What Paddle Does Gabe Tardio Use? Facolos EliteX (2026 Setup)

Gabe Tardio is one of the most strategic spin players in professional pickleball — World #2 in men’s doubles, a 6.985 DUPR rating, more than 40 PPA gold medals, and a game built on placement and angles rather than raw power. In January 2026, the 20-year-old Bolivian-born star left PIKKL and signed a multi-year paddle sponsorship deal with Facolos, a Vietnamese brand entering the U.S. market — and his paddle of choice for the 2026 season is the Facolos EliteX from the Pro Series line.

Gabe Tardio plays the Facolos EliteX paddle from the Pro Series line. He switched from the PIKKL Vantage Pro in January 2026 after signing a multi-year sponsorship deal with the Vietnamese brand running through 2027. The EliteX is engineered for grip, spin, and precise control — matching Tardio’s spin-and-placement playing style. Tardio holds the paddle higher up the handle than most pros, generating unconventional angles on his signature backhand counter.

Gabe Tardio’s 2026 Paddle Setup

Tardio’s current paddle, sponsor history, and the playing-style details that matter when you’re picking a paddle to model his game:

Current Paddle	Facolos EliteX (Pro Series)
Sponsor Since	January 2026
Contract Through	2027 (multi-year deal)
Previous Paddle	PIKKL Vantage Pro
Engineered For	Grip, spin, precise control
Construction	Thermoformed body with carbon-fiber face (Pro Series spec)
Grip Style	Holds paddle higher up the handle toward the neck
Grip Type	Modified continental with slight wrist twist on backhand counter
Signature Shot	Backhand counter at the kitchen line

Why Tardio Chose Facolos (And What It Means for the Paddle Market)

Tardio’s switch wasn’t just a paddle change — it was a market signal. He’s the first major American pro to sign with an Asian paddle brand at this scale, and pickleball analyst Zane Navratil has called the move a potential turning point for the entire U.S. paddle industry.^[1] Asian brands like Facolos can produce UPA-A certified paddles at significantly lower production cost than American brands that source from the same factories and mark up 300% at retail.

Tardio explained his choice directly: he wanted a brand aligned with his international tournament ambitions — particularly PPA Tour Asia — and a paddle that matched his spin-and-placement game.^[2] As he put it: “I genuinely think they have the best paddle. They’re innovating — they’re not going to be left behind.”

That’s the broader story. But for players choosing a paddle, the more useful question is what makes the EliteX work for his style — and whether there’s a paddle that delivers the same playability without an Asia-import wait or a $200+ price point.

Inside Tardio’s Playing Style (And What His Paddle Choice Tells You)

Specs are one thing — how a pro uses a paddle is what actually matters for buyers. Tardio’s style:

• Spin-first, not power-first. In an era where most pros chase maximum pop, Tardio is a committed contrarian. His game is built on placement, angles, and spin — making paddle face technology (raw carbon, high-tension surfaces) far more important to him than core power.
• High-grip handle position. Tardio holds the paddle higher than most pros, near the neck — which generates unconventional angles but requires a paddle with predictable balance and a stable sweet spot.
• Backhand counter specialist. His signature shot is the backhand counter at the kitchen line, which demands a paddle with fast hands at the net and consistent feel on off-center contact.
• Doubles primary. As World #1 in men’s doubles (partnered with Ben Johns) and a regular in mixed (now with Catherine Parenteau), Tardio’s setup is optimized for the kitchen game — not singles drives from the baseline.

Takeaway: If you play a spin-and-placement doubles game, the EliteX is built for you. If you play a power singles game, this isn’t the paddle to copy — and the rest of this page won’t apply to you either.

Can You Buy Tardio’s Exact Paddle?

Yes. The Facolos EliteX is sold to the public through Facolos’ direct channels. Two caveats worth knowing:

• U.S. availability is new. Facolos only entered the U.S. market in 2026. Shipping times, return policies, and post-sale support are still maturing compared to established American brands.
• Pro versions sometimes differ from retail. Tardio’s tournament setup may include custom lead tape, an overgrip he personally prefers, and a specific weight build. The retail EliteX is the same paddle in spec — but the exact configuration is his.

The question we get every week from players who study Tardio’s game on the PPA Tour is the next one:

“What’s a paddle that plays like Gabe’s — built for spin and control — but isn’t a $200+ pro-tour paddle with an overseas shipping wait?”

The Godfather SmokeShow — Built for Tardio-Style Players

Here’s the part where most paddle reviews stay neutral. We’re not going to, and we’re going to tell you why: Godfather Pickleball is the agency that represents Gabe Tardio. We see paddle technology from inside the pro game — what works, what doesn’t, what marketing claims hold up under tournament pressure, and what every paddle on the market actually costs to build.

