I'm buying based on John's testing and after many good reviews I trust him and his database. I now know where I want to be on spin, swing weight, twist, power and pop. I now understand what works for me.
Was going to comment this also. I saw a podcast where someone stated he used a heavy rubber ball traveling at 160 mph hitting the paddles 1000’s of times.
Trying to decide if I'm a nerd for watching this lol. Zane I believe John completely missed your point on the amateur playing with a pro paddle. I started playing with power paddles when I couldn't even dink and after some time I switched to more playable paddles for my skill and its an ever evolving process to pair the paddle that can get the most out of my game without creating issues.
John knows his stuff more than just about anybody when it comes to paddles and gear. Not sure he is the best guy to ask for opinions on the Jilly B v PPA topic. Bring in Jimmy Miller for that drama.
Zane would love to hear your take on Scott saying “when you reset it should be cross court because if you have more distance and better chance to keep the ball down”. I see most pro’s reset straight ahead. I’m guessing this is because if you reset straight ahead you won’t spin the ball that much off the block. Would love to hear your take, thanks
Resets work best to the middle of the court because there's an extra half second where the opponents decide who is returning the ball. Speed ups work better down the line
Very good!!! But the barrier is already now built in by paddle testing fee per line of paddles, all the small guys and big guys have to decide if that fee is doable, the paddle face marketing fee is a totally separate fee for the pro game only. the game is played with a paddle and a ball, so lets get discussion going on the ball as well.
I would like to see recommendations on rec paddles use for rec players. Or possibly comparisons between the rec and power/poppy paddles. Then suggestions on what to buy.
There is very little difference between pro and amateur paddles. It's nothing like tennis or golf in that regard. The only major difference is that a number of pros play with 10+ ounce versions of paddles most people shouldn't touch.
@@alwaysplaythegame thanks for your reply. Yeah the heaviest paddle I can get locally is about 8.2 ounces. As soon as I went to a heavy paddle my game changed for the better. Needless to say practice always helps too. Would be interesting to try a ten ouncer ; ) That's interesting to know how little difference there is between the rec paddles and the top tier paddles.
When Kew talks, people listen. Been my go to for info since day one. BIG PICKLE. ruined the Pro game. All Foam cores like the new CRBN, RIPPLE, FIREFLY, etc with more coming, will be the next big run. Curious why MASTER ATHLETICS doesn't get talked about by top reviewers.??
Zane, I like John and you and it was nice to hear you guys talk. I am curious why you wait almost 2 weeks to release your videos with so much happening so quickly in pickleball?
Amateurs should play with what works really well for their game. Don’t play with a paddle just because pros use it. It requires demoing lots of paddles before you buy. The average “main” of a paddle is probably around 3-6 months.
I know I’m in the minority but the way the game is changing is a damn shame. The fun that we had playing years ago is not at all like it is today. The new powerful paddles are simply ruining the game. Unless you’re a heavy hitter. The governing bodies don’t have the courage and the pro players are all on board, but for the majority of Pickleball players, this is not a good change. serve return, drive, point over.
It is not just the paddles, the game is changing to more of a power game because of tennis players coming into the game along with younger and more athletic players.
I'm a heavy hitter and love hitting the ball hard, but that said I can see your point. It started as a game that the talent was fairly flat between a bad player and a good player. And a brand new player with any athleticism could quickly become respectable. But with the new $250 paddles and it becoming a hard hitting sport it's definitely changed. I find myself getting frustrated with lower level because of where the game went.
The main reason is not the paddle, but with the skilled players like Quang Duong entering the game. You can probably still find gentle, soft games at the right age brackets, or creating your own group of like minded players
Sports inevitably get faster and more physical as they evolve and as players get better. The only way to take away the power game is to make it weaker than the soft game
In terms of the PBCoR test, John kept saying the paddle is hit with an air cannon. My question is: “is the paddle shot” or is a ball shot with an air cannon at the paddle? Feels like the latter - just wanted to confirm.
