In 2024, Honolulu Pickleball Company made waves with two well-regarded hybrid shaped pickleball paddles, the J2K and J2Ti as well as several variants between the two models.
While these paddles were deservedly popular among paddle reviewers, a few paddles from Honolulu Pickleball Company have been in my possession over the course of time, and I think there’s a great opportunity to highlight even more of what the brand has to offer, from unique shapes to budget-friendly options that sacrifice little in terms of performance.
One thing about Honolulu Pickleball Company is that the team is always exploring new technologies and innovation, so please know that this list may update with new paddles over time as we have opportunities to test more at WearTesters. If there’s a paddle you think should be included that isn’t, we likely haven’t tested it yet, but please comment the name of the paddle below so we can add it to our list.
Now on to our reviews of Honolulu Pickleball Company paddles.
Honolulu Pickleball Company Sword & Shield J2Ti
One of HPC’s top rated paddles, the J2Ti is a hybrid shape option from the brand utilizing a raw carbon fiber face with “Titanium” infusion by way of PET fibers woven into the hitting surface. While these fibers have a cool visual effect, they also add a unique texture to the paddle face that seems to have a positive effect on generating ball spin. The J2Ti also utilizes polypropylene honeycomb in the core, a more traditional, tried and true type of construction as pickleball paddles continue to evolve.
The J2Ti has an all-court performance vibe, meaning that it doesn’t quite lean all the way into the control paddle category, nor does it fall in the power category. It has a respectable sweet spot and touch as a result of its hybrid shape, and also has a touch of pop due to its fully thermoformed construction. As a hybrid shape paddle, it is also easily customizable if you want to add extra weight to expand the sweet spot, enhance driving power, further stabilize it, or any combination of those.
- Paddle length: 16.2 inches
- Paddle width: 7.8 inches
- Handle length: 5.5 inches
- Core thickness: 16 millimeters
- Price: $155
Use code REDWOLF10 to save 10% off
Honolulu Pickleball Company Sword & Shield C2
A more recent entry in HPC’s lineup, the C2 is another high performing hybrid shape paddle that is also budget friendly. At a regular retail price under $100, you get a partially thermoformed paddle with a heavily textured raw carbon fiber face and satisfying pop compared to other paddles of this shape.
Actually, not only did I notice a bit more pop from the C2 compared to the J2Ti, but friends that have tried out a few of my HPC paddles also noticed the different. Though the pop doesn’t always translate to driving power, it’s still respectable in many areas and is also easily customizable due to its shape. It may not be the overall complete package that the J2Ti is, but for anyone looking to save a few dollars on a paddle with a small learning curve, the Sword & Shield C2 may be one of the better quality budget options on the market.
- Paddle length: 16.2 inches
- Paddle width: 7.8 inches
- Handle length: 5.5 inches
- Core thickness: 16 millimeters
- Price: $95
Honolulu Pickleball Company Sword & Shield J3Ti
The J3Ti takes all of the J2Ti’s material attributes and packs them into a standard shaped paddle. It is capable of generating the same rate of spin, potentially even better, for reasons to be explained shortly. Though minimal on both ends, expect a touch less hitting power due to the shorter overall length, but a slightly wider sweet spot due to the J3Ti’s overall width compared to the J2Ti.
Why choose the J3Ti for its minimal differences compared to the J2Ti? In my opinion, it comes down to handle length. The extra useable handle length of the J3Ti works best for pickleball players that are comfortable performing two handed backhands. While not impossible to perform the shot with any of the hybrid shape C2 and J2 series, it is simply a more comfortable maneuver with the J3Ti handle length. A longer handle also helps leverage a touch more ball spin. Even if minimal, it’s still a bonus for those willing to use this more standard shaped paddle.
- Paddle length: 16 inches
- Paddle width: 8 inches
- Handle length: 6 inches
- Core thickness: 16 millimeters
- Price: $155
Use code REDWOLF10 to save 10% off
Honolulu Pickleball Company Sword & Shield J2H
Somewhat of a fraternal twin to the original J2 paddle, the J2H swaps a raw carbon fiber face for a stiffer raw composite face. Aside from that, the J2H is virtually the same as the J2.
I personally preferred the pop I received from the J2H’s stiffer paddle face over the J2, but I acknowledge I am probably in the minority there. While the sweet spot is a bit tighter due to the surface, I appreciate how the pop of the J2H performs during hands battles and when turning speed up defense into offense.
When deciding between the J2 and J2H, I would consider experience and skill level. If you are newer to pickleball and racket sports in general, go with the softer, more controllable J2. If you have played a bit of pickleball and are looking to challenge yourself a bit with a paddle that is still reliable in many important areas, the J2H could fulfill a need or two.
- Paddle length: 16.2 inches
- Paddle width: 7.8 inches
- Handle length: 5.5 inches
- Core thickness: 16 millimeters
- Price: $99
Disclosure
While the Honolulu Pickleball Company J3Ti and C2 were sent to facilitate this review, Honolulu Pickleball Company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.
You can find our other pickleball paddle reviews here and our list of best pickleball paddles here.
