As you may have noticed, we’re huge fans of JOOLA as a brand and the products they manufacture. We’ve reviewed a few of their ping pong paddles, so we thought we’d keep the trend going and provide the complete JOOLA Infinity Overdrive review.

The Infinity Overdrive is a table tennis racket packed with power and requires a decent development of technique and skills. That’s why we think this paddle is ideal for a more intermediate to advanced player that is trying to improve his/her offensive playstyle.

Performance Speed: 100, Spin: 98, Control: 92
Blade7 ply – 5 real wood 2 carbon
RubberMicron 48
Sponge2.2mm
Playstyle Offensive
ITTF Approved?Yes
Our rating8.8/10

Who is it for?

Who is it not for?

This paddle is definitely a professional grade paddle, so we recommend it to players who have already employed an offensive style of play, and have great control on their attacking and high spin shots. This is because the blade and rubber have been built for speed, so players would need to know how to control this extra pace in shots.

We don't recommend this paddle to players who are pretty new to the game, and haven't quite got the basics of controlling offensive type shots - such as the forehand topspin stroke. We say this because it may be very difficult to keep the ball from flying off the other side of the table at first, because of the paddles high speed.

JOOLA Infinity Overdrive Review

Once again, for this review, we’ll focus on the key components of any ping pong paddle, namely: the blade, the rubber, the handle as well as what the paddle specializes in.

If interested, we’ve written a complete ping pong paddle buying guide here – which may help you in determining which paddle suits you best.

The Blade

The Infinity Overdrive blade consists of a 5 plywood combination as well as a 2 ply carbon-kevlar combination. The wooden components consist of:

  • Hinoki (fast attack): This is seen as the ‘golden’ wood of blades. It is a delicate, but dynamic wood which suits all styles of play.
  • Koto (quick counterattacks): This wood is more nimble and stiff, making it better for faster blocks and quick counterattacks.
  • Ayous (precise control): This is a lightweight and elastic wood which is why it forms the heart of many all-round blades. This wood is great for players looking to keep the ball in play and outlast their opponents.

These woods are often used in JOOLA’s other selection of paddles, because of their great results. Both the real wood and the carbon-kevlar give the blade a width of 6.1mm, making it slightly wider than the Infinity Balance.

The carbon-kevlar combination is responsible for giving the blade a large and explosive sweet spot – giving the paddle a noticeable punch in strike. This combo also plays a role in reducing vibrations which means greater consistency and control.

The combination of real wood and carbon in the blade gives this paddle significant speed, making it a delight for an offensive player. The wood and carbon can make this paddle feel heavy at first and may need some time getting used to.

Overall, this is a high-quality blade and is definitely one of the best you’ll find in this price range.

The Rubber

The rubber used for the Infinity Overdrive racket is JOOLA’s Micron 48 rubber. This is seen as tournament-grade rubber and has the ability to provide exceptional spin on the ball. Both sides of the Infinity Overdrive are black, making it a classy and intimidating paddle.

The inverted Micron 48 rubber specializes in professional-grade speed and spin and is great for high-level players who are able to control their shots.

Overall, the rubber is a large reason why the Infinity Overdrive is considered the most professional level paddle in the JOOLA Infinity series. These rubbers can take a while to get used to, but can be extremely effective.

The Handle

The Infinity Overdrive uses the classic flared handle, making it the perfect match for someone who uses the Shakehand grip. This handle is ergonomic, meaning it is designed for both efficiency and comfort.

The flared handle is used often in JOOLA’s paddle builds, and they are well known for their comfort. JOOLA makes it a priority to have comfort as well as performance.

General Overview

We’ve put together a table highlighting both the pro’s and the con’s of the JOOLA Infinity Overdrive:

Pros
  • 7 ply blade consisting of both wood and carbon-kevlar
  • Wood base provides reduced vibration is great velocity
  • Carbon-kevlar provides enlarged sweet spot and reduces vibrations
  • Blade is 6.1mm – ideal for offensive player
  • Micron 48 rubber – great for large amounts of spin
  • Black on both sides
  • Inverted smooth face
  • Professional grade rubber
  • Flared handle for comfort
  • Paddle comes with different color options
  • Budget friendly
Cons
  • Paddle may be a bit heavy at first
  • Blade prioritizes speed – this could be hard for beginners to control
  • Rubbers have good spin and speed – which could make it hard for some players to control
  • Flared handle may not suit players who use a penhold grip

We’ve also put together some ratings out of 100, for the 3 key characteristics – speed, spin and control.

SpeedSpinControl
1009892

Conclusion

If you’re a player who thinks he’s gained the skills to be an offensive player, we couldn’t recommend the Infinity Overdrive higher. It has all the necessary attributes to take your ping pong game to a new and competitive level.

The Infinity Overdrive is a paddle used in seriously competitive environments, and we think its one of JOOLA’s most impressive builds. It may not be the best idea to get it as your first paddle, but once you’ve mastered offensive play – we recommend looking at it in the future.

If you’re a more controlled or defensive player, we’ve reviewed some other great options here – all of these are paddles that we think can benefit anyone’s game. Remember – there are many different playstyles, no playstyle is better than another.