Is the fee reasonable? John doesnt have an opinion? Wow. The question isnt the fee. The question is about the fact that this is not a marketing fee at all. This was intended as a paddle tax - and it was only reframed as a marketing fee and uncoupled from the certification fee after pressure from the paddle companies.
Isn’t that why UPAA is staying a profit organization for the PPA so they can shake more money from paddle companies and then pass those fees down to consumers?
Nope. People being what they are (and in particilar, business being what they are), they'd find a competitive way to game that too. What kind of wood allowed, stuff hidden inside the wood, fake wood, etc, etc, etc. The ONLY thing that would possibly solve this dilemna once and for all is the manufacture of a single standard paddle by a non-profit governing body that must be used by everyone who plays the game. And good luck with that in a country like the USA!
Zane...excellent podcast with John, he was a great guest. I just had one thought, when yall start talking about the entertainment portion of pickleball around the 53 minutes mark and creating drama, I think that is a slippery slope to walk from a pro player. In my opinion there are two roads you can take. You either are trying to legitimize the sport or you go down the entertainment side (like wrestling or wrasslin'). While drama does draw attention, I don't think you want to talk about the desire to use that as a marketing tool so openly. I'm not saying you don't do it, but to talk about it so openly and say you are "for it" could take away from the feeling that this is a legitimate sport and could make people think this is just a show (maybe like a circus). Where would the line be. Is fixing a matches results for more drama worth the fallout? The other pro leagues fight hard to make people think that is not an option. Just for the record, I enjoy wrasslin' and a circus every once in a while, but even the wrestlers call it "kayfabe" (I think). Best of luck! Keep up the good work. Thanks for the great content.
The best way to keep pickleball paddles affordable is to stop watching the PPA. Honestly, pickleball isn’t that exciting to watch anyway. I play pickleball, but even though I don’t do MMA, I’d much rather watch ONE or UFC than the PPA
All kinds sof paddle sales have nothing to do with pro level players. Vatic and 11six24 and Honolulu l and many paddles that John Kew recommends are not played by anyone on tour. This puts to shame the $50k that is required to use the paddles on tour. It is just a money grab. And the non answers from Aspes about whether this will spread to amateur certification is ridiculous. The UPAA is for profit....being paid by Joola et al to create rules that benefit Joola et al.
As someone who has fallen in love with pickleball, I can't help but feel like people are overestimating its 'trajectory' as a viewership sport. I play 5-6 days a week, but let's be honest, it isn't exactly thrilling as a viewership sport. Even at the highest levels, I find myself getting bored fairly quickly. Even mentioning a 'dana white' of pickleball feels a tad silly to me.
PBCoR stands for Paddle-Ball Coefficient of Restitution - not pickleball ;) The whole idea is that it's two objects colliding - the paddle and the ball 😅 Let's get the basics right. The big problem we have here is that there is no on location power testing. We need edge to edge deflection testing ASAP. Otherwise the whole PBCoR thing done in the lab is a bit pointless
I'm buying based on John's testing and after many good reviews I trust him and his database. I now know where I want to be on spin, swing weight, twist, power and pop. I now understand what works for me.
Great to see John on the PicklePod! Love his reviews, database, and innovations in paddle testing.
Great interview. John is the man
Smooth putting a plug in for yourself on the voting, John! 🙌🏻 Loved it.
John is the man! Glad to see him on your pod.
Great interview. 👍🏿 PB’s biggest personality meets PB’s biggest brain.
always fun to see john!
Dong from Ronbus has a destructive paddle machine and has done tests. Just ask him. There's a video of his machine on the Ronbus Discord.
Was going to comment this also. I saw a podcast where someone stated he used a heavy rubber ball traveling at 160 mph hitting the paddles 1000’s of times.
