Six Zero Infinity Edgeless Double Black Diamond Control Review

I’m back with another Six Zero paddle review. In this review, I’ll provide you with an in-depth, first-hand analysis of the new Six Zero Infinity Edgeless Double Black Diamond paddle.

I’ll cover specifics on power, control, sweet spot, spin potential, and more. You’ll get the full breakdown of how it compares favorably or unfavorably against the ever-popular original Double Black Diamond paddle.

This review will help you determine if the infinity is the right match for your next paddle investment. I also recommend checking out my Complete Six Zero Paddles Buyer’s Guide.

Six Zero Infinity Double Black Diamond Technical Specifications

• Price: $220 ($200 with discount code DASHPB)
• Shape: Hybrid
• Core: Polypropylene Honeycomb
• Core thickness: 16mm
• Face: Raw Carbon Fiber
• Grip length: 5.5″
• Grip circumference: 4.25″ Octagon
• Average weight: 8.1oz (+/- 0.2)
• Swingweight: 110
• Twistweight: 5.9
• Thermoformed: Yes
• Total length: 16.3″
• Width: 7.5″
• Warranty: 6-12 months

Quick Summary

The infinity DBD is an edgeless take on the original Double Black Diamond. The edgeless paddle design has some pros and cons when compared to the traditional raw carbon paddle type with an edge guard.

On the plus side, the DBD Infinity is lighter and swings faster, providing you with more maneuverability and helping your hands game. It also has a cleaner, more streamlined look that many people prefer.

A negative of edgeless paddles is that it’s easier to damage and scratch up the exposed edge of the paddle (edge tape recommended). The other noteworthy drawback is that edgeless paddles have worse sweet spot performance than their edgeguarded counterparts.

Aside from the sweet spot, the most significant performance differences you’ll notice with the regular DBD and DBD Infinity come down to tradeoffs between power and control.

The standard DBD has more power and all-court performance, while the Infinity DBD leans toward being a control paddle. Yes, the original DBD is marketed as a thermoformed control paddle, but the Infinity pushes this class even more in the direction of control.

The Infinity plays like a true control paddle – anything related to the soft game feels great. However, when trying to rip a serve or smash a counter, I found putting balls away more challenging than the original DBD and other thermoformed paddles. With such a low swing weight, you don’t get as much plow-through power.

Feel

Handle

The Infinity DBD paddle has a 5.5-inch handle length. This is my ideal length and supports comfortable two-handed backhands for most players. However, it does not provide as much room for two-handed backhands as some other similarly lengthed paddles. But it should be plenty sufficient unless you have large hands.

The grip circumference is meant to be 4.25″ inches, but initial production paddles have a thicker 4.5-inch grip instead. This is a little big for me, but not bad. Future batches will have the 4.25-inch circumference, which suits most people. I personally prefer a 4.125″ handle and then adding an overgrip myself later. But 4.25″ is okay, too.

Weight & balance

The Infinity DBD weighs between 8 and 8.2 oz, with a very low swing weight of 110-112. This makes it extremely maneuverable and one of the market’s fastest hybrid/elongated 16mm paddles.

The paddle itself feels balanced. No head heaviness or the like. It comes down to whether you like a light paddle for hand speed and assistance in executing wristy shots like flicks and backhand rolls with spin and power. Or if you prefer something heavier for plow-through and extra stability.

How it feels to hit the ball with the Infinity DBD

The Infinity DBD has a softer feel at impact compared to the original DBD. Anything related to the soft game, like drops, dinks, and resets, feels excellent, with great control for a thermoform.

While softer than most thermoforms, it still has the stiffness of a thermoformed paddle. It’s just not as stiff as the original DBD or most other thermos.

Power

As covered earlier, the Infinity DBD focuses more on control than power. My drives, serves, counters, and other power shots had less oomph than I was used to with more powerful paddles like the original DBD.

I attribute this mainly to the lower swing weight than the design of the paddle. When I added lead tape to bring it up to the swing weight of the original DBD, the Infinity hit comparably hard. However, this negates the unique benefit of the Infinity in the form of lightweight quickness.

If you generate much of your own power, the increased control and quickness could be worth the tradeoff. But for players who gravitate to thermoformed paddles purely for their power might prefer the original DBD.

Iff you do rely on your paddle for power and prefer more of an all-court style, the original DBD 16mm is likely a better fit.

Pop

Pop lands in a similar realm to the power discussion. The Infinity trades some pop output for increased control. It still has pretty good pop due to its thermoformed nature, but it is more subdued than a lot of other thermoformed paddles.

There is still decent pop, thanks to the thermoformed construction. I personally like the pop output for a more controlled style of play. But if you’re looking for higher pop and don’t mind the slight increase in swing weight, then the original DBD will output more.

Control

Control is definitely where the Infinity DBD excels – its softer feel at impact enhances touch, feel, and overall control.

