First Impressions of 11six24 Vapor Power 2 with HexGrit That Stays Mean Hours In and the Spin Is Unreal

Update: Peach Power 2 Limited Edition

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Backstory

When 11six24 launched the Alpha Pro Power last season, that Gen 3 paddle with the 10 mm black cell feel won over players who wanted plush dwell time without giving up power. It kept the familiar connected feel from the Gen 2 Alpha 1 and made it more playable, with bigger sweet spots, more forgiveness, and more confidence when you swing hard.

I have a soft spot for that whole direction because it fits how I play. I want power that turns on when I accelerate, not a paddle that feels too hot and random. I also care a lot about spin because my game is built on shape, heavy topspin drives, nasty slices, and quick counters that dip late. Vapor Power 2 feels like the next branch of that family. It does not try to be Alpha Pro Power. It leans into a different promise, durability, and bite, with a face texture that still feels alive deep into a session.

Also, a quick note on approval. This paddle is UPA-A approved rather than USAP. For strict events, always check the rules first. In my experience, many local tournaments and unsanctioned events do not care whether it is USAP or UPA-A, as long as the paddle is legit and has been tested and approved by a recognized body. For most open play, it is not an issue.

Other Shapes Coming

Vapor is the only approved shape right now, with Pegasus (Widebody: 16x8) and Hurache X (Elongated, 6-inch handle, 16.5x7.25) expected to follow once approval comes through, anytime from now.

Personally, I am most excited for the true Hurache X elongated with a 6-inch handle since it is my favorite for two-hand backhands and long whipping drives, and the Pegasus widebody should be a great option for players who want maximum forgiveness and faster hands at the kitchen.

The quick pitch

Vapor Power 2 is a hybrid shape (16.25"x7.5") that plays fast in hand and still hits big when you speed it up. The face uses HexGrit that feels like a nail filer, and it keeps that grip after hours and hours. The core approach is a full floating foam core, so the usual honeycomb core crushing stress is not really part of the conversation here.

Construction at a glance

The face is the story

HexGrit is the first thing you notice. It grabs the ball early, and it keeps grabbing after hours. A lot of paddles in the current market has peel pry grit that feels amazing for a short window, for like 15-20 hours, and then start feeling polished. Vapor Power 2 with Hexgrit promises the opposite.

This paddle feels special for spin wizards.

• Topspin drives dip hard
• Slices stay low and skid
• Roll volleys and counters feel like they bite instead of sliding

Power and pop

My early feel ratings
Power: 90th percentile of Boomstik level heat
Pop: around 85
Spin: probably one of the grittiest paddles I have hit, on par with RPMs and Spartus GT and P1, I think even more, with pro-level potential if you love to shape the ball.

Stock numbers were already strong

Out of the box, my Vapor Power 2 weighed 7.9 oz, which is excellent for a hybrid because it stays quick without feeling flimsy. The stock swing numbers were already really clean at SW 109 and TW 6.7, so you get fast hands, easy acceleration, and enough stability to trust on blocks.

I still wanted a little more confidence in hand battles and counters without making it feel sluggish. I added 0.5-inch tungsten tape from the throat up to 2 o'clock, then removed the stock grip and rebuilt with an overgrip, a soft cushion wrap, and a final overgrip on top.

With tape and overgrip, the final build landed at 8.34 oz with SW 113 and TW 7.15. That is exactly the kind of change I like because it improves what matters in real points. The paddle feels more planted on counters and blocks, I can take pace early and redirect, and it still stays quick enough to win fast exchanges. The HexGrit spin is still the headline, and now the frame feels tougher in the messy parts of the game.

A quick first impression: How does it play

This is not a plush paddle. It breaks in a bit after about 5 hours, then settles into a crisp feel. It never turned into the softer Alpha Pro Power vibe for me. It stays direct and predictable, more connected than pillowy. You get a clean response off the face with less trampoline dwell, so resets and blocks feel consistent, and you don’t have to guess where the ball is going. The feedback is on the denser side (not tinny), but it’s still a crisp foam-style contact rather than a traditional soft/ buttery feel of APP.

This paddle grades out as a spin-and-speed monster that still delivers real pace when you swing. On serves, I call it 9/10 because it averages about 62 MPH, which is a tick faster than what most paddles produce in the 59–60 MPH zone. That means your normal serve comes off heavier and gets on people quicker. On punch volleys, it’s an 8/10 at roughly 41 MPH, so counters and quick redirects have enough pop to win points instead of just keeping the ball in play.

The real cheat code is the face. Spin is a 10/10 for me at around 2375 RPM, so the paddle bites the ball hard and keeps shaping it late in the session. In plain terms, your topspin drives dip harder, your slices stay lower, and your roll volleys jump off the face the way spin players want.

Hand speed is also elite. Static weight is about 7.9 oz, but the bigger story is swing weight. At about 109 SW, it feels light in motion, so I rate hand speed 9/10. You get faster hands in the kitchen, quicker flicks, and easier acceleration on drives without feeling like you’re swinging a hammer. Stability is better than you’d expect for something this quick. Twist weight is about 6.7, so I give stability 8/10. Off-center hits don’t wobble as much, and blocks feel more trustworthy. Control isn’t the main headline, but it’s still 8/10 because the response stays predictable, and the spin helps you bring the ball down even when you swing big. After adding tungsten tape, though, the paddle settles down noticeably, and I’d rate control a 9.5/10 with a much more predictable and connected feel and pop. Drops land easier, resets feel more composed, and you can swing bigger without the ball sailing.

Who should try it

Try it if you want

1. Elite spin for heavy topspin and nasty slice
2. A nail filer face that keeps biting after long sessions
3. Power that shows up when you accelerate
4. A hybrid that stays quick even after a stability mod

Skip it if you need

1. USAP only approval for your events
2. A very soft plush impact feels right away

Bottom line

Vapor Power 2 is the kind of paddle that makes you want to swing. It breaks in slightly, stays crisp, and rewards aggressive mechanics. It is not the plush, soft Alpha Pro Power experience, but it is absolutely a spin-forward weapon that still brings heat. If you are a spin wizard who wants drives that dip, slices that stay low, and a face that keeps biting after hours on court, this one is going to feel like cheating.

Stock, it is already a dream hybrid setup at 7.9 oz with 109 SW and 6.7 TW, giving you fast hands, easy acceleration, and stability you can trust in real points. With my build, 0.5-inch tungsten from the throat to 2 o'clock, it turned into the version I trust in kitchen chaos, ending at 8.34 oz with 113 SW and 7.15 TW. The paddle feels more planted on counters and blocks, my hands still feel quick, and the ball still comes off with that nasty topspin dip and skidding slice that forces errors.

If your game is built on shape and you love taking the ball early, rolling volleys, ripping topspin drives, and carving low skidding slices, Vapor Power 2 feels like a cheat code that stays sharp long after the first session. It makes that style feel natural, and it makes turning defense into offense feel easy.