The Enhance MPP Turbo was already one of the best-value foam-core paddles you could buy in Australia: a thermoformed, carbon-faced, 16mm floating-core build for $180. The new Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit keeps every bit of that and changes one thing: the face. It now wears a coated grit Enhance calls ArmorGrit, built to keep its bite for longer. Same Turbo, new armour. Here is what ArmorGrit actually is, what the lab numbers say, which of the three shapes to buy, and who should skip it.
Pickld is an authorised Enhance dealer and the ArmorGrit is held here in Sydney, so warranty and support come through us. Nothing in this review is paid for; specs come from Enhance and the lab figures from Pickleball Effect, credited where they appear.
What ArmorGrit is
Most carbon paddles get their spin from a raw, peel-ply T700 face: the weave is left textured so it grabs the ball. That texture is also what wears away first, and a paddle that played with real bite in its first month can feel slick by its fourth. ArmorGrit is Enhance’s answer. It starts from the same peel-ply textured T700 carbon and lays a proprietary durability coating over it, one Enhance describes as having “its own abrasive characteristics”. So the coating protects the texture underneath, and it carries some grit of its own.
Does it last? Enhance gives no figure for grit life, and we will not invent one. The only measured number we can find is from Pickleball Effect, whose ArmorGrit units kept 92 per cent of their texture in its abrasion test, a Tier 2 result. Pickleball Effect also notes that other players’ paddles have been “more hit or miss”, which is the honest picture: better protected than a raw face, not indestructible. If you want the bigger context on how different brands build a grit that lasts, our durable grit paddle guide walks through the main approaches.
What did not change
Everything else. Enhance says the core, construction, shapes and weighting are the same as the original MPP Turbo. That is a 16mm full floating MPP foam core with an EVA perimeter ring, internal perimeter weighting for twist resistance, and a thermoformed CFC (carbon, fibreglass, carbon) layup under the face. If you already liked how the MPP Turbo plays, the ArmorGrit plays the same: Pickleball Effect calls the feel “soft and hollow, the same feel profile as the original Turbo MPP”.
The one measured difference is spin. Pickleball Effect clocked the Elongated at 2,127 rpm and the Hybrid at 2,130 rpm, roughly 100 rpm above the raw carbon original. Not a different paddle, just a face that grabs a little harder and should keep doing it for longer.
The specs
| Spec | Elongated | Hybrid | Widebody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 16.5 in | 16.3 in | 16 in |
| Width | 7.5 in | 7.7 in | 8 in |
| Grip circumference | 4.1 in | 4.1 in | 4.1 in |
| Core | 16mm floating MPP foam, EVA perimeter ring | ||
| Face | Peel-ply T700 carbon with ArmorGrit coating, thermoformed CFC layup | ||
| Spin (lab) | 2,127 rpm | 2,130 rpm | Not yet tested |
| Swing weight (lab) | 113 | 111 | Not yet tested |
| Twist weight (lab) | 6.47 | 6.89 | Not yet tested |
| Price | $180 | $180 | $180 |
Dimensions are Enhance’s. Lab figures are Pickleball Effect’s measured units; Enhance’s own published weight and swing weight ranges differ between two sections of its page, so we have left them out rather than print a number we cannot stand behind.
Which shape to buy
All three shapes cost the same $180 and share the same core and face, so the shape is the whole decision.
- Elongated is the reach and power shape. Enhance pitches it at singles players, aggressive drivers and players coming over from tennis. You trade some sweet spot and a heavier swing for leverage.
- Hybrid is the all-rounder: power, forgiveness, reach and hand speed in balance. If you play mostly doubles and want one paddle that does everything, start here. It is also the shape we hold the most of.
- Widebody has the largest sweet spot and the quickest hands at the kitchen line. Enhance aims it at doubles and control players; you give up some reach and some power.
Still deciding between the two longer shapes? Our Hybrid vs Elongated breakdown goes deeper, and our paddle shapes guide covers shape choice across every brand.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
The ArmorGrit suits the improving club player who wants a genuine foam-core, thermoformed carbon paddle without paying $300 or more, and who plays often enough to wear a raw face down. The soft, hollow feel rewards a touch game at the kitchen while still giving you power when you swing.
Skip it if you want a crisp, firm, poppy paddle: the MPP core is built for a softer, deeper response, and that can feel muted to a player coming from a stiff, firm paddle. Skip it too if you only play a few times a month; a raw-faced paddle will hold its grit long enough for you, and the coating is a durability feature you will not get full value from.
Versus the alternatives
- Spartus Spitfire Elongated ($170). The closest rival on price, and one of the paddles in our durable grit guide. The ArmorGrit’s difference is the soft floating foam core and a third shape to choose from.
- Six Zero Coral Pro ($300). Six Zero’s durable-grit paddle, also in three shapes. If your budget stretches it is worth comparing; the ArmorGrit keeps $120 in your pocket.
- Honolulu J2CR Crystal Blue ($308). Honolulu’s Crystal Blue Endurance Surface is its own answer to grit that lasts. Worth it if you want that surface specifically; otherwise the ArmorGrit is the value play.
The verdict
Buy it. The MPP Turbo was already a strong $180 paddle, and ArmorGrit fixes the one thing raw-faced paddles at this price do badly, which is staying grippy. The core and feel you liked are untouched. Choose the Hybrid if you are unsure, the Elongated if you want reach, the Widebody if you live at the kitchen line.
All three shapes are in stock in Sydney now at $180, with free shipping on orders over $150. Browse the whole Enhance range, or read our Enhance range guide for how the MPP Turbo sits next to the rest of the line.
