The Fury Hybrid is the one to get, because it hits just as hard as the Fury Elongated and gives you far more control. The Thrive Fury is a 15.5mm Gen 3 power paddle, and I'm covering both shapes it comes in, the Hybrid and the Elongated. Gen 3 means a honeycomb core with foam built in, one step before the full foam Gen 4 paddles. It plays firm and quick off the face, it hits hard, and it gives you plenty of pop at the net. The Hybrid scored 85 out of 100 for power, and no other Gen 3 hybrid I've tested hits as hard. It also scored 61 for control, against just 35 on the Elongated, so your resets are far easier to keep down. The Elongated is the one for spin and reach. It spins more than the Hybrid, and it costs less if you take the heaviest swing weight Thrive sells. Swing weight is how heavy the paddle feels when you swing it, lower means faster hands. The Hybrid is $199.99. The code STSPICKLEBALL takes 10% off, which brings it to $179.99. The Elongated is $179.99 in the 119 swing weight, or $161.99 with the code, and $199.99, or $179.99 with the code, in every other swing weight. I earn a commission when you use my codes.
Every version, side by side
| Out of 100 | Fury Hybrid$179.99 with code · hybrid | Fury Elongated$161.99 with code · elongated |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 85A | 85A |
| Pop | 87A | 84A |
| Spin | 63C | 84ALeads by 21 |
| Sweet spot | 71BLeads by 13 | 58C |
| Control | 61CLeads by 26 | 35D |
| Swing weightlower is quicker | 110.2 | 112.7 |
| Twist weighthigher is steadier | 6.46 | 6.15 |
Hybrid
$179.99with code STSPICKLEBALL
list price $199.99Code STSPICKLEBALL takes 10% off, and my link applies it for you.
Elongated
$161.99with code STSPICKLEBALL
list price $179.99Code STSPICKLEBALL takes 10% off, and my link applies it for you.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The Hybrid scored 85 out of 100 for power, the most of any Gen 3 hybrid I've tested, and only 13 hybrids I've tested hit harder.
- The Hybrid scored 87 out of 100 for pop, and only 10 hybrids I've tested pop more.
- The Elongated read 2,327 RPM in my spin test, and only 11 elongateds I've tested spin more.
- Both shapes beat the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16mm on pop and spin in my testing, with the same power score.
Cons
- The Elongated scored 35 out of 100 for control, and only 41 paddles I've tested have less. With control that low, a reset you push floats.
- The Hybrid scored 61 for control, which is clearly less than the average hybrid's 71.
- The Hybrid read 2,248 RPM in my spin test, which is only about the same as the average hybrid's 2,272 RPM.
- The warranty is six months.
Quick answers
Thrive Fury Hybrid or Elongated?
The Hybrid, unless you need the reach. Both shapes hit the same, and the Hybrid has far more control and a clearly bigger sweet spot. Take the Elongated if you want the extra reach and spin on your drives and serves, and you can live with a control score of 35 out of 100.
Is the Thrive Fury USA Pickleball approved?
Yes, both shapes. On October 22, 2026, USA Pickleball's approved list showed the Hybrid as the Project Fury HY, added July 18, 2025, and the Elongated as the Project Fury EL, added August 10, 2025. Thrive's pages list USA Pickleball approval only, with no UPA-A approval, so neither shape is legal for UPA-A events like PPA qualifiers.
Which Thrive Fury swing weight should I get?
Thrive lets you pick the swing weight when you order. The Hybrid comes from 108 to 113, all at $199.99. The Elongated comes from 115 to 119, and only the 119, the heaviest one, is priced at $179.99. So the cheaper Elongated is also the slowest one in your hands. If hand speed at the net matters more to you than the $20 you'd save, pick a lower number.
Firm, loud and quick off the face
So, the Fury plays firm, at the stiff end of Gen 3 paddles. That comes from the face. Thrive puts a layer of fiberglass between two layers of carbon fiber, which adds stiffness and spring to the honeycomb core. The ball comes off the face quickly instead of sitting on it, and it's a loud paddle at contact. What keeps it from feeling jumpy is that the power builds with your swing. A compact stroke gives you a predictable ball, and a full swing gets you real pace.
The Hybrid's swing weight came in at 110.2, about the same as the average hybrid's 111.9. The Elongated's swing weight came in at 112.7. Thrive sells the Elongated in swing weights from 115 to 119. The 119 is the $179.99 one, and the others are $199.99.
