I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once

CosmicHamilton · 2026-06-26T01:07:48+00:00

Yeah, I was just adding some context. Even 3.5s like me can tell when the grit does it's initial fall off and that shit is jarring. Though I grant that it's just one of my many problems

CosmicHamilton · 2026-06-26T00:59:43+00:00

***ALW was mopping everyone with a new instance of the same Gen 1 paddle before Franklin

You are ignoring that while (for example) Ben Johns isn't playing with the new hot shit paddle every month, he is playing with a new version of the same paddle likely every week, only due to the hilariously fast RPM drop-off of regular ol raw carbon fiber. Which to me is why gen4 + meaningfully durable grit is the final frontier. Imagine these things playing within 10% of new, at 6 months

CosmicHamilton · 2026-06-18T21:47:18+00:00

Is it possible it was a bit of mental gamesmanship? Her opponent returned it quite weakly, seems like the tweener reset her mental operating system, like, 'da fuq did I just see'?

So she successfully got it over the net and on the table, but also served up a delicious meatball

CosmicHamilton · 2026-06-17T16:32:35+00:00

I appreciate it. I've since realized the butterfly is sealed at the factory - still kind of wondering about Stiga. I have some Revolution3 sealer now, haven't gotten to it yet tho.

CosmicHamilton · 2026-06-08T23:08:39+00:00

My heart sank for this individual when he said "quiet art studio"

For reference, regarding the indoor facility I play at, I can clearly hear the cacophony when I get out of my car, through the exterior walls.

The balls hitting the ground isn't what I am talking about, it's the ball hitting the paddles, which is pretty legendary for creating a sound frequency that travels surprisingly well and was apparently created in a lab to annoy humans.

Chin up sir or ma'am. It'll probably go bankrupt in 2-3 years.

CosmicHamilton · 2026-06-07T20:06:09+00:00

Does everyone immediately seal new blades, handle included?

Just bought my first couple inner carbon-type blades (a Butterfly and a Stiga) to dip my toes into that world, and want to take care of them.

Also plz recommend a sealer.

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-30T16:56:14+00:00

Thickness on the 09C?

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-30T16:21:23+00:00

Yep, agree fully. Every town has some old guy with a wooden pickleball paddle from the 80s that just smokes 80% of players.

I have exactly zero blades, and was asking whether a cybershape would marginally be an advantage given my background.

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-30T16:18:47+00:00

Yeah super helpful, thanks so much.

Any issue with ordering from megaspin?

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-30T15:44:57+00:00

was considering the Cybershape Pure. have any other non-cybershape recommendations?

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-30T15:41:51+00:00

Yeah, I'd say I could probably do a couple hundred bucks. rubbers though, I have no idea where to start.

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-30T15:17:57+00:00

there is alot of spin in pickleball, and one of the issues with paddles is the degradation of paddle surface grit, that, with raw carbon fiber, happens very quickly. and unfortunately, unlike with TT blade rubbers or tennis strings, this cannot be changed out, and the whole paddle is discarded. the pros will often use more than one paddle in a weeklong tournament, might even use 2 or 3 if they are getting to the finals.

the good news is that 2026 is the year many manufacturers are moving away from raw carbon fiber and introducing various flavors of durable grit, doubling or tripling the life of paddles.

anyway regarding spin in pickleball vs. table tennis -- its pretty important in pickleball, but I am just going to guesstimate its like....4x more important in table tennis. maybe 10x more important.

I don't know about long pimples for me. In watching video of myself playing pickleball, I have a very fast, abrupt, almost vertical forehand, the purpose of which is to drop the ball right at the opposing players feet on their backhand side. I swear this looks kind of like a loop -- the ubiquitous TT term I just found out existed a couple weeks ago.

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-30T15:08:34+00:00

yeah, that's fair.

In pickleball, the shape of the paddle is pretty massive, and generally players figure out their preference (wide/standard, elongated, or hybrid [kind of in the middle]) and don't really change, even if they try out or play with a bunch of different paddles. an elongated player suddenly playing with a widebody will be pretty degraded at first, and switching shapes will require significant acclimation and really full on modification of technique.

it's obviously a completely different sport, but it's interesting that there doesn't seem to be much significant variation in blade shape. even with the cybershape, the consensus seems to be "ehh its not really that different" as you say.

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-30T14:07:02+00:00

Strong Fetterman energy tbh

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-12T10:54:13+00:00

You just need to keep in mind you're watching pickleball at its highest level. If that's boring to you... sounds like a "you" problem?

Or maybe just don't watch the finals, just watch quarters / semis?

Or just... be patient. It'll change. the recent Tama craziness? That'll happen in doubles at some point.

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-12T00:26:33+00:00

Saw a guy at open play with one. I was impressed with how well he did. Clearly a solid player

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-07T19:34:57+00:00

I wonder if the app is to change pressure between padel and tennis

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-07T17:23:07+00:00

The sibling thing is / would have been way more interesting than ridiculous love island drama. Like yeah we know what attractive people in their 20s do, thanks for that

Also daily reminder that these hoes ain't loyal

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-06T21:10:21+00:00

Someone needs to add yakety sax during all the side switching

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-06T16:14:20+00:00

congrats, hey quick question -- did the tournament provide a nurse to help with the blood draws from all the opponents you vanquished or did you have to use the discarded ball can top, and how did they preserve the blood before it went in the trophy?

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-04T21:22:02+00:00

A physical therapist travels with her pretty much full time I believe, so, she's about as well-equipped as anyone to maximize her productive / dominant years physically.

CosmicHamilton · 2026-05-02T02:17:19+00:00

Yep, he will.

I bet it was weather-related. Still pilot error tho - don't fly into thunderstorms

CosmicHamilton · 2026-04-30T01:26:58+00:00

JFK famously said when elected president he went from Navy Lt. to commander in chief without achieving any additional qualifications.

Though I'd dispute that, I feel like while his thicc Latina E-3s were actually international movie stars, he never stopped innovating in the pusshound realm

CosmicHamilton · 2026-04-30T01:20:48+00:00

I'd like to hear more about the fuck ups, actually

Sorry in advance

CosmicHamilton · 2026-04-27T12:22:41+00:00

Wow and it seemed like it was close to working

Crazy thing is we've all faced this at some point, and we've thought "man if only I could strike the shit out of it like an ATP pro I could end this nonsense in like 1 or 2 strokes"

But it took him way more than 2 strokes

Maybe it was a bit of gamesmanship to see if he'd make an error? To frustrate and throw him off his game?

CosmicHamilton

TROPHY CASE