The Vanguard Control pairs the touch of one of the best control paddles of all time (the Vanguard 2.0) with the market leading raw carbon fiber surface seen on most modern performance paddles. The paddle generates a ton of spin and is an ideal choice for players looking to hit or learn heavy topspin shots with control. Anyone looking to develop a soft game with endless forgiveness should really consider giving the Vanguard Control a try.
Dinks and Drops – This is the Vanguard Control’s bread and butter. The soft response paired with the gritty surface let me shape my drops with confident strokes without concern of the ball flying too far, but I would expect that out of any modern control paddle. Where the paddle really stood out to me was at the kitchen line where I had a blast hitting aggressive roll and cut dinks from any position with confidence.
Speed ups and attacks – While the aggressive player may shrug off a total control paddle like this, those who like to disguise attacks and play a deceptive game will love the feel of carving out attacks from surprising positions. I was amazed at how fun it was to attack above my opponent’s shoulder only to see the ball bend back inside the line for a winner. For the player hoping to learn how to attack effectively, Vanguard Control has enough forgiveness and spin to keep the ball in the court and out of the net more often. The paddle is incredibly soft though, and you’ll have to bring your own pace to pressure your opponents as you rise in skill level.
