In this video I’m breaking down the Proton Series 3 Project Flamingo, and yeah—the colorway is fun, but the real story is what’s going on inside the paddle. This is built on Proton’s proven elongated raw carbon fiber frame, but the big upgrade is the Gen 3 dual foam core. The whole point here is flex energy: you get that extra pop and power without the paddle feeling out of control, which is exactly what a lot of players are chasing right now. I also talk about the upgraded carbon fiber surface and why that matters for spin long-term. A lot of “spin” paddles feel awesome early, then drop off—this one is aiming to keep that elite spin potential while being more durable. Another highlight is the tour weight spec, because it’s stable out of the box and you don’t have to immediately reach for lead tape just to make it feel solid. My quick pro tip: swap the stock grip if you want the best feel and connection to the paddle. If you’re hunting for a high-performance alternative to something like the JOOLA Mod-TA15, this is one of the best options to look at (outside of the Perseus 3S).