Honolulu J2NFK Review

That's the Kevlar. Kevlar isn't as stiff as carbon fiber, and it soaks up more of the impact, so less of a soft swing comes back off the face as pace. My numbers show exactly that. Next to the J2NF, the J2NFK has the same power and the same spin, a little less pop and clearly more control.

It's also very stable for a hybrid, so the face stays square on blocks and volleys you catch off center.

Its swing weight of 113.1 is about the same as the average hybrid's 111.9, so it's neither quick nor slow for a hybrid. It does swing a little heavier than the J2NF, which measured 108.9.

Spin is average too. The J2NFK read 2,283 RPM in my spin test, for a spin score of 73 out of 100, about the same as the average hybrid's 2,272 RPM. The face is a raw peel-ply texture with no grit, so a topspin drive dips about as much as it would off most hybrids, not more.

Speed-ups, counters and hands battles

Pop is the pace you get off short swings at the net, and this is where the J2NFK gives a little back. It scored 68 out of 100 for pop, a little less than the average hybrid's 74 and a little less than the J2NF's 74. Counters and speed-ups won't jump off the face, so you win hands battles with placement more than pace. The same soft face helps you on the other side of a hands battle. When the other team speeds one up at you, your block comes off the face slower and stays in the court.

Dinks, resets and third-shot drops

This is why you buy a J2NFK. Control is my score from the same ball-machine dink, drop and reset drills every paddle gets, and the J2NFK scored 87 out of 100, clearly more than the average hybrid's 71. Only four hybrids I've tested have more control, and all four of those are honeycomb paddles. No other full foam hybrid I've tested even reaches 80 for control. Only two full foam paddles I've tested have more control than the J2NFK, and both are widebodies.

The soft face takes pace off the ball, and the ball comes off the face the same way every time, so a reset you hit under pressure goes where you aimed it. That's what makes the J2NFK easy to trust at the kitchen.

One thing to know. With average spin, a topspin dink won't dip any harder than it would off most hybrids, so the J2NFK keeps your soft game low by taking pace off the ball, not by adding spin.

Mishits

The J2NFK is forgiving for a hybrid. Its sweet spot scored 79 out of 100, a little bigger than the average hybrid's 72, and only eight hybrids I've tested have a bigger one. The high twist weight keeps off-center hits on line too. A sweet spot score of 79 is about the same as the average widebody's 83, which is a lot for a hybrid. Still, every widebody on my beginners list has a bigger sweet spot than the J2NFK.

On my scores, they hit the same. Both scored 77 out of 100 for power and 79 out of 100 for sweet spot, and spin is 2,283 RPM on the J2NFK against 2,282 on the J2NF. The difference is the short game. The J2NFK has clearly more control, 87 out of 100 against 77, and the J2NF has a little more pop, 74 against 68. The J2NF also swings a little lighter, with a swing weight of 108.9 against 113.1, so it's a touch quicker in hands battles. On feel, the J2NFK is softer, and the J2NF is stiffer.

The J2NF also comes in a Long Handle version with a 6 inch handle at the same price. The J2NFK only comes with the 5.5 inch handle.

So if your resets pop up or you like a soft feel, get the J2NFK. If you want a little more pop and quicker hands, or a longer handle for two hands, get the J2NF.

Next to the average 16mm full foam hybrid, the J2NFK stands out on control and gives up pop. It has clearly more control, 87 out of 100 against 72, about the same power, 77 against 81.5, and clearly less pop, 68 against 81.5. That's the Kevlar face again, taking pace off the short shots and leaving the drives alone.

Honolulu lists it at 8.0 to 8.3 oz, 16.2 inches long and 7.8 inches wide, with a 4.125 inch grip. It lists a swing weight of 110 to 114, and I measured 113.1. It lists a twist weight of 7, and I measured 6.85, a touch under that. The 5.5 inch handle length counts the tapered part above the rubber band and the grip wrap, so the part you actually hold is shorter. 5.5 inches is enough for a two-handed backhand, but tight. The warranty is one year, and it comes with a waterproof cover.

Owner reports that name the Kevlar version are thin, because most owners talk about Honolulu's J2 foam paddles as a group. What's there is positive. Four owners in retailer reviews posted since it started shipping call out its control. One owner wished it came with a longer handle, and another said the Kevlar face picks up dust and residue from the ball.

As of October 22, 2026, I haven't found a defect that three or more owners report. With this few reports, that tells you what owners like, not how it holds up over years.