Update: Pakle dropped a new Glacier colorway for the Fuse Hybrid.
Yeah... they got me with this one, and I ordered it right away.
For me, this is probably the best-looking Fuse colorway they've released so far. It looks amazing, and I really couldn't resist.
A little update on the two $100 MPP foam paddles I've been watching most closely: the Pakle Fuse and Enhance MPP Turbo.
I've already written quite a bit about the Pakle Fuse; the biggest question after my testing was grit durability.
On my original Fuse Hybrid, the aggressive grit started noticeably depleting at around 25 hours, eventually feeling much closer to a regular RCF surface. The interesting thing is that Pakle seems to have had different batches with noticeably different amounts and levels of grit, both on the Elongated and Hybrid.
Now we finally have a much more encouraging real-world update.
One of our subreddit followers, u/Wise_Ad1342, has been putting a lot of time on the Fuse with a newer application of Duragrit and just confirmed that after roughly 30 hours of actual play, the grit is still holding up fine and he hasn't noticed any meaningful reduction in spin.
That's important because this isn't an accelerated abrasion test or just 2-3 sessions of play. Thirty hours of real pickleball without noticeable grit degradation is a very good sign.
So at this point, it looks increasingly likely that Pakle improved the DuraSpin application on the newer batches, although I still wouldn't declare the issue completely solved from one paddle.
I actually have another new Fuse Hybrid with the newer grit coming soon, so I'll be able to compare it directly against my original Hybrid that started losing its aggressive texture at around 25 hours.
And we hope u/Wise_Ad1342, definitely keep us updated if you notice anything changing after 30 hours.
Enhance MPP Turbo + ArmorGrit, September 15
The other paddle I'm watching very closely is the Enhance MPP Turbo.
The current Turbo with regular RCF grit is already one of the best-value MPP paddles around $100. Huge sweet spot, great MPP pocketing, plenty of power and a very forgiving face. The main thing it's been missing compared with the Fuse is a more aggressive, durable grit.
That should change in mid-September, when Enhance is expected to release the MPP Turbo with ArmorGrit.
And that's potentially a pretty big deal.
If Enhance can basically take the existing Turbo, which is already an excellent MPP paddle, and add ArmorGrit with genuinely high-level grit retention, suddenly we're looking at two extremely compelling MPP options around $100. Enhance has reportedly been doing accelerated cannon testing with ArmorGrit similar to John Kew's cannon test and is targeting what would essentially be Tier 1 durability.
One more thing for existing Pakle paddle users: if you've previously purchased a Fuse, you can email [support@paklepickleball.com](mailto:support@paklepickleball.com) and ask about their 60% replacement discount.
Otherwise, SLICE15 gets you 15% off a new Pakle Fuse.
I'll update again once my new Fuse Hybrid arrives and once I get hands-on with the ArmorGrit MPP Turbo before/ after September 15.