Finding the right pickleball paddle can be tough. There are lots of different types of pickleball paddles out there and that’s not including the brands, costs, and more.
It’s important to do your research before making a final purchase – and this is where this review comes in.
Here we are going to be reviewing the Gamma 505 pickleball paddle so you can find out everything you need to know about it right here in one place.
This means you can quickly work out whether or not this pickleball paddle is for you and help you cut down on your research time – it’s a win-win!
So, check out the review below!
About The Gamma 505 Pickleball Paddle
The Gamma 505 pickleball paddle is manufactured by Gamma Sports, an athletics equipment manufacturer that started out creating innovative tennis rackets.
It was first started by Dr. Harry Ferrari, an avid tennis player, in the 1970s after he lost a match due to the poor quality of his racket’s synthetic gut strings.
Since then, Gamma Sports have put quality first in their products and pushed the boundaries to help players get the best quality equipment possible to ensure that their equipment never lets them down when they need it the most.
In 2014, Gamma Sports picked up on the growing popularity of pickleball after there was a sudden increase in demand for their tennis grips.
Pickleball players were using the grips on their paddles and realizing that pickleball players did not have high-quality equipment, Gamma Sports moved in to fill that demand.
This led to the creation of the Gamma 505.
The Gamma 505 is one of the latest entries in Gamma’s signature pickleball paddle (see also: Franklin Signature Pickleball Paddle Review)range. It’s USAPA approved for tournament play, so it’s a great pickleball paddle for casual players and pros alike.
It brings together all of Gamma’s best technology and designs perfected over decades of research and development.
From the materials used on the paddle’s surface to the pattern of the paddle’s grip, every detail has been carefully considered.
So, it’s easy to see why the Gamma 505 pickleball paddle is so popular and widely used by casual and professional pickleball players.
It comes from a reliable brand that has years of research backing its products, and that puts a lot of effort, skill, and care into its pickleball products.
Gamma 505 Pickleball Paddle Specifications
Weight
7.6oz
Dimensions
17 x 8 x 1.26 inches
Paddle Thickness
16mm
Facing Material
Graphite
Core Material
GAMMA NeuCore Polypropylene
Grip
GAMMA Honeycomb Grip
Handle Length
5 ¼ inches
Handle Circumference
4 ⅛ inches
Gamma 505 Pickleball Paddle Performance
Here is our review of how the Gamma 505 pickleball paddle performs. We tested it out while playing attack, defense, and a little soft play to see how the paddle felt.
Check out the information below to see if this paddle works with your style of play.
Attack
The Gamma 505 is a very light pickleball paddle, weighing only 7.6 oz thanks to its graphite facing. This lightness makes it easy to handle and swing but the Gamma NeuCore helps give it plenty of weight to remain stable.
This strong core also means it can still help you provide a very powerful hit. The ball hits off the face very quickly so it doesn’t take long for you to start countering, serving, and returning the ball with a lot of strength.
If you are quite an aggressive attacker and want a paddle that will help you return balls quickly and powerfully to catch your opponents out, then this paddle is definitely one to consider.
Its light but stable weight makes it a great paddle for endlessly pounding balls back over the next at your opponents with strength and speed.
Defense
If you are a more defensive player, then the Gamam 505 pickleball paddle is still a very good option for you. Although it works great for attack players, there are still plenty of benefits defending players can also use to their advantage.
The lightweightedness of this paddle makes it easy to move quickly to help defend against drives.
While the Gamam 505 works great at providing players with power, it also helps improve your precision so you can play a neat, clean game until your opponent messes up.
If you are a player who often struggles with keeping the ball in play, this balanced and steady paddle is a great option for you.
Soft Play
Unlike in other sports, most pickleball rallies go slower as they progress. Slow play is the mark of an advanced pickleball player but you have to learn how to control the speed of the game with your paddle.
