Since its emergence in the pickleball scene in 2024, Proton has quickly made a name for itself with its innovative paddles. In a relatively short time, the company has released four paddle series—Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, and Series 4—all crafted with high-quality materials to deliver unique feel and performance.
This January, Proton unveiled its latest and perhaps greatest paddle yet: the Proton Series 3 Flamingo Project. This updated paddle features a more powerful core and a more textured hitting surface, offering elite-level spin and power. It’s also the first paddle to be approved by both the USA Pickleball Association (USAP) and the United Pickleball Association (UPA), meaning it’s eligible for use in both professional and amateur tournaments on the PPA Tour and USAP-sanctioned events. The Flamingo has quickly been adopted by several pros on the PPA Tour, and its 15mm “Speed Core” has earned it a reputation as one of the most aggressive paddles on the market.
After hours of hitting drills—from the baseline, transition zone, and kitchen line—the paddle’s power and spin truly stood out. Below, I’ve detailed how the Proton Series 3 Flamingo performs in each area of the court.
The Proton Series 3 Flamingo is ideal for players who love to aggressively attack with heavy topspin on serves and third-shot drives. If you’re already strong in these areas, this paddle will complement your playstyle perfectly, taking those shots from good to great. Its high spin potential also makes it easy to execute heavy topspin rolls on third-shot drops and dinks.
Key Specifications:
Weight: 8 oz
Swing Weight: 119 (medium)
Twist Weight: 6.6 (medium)
Grip Length: 5.375 inches
Paddle Length: 16.5 inches
Paddle Width: 7.5 inches
Face Material: Textured aerospace-grade carbon fiber
Core Material: Speed Core, polypropylene honeycomb
Core Thickness: 15mm
Before diving into my thoughts, a quick note: I was initially concerned about the grip length. Over the past two years, we’ve seen a trend toward longer handles, as many players now prefer them for two-handed backhands. However, once I held the Flamingo, I noticed no significant difference compared to paddles marketed with 5.5-inch handles, especially after adding an overgrip. For reference, here’s the Flamingo side-by-side with the JOOLA Mod TA-15, which has a 5.5-inch handle—they’re nearly identical in shape.
Performance Breakdown
Baseline Play
Quick Take: Elite power and spin on serves and third-shot drives. Excellent for aggressive topspin drives. Consistent feel—only a truly bad shot felt noticeably off.
Full Story: The Flamingo is a beast from the baseline, largely thanks to its spin potential. On third-shot drives, I could attack as aggressively as I wanted—the more aggressive I was, the better it performed. This allowed me to leave a comfortable margin at the net, trusting the ball to dip enough to stay in play. The heavy topspin is particularly challenging for opponents at the kitchen line, as shots that start at shoulder height can drop to waist level by the time they reach the opponent.
Combined with the paddle’s power, opponents have little time to adjust, often resulting in pop-ups or net shots.
This spin is generated by the high-quality carbon fiber face paired with premium resin, which enhances structural integrity and ensures the texture lasts longer, according to Brant Weiss, VP of Pickleball at Proton. If you’re coming from almost any other carbon fiber paddle, you’ll immediately notice the difference in surface texture.
The high-density foam in the core also increases “dwell time,” adding to the spin potential.
Transition Zone
Quick Take: Feels solid and stable. Easy adjustment period with consistent performance. Great for countering opponents’ attacks.
Full Story: When describing the Flamingo’s feel in the transition zone, adjectives like solid, sturdy, and stable come to mind—but not soft. The paddle feels consistent between shots, thanks to its generous sweet spot. This consistency makes it easy to reset and counter opponents’ attacks. Once I got a feel for how the ball came off the paddle, I felt completely in control.
I was also able to absorb pace from opponents’ aggressive shots relatively easily, something many power-oriented paddles struggle with. Weiss attributes this to the small cell size of the polypropylene honeycomb core. Larger cell sizes in other paddles can lead to a loss of control and a springier feel, making them harder to use in the transition zone.
Kitchen Line (Net Play)
Quick Take: Consistent feel on dinks, just like on resets. Great control on aggressive topspin and slice dinks. Excellent pop on counters and volleys.
Full Story: I think the Flamingo will suit a variety of playstyles at the kitchen line. If you’re someone who loves hitting heavy topspin roll dinks, it can do that (see above notes on spin potential and feel). If you prefer “push” dinks and waiting for opportunities to attack aggressively or counter, it’s equally effective.
The paddle’s overall stability and large sweet spot also make it strong in counters and hand battles—even when I didn’t hit perfectly, it kept me in the point. And when I did hit perfectly, it put me ahead.
Weiss notes that the paddle’s overall power level on counters and overheads is at the top end of what’s allowed under the new USAP and UPA-A regulations. This means most players won’t struggle with high balls.
Final Thoughts
After playing with the Proton Series 3 Flamingo, what stood out most was the amount of spin I could generate, especially on third-shot drives. It felt like there was almost no limit to how aggressively I could pursue these shots—there was always more potential to unlock.
As modern pickleball increasingly favors aggressive playstyles, I expect this paddle to be highly popular and beneficial for many players. It also excels in resets and dinks, so you don’t have to sacrifice those aspects to gain more spin and power.
Whether you’re a competitive player or just looking to elevate your game, the Proton Series 3 Flamingo is a paddle worth considering. Its combination of power, spin, and control makes it a standout choice in the crowded pickleball market.
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