After years of representing players like Gabe and watching the industry from inside, we built the Godfather SmokeShow without the markup. It’s engineered for the same player Gabe is — spin-first, placement-first, doubles primary — at a price built for everyday players, not pro sponsorship budgets.

SmokeShow construction:

• Thermoformed body for one-piece structural integrity (matches EliteX construction class)
• Raw carbon-fiber face for maximum spin generation
• High-tension surface engineered for the spin-with-control player
• Pro-tested by Godfather roster players before retail release
• USAP-approved for tournament play

SmokeShow vs. Facolos EliteX — Side-by-Side Comparison

An honest comparison. Both paddles are built for the same player profile — the differences below are what actually matter when you’re choosing:

Spec	Godfather SmokeShow	Facolos EliteX
Build Class	Thermoformed	Thermoformed
Face Material	Raw Carbon Fiber	Carbon Fiber
Designed For	Spin + Control	Spin + Control + Grip
Weight	7.8	7.9-8.3
Core Thickness	14mm	14mm & 16mm
Grip Circumference	4.125	4.125
USAP Certified	Yes	Yes (UPA-A)
Pro-Tested By	Godfather Roster (100+ pros)	Gabe Tardio + PPA Asia roster
Price (USD)	$159	$219.99
Ships From	Jacksonville, FL	Vietnam
Return Window	60 days, no questions	Varies by region

Gabe Tardio Quick Facts

Because Tardio searches don’t stop at the paddle — many of the same visitors are also asking how old he is, where he’s from, and who he plays with. The facts:

Full Name	Gabriel “Gabe” Tardio
Age	20 (born August 29, 2005)
Nationality	Bolivian
Current Residence	Jupiter, Florida
Height	6’1”
Turned Pro	2022 (age 17)
Current DUPR	6.985 (World #4)
PPA Ranking	#1–2 Men’s Doubles, #6 Mixed Doubles, #14 Singles
Doubles Partner	Ben Johns (men’s), Catherine Parenteau (mixed, 2026)
Career Gold Medals	40+ on PPA Tour
Career Prize Money	$300,000+
Languages	Spanish, English
Started Playing	Age 14, introduced by his grandfather in Bolivia

Gabe’s full Godfather collection: shop the Gabe Tardio gear lineup, including his signature G1 Pro shoe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What paddle does Gabe Tardio use in 2026?

Gabe Tardio plays the Facolos EliteX from Facolos’ Pro Series line. He signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with the Vietnamese brand in January 2026, with the contract running through 2027. He uses the EliteX in every PPA Tour event for both men’s doubles (partnered with Ben Johns) and mixed doubles (partnered with Catherine Parenteau).

Did Gabe Tardio leave PIKKL?

Yes. Tardio was previously the official paddle athlete for PIKKL and played the PIKKL Vantage Pro through 2025. In January 2026 he announced the move to Facolos as part of a strategic alignment with the brand’s international expansion and his own 2026 ambition to compete on PPA Tour Asia.

Where can you buy Gabe Tardio’s paddle?

The Facolos EliteX is available through Facolos directly, primarily via their official channels. As Facolos only entered the U.S. market in 2026, shipping times and post-sale support are still maturing. Players looking for a similarly-built paddle with U.S.-based shipping and return support often choose the Godfather SmokeShow as an alternative.

What’s the closest Godfather paddle to Tardio’s setup?

The Godfather SmokeShow is the closest match. Both paddles are thermoformed with a carbon-fiber face, engineered for spin-and-control players rather than power-first players, and pro-tested before release. The SmokeShow is built by the same agency that represents Tardio — Godfather Pickleball — which means it’s designed with the same pro-game insight without the retail markup of a major sponsorship contract.

How old is Gabe Tardio?

Gabe Tardio is 20 years old. He was born August 29, 2005, in Bolivia, and currently lives in Jupiter, Florida. He turned pro in 2022 at age 17 and has accumulated more than 40 PPA gold medals since.

Final Word

Gabe Tardio chose the Facolos EliteX because it’s built for his game — spin, placement, control. If that’s your game too, you have two paths: chase the pro paddle through Facolos’ new U.S. channel, or play the Godfather SmokeShow built by the agency that knows Gabe’s game from the inside, ships from Jacksonville, and costs a fraction of the retail-marked-up alternatives.

Either way, play like family. Win like a boss.

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References

[1] Navratil, Zane. “How Gabe Tardio’s Facolos Deal Could Reshape the Entire Pickleball Paddle Market.” The Dink Pickleball, January 30, 2026.

[2] PPA Tour Asia. “Finding the Angle: Gabe Tardio on Asia, Adaptation, and Ambition in 2026.” January 13, 2026.