Kitchen & Court

ProKennex Ovation Speed II vs Gamma Obsidian

Two comfort-first paddles that solve different problems: one built for a sore elbow, one for arthritic hands. Here's how to tell which is yours.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we research

These are two of the paddles we recommend most for players shopping around a joint, and they get cross-shopped constantly — but they aren’t really rivals. They solve different problems. The ProKennex Ovation Speed II is built for a sore elbow: a muted carbon face and vibration-control design that soften the shock traveling up your arm. The Gamma Obsidian is built for sore hands: a molded foam handle that’s genuinely softer to grip than a standard wrap.

So the real question isn’t “which is better” — it’s where does your pain live?Answer that and the choice makes itself. Here’s the head-to-head, then the reasoning.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we recommend, and we’ll tell you plainly when to skip one. Full disclosure.

Quick picks

Ranked on published specs, grip and build, and honest buyer fit. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We have not lab-tested these — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forPrice
1
ProKennex Ovation Speed II

ProKennex Ovation Speed II

ProKennex built its whole reputation on arm comfort, and the Ovation Speed II is the clearest expression of it — a Toray carbon face and the brand's cushioned Comfort Pro grip, aimed squarely at players whose elbow or wrist flares up. If a paddle has ever left your arm sore, this is the brand to try first.

Better for tennis elbow / a sore arm
$159.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of September 6, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Gamma Obsidian 13

Gamma Obsidian 13

The standout for hands that hurt: Gamma gives this one a molded foam handle instead of a hard wrapped grip, plus a system that lets you add handle weight to balance the paddle. Softer to hold and easier to customize is exactly what an arthritic grip wants.

Better for arthritic hands
$129.99 · View on Amazon

$159.9919% off

Price as of September 6, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Better for tennis elbow / a sore arm

ProKennex Ovation Speed II

ProKennex built its whole reputation on arm comfort, and the Ovation Speed II is the clearest expression of it — a Toray carbon face and the brand's cushioned Comfort Pro grip, aimed squarely at players whose elbow or wrist flares up. If a paddle has ever left your arm sore, this is the brand to try first.

Easier on the joints: ProKennex designs its comfort line around vibration control, and pairs it with an extra-cushioned grip — the two things that most reduce the shock and squeeze your elbow and hand feel on every hit.

What we like

  • Toray T700 carbon-fiber face — a controlled, muted feel rather than a harsh pop
  • Cushioned Comfort Pro grip takes pressure off the palm and fingers
  • ProKennex is the brand arm-sensitive players reach for — that following is real

Skip it if

  • Among the pricier paddles here for its category
  • Exact weight and grip circumference are not published on the listing
Face materialToray T700 carbon fiber
CoreNot published
GripComfort Pro (cushioned)
WeightNot published
USA Pickleball approvedYes (per listing)

Specs read from the product listing, on July 22, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

#2Better for arthritic hands

Gamma Obsidian 13

The standout for hands that hurt: Gamma gives this one a molded foam handle instead of a hard wrapped grip, plus a system that lets you add handle weight to balance the paddle. Softer to hold and easier to customize is exactly what an arthritic grip wants.

Easier on the joints: The molded foam handle spreads pressure across your palm instead of concentrating it, and the weight system lets you keep the paddle light — both directly reduce hand and wrist strain.

What we like

  • Molded foam handle is genuinely softer to grip than a standard wrap
  • Customizable handle-weight system lets you tune the balance
  • 13mm carbon-fiber build for a controlled, forgiving feel

Skip it if

  • Foam handle is a love-it-or-not feel — try before committing if you can
  • Exact weight isn't published
Face materialCarbon fiber
Core thickness13 mm
GripMolded foam handle
WeightNot published (adjustable via weight system)
USA Pickleball approvedNot published

Specs read from the product listing, on July 22, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

The short answer

Buy the ProKennex if your problem is in the elbow or forearm— the carbon face and cushioned grip are aimed squarely at the shock that aggravates tennis elbow. Buy the Gamma Obsidian if your problem is in the hands and fingers— the molded foam handle spreads pressure across your palm instead of concentrating it, which is exactly what arthritic hands want.

Comfort mechanism: vibration control vs a softer handle

Both paddles use a carbon-fiber face, so both feel controlled and muted rather than poppy. The difference is howeach one goes easy on you. ProKennex’s whole design philosophy is dampening the vibration that reaches your joints on every hit; that helps most when the ache is up the arm. Gamma takes a more direct route to the hands — it swaps the usual hard, wrapped handle for a molded foam one you can hold without clenching, and adds a weight system so you can tune the balance. If squeezing a hard grip is what flares your knuckles and thumb, the Gamma solves that in a way the ProKennex doesn’t.

Feel, control and the weight question

Neither of these is a power paddle, and neither should be — the controlled feel is the point, and the placement-first game it encourages is easier on every joint. Gamma publishes a 13 mm carbon build and its adjustable weight system, so you get a small amount of tuning control. Both makers, though, leave the exact out-of-box weight unpublished, which we mark as “Not published” rather than guess. If a stated, verifiable weight is your deciding factor, see our paddle-weight guide for models that do print one.

Price and value

The ProKennex sits at the premium end; the Gamma lands in the mid tier, usually the more affordable of the two. If budget is tight and your hands are the issue, the Gamma is the easier yes. If your elbow is the thing keeping you off the court, the ProKennex is worth its premium — comfort you’ll feel every session is worth paying for.

Still not sure?

Read the deeper write-ups — the ProKennex Ovation Speed II review and the wider tennis-elbow and arthritisroundups — and if you have both an achy elbow and arthritic hands, lean toward whichever hurts more on a bad day, or start with the cheaper Gamma and see how far the softer handle gets you.

Frequently asked questions

Is the ProKennex or the Gamma better for arthritis?

For arthritis in the hands and fingers, the Gamma Obsidian has the edge because of its molded foam handle, which is softer to grip and spreads pressure across the palm instead of concentrating it. The ProKennex is aimed more at a sore elbow than at the hands. If your arthritis is specifically in the hands, lean Gamma; if you also fight tennis elbow, weigh the ProKennex.

Which is better for tennis elbow?

The ProKennex Ovation Speed II. Its whole design is built around vibration control — dampening the shock that travels up the arm — paired with a cushioned grip you can hold loosely. That combination targets the load that aggravates tennis elbow more directly than the Gamma's hand-focused foam handle does.

Do both paddles use a carbon face?

Yes. Both the ProKennex Ovation Speed II and the Gamma Obsidian use a carbon-fiber face, so both feel controlled and muted rather than poppy. The meaningful difference is the grip: ProKennex uses a cushioned wrapped grip and vibration-control design, while Gamma uses a molded foam handle plus an adjustable weight system.

Which is cheaper?

The Gamma Obsidian usually is — it sits in the mid price tier, while the ProKennex is a premium paddle. If budget is a factor and your hands are the issue, the Gamma is the easier choice. Prices change, so check the live price on each before deciding.

Sources

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