Top (L to R): Prime, eVortex, Vortex
Bottom (L to R): Vortex Patriot, Vortex Pro, Vortex Light, Vortex Plus
Overview:
In just their second year in the paddle market, Xenon has already made a name for itself. Visually, Xenon's 2021 lineup looks almost identical to last year (with one major addition). However, the lineup has been reengineered from the inside out.
Xenon says they've moved all production to a new factory and tweaked the manufacturing process. While the specifications for all existing paddles are the same, weights have been shuffled around internally to create more stability without affecting balance. Xenon also claims to have reworked some materials to improve durability. These changes have been made across the Xenon lineup.
Vortex:
I was tempted to give the eVortex its own section. All things considered, it's probably the most novel paddle we've seen in years. Released in limited numbers last year, the eVortex sports a heated handle powered by a rechargeable battery. It weighs the same as a normal paddle and isn't exorbitantly priced ($249). Kudos to Xenon for being on the leading edge of innovation.
The rest of the oversize Vortex series is mostly untouched, with the exception of the internal improvement we mentioned earlier. A new purple color scheme is available on the Vortex Light, but that's the extent of the cosmetic changes. A number of top 50 players have begun playing with Vortex series paddles, and the line looks set for a strong sophomore season.
Prime:
When it comes to standard-sized "players" paddles, Xenon continues to offer a single option, the Prime. Like the Vortex series, the Prime hasn't been cosmetically changed, but the internals have been reworked. It remains among the lightest paddles on the market.