Ronbus R1 Nova Pickleball Paddle Review

The Ronbus R1 Nova is a new pickleball paddle that was released by up-and-coming pickleball manufacturer Ronbus The R1 Nova features some innovative new technology from Ronbus that aims to solve the delamination and core corruption issues that have plagued many thermoformed paddles.

Pros

• Innovative new edge grid technology helps prevent core corruption: The main technological innovation with the R1 Nova is the new carbon fiber edge grid that allows trapped air and heat to escape during manufacturing. This helps prevent the core corruption issues seen in many thermoformed paddles. Extensive lab testing by Ronbus has shown no signs of core damage after 10,000 hits at high speed.
• Great balance of power and control: The R1 Nova hits harder than non-thermoformed paddles but has less power than full-on thermoformed paddles. This makes it a good option if you find thermoformed paddles too powerful. It has enough pop and power for drives and serves but also offers good touch and control.
• Excellent spin potential: Test results show the R1 Nova can generate up to 1900 RPM of spin. While not as high as some paddles, this spin level allows you to easily generate heavy spin on serves and groundstrokes. The grippy carbon fiber face grabs and imparts spin very well.
• Lightweight and maneuverable: At just 7.7oz, the R1 Nova is lighter than most paddles. This gives it a lightweight swingweight of 115, making it quick and easy to maneuver. The lighter weight combined with the elongated shape provides excellent mobility.
• Comfortable, ergonomic handle: The R1 Nova features a 5.5″ handle with a smaller 4.125″ octagonal grip. The longer handle gives good leverage on two-handed shots while the octagonal grip fits nicely in the hand. Many users find it very comfortable.
• Soft, plush feel: Unlike some stiff thermoformed paddles, the R1 Nova has a softer, more plush feel, especially on touch shots. This gives it better control on soft shots while still having pop on power shots. The feel is very intuitive and easy to control.
• Excellent touch and finesse: Due to its softer feel and good control, the R1 Nova performs very well on touch shots like slow-paced dinks, drops, lobs and resets. It provides confidence and feel on finesse shots.
• Improved durability: In addition to preventing core issues, the Nova’s construction seems more durable overall. After extended playtesting, it shows no signs of wear or problems.
• Slightly cheaper than competing models: At $160 after discounts, the Nova is priced competitively with other upper-tier paddles. For the technology and performance, the price tag seems fair and reasonable.
• Made by a small, innovative company: Ronbus is a smaller paddle company focusing on new innovations like the edge grid tech. Supporting them helps drive progress in paddle technology.

Cons

• Lower pop than some paddles: Due to its soft feel, the R1 Nova has slightly less pop than ultra-stiff thermoformed paddles. This reduces punching power on quick volleys and exchanges.
• Reduced forgiveness and sweet spot: While usable off-center, the sweet spot and forgiveness are reduced somewhat compared to larger thermoformed paddles. It’s less forgiving when missing the center.
• Not as powerful as full composite paddles: Serious power hitters may find the R1 Nova lacks some of the full power of stiffer composite paddles. It sacrifices some power for control.
• Spin potential slightly reduced: While still very good, the R1 Nova generates marginally less spin than past Ronbus paddles and some competitors. Not ideal for max spin players.
• Weighting it improves performance: To optimize its playability, most users recommend adding some lead tape. This improves power and forgiveness. Stock is usable but better weighted.
• Small loss of pop with weighting: Adding weight tapes improves stability but reduces some snap and pop. A tradeoff some won’t like.
• May lack speed for faster play: The Nova performs best with moderate, controlled strokes. Faster, whippy strokes may find it lacking. Aggressive players may want more speed.
• Unproven long term durability: Though initial testing is positive, the long term durability is still unproven over years of play. Time will tell if issues emerge.
• Only one shape currently available: Ronbus has only released the R1 hybrid shape so far. No other shape options for players who prefer different designs.
• Shorter warranty period: The Nova only comes with a 6 month warranty. Some other brands offer longer 1+ year warranties.
• Smaller sweet spot than largest paddles: Its sweet spot, while good, is smaller than extra large designs like the Engage Pursuit or Legacy Pro.

Performance Details

Here are some further details on the R1 Nova’s playing characteristics:

• The spin potential is very good, if not top tier. Most testers were able to generate heavy spin for good control. Slice and underspin shots bite and shoot very low.
• Power is above average, falling in the range of other thermoformed paddles. Drives, serves and overheads have excellent pace. It hits slightly softer than early thermoformed paddles.
• The pop is slightly above average. It provides good punch on quick volleys and exchanges but lacks the extreme pop of ultra-stiff paddles. Pop is sufficient for most players.
• Control is a standout feature. The Nova offers excellent touch and feel for finesse shots like drops, lobs and dinks due to its softer, more plush feel.
• It has a comfortable, ergonomic feel and handle. The shape fits most hand sizes well and provides good leverage and grip comfort.
• The paddle is quick and responsive. Its lightweight design and elongated shape provide excellent maneuverability for quick reactions and strokes.
• The quality of shots stays consistent across the face. The sweet spot is reasonably forgiving, though not as oversized as the largest sweet spot paddles.
• Adding some weight tape improves power and stability noticeably. Weighting the paddle up is recommended to optimize performance.

Conclusion

The Ronbus R1 Nova is an impressive new thermoformed paddle combining good power, excellent control and innovative technology to prevent core corruption issues. It has a comfortable feel and provides great touch for finesse shots. The mix of control and stability make it a great all-around option for any pickleball player. While it may not be the most powerful or highest spin paddle, it has no major weaknesses and provides reliable performance. If you like the shape, the Nova is easy to recommend based on the complete playing experience it provides.

Recommendation

The R1 Nova is best suited to all-around players looking for control and stability with good power. Finesse players will appreciate the buttery touch shots it enables. The Nova can benefit players across many skill levels. Aggressive power baseliners may want a more powerful and responsive paddle best optimized for their full-swing shots and hard counters. But for most others, the R1 Nova is an excellent option that provides versatile performance and innovative construction. It earns a strong recommendation.