Spinex NOVA Salt Lagoon
Built for beginners. A wider face, more control.
Your first proper paddle, built for control.
- Wider face and a soft 16mm core, so shots land where you aimed
- A wrist-friendly 225g: quick at the net, comfortable through a long first session
- Grippy carbon face that makes spin easier to learn
Includes Free Paddle Cover · $15 Value
Australia
Free Shipping$100+
30-DayGuarantee
12 MonthWarranty
See it in action
The hardest part of starting pickleball is not speed. It is watching the ball ignore you. NOVA is built around one promise: shots that go where you meant, from your third game onward.
Salt Lagoon runs the same contour face in black, then lifts the frame and grip to white, named for the salt lakes that turn pale each summer. The bright, clean one, and the one that photographs best on court at golden hour.
Why the core is 16mm
More pop sounds like help for a new player. It is not: speed you cannot place yet mostly sends the ball long. The thicker 16mm core softens the rebound, so mishits drop shorter and stay in front of you. Inside it is polypropylene honeycomb with a tight 8mm cell, small enough that the response stays consistent across the face.
One piece, heat-pressed
Face, core and foam edges are thermoformed into a single unit rather than glued together panel by panel. That is what keeps contact feeling solid and the structure quiet, with a slim edge trim protecting the perimeter.
What the foam perimeter does
Filled edges keep a ball caught near the frame coming back with direction instead of going dead, so more of the face behaves like the middle.
The face: T700 carbon
NOVA uses the same T700 carbon fibre as our tournament-approved FLEX Hybrid. The woven surface carries a fine texture that grips the ball, which is what makes spin easier to learn, and it holds that texture far longer than the fibreglass faces common at this price.
NOVA 16mm
Construction
- Build: one-piece thermoformed
- Face material: T700 carbon fibre
- Core: 16mm polypropylene honeycomb, 8mm cell
- Edge: foam-filled perimeter, slim edge trim
Dimensions
- Shape: widebody
- Face width: 203mm
- Total length: 404.5mm
- Handle length: 139mm
- Grip circumference: 108mm
- Weight: 225g ±5g (about 7.9oz)
In the box
- NOVA paddle
- Paddle cover
Storage
Store your paddle in a dry environment, preferably indoors. Avoid leaving it in a vehicle or exposing it to extreme heat or cold, as temperature changes can impact performance and long-term durability.
Paddle Face and Edge Guard Care
After play, wipe down the paddle face to remove dust and ball residue. A slightly damp cloth is sufficient for regular cleaning. Clean the edge guard with a damp cloth as needed to keep it free from dirt and debris. For raw carbon fiber surfaces, avoid harsh cleaners or abrasive materials, as they may affect the surface texture. Minor cosmetic wear over time is normal and reflects regular play.
Grip Care
Wipe down the grip after each session to remove sweat, oils, and dirt. Regular care helps maintain a consistent feel and extends grip life. You may add an overgrip if preferred. Overgrips can improve comfort, manage sweat, and protect the original factory grip.
Shipping
- Orders processed within 1–2 business days
- Free standard shipping on orders over $100 AUD
- 3–5 business days for major metro areas
- Tracking details sent via email once shipped
Warranty & Returns
- 12-month limited structural warranty covering manufacturer defects
- 30-day returns for unused items in original packaging
Full details: Warranty & Returns Policy · Shipping Policy
Start with a paddle worth keeping.
Your first paddle doesn't have to feel like a beginner paddle. NOVA is designed for players just getting into pickleball: easy to start with, exciting to own, and capable enough to grow with your game. Starting out doesn't mean settling for something basic.
First paddle ≠ basic paddle.
The ball starts listening
New players do not need more speed. They need shots that land where they were aimed. The soft 16mm thermoformed core slows the rebound, so drives drop inside the baseline instead of sailing past it.
The extra thickness also makes 16mm the most comfortable core to learn with. It absorbs impact instead of sending it up your arm, and keeps the face steady when the rally speeds up.
Off-centre is not a lost point
Paddle edges are usually hollow honeycomb. That is why a ball caught near the frame feels dead and twists in your hand.
NOVA fills the perimeter with foam and heat-presses face, core and edges into one piece, so edge contact keeps its line and the rally keeps going.
Easy on the wrist, quick at the net
At about 7.9oz, NOVA sits in the calm middle of the weight range: light enough to react at the kitchen line, steady enough that the ball does not push the face around on contact.
Two hours of club play should end because the session ended, not because your wrist did.
For your first year, not just your first week
You are a few games in, you are coming back next week, and you want a paddle you chose yourself. That is who this is for.
Named after the country it comes from
Every colourway is named for an Australian landscape. Outback Black takes its contour lines from the dry inland, Salt Lagoon borrows the white rim of a summer salt lake, and Pink Stellar looks up at the night sky over the ranges.
Same paddle underneath all three. Pick the one you like looking at.
What A$139 Buys Here
NOVA against what usually ships at this price in Australia.
NOVAA$139
A$99 to A$149
Heading for sanctioned tournaments? The FLEX Hybrid is the USAP approved step up.
“Typical” based on 350+ paddle listings under A$150 reviewed across Australian retailers, August 2026.
FAQ
Is the NOVA good for someone who has never played?
Yes, that is who it is built for. The wide face and soft 16mm core both make the ball easier to place, which is what new players actually need. It is also built to still be the right paddle a year in, so you are not buying twice.
Which Spinex paddle should I get if I want to play tournaments?
Go with the FLEX Hybrid. It is USA Pickleball approved for sanctioned play, and it steps up to an edgeless build with a larger foam-filled area and a more responsive core. NOVA is built for club nights, social play and everyday games.
What is the difference between NOVA and the FLEX Hybrid?
They share a T700 carbon face and a 16mm thermoformed core. The FLEX Hybrid goes fully edgeless with a larger foam-filled area and a more responsive core, and it is USA Pickleball approved. NOVA is the widebody built for forgiveness first, at A$139 instead of A$199.
Do the three colourways play differently?
No. Outback Black, Salt Lagoon and Pink Stellar are the same paddle: same face, core, shape, weight and grip. The only difference is what it looks like.
Is 225g a good weight to start with?
Yes. It is about 7.9oz, the middle of the usual adult range. Light enough to stay quick at the kitchen line and easy on the wrist across a long session, steady enough that the ball does not push the face around. Very light paddles cost you stability, which is the wrong trade early on.
Is the NOVA a good gift for someone starting pickleball?
It is built for exactly that moment. Pick the colourway that suits them, the cover is already in the box, and unused paddles have a 30-day return window if the colour misses. A$139 lands in genuine gift range without buying something they will replace in three months.
Is a carbon face actually worth it at this price?
Not for the word itself. Carbon is common under A$150 now. It is worth it for texture life: a carbon face that is cleaned properly keeps its surface bite far longer than fibreglass. Judge the whole build, not the material name.
Everything else you need to play
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