This is a versatile control paddle, and while it's certainly capable of plenty of power, it's best for someone who wants to improve the consistency of their game.

A cheaper option: The SLK Valkerie ($80) is about half the price of the Dauntless and has none of the new tech, but a very solid option for someone looking to buy a paddle to play once a month or on a vacation. You get a fiberglass face and a polymer core, so you won't have as much grit to create lots of topspin, and it won't last as long, but Selkirk makes nice paddles with comfortable grips and well-distributed weight. This paddle is very similar to SLK Evo, which was the first serious paddle I bought with my own money and have always liked (you get a carbon fiber face for more spin with the current edition of the Evo).

More power: A...