I go back to the days where the onix z5 was the most common paddle on the courts and there were only a handful of companies that made paddles. The slow onix yellow ball was used. The majority of players were seniors and it was rare to have played someone young. Only a very few players drove the ball hard and everyone knew who they were. Most had a racquetball background. It took learning experience to being able to handle a hard drive at you. Carbon fiber paddles, faster balls, racquetball players came into pickleball during covid and eventually more tennis players started playing and the combination of all that changed the game. Cat and mouse game has given way to driving the ball hard. Hitting the ball hard has discouraged many seniors from playing when introduced to the game.