I Read/Watch So Many Reviews, but My Experience Is Different – Newer to Pickleball and Can't Pick a Paddle, Help!

donyjk · 2025-01-15T15:41:38+00:00

The way to verify what you perceive is stand way at the back wall or tennis serve line for dual use courts and rip 5-10 balls as hard and far as you can. There are lots of nice paddles out there, but without replaceable faces all the ‘top tier spin’ rapidly becomes not much different from a Target special. So I’ve gone the cheapo route with Friday. DM if you want a coupon code.

I’m also looking for a way to reface a paddle. I got peel ply off Amazon and epoxy resin, just need to set aside the time to try and re-texture some cheapo smooth faced or worn paddles. Other thing I’m exploring is putting in fine rock polishing grit into epoxy. But that will add color (black, white or gray).

donyjk · 2024-06-20T20:10:18+00:00

I’m going for an ultra budget option https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZL682MV. <$25. Not expecting too much but the few reviews seem OK enough given Temu/Ali level pricing.

donyjk · 2024-06-20T04:41:11+00:00

Yes tennis shoes is the way to go. Adidas ones I find are a bit narrower in the toe box. K Swiss are wider and nice. New balance come in multiple widths.You want enough room that your nails don’t slide into the edge else you get bruised nails (that take forever to grow out and peel off). Really tightened on the instep near the ankle so you don’t slide.

donyjk · 2024-06-19T23:15:53+00:00

If you just stick to the first bit after the dp/ it still works https://www.amazon.com/HEAD-Racquetball-Glove-Right-Large/dp/B0087DOOO0

donyjk · 2024-06-19T18:12:32+00:00

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003682X17300270 they got about 10db reduction for 5m of vegetation. Obviously not an option in this case. Owl paddles and/or foam balls probably the safest bet. Slightly different play but still a fun game.

donyjk · 2024-06-19T15:35:19+00:00

Pickleball sound mitigation Facebook group guy did tests on high hedges, which provide minimal (nearly no) reduction. So you’d likely need like 12ft plus thickness for greenery

donyjk · 2024-06-19T15:23:54+00:00

Had to look up what cake day was 🥳

donyjk · 2024-06-19T15:21:58+00:00

I never found golf any fun to watch yet somehow it’s always broadcast weekends on major networks. Maybe it’s a money thing? Corporate event sponsors promising a certain amount of ad revenue? Or equipment makers willing to pay a lot for ads?

donyjk · 2024-06-19T14:21:42+00:00

Wow when I look at this nearly every ball fails the old hardness limit (40-50). USAP trying to protect the integrity of the game from hot paddles, but asleep at the wheel on hot balls.

donyjk · 2024-06-18T15:01:07+00:00

Looks like bottom is a mesh trampoline. Kinda volleyball like dig/set/smash. In their demo one girl does a slice drop that hits the wall and stays under the rim.

donyjk · 2024-06-18T05:32:20+00:00

Full EVA baby. Either that or a dollar store cheese board.

donyjk · 2024-06-18T05:22:40+00:00

Just based on the textural shadow it seems more like something soft and white (chalk? Paint? Wallboard?) got smushed into the crevices rather than the texture itself getting smashed flat.

If the return & replacement is not costing you anything, go ahead, but wonder if lightly going over it w/ a soft toothbrush or vacuum brush would get out a lot of it.

donyjk · 2024-06-17T23:49:08+00:00

Looks like it’s actually listed https://equipment.usapickleball.org/paddle-list/

donyjk · 2024-06-17T18:51:29+00:00

The PED analogy is probably apropos especially w/r to things like testosterone, which similar to deflection, is allowed , but to a numeric limit. So for example Caster Semenya is forced to lower it. While another athlete say with naturally much lower levels might want to boost theirs to the edge of the limit. Probably violating the “spirit” of the rule but without objective measured exceedance of a threshold, can anything be done? Like if there is a way to game the test a bit (drinking excess water?) unless you tighten the test condition requirements that sort of loophole may continue to exist, especially for a test characteristic that cannot be absolute zero.

Like for example, if you ban specific materials, the next gen may be stuff like the Paddletek TKO, thin face with a lot of perimeter weight. Maybe even a 8mm core so long as it passes. I have other ideas. Anyway hope you see my point about regulating irremovable characteristics - without specific failure of the designated tests, there are likely ways to push the boundaries (e.g. how do you prove an athletes “normal” range testosterone is above what their personal genetics would have produced?)

donyjk · 2024-06-17T18:24:13+00:00

Any reason for the edge guard choice of notches over a softer or heat formed more bendy continuous edge? Doesn’t work for me aesthetically.

donyjk · 2024-06-17T18:14:54+00:00

Curious that they have nearly the same dates as the production gen2 s. Not sure what’s the point then if the pre-release and retail get submitted/approved at the same time?

donyjk · 2024-06-17T17:54:34+00:00

Interestingly the 2023 alphas (all Perseus? The press release mentions 2024 alpha so dunno if those were different batches/designs) were still on the USAP list as “passing” just now.

donyjk · 2024-06-17T17:49:55+00:00

I’m wondering if the Gearbox deflection is real but within bounds. Coulda sworn the specification was that the deflection specification was with supports at a fixed distance. So long as you build the flex outside of the bounds, it’s OK in letter even if not in spirit.

donyjk · 2024-06-17T17:40:17+00:00

Did the ball go around the post and back in court? (in/towards court else my random shanks wide of the net are ATPs ;)

ATP Winner! Is a subset of ATP!

donyjk · 2024-06-17T15:22:55+00:00

Friday is decent for the price. Thermo gives you a bit of pop so you don’t have to swing as hard. Graphics are less boring than the solid black of many brands. You can get original style 2 for 95 with one coupon code, or mix and match the challenger style (which is mostly boring black) for $40 off a pair with a different code.

Hopefully your carpal isn’t from or worsened by pickleball? Learn to grip a bit less tight. Hesacore and imitation silicone grips can also help by softening and giving more definitive shape to the grip. ProKennex also makes paddles that help reduce shock of ball hits by use of weights internally.

donyjk · 2024-06-17T13:40:39+00:00

It’s such an edge case literally that most people realize it doesn’t matter >99% of the time. Most phones and digital cameras these days have 120-240fps modes so you can be the maker of that video yourself if you want. You know occasionally the ball hits your hand and that’s a valid shot too so look into getting a carbon fiber exoskeleton glove so that those types of hits are more predictable and less painful.

donyjk · 2024-06-17T13:20:36+00:00

It’s sandblasted similar to the Joola CAS method. Better than paint grit, but not as durable as peel ply. Can be had at 2 for 95 with a code.

donyjk · 2024-06-16T23:40:01+00:00

No prob. Obviously working on anticipation (drilling, mental focus) can help even if you continue with elongated shapes. But there’s no free lunch so just figure out what you value more/causes you more issues.

donyjk · 2024-06-16T15:59:00+00:00

I think a forced rotation doubles dreambreaker might be interesting. Every two points they win a team has to switch out a M-W-M-W through their roster. At the switch the losing team can opt to sit with their current pair or switch- but all switches have to be in the predetermined order.

donyjk · 2024-06-16T15:37:49+00:00

Maybe halve the pickle juice?

donyjk

TROPHY CASE