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Gherkin Draco E & W Review (2026): Two New Shapes, Same Filthy Firepower
By Jan Dayleg | Paddle Reviews | Spinwave Pickleball
The Gherkin Draco already earned an 8.5/10 in our original hybrid review. The new Elongated (E) and Widebody (W) shapes don’t change the formula — they expand it.
All gas, no brakes. That’s the Draco in any shape.
As a widebody enthusiast who ended up spending most of my time with the Elongated, the thing that stood out immediately wasn’t just the power — it was the sweet spot. For an elongated paddle, the Draco E has absolutely no business being this forgiving. That massive, consistent sweet spot is what makes all that firepower actually usable, and it’s the reason I keep coming back to it.
Play Profile: High power, high pop — all three Draco shapes sit in the elite offensive tier.
Best For: Players hunting a premium power paddle who already know their preferred shape.
Spoiler: Just pick your shape and go kick some butt.
Quick Verdict
The Draco E and Draco W are both serious power paddles with impressive forgiveness, low baseline weights, and a more textured surface than the original Hybrid version.
The Elongated gives you more reach and raw power. The Widebody gives you the biggest sweet spot and fastest hands. The Hybrid sits between the two.
If you already know what shape you like, the decision is pretty simple: pick your preferred Draco shape and go play aggressive pickleball.
What’s New: The E and W Shapes
If you read our original Gherkin Draco review, you already know the DNA. NCP Foam, Floating Piston Construction, CFC face, and a 16mm core. The same tech that made the Hybrid a banger is now available in two additional shapes — Elongated and Widebody.
Gherkin has also updated the surface texture on the Elongated and Widebody at the time of this writing. More on that in the spin section, but it’s a meaningful upgrade worth knowing about before you buy.
Technical Specifications
Draco Elongated (E)
| Shape | Elongated |
| Length x Width | 16.5” x 7.5” |
| Handle Length | 5.5” |
| Static Weight | 7.9 oz avg |
| Swing Weight | 113 avg |
| Twist Weight | 6.4 avg |
| Core | 16mm NCP Foam |
| Surface | CFC — Carbon Fiber / Fiberglass / Carbon Fiber |
| Construction | Floating Piston, Thermoformed |
| Price | $179.99 |
Draco Widebody (W)
| Shape | Widebody |
| Handle Length | 5.5” |
| Static Weight | 7.9 oz avg |
| Swing Weight | 108 avg |
| Twist Weight | 7.0 avg |
| Core | 16mm NCP Foam |
| Surface | CFC — Carbon Fiber / Fiberglass / Carbon Fiber |
| Construction | Floating Piston, Thermoformed |
| Price | $179.99 |
Note: My units were tested stock with only an overgrip added.
Power & Pop
The Draco shapes follow the standard shape-based power pattern, and they follow it well.
The Elongated leads in raw power on full swings — serves, drives, and overheads all hit hard. The Widebody leads in pop, that quick explosive response you feel in hands battles and counters. The Hybrid sits right in the middle of both.
None of them are slouches. All three sit comfortably in the elite offensive tier.
My previous main, the RPM Q2 16mm Widebody, is a legitimate high-firepower paddle, and the Draco W goes toe-to-toe with it on that front. Where the Draco pulled ahead was the sweet spot — it outperformed the Q2 by a marginal but noticeable amount. When you’re playing at a high level, that kind of consistency adds up over a long session.
At $179.99 before any discounts, the Draco punches well above its price point — this is value territory for elite power paddle performance.
Control & Soft Game
Let me be upfront here: the Draco is not a control paddle. It’s not trying to be.
But here’s what surprised me — it’s one of the easier high-power paddles to actually dial in, and that comes down to one thing: consistency.
The NCP Foam and Floating Piston Construction give you a predictable, repeatable response on every contact. You learn the paddle quickly because it doesn’t punish you with random feedback. Once you figure out your touch threshold, the Draco rewards clean mechanics.
That said, the adjustment period is real. I play at a 4.0 level, I have time to drill, and I was already on a high-pop paddle in the Q2. The transition was smooth for me — a session or two to recalibrate drops and resets and I was dialed in.
For players coming from an all-court, control, or lower-pop paddle, expect a longer runway. A few dedicated drill sessions should get you there. And when it clicks, the extra firepower you unlock is a welcome bonus — not a liability.
Sweet Spot & Shape Differences
This is where the Draco genuinely separates itself from the competition, and it holds across all three shapes.
The sweet spots are massive. All of them.
The Widebody has the largest sweet spot of the three, the Elongated has the smallest — but calling the E’s sweet spot “small” is like calling a king-size bed cramped. For an elongated paddle, it’s genuinely impressive. Off-center contact stays stable and predictable in a way you don’t always get at this power level.
Swing weight follows the typical shape pattern as well. The W is the fastest in hand, the E is the slowest, with the Hybrid in the middle. But none of these shapes feel sluggish. The low static weight around 7.9 oz and low baseline swing weights keep all three shapes maneuverable in fast kitchen exchanges — something that can get dicey with high-power elongated paddles in particular.
