In an unusual move for a competitive category, Volair has teamed up with rival 11SIX24 to license HexGrit, the high-friction surface technology 11SIX24 introduced on its Power 2 paddles. Rather than spend years developing proprietary grit in-house, Volair is betting on a surface that is already proven in the market to protect spin durability across its upcoming paddle lines.[1]
What Volair Is Licensing
HexGrit is a patent-pending surface technology from 11SIX24, built by founder David Groechel and his team. The brand says it embeds silicon carbide in the paddle face, with the goal of keeping spin strong for the entire life of the paddle rather than fading once a raw-carbon texture wears in.[2] It debuted in March on the Power 2 series, which retails around $209.99.[2] 11SIX24 has also filed a patent application tied to the technology.[1]
Licensing it "really validates the technology."— David Groechel, 11SIX24, to The Dink[1]
Groechel reportedly weighed whether handing his signature surface to another paddle brand made sense before agreeing. His view is that the two brands tend to serve different customers, so the deal expands HexGrit's reach more than it hands a competitor an edge.[1]
First Up: The Volair CMD
The first Volair paddle to carry HexGrit is the CMD, the signature model of touring pro Dylan Frazier. It uses a 16mm foam core, comes in three shapes, and is positioned as a plush, controllable all-court paddle.[3] Reviewers describe it as an update to the Shift: thicker core, lower weight, a higher sweet spot, and the licensed HexGrit face.[4] Retailer listings now describe the licensed surface as built to hold its texture and ball bite through extended play.[6] Pickleheads rated it a 5.0 and said its spin rivals the best grit paddles it has tested.[3]
Why This Deal Makes Sense
For Volair
Skips the R&D and testing cycle of proprietary grit and ships a proven surface now. Its earlier paddles used a raw T700 carbon face, so HexGrit is a real durability upgrade at the top of the line.[9]
For 11SIX24
HexGrit becomes a platform other brands build around, not just a spec on its own paddles. Third-party adoption is also a credibility signal in a crowded grit market.[1]
What To Watch
The financial terms were not disclosed in the sources we reviewed, and The Dink notes practical questions around manufacturing arrangements, legal costs and protecting the technology.[1] The bigger question is price. HexGrit paddles from 11SIX24 start around $170 and climb past $200, while the CMD lands at about $180, so Volair is pricing the licensed surface competitively.[7] [6] If more brands follow, durable grit may shift from a headline feature to table stakes, and the spin race moves to cores, shapes and feel.
Sources
- Grit Wars: Why Volair Is Betting Big on 11SIX24's HexGrit — The Dink
- 11Six24 Introduces HexGrit: Superior Spin Built to Last — The Dink
- Volair CMD review (Oct 22, 2026) — Pickleheads
- Volair CMD Hybrid Pickleball Paddle Review — Pickleball Effect
- 11SIX24 Power 2 grit testing — Pickleball Effect
- Volair CMD Hybrid listing — Tennis Warehouse
- 11SIX24 Jelly Bean 2 review — Pickleheads
- 11SIX24 Hurache-X Power 2 listing — Tennis Nuts
- Volair Mach 2 Forza listing — Pickleball Central
- HexGrit product page — 11SIX24 (manufacturer)
Prices and specs reflect the cited listings as of November 2, 2026 and may change. Durability figures are manufacturer-supplied or from a single reviewer. Some linked retailers and reviewers use affiliate or discount codes; Pickleball.BZ has no affiliation with Volair or 11SIX24 in this article.