I've now put 20+ hours on the Volair CMD Hybrid HexGrit, and it's one of those paddles that really benefits from customization. Stock, I wasn't particularly impressed with the stability or sweet spot, especially toward the upper part of the face. It actually reminded me a little of the Hurache-X in that regard, which was surprising considering the CMD's hybrid shape.
I ended up adding weight fairly early on, and that completely changed my experience with the paddle. The stability improved considerably, the usable sweet spot opened up, and off-center hits became much more predictable, all without sacrificing too much maneuverability. After spending more time with it, I also noticed the foam core gradually softening, making the paddle feel more comfortable and controlled.
All my playing impressions in this review are based on that customized setup, because I think that's where the CMD really starts to shine. If you're looking for something stable and forgiving straight out of the box, there are better options. But if you're comfortable experimenting with a little weight, the CMD becomes a genuinely good all-court hybrid, especially with the excellent spin from HexGrit and the softer feel that develops after break-in.
If you're looking for a paddle that feels stable and forgiving straight out of the box, I don't think the CMD would be my first recommendation. But if you're comfortable adding a little weight, it becomes a really good hybrid with excellent spin, much better stability, and a genuinely good usable sweet spot.
The CMD combines Volair's floating foam Channel Core with 11SIX24's licensed HexGrit surface. I've already logged 75+ hours on HexGrit across the 11SIX24 Power 2 and Ultré Jelly Bean 2, and both are still generating excellent spin. What's interesting is that the grit around the sweet spot has visibly worn down quite a bit, yet the actual spin performance hasn't dropped off noticeably. It's a good reminder that visible surface wear doesn't necessarily translate to a significant loss in spin.
So I wasn't particularly concerned about the grit. I was more interested in the foam construction, how the paddle would break in, and whether I could improve the sweet spot without sacrificing too much maneuverability.
My Measurements and Custom Setup
The CMD Hybrid measures 16.3 × 7.7 inches, with a 16 mm core and 5.5-inch handle.
| Metric | Stock | Customized (estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 7.65 oz | 8.07 oz |
| Swingweight | 109.0 | 112.8 |
| Twistweight | 6.45 | 7.09 |
| Balance point | 238 mm | 234 mm |
My setup:
- 3 g on each side (0.5 g per inch), starting around 3 and 9 o'clock slightly, starting slightly above the handle
- 0.5 g on each side at 2 and 10 o'clock
- An overgrip approx 5g
At 109 SW and 6.45 TW stock, the CMD has plenty of room for customization. But that relatively low twistweight also helps explain why I wasn't particularly impressed with the stability initially.
The sweet spot reminded me more of the 11SIX24 Hurache-X, especially toward the upper face, where the response drops off noticeably.
Adding the 3 g on each side made the biggest difference. The paddle became considerably more stable on off-center contact, with much less twisting. The additional 0.5 g at 2 and 10 helped with the upper hitting area, which was one of my biggest complaints.
And the nice thing is that the estimated swingweight is still only 112.8, while twistweight moves to approximately 7.09.
That's a pretty good combination for a hybrid.
After customization, the CMD has a good functional sweet spot and feels considerably more stable than it does stock. There's still some drop-off toward the very top of the face, but across most of the hitting area, the response is much more consistent.
I wouldn't say it suddenly becomes as forgiving as the Pegasus Power 2 or MPP Turbo AG Hybrid, but the difference is substantial enough that I genuinely enjoy playing with it now.
Feel and Break-In
The CMD starts almost exactly between soft and stiff, with a slightly hollow character.
It has that recognizable foam feel, although it's not quite as elastic or trampoline-like as the Enhance MPP Turbo. There's a little more firmness at contact initially.
But like quite a few foam paddles I've tested, the CMD gets softer after breaking in.
After spending over 20 hours with my weighted setup, the paddle feels noticeably more comfortable. There's better pocketing, a little more dwell, and the response feels more natural, particularly on resets and drops.
A paddle can soften considerably after break-in without changing its underlying dense or hollow character.
That's exactly what happens with the CMD.
It starts around the midpoint between soft and stiff, then moves toward the softer side after break-in. But it retains that slightly hollow feel throughout.
It is not dense and muted like the Ultré Jelly Bean 2 or Coral Pro Hybrid.
Personally, I don't mind that. I actually prefer having some feedback from the paddle, especially when the response remains predictable.
Power, Pop, and Control
With 56.6 mph power and 36.8 mph pop in the testing, the CMD sits comfortably in the all-court leaning power category.
It's not an exceptionally powerful paddle, especially compared with something like the MPP Turbo AG Hybrid, but it has enough power to finish points and enough pop for counters.
The Turbo remains the more naturally forgiving paddle, with a larger sweet spot straight out of the box. It also produces more power at a similar stock swingweight. Both have a slightly hollow foam character, although the Turbo feels more elastic and trampoline-like. With weights, the CMD closes the gap considerably in stability and forgiveness, but I still think the Turbo is the easier paddle to play with without making any adjustments.
What I appreciate more is how the paddle plays after customization and break-in.
The extra perimeter weight makes it much more stable when blocking or countering pace. Off-center contact feels more predictable, and I don't have to worry nearly as much about the paddle twisting in my hand.
On drives, I can accelerate through the ball confidently without feeling like it's going to launch everything long. And with the amount of spin HexGrit generates, getting good shape on the ball isn't difficult.
