Proton Project Coyote Review | Their Most Powerful Paddle Yet

Proton is back and I think they may have just released one of their most interesting paddles yet. This is the brand new Project Coyote, a 15mm elongated paddle that has really impressed me so far. It's lightweight, powerful, has that connected Gen 3 feel that I really like, and Proton is also introducing a brand new shape here that I think was a really smart move. So in this video we're going to talk about the build, the stats, how the Coyote plays, and who I think this paddle is really for. Hey I'm Bobby from the kitchen and while Proton has had some crazy sales lately, it's been a bit since their last paddle release so when I saw the Project Coyote coming I was pretty interested to see what they were bringing to the table. And after playing it I think this is a really good direction for them. The Coyote is a 15mm elongated paddle measuring 16.5 inches long and 7.5 inches wide with a 5.5 inch handle. It's dual certified by both USAP and UPAA and currently sells for $195 but you can save some money and help support this channel with the code kitchen. Underneath that carbon fiber face you've got a polypropylene honeycomb Gen 3 core with foam reinforcement around the perimeter. And while the foam perimeter isn't anything new or groundbreaking we've seen this type of construction in Gen 3 paddles for quite a while now, it is a very good combination. You get a really generous sweet spot, decent stability, and great power while still retaining that more connected feel that I think a lot of players like about Gen 3 paddles. You know where you make contact with the ball and it gives you the feedback that you might be missing from foam. But I think the bigger story with this paddle is what Proton did with the shape and overall weight distribution. My unit came in at 7.85 ounces static weight, a 114.7 swing weight, and a 6.1 twist weight and I think these are really good numbers for what Proton is trying to accomplish here. It's an elongated paddle so you're getting the extra reach but the swing weight is quite low. It's actually their lightest paddle that they've ever made according to them. And that's something I noticed almost immediately when I started playing this. This doesn't feel like a big cumbersome elongated paddle. It feels pretty quick and that lightweight construction makes it really easy to get moving. And the best way that I can describe the Coyote on the court is powerful but connected and that distinction is important. We're seeing a ton of really powerful paddles right now especially with all the different foam constructions hitting the market. And some of those paddles are incredibly explosive but you can sometimes lose a bit of that connected feeling with the ball. The Coyote really doesn't have that problem. When you hit the ball you get a pretty clear sense of what's happening on the face. You can feel the ball, you get good feedback from your contact, and the response feels really predictable. And at the same time there is plenty of power here. Drives have some serious pace, serves are easy to generate speed with, and when you get a high ball you can absolutely put that ball away. I wouldn't call it the most powerful paddle that I've ever played but I think the Coyote lands pretty comfortably in that power oriented category. And what I really like is that you don't have to absolutely unload on the ball in order to get that power. And that brings us to the other side of the paddle because despite the power I don't think this is a one-dimensional power paddle. Dinks feel good, drops feel good, resets feel good, and I think that's where the Gen 3 construction really shines. The ball doesn't just explode off the face so you have a little more time to work with the ball and control where it's going. There's still plenty of response when you need it thanks to a stiffer feel but it's relatively linear and predictable. And that's something I really appreciate in a paddle like this. Give me power when I need it but don't make me fight the paddle when I don't. I think the Coyote does a pretty good job of finding that balance. The other thing I really like here is the shape. This is a new shape for Proton and I think it was a really smart change. Proton has changed the taper here compared to their previous elongated paddles to give you a smoother transition from the handle to the face and overall what I would consider a more traditional elongated shape. And I think you can actually feel the difference. You still get that elongated reach, you get more room for a two-handed backhand, and combined with the relatively low swing weight I think it makes the Coyote feel much more approachable. So where does this actually fit in the market? I think the easiest way to describe the Coyote is that it's a power paddle for somebody who doesn't want to give up feel. If you've played some of the newer really aggressive paddles and thought, hey I love the power but I don't necessarily love the way this feels, I think the Coyote is really interesting for you. You're getting plenty of power but you're also getting that traditional Gen 3 response. And if you compare it to a more control oriented paddle you're obviously getting significantly more power but I don't think that you're actually making a huge sacrifice in the soft game to get it. So who should actually buy the Coyote? Well I'd start with somebody who wants power but doesn't want maximum power. If you're looking for the hardest hitting paddle that's on the market in general there are probably better options but if you want something that can hit hard when you need it while still giving you the control and feedback to play the soft game, this is a really good middle ground. I'd also recommend this to somebody who likes elongated paddles but doesn't want something that feels cumbersome and slow in the hands. The combination of the elongated shape, the lightweight construction, and manageable swing weight makes this a pretty easy paddle to move around. And finally if feel is really important to you this is one that I would definitely put on your radar. Overall I think Proton made a really good paddle with the Project Coyote and I actually think the simplicity of what they're doing here is part of what makes it work. It's not trying to be the craziest paddle on the market, it's not relying on some revolutionary core technology, it's just a really well executed Gen 3 paddle with a great shape, a generous sweet spot, good power, low swing weight, and a really nice connected feel. And I think that's a combination that's going to work for a lot of players. If you have any questions about the Coyote let me know down below in the comments, if you decide to pick one up remember to use code Kipchun, and as always thanks so much for watching, I'll see you on the court.