Price: $160 retail / $144 with code JOHNKEW (10% off)
Discount Code: JOHNKEW (10% off)
1-Year Warranty | 14-Day Trial Period

Purchase the Speedup Tide

Disclosure: Speedup sent me these paddles for testing. No money changed hands, no editorial input. However, if you use my affiliate link, I receive a commission that helps support the channel.

First Impressions

Quick note before we get into it: this is a First Hits report, not a full review. I've had early lab time and some on-court testing with all three shapes, but this is preliminary impressions only. A full review will follow with more court time.

That said, there's already a lot to unpack here.

The Speedup Tide series comes in three shapes - an elongated (14L), a hybrid (14H), and a widebody (14S) - all built around a full foam floating core at $160 retail. At $144 after code, this is genuine competitive price for what you're getting in terms of construction and lab performance.

The build is interesting, the data is consistent, and the on-court feel lines up with what the numbers suggest. Strong first impression across the board.

Table of Contents

Build & Construction
Paddle Specs
Performance Metrics & KewCOR FirePower Testing
On-Court Testing
Early Verdict - Who It's For

Build & Construction

This is one of the more interesting parts of the Tide series. These are full foam floating core paddles, but Speedup went with a construction approach you don't see that often.

The core uses an MPPP center - a material we're seeing more of lately as an alternative to standard EPP foam. Surrounding that center is an outer ring of TPE foam (thermoplastic elastomer), which is different from the EVA foam outer bands we typically see on other paddles.

TPE has a medium firmness and noticeably more elasticity than EVA. In theory, that should add some responsiveness to the overall feel, and I'd say that checks out on the court.

On the face, you've got a three-layer carbon fiber layup with the top layer oriented at 45 degrees - you can actually see that visually on the paddle surface. Speedup claims that orientation helps with spin. My read: most of the spin output is coming from the very aggressive surface texture rather than the fiber angle itself. But the 45-degree layup does seem to subtly change the feel - there's a slightly softer sensation, almost like the perception of extra dwell time.

Paddle Specs

Core thickness across all three shapes: 14mm.

14L - Elongated

Handle length: 5.9"

Weight (stock): 8.4 oz

Swing weight: 122

Notes: Heavy for an elongated. The extra-long 5.9" handle is great for two-handers.

14H - Hybrid

Handle length: 5.5"

Weight (stock): ~8.0 oz

Swing weight: Lower than 14L

Notes: Shorter and wider than the elongated. More maneuverable with similar firepower.

14S - Widebody

Handle length: 5.5"

Weight (stock): ~8.0 oz

Twist weight (stock): 7.4

Notes: Under 16" long, over 8" wide. Extremely stable. Highest twist weight of the three.

The handles are well executed across the board - fully molded, good shape, no weird edges. Speedup consistently does a nice job with handles, and the Tide series is no exception.

Performance Metrics

This is a First Hits report, so full z-score charts will come with the complete review. But here's what the early numbers are showing across all three shapes.

14L Elongated: Stacked across the board. Big power, big pop, strong spin, and a higher swing weight. The trade-off is less hand speed.

14H Hybrid: Very similar profile to the elongated, just toned down slightly in swing weight and balance. Easier to maneuver without losing much performance compared to the elongated.

14S Widebody: Leans more toward pop than raw power. Excellent spin. Very high twist weight. Very maneuverable. The most forgiving of the three.

Twist weights are solid across the board, but the standout is the widebody at 7.4 stock. That's a very high number, and you feel it on the court.

KewCOR FirePower Testing

All three shapes land between 0.402 and 0.408 KewCOR. That puts them in the lower end of the high-power category, alongside paddles like the Volair Shift and the Ronbus Quanta.

These are not control paddles, but they're also not the absolute top-end rocket launchers. Think controlled aggression with accessible power.

On-Court Impressions

Everything on the court lines up with what the lab data is showing.

The Tide series uses a very rough face texture, and based on early testing, it holds up well. Full durability data will come with the complete review, but initial impressions are positive.

Power is accessible and immediate. Spin is one of the standout features - the aggressive surface texture absolutely translates, and being able to put shape on the ball helps with control even on an offensive paddle.

The widebody (14S) especially stands out during hand battles and resets. It's very stable and easy to use. The sweet spot is good across all three shapes, though the 14mm core does give up a little compared to the best 16mm full foam options. Still solid, just not at the very top of sweet spot performance.

One thing worth noting: these are not especially light for 14mm paddles. My guess is Speedup is using denser MPPP foam, and the TPE outer ring is likely contributing to the overall weight. Worth keeping in mind if you're sensitive to heft.

Early Verdict - Who It's For

The Tide series is a solid entry into the MPPP full foam category, which is gaining real momentum right now. The construction is interesting, the lab numbers are consistent, and the on-court performance matches the data.

At $144 after code, this is genuinely strong value for what you're getting. The widebody (14S) is the one I'd point most players toward - it delivers the most forgiveness and stability while still holding its own offensively.

Pros:

Interesting MPPP + TPE core construction
Aggressive surface texture with real spin output
Strong value at $144 after code
Three shapes covering elongated, hybrid, and widebody
Widebody has exceptional twist weight (7.4 stock)
1-year warranty + 14-day trial

Cons:

On the heavier side for 14mm paddles
Sweet spot slightly smaller than the best 16mm full foam options
14L elongated at 8.4 oz may be too heavy for some

This Paddle Is For:

Offensive players who want high power at a strong price point
Players who prioritize forgiveness and stability - 14S Widebody
Two-handers who want reach and a long handle - 14L Elongated
Players wanting the middle ground between the two - 14H Hybrid

Which Shape Is Right for You?

14L Elongated: Best for max power and plow-through on full swings. High swing weight means less hand speed. Good fit if you want reach and raw firepower and don't mind the extra heft.

14H Hybrid: The middle ground. More maneuverable than the elongated, without giving up much firepower. Good all-around option with a similar performance profile at a lower swing weight.

(My Personal Pick) 14S Widebody: Most forgiving of the three, largest sweet spot, highest twist weight, and quickest hand speed. It leans more pop than raw power, but it's the most well-rounded option for the widest range of players. The stability in hand battles is real.

Full review with more court time coming. But if you're in the market, the early signs are encouraging.