Anything related to the soft game – drops, dinks, resets, brush shots – feels extremely responsive with the Infinity. It helps add some nice finesse to a thermoformed control-oriented playstyle.

The DBD Infinity feels quite stable for being such a lightweight edgeless paddle. It won’t have the stability of a paddle with an edge guard, but it’s still pretty solid compared to other similar paddles that I’ve tested. They’ve done a good job distributing weight to keep twist weight (which improves stability) high.

There is a caveat in the control arena. As expected after playing with other edgeless paddles, the sweet spot on the Infinity is not as good as the original DBD. This smaller sweet spot than the original DBD means slightly less forgiveness on off-center hits. I mishit more drops into the net on mid-court resets, particularly when swapping back and forth between DBDs.

Regardless, the high degree of control when hit well pairs nicely with the increased swing speed to really help you control points at the net. Dinking and hands battles felt great with the Infinity.

If you’ve played with other thermoformed paddles, you shouldn’t have much problem controlling this one. You of course, might pop it up more than with a true control paddle, though.

Spin

The Infinity Double Black Diamond has the same excellent spin performance as other Six Zero paddles. My average spin reading was over 2000 RPM, which is quite high. Despite the face not being super gritty, the Infinity DBD grabs the ball nicely and imparts excellent spin on serves, drives, drops, and dinks.

I could consistently land topspin serves deep in the corners to pull opponents wider off the court. So, while power is reduced, spin potential remains very strong with the Infinity.

Hand Speed & Maneuverability

This is the best hybrid-shaped paddle that I’ve played with in terms of maneuverability. The lightweight swing weight of around 110 is the key feature that gives the Infinity DBD its fast feel and maneuverability. This facilitates quicker reaction times and getting your paddle on balls better. I’ve been able to get my Infinity into position very fast in all scenarios.

In hand battles at the net, I could clearly get my paddle in better positions more frequently to counter drives or attacks. The lower swing weight really shone in those reactionary exchanges.

I forgot that I was playing with a 16mm paddle much of the time when using the Infinity. This paddle has the speed and maneuverability of a 14 with control of a 16. This is a great feat by Six Zero.

While great for speed, you compromise on plow through and power somewhat as highlighted previously. So, picking the Infinity means favoring speed and maneuverability over hitting harder shots.

Durability

I haven’t had this paddle long enough to thoroughly analyze its durability. But, I expect this paddle to hold up well based on previous Six Zero and other comparable thermoforms.

However, the perimeter of the paddle will scratch and show exterior wear more easily over time without an edge guard. Using some edge tape can help mitigate this aesthetic issue.

I wanted to test the edges durability before adding protective tape. I managed to lightly chip the surface of my edges after only a couple of play sessions. So, it does chip and dent if an unprotected edge contacts the ground with moderate force.

Protect the edges, and it should hold up nicely for seasons of play. Six Zero provides a 6-month limited warranty on core materials, deformation, and delamination and a 12-month structural warranty against manufacturer defects and workmanship for added peace of mind.

Value

Retailing at $220, the Infinity DBD carries about a 15% price premium over the original DBD paddle. Given the niche nature and smaller addressable target market, I think this pricing makes sense. Purchasing through my link with code DASHPB will bring the price down to a more affordable level at $200.

For players obsessed with maximum control and touch – regardless of power tradeoffs – the Infinity brings noticeable advantages over the DBD and many other paddles on the market. The price reflects its specialized strengths.

What Type of Player is the Infinity Double Black Diamond Paddle Best For

This paddle is a solid option for players who want a low swing weight that allows for fast handling and maneuverability. It’s also one of the most controllable thermoformed paddles on the market and doesn’t sacrifice on spin. Plus, you get the clean aesthetic of an edgeless paddle.

It’s a great choice for players of all levels, but especially for advanced players who rely on finesse and hand speed to win points over brute force.

Some beginners and intermediates may be better served developing skills through the more forgiving sweet spot and weight distribution of the original DBD or other accessible thermoformed all-court paddles.

How the Infinity Double Black Diamond compares to the original Double Black Diamond (DBD)

While Six Zero markets the Infinity as an advanced iteration of the Double Black Diamond line, make no mistake – these are distinctly different paddles suited for different play styles.

The Infinity brings more control, touch, spin, and placement at the expense of power, pop, stability, and sweet spot performance compared to the original DBD. You get more power and plow through with the original DBD, but you won’t be able to move it as quickly in hands battles. Both output comparably high levels of spin.

An interesting thing to note is that without the edge guard, the playable surface of the infinity is slightly larger than the original DBD.

More Six Zero Paddle Reviews:

• Six Zero Sapphire Review
• Six Zero Black Diamond 16mm Review
• Six Zero Double Black Diamond 16mm Review
• Six Zero Double Black Diamond 14mm Review
• Six Zero DBD 16mm vs. DBD 14mm Review
• Six Zero Black Diamond vs Double Black Diamond Review