"Gen 4" gets thrown around a lot in paddle marketing right now, but most explanations stop at the label. Here's what actually changed inside the core, why it changes how a paddle plays, and whether it's worth chasing.
The Real Difference Between Gen 3 and Gen 4
A Gen 3 paddle typically builds its core around polypropylene honeycomb. Picture a grid of small hexagonal cells, like an actual honeycomb, which gives the core strength while keeping it light. Around that honeycomb, Gen 3 paddles usually add some kind of foam, whether that's EVA, MPP10, or PU, often as a halo around the edges.
A Gen 4 paddle drops the honeycomb structure entirely. The whole face is built from foam, full stop, just in different compositions depending on the paddle. That's the actual generational shift. It's not a marketing rename, it's a real change in what the core is made of.
What You Actually Feel in Your Hand
Gen 3 paddles, especially ones with an EVA halo wrapped around a polypropylene honeycomb center, tend to have more pop. That halo creates a kind of trampoline effect that can send the ball off faster than you'd expect from a honeycomb core alone.
Gen 4 paddles feel different in hand. The all-foam face is more rigid, and depending on the foam blend, it's often a bit weightier than a lighter polypropylene core. That added weight isn't automatically a downside. It changes your swing weight, which is the effort it takes to swing the paddle through contact, and a heavier core can help you hit through the ball with more pace.
The trade-off runs the other way too. Lighter foams like EVA tend to favor control, letting you place the ball into tight corners rather than driving through it. Heavier foam blends favor power at the cost of some of that touch.
Foam Type Matters as Much as the Generation Label
Not all foam behaves the same way. TPE, EVA, PU, and MPP10 all have different viscosity and weight, which means each one produces a different feel on contact. A paddle built mostly with a heavier foam will let you swing harder. A paddle built mostly with a lighter foam like EVA will reward precision over power.
This is the part that gets lost when people talk about "Gen 4" as if it's one thing. Two Gen 4 paddles can play completely differently from each other depending on which foams the manufacturer used and in what ratio. The generation tells you the construction approach. It doesn't tell you how the paddle will actually play.
Is Gen 4 Just Marketing, or a Real Upgrade?
It's a real shift, not just a label. Most major manufacturers are now focused on Gen 4 cores, and some are already moving into Gen 5. Foam core formulas are being protected aggressively as intellectual property right now, because the specific foam composition genuinely changes how a paddle performs. That's not the kind of thing companies fight over if it's just marketing.
That said, Gen 4 isn't automatically better for every player. Some Gen 3 designs, particularly ones using an EVA halo around a honeycomb core, still outperform certain Gen 4 builds in raw pop. Which generation is right for you depends on whether your game leans toward power or control, not which number is newer.
What's Coming From Mint Sport
We don't have any Gen 4 paddles in our current lineup, but we're building our Unleashed series now, and it will include a mix of Gen 3 and Gen 4 cores, roughly a quarter Gen 3 and three quarters Gen 4, to match where the market is heading.
We're paying close attention to foam composition on these builds, primarily TPE, EVA, PU, and MPP10, combined deliberately so each paddle in the line plays distinctly from the others rather than feeling like variations on one core. Core thickness will run between 14mm and 16mm depending on the model. We're also moving away from open throat designs in favor of TPE edge guards, and using foam placement to help stabilize MOI, which is a paddle's resistance to twisting when you make contact off-center. A more stable MOI generally means more forgiveness on mishits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Gen 4 paddle always better than a Gen 3 paddle?
Not always. Gen 4 is a genuine construction change, but performance depends more on the specific foam composition than the generation number alone. Some Gen 3 designs still outperform certain Gen 4 builds in pop and pace.
What foam is used in Gen 4 paddle cores?
It varies by manufacturer, but common foams include TPE, EVA, PU, and MPP10. Each has a different weight and viscosity, which changes how the paddle feels and performs.
Should I wait for a Gen 4 paddle or buy Gen 3 now?
It depends on your playing style more than the generation. If you already play well with a honeycomb-core paddle and like its pop, there's no need to switch just because Gen 4 is newer. If you're shopping fresh, it's worth trying both before deciding.
Final Thoughts
Gen 4 is a real change in how paddle cores are built, not just a new label on the same technology. But the generation number alone won't tell you how a paddle plays. The foam composition inside it will. If you're choosing between generations, focus on whether you want more pop and power or more control, and let that guide you, not the number on the box.
