For sixty bucks ($54 with SLICE10), the ACE Spade Wild plays like a legit Gen-3-style All Court leaning power paddle with real bite and enough dwell to keep touch shots honest.
Early head-to-head: it’s snappier, grittier, and hits a touch harder than Friday Fever right out of the wrapper.
Specifications
Form factor
- Shape: Elongated
- Dimensions: 16.5" length × 7.5" width
- Thickness: 16 mm
Handle & grip
- Handle length: 5.5" (two-hand backhand friendly)
- Listed grip size: 4.33" circumference (Felt more like 4.25 inch circumference)
- Grip feel: slightly tacky, medium-firm, with just enough cushion
Weight & balance
- Target weight: ~7.8–8.0 oz
- Balance: neutral-to-slightly middle, easy hand speed without feeling head-heavy
Face & texture
- Face material: Raw T700 carbon fiber (uncoated/raw texture)
- Feel: crisp impact with real frictional grab on the ball
- Edge: protective guard with clean seam
Core & build
- Construction: foam-forward “Gen-3 style” composite core (marketed as a power-tuned blend), but feels more like AC leaning Power rather than Power Paddle like Joola Persues 4.
- Play intent: rebound-positive (pop/power) with usable dwell for resets
- Throat: reinforced, good torsional control for the class
What does this mean on the court
- Power band: High for the price: easy pace on counters and drives
- Spin window: Above average: raw face grips well for rolls, kick serves, and topspin dinks
- Control: Not a marshmallow, but there’s enough linger to keep thirds and blocks controlled
First hits: how it actually plays
- Pop & power: It’s lively. Chest-high volleys and late counters leap off the face with less swing than expected. Put-aways feel honest even when you’re not set perfectly.
- Spin & grit: The surface grabs. I immediately got heavier dip on roll volleys, harder-breaking kick serves, and easy shape on deep baseline rips.
- Dwell & touch: It isn’t pillowy, but there’s real dwell for a power-leaning build. Thirds didn’t trampoline; resets stayed straight with a compact stroke.
- Stability: Solid for the weight. Mishits didn’t wobble much; blocks held line. (If you’re mishit-prone, see the weighted tape tips below.)
- Feel/sound: Clean, crisp thwack, energetic without being harsh in the hand.
Friday Fever vs. Spade Wild (early take)
- Pop/Power: Wild > Fever for me on day one, slightly easier pace and finishing power.
- Grit/Spin: Wild feels grittier; spin came on sooner with less break-in.
- Dwell/Feel: Fever leans a hair plusher; Wild keeps more rebound but still offers workable touch.
Who should grab this
- Value hunters who want real power + spin under $100.
- Tennis converts who like the elongated reach and 5.5" handle.
- Players curious about Gen-3-style response without dropping $200–$300.
Quick tuning tips (if you like to tinker)
- Calm mishits / add stability: 2–3 g total split at 4 & 8 o’clock, minimal SW increase, and also improve the lower launch.
- More drive power: 2 g up high around 12 o’clock/ 1g at 10 and 2 (accept a small swingweight bump, but paddles feel more stable at the top corners).
- Grip feel: An overgrip can nudge the circumference further, and if you prefer a thinner circumference like me, then remove the stock grip and install two overgrips to make it 4.125".
Legality note
- USAP: Listed as pending, but should be approved soon.
The deal
- Price: $60 each
- Code: SLICE10 → $54
- Two paddles = $108 and free U.S. shipping when you buy 2+
Bottom line
At $54 with SLICE10 (or $108 for two with free shipping), the ACE Spade Wild is a budget bazooka: hot face, legit grit, and just enough dwell to keep your short game on the rails. If you were eyeing Friday Fever for value power, put this on your shortlist, my early sessions point to more pop and a grabbier face right out of the gate.