Key Takeaways:
- The Bird Pickleball Falcon Elite Ergo Paddle stands out as a paddle that, despite its creative intentions, falls short in terms of practicality and overall performance.
- The Bird Falcon Elite Ergo Paddle’s ergonomic design aims to reduce wrist strain by placing the bend in the paddle instead of the wrist. The execution falls flat. The paddle’s unusual shape makes it challenging to grip comfortably and consistently, especially when maneuvering for different shots. This inconsistent grip leads to unpredictable ball control and hinders overall performance.
What is the Bird Falcon Elite Ergo… and why is it?
In an attempt to revolutionize the pickleball world, the Bird Pickleball, through the Falcon Elite Ergo paddle introduces a peculiar “Pistol Grip” with the promise of locked wrists and lossless energy transfer. Not all ideas are good ideas, however, and the innovation fails to deliver.
I put it to the test. Here’s how the Elite Ergo performs in terms of my big three criteria: serves, control and power.
How’d it serve?
In my attempts to serve, one of the strongest aspects of my game, I failed and faulted nearly as often as I landed a serve in play. The unusual ergonomics make it feel like you’re lugging around a fashion accessory rather than serving an ace. The grip, which may be intended to enhance power, instead makes each serve feel as unorthodox as its appearance suggests. I honestly think I’d have as much success swinging a hardback copy of Pickball for Dummies at the ball. And I felt like the dummy the book references with my inability to control any returns.
How’s the Control?
When it comes to dinks, a finesse shot that requires precision, the paddle’s 14mm Polypropylene honeycomb core and 4-layer carbon fiber construction should, in theory, provide responsiveness. Yet, the reality is a disconnection from the ball, akin to hitting it with a “weird space gun” as the paddle’s flashy graphics and claims of UV-printed durability quickly lose their luster in actual gameplay.
Control is paramount in pickleball, but the Ergo paddle’s unique bend and PVC edge protection create a dissonant playing experience. Bird Pickleball boasts of a paddle that performs as a seamless, solid piece, yet swinging it is reminiscent of navigating an obstacle course with the wrong equipment. The control that should come naturally feels forced and unnatural, requiring a relearning of basic instincts. Wrist movement is an important part of an effective swing and this design in effect removes that element.
Is there Power in the Design? How’s She Drive the Ball?
Drives require a blend of control and power, something the Falcon Elite Ergo’s maximum regulation texture and carbon fiber layers aim to maximize. However, the paddle’s design seems to hinder more than help, with the drive feeling more jarring than empowering. This high-tech paddle’s touted materials do little to enhance play when the fundamental shape is as counterintuitive as this one.
Finally, power in a pickleball paddle should be effortless, but the Falcon Elite – Ergo’s attempt at providing “MAX POWER” feels more like a marketing gimmick than a true feature. The paddle may have passed the USAPA’s rigorous standards, but the on-court experience is less about power and more about managing the awkwardness of its form factor. The promise of an innovative design for reducing wrist fatigue ironically leads to a game filled with more frustration than ease.
Grip Size and Handle Length
Bird Falcon Elite Ergo Paddle Tester Overview
How Falcon Elite Ergo Paddle Performed on The Court
Value for Money
The Bird Pickleball Falcon Elite Ergo Paddle is a high-end paddle that is priced accordingly. At $250, it is one of the most expensive paddles on the market. However, it does not offer any unique features that justify the price. The paddle’s ergonomic design is not effective and actually makes it more difficult to control the ball.
Control
The Bird Pickleball Falcon Elite Ergo Paddle is a very unresponsive paddle that offers very poor control. The paddle’s sweet spot is very small and is difficult to find and hit consistently. The paddle’s ergonomic grip is also very uncomfortable and makes it difficult to maintain a consistent grip on the paddle.