The W players will feel right at home at the kitchen. The E players get the reach and leverage at the baseline without sacrificing as much hand speed as you’d expect.
Gherkin really knocked it out of the park with this one.
Spin: The Surface Upgrade You Need to Know About
Here’s something that isn’t widely known yet: Gherkin has updated the surface texture on the Elongated and Widebody shapes, and the difference is noticeable.
The original Draco Hybrid has a CFC face that performs well, but the surface is relatively smooth by today’s standards. The Elongated and Widebody come with a significantly more textured face out of the box.
Spin generation on both new shapes is high — topspin shots dip sharply, and you can shape the ball with confidence from anywhere on the court.
To be clear, the Hybrid isn’t a bad spin paddle. But side by side, the updated surface on the E and W is a clear step up in grit. If spin is a priority in your game, that’s a meaningful factor when choosing between shapes.
I’m currently awaiting confirmation from Gherkin on whether the Hybrid will receive the same surface update. We’ll post an update here when that’s confirmed.
Customization
I played all three shapes stock with just an overgrip added, and honestly didn’t feel the need to go further. That’s a good sign.
But the room is there if you want it. The low static weight and low baseline swing weights across all shapes give you a solid foundation to build from.
If you want to expand the sweet spot even further — and yes, you can make an already oversized sweet spot even larger — adding lead tape to the sides or upper corners is a natural next step. Start small, because these paddles are already well-balanced and you don’t want to kill the hand speed that makes them special.
For the E specifically, a small amount of side weight adds stability on off-center hits without dragging down the maneuverability. For the W, you have even more margin to work with given its lower baseline swing weight.
Who Should Buy the Gherkin Draco E or W?
Buy the Draco E if:
- You’re an elongated paddle player who wants elite power without sacrificing too much hand speed.
- You want extended reach at the baseline and extra coverage at the net.
- You use a two-handed backhand and want a 5.5” handle.
- You want maximum spin from the updated surface.
Buy the Draco W if:
- You’re a widebody player who wants elite power with the fastest swing weight of the three shapes.
- You want the largest sweet spot in the Draco lineup.
- You prioritize pop and quick hands at the kitchen over pure baseline power.
- You’re coming from a widebody main and don’t want to adjust your mechanics.
The honest one-liner: Pick the shape you’re used to and go out and kick some butt.
You might want to look elsewhere if you’re a control-first player who isn’t ready to put in the drill sessions to tame a high-pop paddle. The Draco will reward the work — but it does require the work.
Final Verdict
Final Scores
Draco E: 9.6 / 10
Draco W: 9.5 / 10
Draco H: 8.5 / 10 — if Gherkin updates the H surface, this becomes a 9.
At $179.99 for either shape, the Draco E and W are easy, high-value recommendations for any player shopping for an elite power paddle.
The NCP Foam tech, massive sweet spots, updated surface grit, and low baseline weights for customization put both shapes in the upper tier of what’s available right now.
The Draco lineup continues to be one of the most underrated options in the market. If you haven’t tried one yet, there’s no better time.
Pick yours up at Spinwave Pickleball and use code JDPB at checkout to save 10%.
Have questions? Slide into the DMs at @threefiveforever or fill out our contact form. See you on the courts.
Shop the Gherkin Draco at Spinwave
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FAQs
What is the difference between the Gherkin Draco E and Draco W?
The Draco E is the Elongated shape. It offers more reach, higher raw power on full swings, and a slightly higher swing weight. The Draco W is the Widebody shape. It has the largest sweet spot of the three Draco shapes, the fastest swing weight, and the highest pop response. Both share the same NCP Foam core, CFC face, and Floating Piston Construction.
Is the Gherkin Draco good for control players?
The Draco is not a control-first paddle. Players coming from softer or lower-pop paddles will need an adjustment period — usually a few dedicated drill sessions — before the soft game feels natural. Once dialed in, the consistent response from the NCP Foam makes it manageable for all-court play.
How does the Gherkin Draco E compare to the original Draco Hybrid?
The Draco E offers more raw power on full swings and an updated, more textured surface for higher spin generation. The Hybrid sits in the middle of the lineup for both power and pop, and has a slightly smoother face at the time of this writing.
Does the Gherkin Draco have a good sweet spot for an elongated paddle?
Yes — the Draco E has one of the largest sweet spots I’ve tested on an elongated paddle. Off-center contact is stable and predictable, which makes the high-power profile much easier to control.
What swing weight is the Gherkin Draco Elongated?
The Draco Elongated has an average swing weight of 113, which is fast for an elongated shape and leaves significant room for customization with added lead tape.
Can you customize the Gherkin Draco E or W?
Yes. Both shapes come in at approximately 7.9 oz static weight with low baseline swing weights, giving players solid room to add lead tape. Adding weight to the sides increases stability; adding weight higher increases plow-through and power. Start small to preserve the hand speed that makes these paddles special.