It’s one of the best tactics for defensive players but having the right kind of paddle can help you block volleys and reset shots with practiced ease.
Unfortunately, this is the one area where the Gamam 505 pickleball paddle lacks a little. While it’s great for helping improve your precision, the graphite facing is very bouncy so with each hit, the ball is shooting off with high speed.
This can make it difficult to slow down play if you want to. The extra bounce this paddle brings makes it an ideal choice for attacking, fast players over slower, defensive players.
So, if you are looking for a paddle that will help you have better control over the pace of the game, the Gamma 505 is probably not the paddle for you.
Grip
Finally, let’s take a look at the grip.
The grip is one of the most important parts of a pickleball paddle.
In the past, the grips have been lackluster and a lot of pickleball players took to using tennis racket grips instead so they had better control over their paddles (see also: Pickleball Vs Paddle Tennis: What’s The Difference?)throughout the game.
Gamma Sports is known for their high-quality grips and this can be seen in the Gamam 505’s honeycomb-patterned grip.
The pattern provides extra traction to avoid any slips or mistakes, plus the surface is great for absorbing sweat as you play.
It’s cushioned so it’s comfortable while you maintain full control over your paddle. As far as pickleball paddle grips go, you can’t really get any better than this one.
It’s comfortable, practical, and just what you need if you are prone to making vital mistakes when handling your paddle.
Another interesting feature is how the grip is extended in length compared to other models. This makes it much easier to deliver two-handed drives for greater strength and speed – another benefit for aggressive, attacking players!
Where To Buy The Gamma 505 Pickleball Paddle?
So, it’s clear that the Gamma 505 is a premium pickleball paddle with a ton of performance benefits players can really take advantage of – so what’s the catch? This paddle sounds too good to be true, right?
There is one (big) snag that will disappoint a lot of pickleball players – the price.
All those premium materials and high quality technology and design have cranked up the cost of a single Gamma 505 pickleball paddle. Slap on the premium Gamma branding and you have a pickleball paddle that is nearly $200 in price.
For casual players, this cost cannot be justified. There are definitely lower quality but still practical paddles available for a much more affordable price.
On the other hand, this kind of price tag is the norm for other premium, professionally-made pickleball paddles so if you want the best quality pickleball paddle, you will likely end up paying a price around this amount.
If you want to purchase your own Gamma 505 pickleball paddle, then visit Gamma Sports’ website to purchase directly from the manufacturer.
You can also check out third-party sellers like Amazon or your local sports equipment stores.
These third-party sellers sometimes have really great deals that help you shave a good chunk of the cost of your Gamma 505 pickleball paddle – so keep a sharp eye out for any hot deals!
Final Thoughts
There is no denying that the Gamma 505 is a high quality pickleball paddle.
Gamma Sports have always been trusted for releasing premium equipment for sports like tennis and pickleball, so it’s no surprise that the Gamma 505 pickleball paddle performs great and has all the technology and detailed touches (see also: Babolat RBEL Touch Pickleball Paddle Review)that any professional pickleball player will go weak at the knees for.
It’s an ideal paddle for players who want long, powerful paddles that are still easy to grip and use. There’s plenty of room here to adjust your play so you can try out new methods and tactics as you desire.
However, the Gamma 505’s quality comes with a hefty price tag that can easily scare away beginners or casual players.
This means that unless you are a dedicated player looking for new ways to change your play or really push your skills to the limits, you won’t get enough use out of this paddle to justify the cost.
This is a professional pickleball paddle for professional players in both terms of quality, performance, and price.
Hi, I’m Michael Walter, and I am a Pickleball enthusiast. I work as a High School Physical Education Teacher, so I have an expansive knowledge of sports and its impact on physical health.
When I first took a position at my current school, one of the many things I wanted to implement in the curriculum was Pickleball.
Pickleball is a fantastic sport to keep yourself active, healthy, keep your blood pumping, and to start a good sense of competitiveness and team work.
