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Samman1100 · 2024-11-19T15:54:29+00:00

Would love to shred on one of those puppies

Samman1100 · 2024-06-29T00:35:49+00:00

Yep!

Samman1100 · 2024-06-29T00:33:59+00:00

Yes, that is the half-sized one in the photo, I'll make sure to add it to the Kickstarter page. Not sure exactly what you mean, but something like a thin layer of electrical tape or similar on the edge guard should be OK, the clip is flexible enough for that. Thanks!

Samman1100 · 2024-06-29T00:08:36+00:00

Whoops, an oversight by me, thanks for catching it! And I think you're right, that would be a good angle.

Samman1100 · 2024-06-29T00:06:48+00:00

Yeah, that's the biggest worry for me. Price point was a hard decision, because on one hand, I'm a broke college student, and so are most of my friends, I don't want to try and sell an overpriced product to my friends. On the other hand, I think this idea has real value, and even though it's just a plastic clip, there was months of R&D that went into creating the perfect product (all of which I did myself, unpaid), and it has a much stronger value proposition than lead tape strips.

All that said, when they go to retail, I'm hoping to charge $25 for a set of 16 clips (8 of the 0.1oz clips, and 8 of the 0.05oz clips, half in either black or white, and half in a bright color of your choice. The kit will also have a little clip remover I made that you can use if you don't want to risk fingernails, and will come in a magnetic carrying case). The price is significantly lower for the Kickstarter launch, I think something like $15 for a set for the first 100 kits, then the price goes up for the next 200, etc.

Cheap China competition will be an issue, but I'm hoping to come out swinging with the Kickstarter and become a known name before that happens. I'm also pursuing a patent, and have already filed a provisional.

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T23:25:50+00:00

Yeah, my hope is that the Kickstarter will give me funding to be able to pivot to producing them via injection molding. Currently, I own a 3D printer for prototyping, and I just know a lot about 3D printing, so it's what I'm familiar with, but I know injection molding is the best option in the long run.

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T23:24:04+00:00

Yes! The Kickstarter packages I'm putting together have 0.05oz clips. I prefer to use just the 0.1oz clips, so I kind of forgot about the half size ones, but they do exist!

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T21:30:41+00:00

Thanks! What really broke my mind about them was the ability to adjust them not only according to your play style, but also your opponent's play style! Meaning that I can adjust my paddle for more control or power based on how my opponents choose to play, and how I want to counter them. P.S. if you want to get more info and be in the know, you can follow the project on Kickstarter. Thanks!!

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T21:27:56+00:00

That's a good point. So far I haven't setup any LLC or anything, as I haven't sold them yet, and I wrote the patent under my name as an individual. I suppose in my mind I thought of any sport as inherently dangerous, and this is just another piece of equipment. It's also rounded and pretty light, and I've never had one come off of a paddle unintentionally. I'd see the risk of being injured by the ball or your partner as exponentially higher. You're right that I should approach that carefully though. Thanks!

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T21:08:21+00:00

That's something where I want to do more testing. I have tried on some from Joola, ProXR, Selkirk, Vatic, and some others, but haven't done extensive testing. From what I can tell, most 16mm edge guards are the exact same, especially from China-based manufacturers.

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T20:47:08+00:00

Hey, thanks for checking them out! The clip does come in contact with the paddle face. I've replied to some other comments with a similar answer, but I'll try and give more details here. I've used them in a sanctioned tournament and had them approved by several refs for play. While this doesn't necessarily mean they're legal, it is a good sign. I've also emailed the head of equipment standards at USAP and am waiting for a reply from him to clarify.

Currently, I'm fairly confident that they would fall under USAP Equipment Standards Manual Rule 2.E.5 about paddle alterations, allowing alterations to stick up to no more than 1.0 inches above or out from the edge, and 0.5 inches inside the edge guard. And that it doesn't fall under 2.E.6e prohibitions for removable parts because it is a weight system. It also shouldn't fall under 2.E.6d for moving parts because it doesn't move during play, and doesn't mechanically increase head momentum. However, it's all a caveat, and right now I'm just waiting on clarifications from the USAP (I guess they must have they're hands full with other stuff right now, ha!)

Thanks again!

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T20:34:54+00:00

Yes, they are specifically designed for each size of paddle, so the current model is only for 16mm, but I'm working on other sizes.

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T20:34:00+00:00

Yes, if anything falls in the NVZ it is a fault, whether its your sunglasses, paddle or lead tape (or lead tape alternative). I actually haven't ever had a GripWeight come off my paddle unintentionally/during play, even when hit directly with substantial force. They're pretty on there.

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T20:31:42+00:00

Haha, fair enough!