Twist weight is how much the face resists twisting when you miss the center. The Hybrid measured 6.46 and the Elongated measured 6.15, so the Hybrid stays a little steadier on off-center blocks. Both are about average for their shape.
Big power and pop, with a soft game that takes work
How its spin stacks up against other hybrids you can buy
Less spin than most hybrids, 30 RPM below the average
The top three for spin
- 1Honolulu J2CR Long Handle Crystal Blue2,467
- 211SIX24 Vapor Jelly Bean 22,40364 RPM behind
- 311SIX24 Ultré Jelly Bean 22,39770 RPM behind
- 42Thrive Fury Hybrid2,248219 RPM behind
Drives, serves and put-aways
Power is the Fury's strength in both shapes. Each one scored 85 out of 100 for power, and only 38 paddles I've tested hit harder. The Hybrid hits a little harder than the average hybrid, and no other Gen 3 hybrid I've tested hits as hard. The Elongated hits a little harder than the average elongated, and no Gen 3 elongated I've tested hits harder. The Elongated adds reach and leverage on serves and overheads, since it's 16.5 inches long against 16.3 on the Hybrid.
Spin is where the two shapes split. The Elongated read 2,327 RPM in my spin test, for a spin score of 84 out of 100. Only one Gen 3 elongated I've tested spins more, the Engage Axiom Elongated. On the Elongated, a topspin drive or serve dips into the court sooner, so you can swing big and still keep it in. The Hybrid read 2,248 RPM, about the same spin as the average hybrid, which reads 2,272 RPM. So on the Hybrid, the pace is there, but you won't get as much help bringing a big drive down into the court.
Speed-ups and counters
This is where the Hybrid shines. Pop is the pace you get off short swings at the net. The Hybrid scored 87 out of 100 for pop, clearly more than the average hybrid's 74, and only one Gen 3 hybrid I've tested pops more. On the Hybrid, counters and speed-ups come off quick and aggressive, and flicks come off fast. The Elongated scored 84 for pop, which is about the same as the Hybrid and clearly more than the average elongated's 74. Where they differ is hand speed: the Hybrid's lighter swing gets the paddle into position a little faster in a quick exchange.
Dinks, resets and third-shot drops
The stiff face that makes counters so fast also gives pace back on soft shots. Control is my score from the same ball-machine dink, drop and reset drills every paddle gets. The Elongated scored 35 for control, clearly less than the average elongated's 45, and a reset you push will float. The Hybrid scored 61 for control. That's clearly less than the average hybrid's 71, but it's far more controllable than the Elongated. Rolls come off well on the Hybrid, too.
Mishits
The Hybrid is the more forgiving shape. It scored 71 out of 100 for sweet spot, about the same as the average hybrid. The Elongated scored 58, which is a little bigger than the average elongated's 52, but it's clearly smaller than the Hybrid's. The Hybrid's face is wider, 7.7 inches against 7.5, and its higher twist weight keeps the face steadier when you miss the center.
How it feels in your hand next to other hybrids you can buy
Quick in your hands, about average when you miss the middle
How heavy the paddle feels when you swing it. A lower number swings quicker.
Swings lighter than most hybrids.
How much the paddle fights twisting when you miss the middle. A higher number is steadier.
About average twist weight for a hybrid.
How its sweet spot stacks up against other hybrids you can buy
An average-size sweet spot for a hybrid
Both rings are sized to their score.
The Hybrid gives you far more control for the same power
So which shape? They hit the same, with power scores of 85 out of 100 on both, and pop comes out about the same. The Hybrid has far more control, 61 against 35, a clearly bigger sweet spot, 71 against 58, and a little lighter swing, 110.2 against 112.7. The Elongated spins more, 2,327 RPM against 2,248 RPM.
Get the Hybrid if you play fast hands at the net, want an easier soft game than the Elongated gives you, or miss the center sometimes. It's 16.3 inches long and 7.7 inches wide.
Get the Elongated if you win from the baseline with drives and serves and want the extra reach and spin. It's 16.5 inches long and 7.5 inches wide. You pay for that with a clearly smaller sweet spot and far less control.
Both shapes have the same 5.5 inch handle, which has room for two hands, so the Elongated only adds reach, not more handle. Core, face, grip size and warranty are the same on both. Can't decide? Get the Hybrid.
