Six Zero Ruby Review
Six Zero’s soft, control-first line. The aramid face plays muted and forgiving, which makes the Ruby the kindest paddle in the range on the hands and the arm. It comes in two builds: the pure-touch 16mm and the more all-court Ruby Pro 14mm.
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The short version
The Ruby is the counterweight to Six Zero’s power paddles. Instead of a stiff carbon face built to hit hard, it uses an aramid face that plays soft and muted, so it swallows pace, settles quickly at the net, and is gentle on a sore arm. If your game is built on resets, dinks, and hands battles rather than driving the ball, this is the Six Zero line to look at. The two builds differ in core: the 16mm chases the softest possible feel, while the Ruby Pro 14mm adds pop and a more all-court range without giving up the aramid comfort.
Where the Black Opal wants to end points, the Ruby wants to win them at the kitchen. Soft, forgiving, and easy on the elbow.
The two, side by side
Ruby 16mm
Ruby Pro 14mm
These ratings are our read of the published specs and where each paddle sits in the Six Zero range, not lab or hands-on testing. Where we have played a paddle ourselves, we say so.
How to choose your core
Ruby 16mm, for the softest touch. The thicker core and aramid face combine for the most muted, forgiving feel in the whole Six Zero range. It is the paddle for a control player who lives at the kitchen line, values resets and hand speed over power, and wants the biggest margin for error. It is also the gentlest option for a cranky elbow.
Ruby Pro 14mm, for pop and range. Drop to the thinner 14mm core and you keep the soft aramid face but gain real drive, which turns the Ruby from a pure control paddle into an all-court one. Pick it if you love the soft feel but do not want to give up the ability to speed the ball up or hit through an opponent. It costs a bit more at $220.
What the specs tell us
Feel and control. The aramid face is the story here. It should play noticeably softer and more muted than a carbon paddle, which is what makes resets and dinks so easy to land and so kind on the arm. This is the most touch-first line Six Zero makes.
Power. On the 16mm, power is the trade you make on purpose, so do not expect to bang with it. The Ruby Pro’s thinner core adds most of that pace back, which is the whole reason it exists.
Spin and serve. Aramid faces still grip the ball, so both builds should shape topspin and slice fine, though a raw carbon face like the Black Opal’s will bite a touch more.
On the arm. This is the Ruby’s quiet advantage. A soft aramid face transmits less shock than a stiff carbon one, so if your elbow flares up on power paddles, either Ruby, and the 16mm in particular, is the friendliest choice in the lineup.
Who it is for
Buy a Ruby if
- Your game is built on control, resets, and the soft kitchen exchange
- You want the most forgiving, easy-to-hit paddle in the range
- Your elbow or shoulder needs a softer, lower-shock face
- You want soft hands but still want pop (the Ruby Pro)
Look elsewhere if
- You win points with raw power, see the Black Opal
- You want forgiving power with more pace, see the Coral
- You want a livelier all-court carbon feel, see the DBD
- You want maximum reach for singles, see an elongated build
The full spec sheet
| Ruby 16mm | Ruby Pro 14mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $220 |
| Core | 16mm | 14mm |
| Shape | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Face | Aramid | Aramid |
| Weight | 8.2 oz | 8.2 oz |
| Handle | 5.5 in | 5.5 in |
| Best for | Softest touch | Touch plus pop |
| Approval | USAP | USAP |
If the Ruby is too soft
Six Zero Double Black Diamond
The do-everything carbon line, livelier and more neutral than the Ruby.
Six Zero Coral
A 16mm carbon line that adds pace but stays forgiving.
Six Zero Black Opal
The thin-core banger for players who win on pace.
Not sure the Ruby fits your game?
Answer a few questions and the picker scores both against your style, alongside every other Six Zero, so you can see whether a soft control paddle is your match.
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