Spin
The Bird Pickleball Falcon Elite Ergo Paddle is a terrible paddle for generating spin. The paddle’s T700 carbon fiber face is not very grippy and does not allow players to put much spin on the ball. The paddle’s small sweet spot also makes it difficult to generate spin, as it makes it more difficult to hit the ball on the right spot to impart spin.
Power
The Bird Pickleball Falcon Elite Ergo Paddle is a very weak paddle that does not generate much power. The paddle’s T700 carbon fiber face is very flexible and does not transfer much energy to the ball. The paddle’s small sweet spot also makes it difficult to generate power, as it makes it more difficult to hit the ball with a lot of force.
Overall
I’m not able to be complementary. The Bird Pickleball Falcon Elite Ergo Paddle is a terrible paddle that should not be used by anyone unless your wrist has been somehow mangled in a horrible accident or by a degenerative disease. The paddle is expensive, unresponsive, has poor control, does not generate much spin, and is not very powerful. The paddle’s only redeeming quality is its durability but even that is in question as I would likely throw and smash it in frustration if I were to use it in tournament play.
Recommendation
I would not in good conscience recommend the Bird Pickleball Falcon Elite Ergo Paddle to anyone. There are much better paddles on the market that are more affordable, more responsive, offer better control, generate more spin, and are more powerful. If you’re comfortable at this price point, I would point you to the Selkirk Invikta Air. If you’re not comfortable at this price point, you’d be better off making an equally effective paddle out of some cardboard and duct tape like this guy.
I shared the paddle with some of the other Pickleballologists. Take a look at my impression compared to theirs below. As you can see, we rate it pretty consistently across the board.
To maintin my pickleball integrity, I can’t recomend this paddle due to its cost and performance deficit unless you’re compensating for a severe wrist injury.
Sebastian Devereux
This video explains the rationale for the design but denies its great performance deficits.
Bird Pickleball Falcon Elite Ergo Specs
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Face Material | 4-Layer Ultra Rigid Carbon Fiber (T700) |
| Core Material | Polymer Honeycomb |
| Grip Material | Cushioned Grip with Moisture-wicking Fabric |
| Grip Size | 4.25″ or 4.75″ |
| Length | 16″ |
| Width | 8″ |
| Weight | 8.4 oz – 8.8 oz |
| Surface Texture | Maximum Regulation Texture |
| Edge Guard | Premium Polymer Honeycomb Edge Guard |
| Price | $229 |
| Colors Available | Original, Forest, Fox, Frost, Kiwi Watermelon |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects |
Likes and Dislikes from our Pickleballologist testers
Likes
Lleyton – “Sebastian, I love you, but I can’t give you a positive like for your review because I don’t have one.”
Seb – “I’ll keep this paddle in mind if I ever severely injure my wrist and want to continue playing pickleball.”
Mason – “They get points for trying. Innovation is difficult and I can’t fault them for experimenting.”
Dislikes
Lleyton – “I just can’t hit the ball effectively.”
Seb – “There’s no real performance advantage and, on top of that, it’s very expensive.”
Mason – “I tell my kids that need to try new things, but they don’t always have to like new things. I think that applies here.”
Explore some of these other paddles and our reviews before picking up the Bird Ergo.
By day, I work in IT, troubleshooting network issues and deciphering error messages. But by evening, you'll find me on the pickleball court, trying to perfect that elusive spin serve or working on my still-not-quite-there drop shot.
I also contribute to a pickleball affiliate website, but let's be clear—I'm no journalist. I write articles sharing what I've learned, the mistakes I've made, and the gear I've tried. My aim is to help others navigate the learning curve a bit more smoothly than I did.
When I'm not behind a computer screen or holding a paddle, I love spending time with my family, hiking, and diving into a good science fiction novel. If you're ever up for a game or just want to chat about pickleball, feel free to reach out. I'm all ears and always looking to improve.
Where do I start? This paddle is cheezy and silly and inoperable. I felt bad for the sales rep trying to hawk them at our club.