chicago warehouse, with the main paddle lines priced from $99.97 to $299.97. This article compares them model by model using the spec tables on each product page. For shipping, returns and the brand as a whole, see our full CPX Pickleball review.

The lineup and what each paddle costs

These are the six main paddle lines and the prices listed when we checked:

• Air ($99.97): 16mm core, CPX's entry paddle.
• Pro ($99.97 Classic Carbon Fiber, $119.97 Diamond White): 19mm core, the control model.
• Max ($159.97 White, $179.97 Black, $189.97 Red, $199.97 Pink): 14mm core, the power model.
• Ultra ($199.97 to $299.97): 16mm hybrid core in seven colorways, from the Launch Edition to the Gold.
• Hyper ($199.97 in Blue): 16mm foam-reinforced honeycomb core.
• Hyper+ ($150 pre-order, $199.97 in stock): the flagship, with a full-foam "Gen 5 HYPERFOAM X" core that CPX calls patent pending, in 16mm or 14mm and elongated or widebody shapes.

The Air and Pro share the lowest price, so choosing between them comes down to core thickness, handle and face rather than budget. We did not find a published sitewide code, and any working offers we find are listed on our CPX Pickleball coupons page.

Core thickness and construction

CPX describes core thickness as "a dial between control and pace." On the brand's own scale, the 19mm Pro is the control end, the 14mm Max is the pace end and the 16mm Ultra sits in the middle. Thickness is only half the story, because the cores are built differently:

• Plain honeycomb: the Air (16mm) and the Max (14mm, 6mm cell).
• Honeycomb with a foam perimeter: the Pro, whose walls are foam-injected. CPX says this widens the usable face.
• Hybrid: the Ultra, with three foam rings around the perimeter and a honeycomb blend in the middle.
• Foam-reinforced honeycomb: the Hyper, with a tighter 8mm cell than the Pro and Max.
• Full foam: the Hyper+, which CPX says fills the body of the paddle instead of leaving a honeycomb cavity. The brand claims "99% sweet spot coverage" and "zero dead zones"; those are CPX's own figures, not independent measurements.

The Max, Ultra and Hyper+ are thermoformed unibody builds, meaning the face, walls and throat are formed as one piece. CPX is direct about the Hyper+'s character: its FAQ says "none of these is a soft touch paddle" and that the full-foam core sounds deeper and louder than honeycomb.

Weight, size and handle length

Here is what each page states:

• Pro: 235 g (about 8.3 oz), 15.94 x 7.67 in, 4.84 in handle, 4.1 in grip circumference.
• Air: 8.4 oz, a listed face size of 10.63 x 7.48 in (overall length not given), 5.71 in handle, 4.21 in grip.
• Max: 8.2 oz, 16.52 x 7.48 in, 4.92 in handle, 4.21 in grip.
• Ultra: 8.2 oz, a listed face size of 11.6 x 7.48 in, 4.92 in handle, 4.21 in grip.
• Hyper: face dimensions of 190 x 420 mm (about 7.5 x 16.5 in) and a 140 mm (about 5.5 in) handle. No weight is listed.
• Hyper+: 225 g plus or minus 5 g (about 7.9 oz), 190 x 420 mm in the elongated shape, 140 mm handle. Widebody dimensions are not published. The Ghost page adds swing weights of 115 (16mm) and 113 (14mm).

Two details stand out. The Air has the longest handle in the range at 5.71 inches, which CPX pitches at players with a two-handed backhand, while the Pro has the shortest handle and the slimmest grip. And the Air is described as "our lightest build" on several pages, yet its listed 8.4 oz is the highest figure in the table; if weight matters to you, go by the number rather than the label. The Terrell Owens page also lists its Ultra versions at 8.4 oz and 16.52 inches long, which does not match the standard Ultra page.

Faces, surfaces and approval

Every CPX face is carbon based, but the grades and finishes differ:

• Pro: raw 3K carbon fiber, matte and textured.
• Air: raw T700 carbon fiber, which CPX describes as a higher tensile grade than 3K.
• Max: T700 carbon with a textured friction finish.
• Ultra: an aramid and carbon blend with a friction finish. CPX says the aramid damps vibration, and states on the same page that it is "not going to promise anything medical."
• Hyper: three layers of T700 raw carbon per side, each set at a different angle, with a friction finish.
• Hyper+: raw carbon fiber over the foam core.

On approval, the homepage says every CPX paddle is USA Pickleball approved, and the Hyper+ page says the approval stamp is printed on the face. The exception is the new Hyper+ RIPSAW, whose own page lists approval as pending. PBCoR 43 certification appears on the Ultra, Terrell Owens Ultra, Max and Chelios Max pages, although the homepage and the paddle quiz mention it only for the Ultra. If you play sanctioned events, check your exact model on USA Pickleball's approved list before you buy.

Signature, limited and new editions

CPX says these listings play the same as the paddle they are based on:

• Chris Chelios Signature Max ($189.97): the Max in its Red colorway. The signature is printed, not hand-signed.
• Terrell Owens Signature ($229.97): a choice of Ultra Purple, Ultra Graphite or the Hyper, with construction CPX calls "identical to the standard paddle on each platform."
• Ultra colorways: CPX says all seven play identically. The Azure adds an Alcantara suede handle, and the Titanium and Gold have machined metal end caps.
• Hyper+ Ghost ($179.97, pre-order): black-on-black, elongated, 16mm or 14mm, capped at 500 of each, with a neoprene case instead of leather.
• Hyper+ Lemon Drop ($199.97, pre-order): elongated or widebody, 16mm, with a matching leather case.

The one edition that changes the build is the Hyper+ RIPSAW ($249.97 pre-order). It keeps the full-foam 16mm core but uses a Tri-Layer carbon fiber blend face with what CPX calls RIPSAW Grit, a durable grit surface. CPX describes it as having "slightly less pop" than the original Hyper+ and a more aggressive grip, and labels those changes as design direction, "not measured test results." It comes only in the elongated shape, in army tan and black, and the page says the first batch ships October 31, 2026.

The CPX Mini ($29.97) is described as a full-size paddle built lighter for beginners and kids; its page lists no weight, core, face material or approval status.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the CPX Hyper and the Hyper+?

CPX says they share the same chassis, shape and balance. The Hyper uses a foam-reinforced 16mm honeycomb core and a three-layer T700 face; the Hyper+ uses the full-foam Hyperfoam X core in 16mm or 14mm and comes with a leather case and the Lifetime Warranty.

Which CPX paddle has the longest handle?

The Air, at 5.71 inches. The Hyper and Hyper+ list 140 mm (about 5.5 inches), the Max and Ultra 4.92 inches, and the Pro 4.84 inches.

Do the different Ultra or Max colorways play differently?

No, according to CPX. Each line uses the same core, face and shape across colorways; price differences come from finishes and materials.

The bottom line

CPX's lineup is easiest to read by core: Pro at 19mm for touch, Air, Ultra and Hyper at 16mm, Max at 14mm, and the full-foam Hyper+ in both thicknesses. Treat the sweet-spot language as marketing, note the specs that disagree between pages, and confirm approval for your exact model, especially the RIPSAW.

Compare CPX paddles on the brand site

Disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices and policies were checked on the CPX Pickleball website at the time of writing and may change.