Proton is back, and the Project Coyote might be the most interesting thing they've put out. It's a 15mm elongated paddle that comes in genuinely light, hits genuinely hard, and does something most new releases aren't doing right now — it stays Gen 3.

I've had it on our courts for a few sessions. Here's my honest read.

Gen 4 is everywhere. This isn't one, and that's the point.

The first question I get about this paddle is some version of: "Gen 4 foam paddles are out — what makes this one special?"

Feel. That's the answer.

Gen 4 foam paddles hit big, there's no arguing that. But with a lot of foam builds you give up some ball feel. You hit one and you don't quite know where on the face you made contact. The information just isn't coming back up the handle. For some players that's a fine trade. For a lot of players it isn't, and they don't figure that out until the paddle is already paid for.

The Coyote keeps that connection. It's crisp. You feel the ball, you know when you've caught one clean and you know when you haven't. And it's worth remembering that a lot of the pros are still playing Gen 3 paddles — this isn't old technology, it's a different set of priorities. If you've picked up one of the new foam paddles and thought "I love the power, I just don't love how this feels," the Coyote is built for exactly you.

What's actually in it

The Coyote is built on a polypropylene honeycomb core with foam reinforcement around the perimeter. That perimeter foam isn't new — we've seen it on Gen 3 paddles for a while now — but it's a good combination and worth understanding, because "foam paddle" has turned into a catch-all term that hides real differences.

A full foam core fills the whole paddle. A perimeter-foam build like this one keeps the honeycomb through the middle and packs foam around the outside edge. The practical effect is that the outer part of the face behaves more like the center, so off-center contact stays more predictable — without the weight a full foam core adds. That's how you get a paddle this light that still swings with authority.

Two more things worth knowing if you play anything competitive. The Coyote is USA Pickleball approved at PBCoR .43 and UPA Pro Certified for PPA and MLP play — so whatever you're entering, you're legal. And Proton designs and engineers the Series Three in the USA.

The new shape

Proton changed the taper on this one, and I think it was a smart move. The transition from the handle into the face is smoother than their previous elongated paddles, which gives you a more traditional elongated shape overall — and you can actually feel the difference.

You still get the extra reach an elongated paddle gives you. What you also get is more room for a two-handed backhand, thanks to the 5.5" handle and that reworked throat. If reach isn't what you're after, a widebody is the friendlier shape — shorter, wider, easier to move, and more forgiving when you catch one off-center.

How it plays

This is a power paddle. I'll say that plainly. Drives come off with real pace, serves are easy to generate speed on, and when you get a ball up high you can put it away.

The feel is firm — crisp rather than soft — and I like that. It's not muted. You get feedback on every ball.

Spin was very good. I could shape the ball the way I wanted to, and just as importantly, the grit seems to hold on. Some faces feel great for a month and then go slick. This one reads like it's going to last.

If you're weighing this against something more control-oriented, you're obviously picking up significantly more power here — but I don't think you're giving up as much in the soft game as you'd expect. That's the whole pitch: power on tap, without having to fight the paddle when you want to dink.

The one change I'd make

Add a little weight to the sides.

This paddle comes in light — mine weighed right at 7.9 oz, which puts it squarely in lightweight paddle territory. I don't treat that as a spec so much as an invitation. I put a bit of lead tape on the sides and it made a real difference: more drive-through power, and noticeably more stability when I caught one off-center.

That's the advantage of buying a paddle light. You can always add weight. You can't take it off.

The numbers

Spec	Project Coyote
Core thickness	15mm
Shape	Elongated — 16.5" × 7.5"
Static weight	Just under 8 oz
Swing weight	~115–117
Twist weight	~6
Handle length	5.5"
Grip circumference	4.125"
Core	Polypropylene honeycomb, foam-reinforced perimeter
Certification	USA Pickleball (PBCoR .43) · UPA Pro Certified (PPA | MLP)

Who should buy it

It's a good fit if you:

• Tried a Gen 4 foam paddle, liked the power, and missed feeling the ball
• Want a paddle that hits hard without being the single hardest-hitting thing on the market
• Like elongated paddles but don't want something that feels slow and cumbersome in the hands
• Hit a two-handed backhand
• Play sanctioned tournaments and need something certified for both PPA and MLP
• Like to tune a paddle with lead tape — this one leaves you room

Look elsewhere if you:

• Want maximum power above all else — there are more explosive options in the $180+ range
• Prefer a soft, muted feel at the kitchen line
• Are newer to the game and still finding the middle of the paddle — our beginner paddles are a friendlier and cheaper place to start

Skill-wise, I'd put this with our intermediate and advanced paddles. Not gatekeeping — it just rewards clean contact, and clean contact is more fun once it's consistent.

Where it sits in the Proton lineup

We carry three other paddles from Proton, all 15mm and all $159: the Project Flamingo Elongated, the Project Peacock Elongated, and the Project Peacock Widebody.

The Coyote is the $195 paddle in the group. What the extra money buys you is the lighter frame and the perimeter-foam build; the Flamingo and Peacock sit at 8.0 oz with more conventional constructions. Short version: the Coyote if you want head-heavy power in a light frame you can tune, the Peacock if you want a foam core at a lower price, the Flamingo if carbon-face feel is the priority.

The Project Coyote is in stock and ships today, and shipping is free over $30.

— John. More about me and how I test paddles here.