JOOLA Radius vs Gearbox CX11E — Round Control vs Elongated Touch

Updated September 2025

Pickleball players talk about control like it’s a single concept, but the truth is there are different kinds of control. Some players want a wide, forgiving sweet spot that makes resets and dinks feel automatic. Others want reach and touch, trusting themselves to find the ball on a thinner, more precise paddle.

That’s exactly where the JOOLA Radius vs Gearbox CX11E split paths.

• The Radius is JOOLA’s compact round frame paddle, designed to maximize forgiveness and kitchen consistency.
• The CX11E is Gearbox’s elongated, slim-profile paddle built around their patented solid span technology—less about forgiveness, more about reach and sharp spin.

Both are aimed at players who prioritize control, but they deliver it in very different ways.

Spec Breakdown — Round vs Elongated

On paper, the specs tell the story.

• JOOLA Radius: Round face, 16mm polymer core, raw carbon surface, midweight build (7.6–8.0 oz), and a slim 4.125” grip. Its swingweight is on the lighter side, helping hand speed and maneuverability.
• Gearbox CX11E: Elongated frame, only 11mm thick thanks to Gearbox’s solid span construction, average weight around 7.8 oz, and grips ranging from 4.0–4.25”. Swingweight is higher, and because of the thin profile, feedback is crisp and direct.

So, while the Radius prioritizes a large sweet spot and cushioned feel, the CX11E focuses on reach, spin leverage, and tactile feedback.

Getting to Know the JOOLA Radius

The Radius plays exactly how it looks, round, soft, and consistent. Its circular shape naturally enlarges the sweet spot, meaning you don’t get punished nearly as much for off center contact. If your goal is to live at the kitchen line, block drives, and win dink battles, this paddle feels like a safety net.

Players often describe it as “comfortable.” It doesn’t launch the ball with overwhelming pop, nor does it vibrate harshly on mishits. Instead, it absorbs energy, slows the ball down, and rewards touch placement.

• Kitchen Performance: Dinks and resets land deep in the face, giving you time to absorb and redirect.
• Blocks: Against hard hitters, the Radius feels like a shield, solid and forgiving.
• Spin: While JOOLA paddles are known for spin, the Radius isn’t a monster in this category. It’s capable but designed more for control than raw RPMs.

Bottom line: the Radius is one of the most beginner friendly and senior friendly control paddles on the market, but it’s still valuable for experienced players who want more forgiveness in their short game.

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What the Gearbox CX11E Brings to the Court

The CX11E, on the other hand, doesn’t play safe, it plays sharp. Gearbox is famous for its solid span core, which removes honeycomb and replaces it with a single-piece carbon construction. This allows them to make a paddle as thin as 11mm without sacrificing stiffness.

That thin profile translates into a crisp, immediate response. The elongated shape stretches the sweet spot vertically, which means you’ll miss more side-to-side but gain extra length for overheads, drives, and wide kitchen reach.

• Touch & Feedback: You feel exactly where the ball contacts the face. For some, this is addictive; for others, it’s punishing.
• Spin & Leverage: The longer shape gives you more whip, producing heavier topspin and slice when paired with clean mechanics.
• Learning Curve: Make no mistake, this isn’t a “pick up and play” paddle. The smaller margin for error demands precision. But for advanced players, that precision becomes a weapon.

The CX11E is for players who enjoy shaping the ball, who want to hit sharper angles, brush for spin, and use reach as a tactical advantage.

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Head-to-Head: Where Each Shines

• Kitchen Play: Radius takes the crown. The big sweet spot and thicker core make resets and blocks more forgiving.
• Reach & Angles: CX11E stretches the court vertically. You’ll snag balls at the kitchen and overheads others miss.
• Spin: CX11E, hands down. The elongated leverage and Gearbox surface grit let you carve into the ball harder.
• Forgiveness: Radius, Mishits still land playable, where the CX11E will punish you for being off by an inch.
• Hand Speed: Radius again, it’s quicker to maneuver in fast hands battles. CX11E lags slightly but hits heavier when it connects.
• Comfort: Radius feels cushioned and stable. CX11E is crisp and harsher on mishits but rewarding when struck clean.

This isn’t a question of which is “better.” It’s a question of which flavor of control you want: broad and forgiving, or narrow and precise.

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Choosing by Playstyle

• JOOLA Radius suits:
  • Kitchen tacticians who live on resets and dinks.
  • Smaller handed players who value maneuverability.
  • Seniors and injury conscious players who want comfort over spin.
  • Beginners upgrading from wood/composite paddles who want immediate consistency.
• Gearbox CX11E suits:
  • Advanced players with clean mechanics who want more reach and spin.
  • Singles players who benefit from the elongated frame’s leverage.
  • Doubles attackers who thrive on angles and hand battles once dialed in.
  • Anyone curious about Gearbox’s one-piece carbon feel—it’s truly unique.

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Where to Buy

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The Bottom Line

There’s no universal winner here, it depends entirely on your definition of control.

• If you want kitchen dominance, forgiveness, and comfort, the JOOLA Radius feels like a natural extension of your hand.
• If you want reach, spin, and sharp placement, the Gearbox CX11E unlocks tools other paddles can’t.

Think of it this way: Radius gives you security. CX11E gives you precision. Both are high-level control paddles, but they’re built for players with very different mindsets.

If you can, test them side by side. If not, trust your priorities: forgiveness or reach. Either way, you’ll end up with a paddle that pushes your game forward.

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FAQ: JOOLA Radius vs Gearbox CX11E