Exploring Unique Pickleball Paddle Surface Textures: Blasted, Acoustene, NanoTac, Fabric & InfiniGrit
Beyond the usual peel ply, textured, and grit finishes, there are a variety of innovative surface textures offering unique performance characteristics. Let’s explore five of these advanced options: Blasted, Acoustene Composite, NanoTac, Fabric, and InfiniGrit.
Blasted Surfaces
What it is: Sand or bead blasting is used to roughen the paddle face, creating a uniform abrasive texture.
Performance:
- Increases spin and control thanks to heightened friction.
- Cleaner and more uniform than grit coatings.
Durability:
- More durable than grit because the texture is embedded.
- Still prone to faster wear as the abrasion gradually smooths out with use.
Summary: Offers a solid balance of spin enhancement and durability, though expect texture loss over time.
Acoustene Composite
What it is: A proprietary composite (e.g., OWL Sport) engineered for noise reduction while retaining good playability.
Performance:
- Delivers a softer, quieter slap at contact.
- Maintains decent spin and control.
Player feedback:
- Praised for a quieter experience meeting USA Pickleball’s “quiet paddle”.
Durability:
- Built for long-term use with a solid composite structure and dampened vibration.
Summary: Ideal for venues prioritizing reduced impact noise, without sacrificing performance.
NanoTac
What it is: A tacky, smooth coating (seen in certain Proton models) that provides consistent grip through chemical adhesion, not abrasion.
Performance:
- Offers reliable spin comparable to light grit, without rough texture.
- Suitable for players who prefer smooth surfaces.
Player feedback:
- Reddit users describe it as a “hardened rubber that provides a sticky grip … generating spin of +2000 RPM.”
Durability:
- Tacky coating resists wear better than traditional grit, though may smooth over time.
Summary: Great for those wanting consistent spin with a smooth feel; outlasts gritty surfaces.
Fabric-Textured Surfaces
What it is: Paddle faces embed woven fabric cotton, fiberglass, etc as texture.
Performance:
- Offers a unique tactile feel, often praised for enhanced ball control and touch.
- Creates a quieter experience than harder surfaces
Durability:
- Less durable than composites or carbon. Woven fibers are prone to fraying or breakdown with heavy play.
Summary: Good for feel, control and a quieter sound; trade-off is reduced longevity compared to harder textures.
InfiniGrit
What it is: Selkirk’s proprietary textured finish combining abrasive grip and durability.
Performance:
- Engineered to triple the spin longevity of raw carbon surfaces—up to 3x more spin performance according to Selkirk.
- Supports up to 2,000 RPM spin while maintaining control.
Durability:
- Surface lasts much longer than standard grit Selkirk reviews say it still grips after months.
Summary: Ideal for players who want long-lasting spin without frequent paddle replacements.
Here’s the updated Final Thoughts section with your direction incorporated — reflecting the rapid evolution of pickleball tech, while emphasizing the importance of playability, noise, and durability over raw texture type.
Final Thoughts: Texture Is Evolving. But Feel, Noise, and Durability Matter More
As pickleball continues to grow, so does the technology behind the paddles. Companies are experimenting with new surface materials and layering techniques to improve everything from spin potential to sound performance and longevity.
Whether it’s NanoTac, InfiniGrit, Acoustene, or a blasted or fabric face, the truth is:
Most of these textures can produce high levels of spin but need to fall within USAP standards. The real difference comes down to:
- How the paddle feels in play (touch, control, pop)
- How much noise it makes (especially important in sound-sensitive communities)
- How long the texture lasts before performance starts to fade
As paddle design becomes more advanced, the best way to choose isn’t just based on texture type. It’s to find a paddle that offers the right combination of performance, comfort, and reliability for your game.