Three New Gen 4 Foam Core Pickleball Paddles Are Coming: Sigma Super, Sender Pro X and Carbon Flow Foam

We've been sitting on this one for a while.

Three new paddles are on the way from Mint Sport: the Sigma Super, the Sender Pro X and the Carbon Flow Foam. All three are Gen 4 foam core pickleball paddles, and all three are a real departure from anything we've made before.

Every paddle in our current lineup uses a polypropylene honeycomb core. These don't. The hitting zone in each one is solid foam.

Here's what that means, how the three differ, and which one is likely to suit your game.

What "Gen 4" Actually Means

Gen 4 is the shorthand players use for paddles that replace the honeycomb in the hitting zone with foam.

A honeycomb core is a sheet of tiny hollow cells. It works well, but those cell walls can break down with heavy use. Players call it core crush, and it's a big part of why a well-used paddle can start to feel soft or uneven.

A solid foam core has no cells to crush. That's the main reason the industry is moving this way: a foam paddle is built to keep its feel for longer.

The second piece is suspension. In all three of these paddles, the foam center is surrounded by a second, different material. Think of a trampoline. The mat is where you land, but the springs around the edge decide how it gives and how it throws you back. Change the springs and you change the whole ride.

That's the real difference between these three paddles. Same idea, three different sets of springs.

What All Three Share

Before the differences, the common ground:

• Face: T700 unidirectional carbon fiber. "Unidirectional" means the fibers all run the same way instead of being woven.
• Build: Thermoformed unibody. The face, core and handle are heat-molded into a single piece instead of being glued together in stages.
• Weight: 230 g, give or take 5 g. That's about 8.1 oz, a true midweight.
• Length: 16.54 in.
• Grip: 4.25 in circumference, 140 mm long (about 5.5 in), so there's room for a two-handed backhand.
• VibraReduce™: Damping built into the handle to take the sting out of hard contact.
• USA Pickleball approved: Yes, all three.

Two Numbers Worth Knowing

You'll see swing weight and twist weight quoted for each paddle. They tell you more about feel than the number on the scale does.

Swing weight is how heavy a paddle feels in motion. Picture holding a hammer at the end of the handle, then choking up near the head. Same hammer, completely different swing. A higher swing weight carries more momentum through the ball. A lower one is quicker to get into position.

Twist weight is how well the face resists turning in your hand when you catch the ball off-center. Higher means more forgiving on mishits.

All three of these paddles weigh the same. They don't swing the same. That's the part to pay attention to.

Sigma Super: Power With Quick Hands

• Core: 16 mm. MPP10 foam center, full TPE halo, PP8 honeycomb in the throat and handle
• Swing weight: 115.81
• Twist weight: 6.2
• Face width: 7.48 in

The Sigma Super is the fast one.

The center is MPP foam, a material chosen because it rebounds quickly and sends the ball back with pace. Around it runs a full ring of TPE, the most elastic material used in any of the three. It loads up on contact and releases, a bit like a spring being pressed and let go.

What makes it interesting is where the weight sits. A section of lightweight honeycomb in the throat and handle keeps mass out of the head. The result is the lowest swing weight of the three at 115.81, along with the highest twist weight at 6.2.

In plain terms: foam-core pop in a paddle that gets around quickly at the kitchen line. If you win points in hand battles, with punch volleys and counters, this is the one to watch.

The trade-off is that a lighter-swinging paddle carries less momentum through a full drive. If your game is built from the baseline, keep reading.

Sender Pro X: The Heavy Hitter

• Core: 14 mm. MPP10 foam center, EVA halo across the top, PU suspension pads at the lower body
• Swing weight: 124.31
• Twist weight: 6.08
• Face width: 7.28 in

The Sender Pro X is built for players who like to end points.

It uses the same fast-rebounding MPP10 center as the Sigma Super, but in a thinner 14 mm core. A thinner core generally plays crisper and livelier, which is the point here.