Thrive's take on the Gen 3 recipe, with fiberglass in the face
The Fury follows the same Gen 3 recipe as the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV, a honeycomb core with foam built into it, and Thrive adds fiberglass to the face for a stiffer, quicker feel. Thrive describes the core as a 15.5mm Flex Force polymer core, Flex Force being Thrive's name for it, with foam-injected walls and a ring of thermoplastic elastomer foam, a rubbery foam, around the perimeter. The face is three layers, carbon fiber, then fiberglass, then carbon fiber, with a raw peel-ply surface, which is the textured finish left on the carbon with no grit coating on top. Thrive says the peel-ply weave gives exceptional spin, and Thrive also says it builds weight into the core for stability. Thrive's own name for the line is the Gen 3.5 Power Series.
Thrive measures every paddle and prints its swing weight, twist weight and balance on a card that comes with it. It lists the Hybrid's twist weight at 6.3 to 6.57, and I measured 6.46, so that checks out. It lists the Elongated's twist weight at 6.1 to 6.3, and I measured 6.15, which checks out too. Thrive sells the Hybrid in swing weights from 108 to 113 and the Elongated from 115 to 119.
Thrive lists the Hybrid at 7.9 to 8.1 oz and the Elongated at 7.8 to 8.0 oz, with a 4.25 inch grip on both. The warranty is six months.
Hybrid owners switched to it, and Elongated reports are thin
Thrive put the Hybrid on sale in July 2025 and added the Elongated in October 2025, so owners have had the Hybrid about 15 months and the Elongated about a year.
Most of the owner praise I found is about the Hybrid. Two Hybrid owners, in August and September 2025, said they switched to it as their main paddle, and one of them sold his Gearbox GX2 Power to do it. A third Hybrid owner from that stretch said it plays like a JOOLA with faster hands and a bigger sweet spot. Owner reports on the Elongated are thin. I found one, from about December 2025, and that owner praised how powerful it is.
As of October 22, 2026, I haven't found a defect that three or more owners report on either shape.
In stock at Thrive in most colors and swing weights
As of October 22, 2026, both shapes are in stock on Thrive's site in most colors and swing weights. The Hybrid is $199.99 in black or pink, with swing weights from 108 to 113. The Elongated is $199.99 in red, blue, pink or dark amethyst, with swing weights from 115 to 118, and $179.99 in blue or pink at 119.
Fury or JOOLA Perseus Pro IV?
The Perseus Pro IV is the paddle I'd weigh the Fury against first, since the Fury follows the same Gen 3 recipe. The Pro IV 16mm only comes as an elongated, and it's $149.95. There's no code, so it's $12.04 less than the $161.99 Fury Elongated, and $30.04 less than the Fury Hybrid at $179.99.
Against the Fury Elongated, the power is the same, 85 out of 100 on both, and control is the same too, 35 on both. The Fury Elongated has far more pop, 84 against 64, and far more spin, 2,327 RPM against 2,121. It has a little bigger sweet spot, 58 against 50. The fiberglass layer is the big difference in the build, and you can see it in the pop.
The Fury Hybrid's lead is even bigger. It has the same power as the Pro IV, with far more pop, far more spin, a far bigger sweet spot, 71 against 50, and far more control, 61 against 35.
What the Pro IV has going for it is UPA-A approval. JOOLA's warranty is six months, or 12 months if you register the paddle, against six months on the Fury.
So if you play UPA-A events, the Pro IV is the one you can use. If you only play USA Pickleball events, the Fury beats it on my scores, and the Hybrid beats it by the most.
Paddles that beat the Fury for the money
Two paddles you might pick instead
How it stacks up against the MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Hybrid and the Zen S+
A paddle only wins a score when it leads by 5 points or more.
Fury HybridHybrid · $179.99
MPP Turbo ArmorGrit HybridHybrid · $99.99The MPP Turbo ArmorGrit spins more, has a bigger sweet spot and is more controllable. Power and pop are about the same. The MPP Turbo ArmorGrit costs about $80 less.
Fury HybridHybrid · $179.99
Zen S+Hybrid · $169.99The Zen S+ hits harder, has more pop, spins more, has a bigger sweet spot and is more controllable. The Zen S+ costs about $10 less.