At the kitchen, the softer feel after break-in helps with resets and drops. The paddle has enough pocketing to control the ball, and the improved stability makes a pretty noticeable difference on defensive shots.
I actually think the customized CMD is a very good all-court leaning power hybrid.
But I also think it's important to distinguish that from how it comes stock.
If I were judging the paddle purely on its stock stability and sweet spot, I wouldn't rate it nearly as highly.
HexGrit and Spin Durability
This is probably the easiest part of the review.
My CMD measured 2,343 RPM, which is among the higher spin numbers in my hybrid comparison data.
I've also spent more than 75+ hours with HexGrit on the 11SIX24 Power 2 and Ultré Jelly Bean 2, and both surfaces are still performing extremely well.
The surface texture has held up nicely, and I'm still getting excellent spin from both paddles.
Now, I only have 20+ hours on the CMD itself, so I'm not claiming the same long-term durability results for this particular paddle yet.
But so far, I haven't had any concerns with its spin.
What's interesting is how differently these HexGrit paddles feel despite using the same surface technology.
The Power 2 has a more reactive, poppy response. The Jelly Bean 2 feels much softer and denser, while the CMD has that slightly hollow foam character.
Which is another reason I don't think grit technology alone tells you much about how a paddle will actually feel.
Comparing It With Other Hybrids
Here are my existing reference measurements. The CMD's playing comparisons below are based on my customized setup, while the table contains stock/reference test values.
| Paddle | SW | TW | Power | Pop | Spin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volair CMD Hybrid | 112.8 | 7.09 | 56.6 | 36.8 | 2,343 |
| MPP Turbo AG Hybrid | 110.7 | 6.91 | 58.4 | 37.2 | 2,219 |
| Pakle Fuse Hybrid-W | 107.4 | 6.59 | 58.2 | 36.8 | 2,144 |
| Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid | 112 | 6.65 | 56.5 | 36.2 | 2,270 |
| 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2 | 111 | 6.79 | 56.2 | 37.8 | 2,239 |
| 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 | 115 | 6.71 | 56.1 | 38.2 | 2,292 |
| 11SIX24 Ultré Jelly Bean 2 | 118 | 6.61 | 55.4 | 34.7 | 2,356 |
| Honolulu J2CR CBE | 109.9 | 6.69 | 58.6 | 38.8 | 2,318 |
Power/pop in mph and spin in RPM.
CMD vs Pakle Fuse Hybrid-W: I still really like the Fuse, particularly its progressive power delivery. The CMD feels a little more hollow, and its HexGrit surface gives me more confidence in long-term spin durability. Both benefit from customization, although I think the CMD needs it more to reach its potential.
CMD vs 11SIX24 Power 2 and Jelly Bean 2: I actually think the CMD sits somewhere between the Power 2 and Jelly Bean 2 in terms of feel and performance. The Vapor and Ultré Power 2 have a livelier, more explosive response with noticeably more immediate pop, especially on counters and quick exchanges. On the other end, the Ultré JB2 is considerably softer, denser, and more muted, with better dwell and a more controlled response.
The CMD falls nicely in the middle. It starts somewhere between soft and stiff, but gradually softens after break-in while retaining that slightly hollow foam character. It doesn't have the immediate explosiveness of the Power 2 or the plush, dense feel of the JB2, but offers a nice balance of power, pop, and control. With my customized setup, the stability and sweet spot improve considerably, making it a good middle ground for someone who finds the Power 2 a little too lively but doesn't want to give up as much pop as they would with the JB2. And with all three using HexGrit, spin really isn't something I'd worry about with any of them.
CMD vs Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid: These are fairly close in measured power, but the feel is completely different. The Coral is softer, denser, and more muted, whereas the CMD retains a slightly hollow response even after break-in. The Coral feels more connected across the face, while the customized CMD offers a nice combination of maneuverability, stability, and spin.
Final Thoughts
After 20+ hours with my customized CMD, I actually like this paddle quite a bit.
But I think the distinction between stock and customized performance is really important here.
At 7.65 oz, 109 SW, and 6.45 TW, the CMD feels maneuverable but lacks the stability and forgiveness I expect from a good hybrid. The smaller sweet spot, particularly toward the upper face, is noticeable.
If you're someone who buys a paddle and wants it to feel stable, forgiving, and ready to play straight out of the box, I wouldn't recommend the CMD as my first choice. There are other hybrids that offer better stability without needing additional weight.
However, customization changes the experience considerably.
With 3 g slightly around 3 and 9, another 0.5 g at 2 and 10, and an overgrip, the estimated setup reaches 112.8 SW and 7.09 TW.
And that's where I think the CMD really starts to make sense.
The paddle becomes stable, the functional sweet spot improves considerably, and it retains excellent maneuverability while offering all the benefits of HexGrit.
Add the softer feel that develops after break-in, and I think it becomes a genuinely good all-court paddle.
But I also wouldn't judge the customized CMD based solely on its stock measurements, because it plays considerably better with the additional weight.
For me, the CMD isn't a great out-of-the-box recommendation, but it's a really good paddle once customized.
And after 15+ hours, that's the setup I've enjoyed playing with.
The Volair CMD Hybrid is listed at $179.99, and you can use SLICE10 as a discount code to get 10% off.