The suspension is split in two. A half ring of EVA foam sits across the top of the paddle to keep ball speed in check on drives and overheads. Lower down, polyurethane pads soak up impact so hard blocks don't rattle your hand.

Then there's the swing weight: 124.31, the highest of the three by a clear margin. That's the number behind what players call plow-through. The paddle keeps moving through the ball instead of getting pushed back by it, so drives and serves land heavy without you having to swing harder.

Now the honest part. The face is narrower at 7.28 in, and the twist weight is the lowest of the three at 6.08. This paddle wants you to find the middle. If your contact is consistent, you'll get a lot back. If you're still spraying the ball around the face, it'll let you know.

We'd point this one at advanced players, and at tennis converts with a full swing who already hit the center.

Carbon Flow Foam: No Honeycomb at All

• Core: 16 mm. EPP foam center, full EVA halo with an interlocking serrated edge
• Swing weight: 119.4
• Twist weight: 6.16
• Face width: 7.48 in

The Carbon Flow Foam is the purest version of the Gen 4 idea. There's no honeycomb anywhere in it.

The center is EPP foam, which is the control material of the group. It holds the ball on the face a fraction longer. Players call that dwell time, and it's what gives you the feeling of shaping a shot instead of just redirecting it. More dwell also gives the face longer to work on the ball for spin.

Around the center runs a full ring of EVA foam, and the detail we like most is how the two meet. The edge isn't a straight seam. It's serrated, so the two foams mesh together like the teeth of two gears. That mechanical lock spreads impact across the whole face instead of concentrating it in one spot, which is designed to give you a bigger sweet spot and more life toward the edges.

On the numbers it sits right between the other two: 119.4 swing weight, 6.16 twist weight. Balanced on purpose.

The trade-off is that it isn't the biggest hitter of the three, and it isn't the quickest either. It's the one you pick for touch, placement and a consistent response across the face. For a lot of players, that's the better deal.

Which One Fits Your Game?

A few quick pointers:

• You live at the kitchen line and love a firefight: Sigma Super.
• You drive, serve big and look for the put-away: Sender Pro X.
• You win with placement, resets and spin: Carbon Flow Foam.
• You're not sure yet: the Carbon Flow Foam is the most balanced of the three, so it's the one we'd lean toward for most intermediate players.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the Sigma Super, Sender Pro X and Carbon Flow Foam be available?

Soon. We haven't announced a release date or pricing yet. The best way to hear first is to follow @mint_sport or keep an eye on mintsport.com.

What is a Gen 4 pickleball paddle?

It's a paddle that uses solid foam in the hitting zone instead of a honeycomb core, usually with a second material around it acting as suspension. The goals are a more consistent feel across the face and a core that holds up better over time.

Do foam core paddles last longer than honeycomb paddles?

They're designed to. Honeycomb cores can soften as the cell walls break down, which is known as core crush. A solid foam core has no cells to crush. No paddle lasts forever, though. Faces wear and grit fades on every paddle, foam or not.

Are these paddles USA Pickleball approved?

Yes. All three are USA Pickleball approved.

What's the difference between swing weight and twist weight?

Swing weight is how heavy a paddle feels when you swing it. Higher means more momentum through the ball, lower means quicker hands. Twist weight is how well the face resists turning on off-center hits. Higher means more forgiveness.

Are these good paddles for beginners?

They're performance paddles, and the Sender Pro X in particular rewards consistent, centered contact. If you're brand new, something like our Movemint paddles will teach you the game for a lot less. If you're improving quickly and want one paddle to grow into, the Carbon Flow Foam is the most forgiving of the three.

Final Thoughts

Three paddles, one idea, three different answers.

The Sigma Super is for quick hands. The Sender Pro X is for heavy hitters who find the middle. The Carbon Flow Foam is for players who want feel and a response they can count on.

None of them is the "right" one. It depends on where you win your points.

We'll share release dates and pricing as soon as they're locked in. Until then, start thinking about which one sounds like you.