I'm posting my experience going from a Vatic Prism Flash to a 6.0 Double Black Diamond for anyone who may be wondering how they compare.

I used the 16mm Prism Flash for 3 months, and just recently switched to a 16mm DBD because I was curious how a thermoformed paddle would feel in comparison to non-thermoformed paddles. I used the same lead tape setup for both paddles, and I'm a 4.5 player who plays 3-4 times a week.

Power

The DBD is a more powerful paddle, which is to be expected for a thermoformed paddle vs a non-thermoformed paddle. I haven't found the difference in power to be a game changer, but the DBD does make my drives harder for opponents to defend.

Pop

This is an area where I feel the DBD has a significant edge over the Prism Flash. My punch shots, roll volleys, and counters are noticably harder with the DBD, and speedups at the net launch off the paddle in a way that doesn't happen with the Prism Flash.

Dinks

This area is a wash for me. The DBD gives my dinks slightly more speed and power which leads to my opponents popping the ball up more. On the flip side, I also pop the ball up more with the DBD. Overall, I prefer dinking with the DBD, but I think it's primarily due to the sweet spot of the paddle, which I'll cover later.

Resets

This is an area where the Prism Flash shines. Resets with the Prism Flash are consistent and relatively easy to control due to how soft the paddle is. Resets with the DBD often pop up and create easy put aways for my opponents. This may be an area where I need more time to dial in those shots with the DBD, but I feel the Prism Flash has a definite advantage in this area.

Spin

Both paddles have great spin, but I would give the Prism Flash a slight edge out of the box. I feel like my drops and drives had slightly more arc from topspin with the Prism Flash, but the difference isn't significant.

Sweet Spot

The sweet spot on the DBD is enormous, and is probably the biggest reason I love this paddle. I rarely feel like I miss the sweet spot with the DBD, and even shots where I slightly miss the center of the paddle feel great. It's not that the Prism Flash has a small sweet spot; it's that the DBD has an enormous one. I can't emphasize enough how good it feels to hit with the DBD due to the size of the sweet spot.

Overall, they're both great paddles, and I see why both of them are highly recommended. For someone on a budget, the Prism Flash is the obvious choice. If you can fork up a little extra for the DBD, I highly recommend doing so. The sweet spot, power, and pop set it apart when compared to the Prism Flash.