The Year of the Horse has arrived, and with it, a stampede of stunning special edition pickleball gear. For collectors and enthusiasts, this should be a time of celebration. However, for those of us in the United States, it’s turning into a season of envy. Three major manufacturers—JOOLA, Franklin, and 6.0—have dropped gorgeous lunar new year designs that are either already gone or strictly forbidden fruit for the US market.
JOOLA’s Majestic Gallop
JOOLA never misses a beat with their limited runs, and their Year of the Horse edition is no exception. Featuring a powerful, traditionally styled horse mid-gallop, the design screams power and elegance—traits we all want on the court. It’s a paddle that belongs in a display case as much as it does at the kitchen line. Tragically, finding one stateside is nearly impossible, leaving the US player base to admire it from afar.
Franklin’s Vibrant Tribute
Not to be outdone, Franklin released a vibrant tribute to the new year. Their take leans into bold, auspicious colors that would turn heads at any open play. It’s a beautiful piece of equipment that marries their reliable engineering with high art. But like a phantom, it appeared and vanished, leaving many of us with empty carts and heavy hearts.
6.0’s Elusive Stallion
Rounding out the trio is 6.0 (Six Zero), a brand that has gained a cult following for its tech-forward paddles. Their Year of the Horse edition is sleek, modern, and undeniably cool. It’s the kind of paddle that signals you know your gear. Yet, just like the others, getting your hands on one in America feels like chasing a wild stallion—exciting, but ultimately futile for most.
It is a bummer, to put it mildly. We are seeing some of the best artistic work on paddles to date, and we simply can’t get them. For now, we’ll just have to appreciate the photos and hope that next year, the distribution gods smile a bit more favorably on the US market.
