Onix Z5 Pickleball Paddle Review

If you’ve been to a pickleball court recently, there's a good chance you saw an Onix Z5 paddle in someone’s hand. The Z5 is a classic pickleball paddle that has been around for a long time and continues to dominate courts across the country! It not only has a sleek and subtle design, but was built to be a workhorse on the court. Designed and produced by Onix Pickleball, the Z5 is an affordable option perfect for the beginner to intermediate player looking for a consistent paddle experience.

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Onix Z5 Paddle Review

First off, what is the Z5 made of? The Z5 comes in two different face (or hitting surface) options. A composite pickleball paddle that is heavier and offers more stability and power-potential. And a graphite pickleball paddle, which is significantly lighter with a softer feel and more control. Besides the weight and face material, these two options are identical in every other characteristic. 

Onix Z5 Graphite Pickleball Paddle

• Weight: 7.5 - 8.2 oz
• Face Material: Graphite
• Core: Nomex
• Shape: Wide Body
• Length: 15 1/2"
• Width: 8 3/10"
• Grip Size: 4 1/4"
• Handle Length: 5"

Onix Z5 Composite Pickleball Paddle

• Weight: 8.4 - 9.2 oz
• Face Material: Composite
• Core: Nomex
• Shape: Wide Body
• Length: 15 1/2"
• Width: 8 3/10"
• Grip Size:  4 1/4"
• Handle Length:  5"

Power

Whether you choose the graphite or composite face, you’ll find plenty of power in the Z5 due to its nomex core. Nomex is one of the first core materials used in pickleball paddles. A cardboard-like material that is then dipped in resin to enhance longevity, nomex is a powerful and durable core. Also, it's the loudest of all cores! In addition to the nomex core, which is known for its responsive nature, the weight of both the graphite and composite paddles offers plenty of pop. Whether you can generate most of your own power and choose a lighter paddle or you need a boost and choose a heavier paddle, the Z5 has a model that will fit your game.

Spin

The Z5 shines in the spin category for both the graphite and composite paddles because of the extra grit added to the surface. Once you run your hand down the paddle’s face, you’ll feel how the grit will benefit your spin, from your top spin serves, to your slicing third shot drops. If you’re looking for maximum spin, our review gave the slight edge to the Z5 composite because of the composite's already gritty nature. If you feel like you need to spin it to win it, you can’t go wrong with either Z5. 

Control 

The Z5’s wide body shape gives it a large and forgiving sweet spot, which certainly helps keep the ball in play and back over the net on mis-hits. That wide sweet spot also creates an accurate, playable paddle - one of the reasons you’ll find it on so many courts throughout the country. At 8 3/10” wide, the Z5 is wider than most paddle options, focusing much of its attention on control. If you’re looking for a consistent paddle that can keep the ball in play, this one has you covered from A to…..Z.

Touch

While the nomex core might be powerful and louder due to its cardboard-like nature, it also provides an ample feel. Even though the two different face materials offer similar touch, the softer, more forgiving graphite face got the designation as the softer of the two Z5 options. At only 11 mm thick, the Z5 is definitely known for its power/focus over touch.

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And that's all, folks! We hope that you enjoyed this breakdown on one of the most popular pickleball paddles in the business. If you have any other questions, our Paddle Experts are standing by to help with anything you might need. You can give us a call at 866-382-3465, email at experts@justpaddles.com, or click here to live chat. We're JustPaddles and we're with you from Click To Court!