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Company Info: OM is a pickleball company that was created on the pickleball courts of Kansas City. They were created by a British design engineer with a mission to bring the next generation of performance gear to the pickleball courts. They have recently launched their signature Aero1 paddle, which is full of tech. See more on them at www.ompickleball.com.
Item Name: Today we will be reviewing the Aero1 pickleball paddle from OM.
Description: The Aero1 is the signature pickleball paddle from OM. This is considered a pickleball racquet, in that it is crafted with a single unibody carbon frame, with the core and top layers thermoformed around it. This makes for a unique construction and design.
The frame is a “FluidCarbon Monocoque” frame, which was inspired by super cars chassis (like a Lamborghini). The frame extends into the handle allows you to be in direct contact with the chassis.
The core is a Hexium super polymer with the surface being a 3k T700 pro-weave carbon fiber. This carbon fiber goes around the edge as well (there is no edge guard). It has an evident texture when you run your hand across it. The handle itself is single molded and resembles that of a tennis racquet.
The Aero1 is almost entirely black in color. The paddle face features the striking woven carbon fiber, with “om” vertically down the right top corner in large block black letters. The Aero1 name is present at the base of the paddle face, in skinny white letters. The paddle shape displays a gap at the base of the paddle, with the overall shape being more square. The “om” branding is present at the very base of the paddle face, the edges, and even on the handle cap in white. On the outside of the frame, at the bottom, there is a British flag with the wording “British Design Engineering” in white.
The grip is also black, with the Aero1 and OM branding. The grip itself is not overly tacky.
The paddle is a 14 MM and weighs approximately 8.1 ounces.
The paddle is USA Pickleball approved per their website.
Play Style: The paddle plays quick and the carbon fiber face allows for a great deal of spin to be placed on the ball. I thought the paddle felt extremely durable and allowed for a great deal of power to be generated. It feels very sturdy in hand battles and close range return shots.
The paddle is crafted to be very aerodynamic and this is evident when playing. The paddle feels light in your hand, with a good swing weight, all while being able to still generate good power. The Aero1 also serves as a vibration dampener, so you don’t feel the hard return shots as much through your arm.
The “sweet spot” is true to what you would expect and I believe that allows for easy dinks and control shots.
The paddle held up well in the Florida heat and we did not see any major signs of wear or tear after our testing period.
Price: The paddle is currently available on their website for $245.
Recommendation: If you are a former tennis player or player with good athleticism, I would definitely recommend this paddle for you. The paddle is extremely high quality and I thought it allowed for a very versatile and well-rounded game. It allows for very solid movement and good attacking ability.
Another thing about this paddle is that it ships in fantastic packaging. The buying experience is really elevated with the beauty in the packaging.
As somebody who sweats a lot, I would likely use a tackier overgrip, but that is personal preference.
This paddle can be utilized immediately out of the packaging (it also did come with a replacement grip).
For the price I would also like to potentially see a paddle face cover to protect the paddle better in my pickleball bag.
The paddle is very innovative and features a ton of great (and proprietary) tech and I think it’s a great addition to the market. It is definitely positioned to rival some of the top brands available.
I am impressed with the first drop from OM and am excited to see what they bring in the future.
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