For hybrid shoppers
Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Hybrid, $119.99, or $99.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. This is the one that makes the Fury Hybrid a hard sell. It's $80 less with the codes, and power and pop come out about the same. It spins far more, 2,354 RPM against 2,248, it has clearly more control, 73 against 61, and a little bigger sweet spot. The swing weight is about the same. It's a Gen 4 full foam paddle with a grit face, not a Gen 3 honeycomb like the Fury. It's USA Pickleball approved, and Enhance's warranty covers just the core, for one year. It's the pick if you want the Fury Hybrid's pace for a lot less money.
Pickleball Apes Zen S+, $188.88, or $169.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. If you want more of everything, this is it. It's $10 less with the codes, and it beats the Fury Hybrid on every one of my scores. It has clearly more power, 100 out of 100 against 85, a little more pop, more spin, a clearly bigger sweet spot and clearly more control, and it swings clearly lighter, with a swing weight of 104.4 against 110.2. Its 5.75 inch handle has room for two hands. It's USA Pickleball approved only, and Pickleball Apes doesn't say what foam is in the core.
Gearbox GBX Power Hybrid, $129.99, or $116.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. For players who want to stay with a Gen 3 honeycomb paddle and want an easier soft game, this is the one. It's $63 less with the codes. It has clearly more control, 73 against 61, and the same swing weight of 110.2. Spin and sweet spot are about the same. You give up pace, with a little less power and clearly less pop, 69 against 87. It's USA Pickleball approved, and Gearbox's warranty is six months, or 12 months if you register it.
For elongated shoppers
MARK unMARKed 2026, $189.99, or $170.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. This is the elongated I'd get over the Fury Elongated. It's $9 more than the $161.99 Fury Elongated with the codes, and it beats it on every one of my scores but spin, which is about the same. It has clearly more power, 95 against 85, a little more pop, a little bigger sweet spot and clearly more control, 45 against 35, with about the same swing weight. It's a full foam paddle with a grit face, it's USA Pickleball approved, and the warranty is one year. As of October 22, 2026, it's on pre-order, and MARK says new orders ship November 13, 2026.
Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Elongated, $119.99, or $99.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. For the same pace with an easier soft game, this is the one. It's $62 less with the codes. It has a little more power, about the same pop and spin, a little bigger sweet spot and clearly more control, 53 against 35. The swing weight is about the same, 112.8 against 112.7. It's a Gen 4 full foam paddle, it's USA Pickleball approved, and the warranty covers just the core, for one year.
Luzz Cannon, $109, or $98.10 with code STSPICKLEBALL. If you play UPA-A events and want a Gen 3 elongated that hits as hard, this is the one. It's $63.89 less with the codes, and it scored 85 out of 100 for power, the same as the Fury Elongated, with about the same control. It has clearly less pop, less spin and a clearly smaller sweet spot, and it swings clearly heavier, with a swing weight of 120.8 against 112.7. It's approved by both USA Pickleball and UPA-A, and the warranty is one year.
Get the Hybrid if you love a stiff Gen 3 feel, and skip the Fury if value comes first
If you want a firm, quick Gen 3 paddle that hits hard and wins hands battles, the Fury Hybrid is the one I'd get. No other Gen 3 hybrid I've tested hits as hard, and it has far more control than the Elongated. Want reach and spin from a Gen 3 elongated? The Fury Elongated has both, but its control score of 35 means a reset you push floats.
Skip the Fury if you're a beginner, because the stiff, poppy face makes the soft game harder to learn. Skip it if you play UPA-A events, because neither shape is approved. And skip it if you don't care about the Gen 3 feel, because the Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit gives you the same pace with more control for about $60 to $80 less.
Testing details
- Tested, Hybrid
- April 10, 2026
- Tested, Elongated
- April 10, 2026
- Power and pop
- 20 full serves for power and 20 punch volleys for pop, every ball speed read on a Stalker radar gun.
- Spin
- 20 more serves on the radar. I drop the outliers and average the rest.
- Swing and twist weight
- Measured on a Briffidi SW1 swing weight machine.
- Sweet spot and control
- The same dinks, drops, resets and drives off a Titan ONE ball machine, for every paddle.
- The scores
- Out of 100, with the same tests for every paddle. The top paddles I've tested score 100.
- Published
- Scores from
- My database, updated October 21, 2026. How I test
No. 1
No. 2
No. 4
No. 2
No. 3
