Meet the Gamma Airbender 22: A Paddle That Adapts to You
Reviewed by Eric Cohen, Editor, Open Play Post
Let’s be honest—most paddles feel more alike than different. Maybe the surface is grittier, maybe the shape changes slightly, but rarely does one show up and make you rethink what a paddle could be.
This one’s built for control—right out of the wrapper, it has a soft, plush feel that made my resets, dinks, and drops feel really good. The 22mm core gives it great stability at the kitchen without sucking the life out of your drives. There’s still enough pop when you need it. And the raw carbon face grabs the ball just right—spin is solid, I’ve played some paddles with more, but in the range that works well for most players.
When I played against Maria and John (who always beat us), I felt my soft game was a bit more on point with the ‘22, and we played them tougher than usual. I’ll take that as a win.
But the real headline? You can tune it.
Gamma’s adjustable throat system (called the Shockbuster) can actually change the way this paddle plays. At first I wasn’t quite liking it, then I popped out the weighted “shockbuster” and viola, practically a new paddle that suited my game.
A few minor quibbles: the plastic edge guard could be a little tougher, and I’ve heard the Shockbuster can loosen over time if you’re rough on gear, but I took mine out, so no problem. And at around $200, it’s a premium paddle—but, nowhere near the crazy prices some paddles are getting up to lately.
Bottom line: The Airbender 22 is made for players who care about feel, finesse, and dialing in exactly how they like to play. It’s not a power paddle—it’s a precision tool with room to grow.
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