Joola 3s Scorpeus Dual Review: Did They Nerf It Too Much?

When the Joola 3 and 3s came out, they took over the pickleball world. Everyone wanted one because of the insane performance. The durability was terrible (some core crushed within a week), but that didn't stop anyone from buying them.

Then the USAP banned the original 3s due to excessive grit. Joola released the Pro IV series as a legal, more durable replacement, and the 3s started to fade away.

But now they're back. Joola just released the 3s again—this time with dual certification. The question is: is it worth getting?

Caveats & Disclosures

Quick notes before we dive in:

• This is a first impressions review based on a few days of testing
• I can't speak to long-term durability yet
• I'll rate this paddle on MyPickleList at the end
• Shout out to Premier Racquet Sports for letting me borrow this paddle (check them out if you're in the Atlanta area!)

Quick Specs Overview

The new Joola 3s comes in all the original shapes and thicknesses:

• Perseus & Magnus - Elongated shapes
• Hyperion - Hybrid shape
• Scorpeus - Standard shape (what I tested)

I used the Scorpeus 14mm since I'm a fan of standard-shaped paddles.

What's Different?

Cosmetically:

• Slightly different color gradient on the dual-certified versions

Performance:

• The original 3s was USAP-banned due to excessive grit
• The new dual-certified version is much less gritty and very smooth to touch
• This (hopefully) doesn't impact performance too much, but we'll see
• Joola made some core modifications while keeping the Propulsion Core

My Setup:

• Stock weight: 7.95 oz
• With mods (3g strips at 4 & 8 o'clock + 9g Flick weight at bottom): 8.52 oz

On-Court First Impressions

Pop & Power

Stock form: Above-average pop, but probably a step down from the Pro IVs and RPMs.

Counters were good if you hit them well, but it didn't have that crazy pop that lets you easily bag opponents.

With the setup: Pop increased noticeably.

Power verdict: Mid-tier power paddle, maybe high-low tier. Less than I expected—possibly because my expectations were set by everyone's core-crushed 3s from back in the day, or maybe the core changes reduced the power.

Specific observations:

• Overheads: People got them back more than I'm used to
• Drives: Decent, but not winning points from bagging people easily (the Quanta felt more effective in comparison)
• Serves: Could hit deep, but didn't have the same velocity as other paddles
• Returns: Same story

Overall firepower is less than other recent Joola models I've played, including the Pro IV versions.

Control & Feel

First impression: The spin was definitely less than other paddles I've been using. This sentiment stayed throughout my testing.

I got the job done, but never once thought "wow, the spin on this is really good."

Control:

• Good on easier shots
• Pretty consistent on resets when connected
• Sweet spot felt average in stock form—not bad, but I noticed some edge hits

With the setup:

• Helped significantly with edge hits
• Felt way better at harder resets
• Extra pop made some out-of-the-air shots pop more (not worrying though)

Feel: More poppy. Ball absorbs just a bit and pops back. When playing with this, I was definitely more comfortable resetting my way into the kitchen vs. hitting a super clean 3rd shot drop.

The spin is underwhelming. I didn't hit a single shot that made me impressed with the spin. That said, I had an easy time making my way up to the net—more so with the setup due to the larger effective sweet spot.

Here's my honest take: I think they nerfed the spin a little too much. It went from "so gritty it stuck on your shirt" to "some of the smoothest paddles I've felt in a while."

Physical grit isn't the only thing that determines spin, but it plays a part. I could still play well with it—it just left me wanting a bit more to be really good.

The Verdict: 7/10

What it is:

• A consistent paddle with some weight
• Solid low-mid tier power
• That classic Gen 3 feel if you like that

My rating: I'd probably give it a mid-7, but since it left me wanting more spin and power compared to other paddles I've rated, and MyPickleList only does whole numbers, I'm rounding down to 7/10.

I could definitely play well with this paddle—I just felt like there are better options for my playstyle.

Who This Paddle Is For

✅ Get this paddle if you:

• Like Gen 3 paddles, specifically the Joola 3s series
• Prefer standard shapes (Gen 3 standard-shaped paddles are pretty rare)
• Play in lots of tournaments and need the dual-certified stamp

❌ Skip this paddle if you:

• Don't play in tournaments (the original 3s with more spin would be more fun)
• Want maximum spin and power
• Prefer elongated shapes with more reach

A note on durability: The originals core-crushed pretty easily. Hopefully, the modified core is more durable, but I'm not sure what the actual effects of the changes are yet. Time will tell.

Final Thoughts

The new Joola 3s Dual is legal, likely more durable, and still a solid paddle. But it sacrifices some of what made the original 3s so special—mainly the spin.

If you're a tournament player who needs that dual certification and you love the Gen 3 feel, this could work for you. But if you're a rec player or someone who prioritizes spin and pop, there are better options out there.

Rating: 7/10 on MyPickleList

Compare This Paddle

Want to see how the Joola 3s Dual stacks up against 200+ other paddles? Check out MyPickleList.com for community-driven ratings from real players.

🎁 Atlanta area? We're giving $20 gift cards to Premier Racquet Sports if you rate and comment on 5 paddles. 35 out of 100 spots have been claimed so far—hurry before they're gone!

This is a first impressions review based on a few days of play testing. Long-term durability and performance may vary. Shout out to Premier Racquet Sports for providing the demo paddle.