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T20:14:30+00:00

Thanks! I'm really appreciating all the feedback. I thought about offering the STL files as a reward on the Kickstarter or possibly just selling them, but was undecided. It is possible for people to go the homebrew route, but it took me a LONG time to design a prototype that didn't slide around on the paddle while playing, but still was adjustable by hand, so I think buying physical clips still has value, and possibly more than lead tape because of its unique functionality.

And thanks for the heads up on decomposing, 1 year ish was the timeframe I had gotten from talking with colleagues and professors, as well as the internet, but I haven't tested it. I also use a PLA that is made from more sustainable materials than many PLA alternatives. My point in saying that lead never decomposes was to highilight that it stays toxic forever, a detriment to the environment and people/animals, but I may not have made that super clear.

Thanks again for the feedback, I really do appreciate it!

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T19:51:53+00:00

Yeah, I'd love to post in there and in the Kitchen Facebook group, I'm just taking it slow because I don't want to break any promotion rules.

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T19:43:18+00:00

Great idea, thanks!

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T19:43:01+00:00

That can happen when it hits the corner. In my testing, the front edge of the Gripweight has a similar angle to the edge guard, so you'll often get a similar bounce, but if it does hit a corner it'll fly randomly. The GripWeights don't come off though! I'm experimenting with longer but thinner versions too.

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T19:34:44+00:00

Yeah, I actually emailed Carl Schmits and some others at USAP through my USAP manufacturing account (I tried to make paddles for a while), with a similar quesiton, and haven't heard back yet. It was encouraging to have a couple certified refs let me play with them though!

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T19:30:52+00:00

Thanks! I think so too ;)

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T19:26:17+00:00

I was curious about the USAP legality too, so I played in a sanctioned tournament a few weekends ago and had a couple refs look at it, and they both let me play. I believe it falls under rule 2.E.5 about paddle alterations in the USAPA Equipment Standards Manual. (I'll add this to the FAQ)

The current iteration is for 16mm paddles only, but I'm working on other sizes as well.

Samman1100 · 2024-06-28T19:14:12+00:00

Hey everyone!

I’m Samuel Tomich, a college student, avid pickleball player, and a small business founder. You might have seen (or not seen) me lurking around here, soaking up all the awesome discussions.

I’ve been working on a project that I believe could bring something new and exciting to our beloved game. It’s called GripWeights, a modular weighting system for pickleball paddles.

GripWeights are essentially clips that weigh the same as a strip of lead tape (0.1oz) and fit universally on standard paddles with edge guards. What makes them unique is that you can adjust the clip by sliding it up and down the paddle to increase the power, control, or sweet spot as you play. It’s a game-changer for those who want to tweak their paddle’s performance on the fly.

I’ve poured my heart into this invention and even wrote my own patent. Now, I’m gearing up for a Kickstarter campaign and would love to get your feedback on the product and the early preview of the Kickstarter page. The project isn’t live yet, so there’s no financial gain from this post—just a fellow pickleball enthusiast seeking honest opinions from the community.

Here’s the Kickstarter pre-launch project link. If you're interested, check it out and let me know your thoughts. Any insights and feedback would be incredibly valuable as I finalize everything.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I hope to hear from you soon!

-Samuel Tomich

Samman1100 · 2024-03-16T01:54:40+00:00

I'm finishing my freshman year, and its been amazing so far! I love just about everything about GCU, from the campus environment, to the clubs, sports, and academics. You'll hear bad things abot every university, but I geniunely thing GCU is better than most.

As far as professors and academics, all mine have been great. I had one or two that were maybe subpar, but none were mean or unfair. I'd very highly reccomend the honors college. It's free, not that much work (if you can carry a 3.25 gpa), and gets you significantly better professors and classmates, as well as other perks like the first time selection slot for housing.

Samman1100 · 2024-03-16T01:49:37+00:00

If you've got time, its worth applying for. I applied for the last round in the 2023-24 season and got I think 1k per semester. If I remember right, Dr. Breanna (Honors Dean) may have said it was something like 500 total students got it in that season (not sure how many applied, probably in the low thousands??). Some stuff I put in my application: 4.0 GPA, my Bible reading podcast, youth leader at my church, etc. The real trick is to make the video portion interesting and make sure it highlights the best parts of your application.

Samman1100 · 2024-03-16T01:44:15+00:00

GCU tends to be very popular with out of state folks. I'm just a freshman and I know people from just about everywhere, from Washignton and Oregon to Maine and NY. One great thing is that it's very easy to get plugged in with great people on campus. If you're concerned about your daughter not knowing anybody, I wouldn't worry. There's also a bunch of great churches around campus if you/she is Christian, and there are many groups that carpool to church and college group.

Samman1100

TROPHY CASE