Asking an actual archeologist if he’s more of a nerd than a youtuber 😅
I’m glad John gave a straight answer 😂
Trying to decide if I'm a nerd for watching this lol. Zane I believe John completely missed your point on the amateur playing with a pro paddle. I started playing with power paddles when I couldn't even dink and after some time I switched to more playable paddles for my skill and its an ever evolving process to pair the paddle that can get the most out of my game without creating issues.
John knows his stuff more than just about anybody when it comes to paddles and gear. Not sure he is the best guy to ask for opinions on the Jilly B v PPA topic. Bring in Jimmy Miller for that drama.
John Kew in the house! Going big time…
Zane would love to hear your take on Scott saying “when you reset it should be cross court because if you have more distance and better chance to keep the ball down”. I see most pro’s reset straight ahead. I’m guessing this is because if you reset straight ahead you won’t spin the ball that much off the block. Would love to hear your take, thanks
Resets work best to the middle of the court because there's an extra half second where the opponents decide who is returning the ball. Speed ups work better down the line
Zane you are correct - much more connection than just trying to be tennis
We should call Dr Kew due to his Ph. D.
Very good!!! But the barrier is already now built in by paddle testing fee per line of paddles, all the small guys and big guys have to decide if that fee is doable, the paddle face marketing fee is a totally separate fee for the pro game only. the game is played with a paddle and a ball, so lets get discussion going on the ball as well.
I would like to see recommendations on rec paddles use for rec players. Or possibly comparisons between the rec and power/poppy paddles. Then suggestions on what to buy.
There is very little difference between pro and amateur paddles. It's nothing like tennis or golf in that regard. The only major difference is that a number of pros play with 10+ ounce versions of paddles most people shouldn't touch.
@@alwaysplaythegame thanks for your reply. Yeah the heaviest paddle I can get locally is about 8.2 ounces. As soon as I went to a heavy paddle my game changed for the better. Needless to say practice always helps too. Would be interesting to try a ten ouncer ; )
That's interesting to know how little difference there is between the rec paddles and the top tier paddles.
When Kew talks, people listen. Been my go to for info since day one.
BIG PICKLE. ruined the Pro game.
All Foam cores like the new CRBN, RIPPLE, FIREFLY, etc with more coming, will be the next big run. Curious why MASTER ATHLETICS doesn't get talked about by top reviewers.??
Zane, I like John and you and it was nice to hear you guys talk. I am curious why you wait almost 2 weeks to release your videos with so much happening so quickly in pickleball?
Amateurs should play with what works really well for their game. Don’t play with a paddle just because pros use it. It requires demoing lots of paddles before you buy. The average “main” of a paddle is probably around 3-6 months.
Good interview
I noticed the PaddleTek Bantam was mentioned 4-5 times. Is that the current top of the pack for what is thought to be “legal”
Great pod.
I know I’m in the minority but the way the game is changing is a damn shame. The fun that we had playing years ago is not at all like it is today. The new powerful paddles are simply ruining the game. Unless you’re a heavy hitter. The governing bodies don’t have the courage and the pro players are all on board, but for the majority of Pickleball players, this is not a good change. serve return, drive, point over.
I don't think you're in the minority
It is not just the paddles, the game is changing to more of a power game because of tennis players coming into the game along with younger and more athletic players.
I'm a heavy hitter and love hitting the ball hard, but that said I can see your point. It started as a game that the talent was fairly flat between a bad player and a good player. And a brand new player with any athleticism could quickly become respectable. But with the new $250 paddles and it becoming a hard hitting sport it's definitely changed. I find myself getting frustrated with lower level because of where the game went.
The main reason is not the paddle, but with the skilled players like Quang Duong entering the game. You can probably still find gentle, soft games at the right age brackets, or creating your own group of like minded players
Sports inevitably get faster and more physical as they evolve and as players get better. The only way to take away the power game is to make it weaker than the soft game
In terms of the PBCoR test, John kept saying the paddle is hit with an air cannon. My question is: “is the paddle shot” or is a ball shot with an air cannon at the paddle? Feels like the latter - just wanted to confirm.
Is the fee reasonable? John doesnt have an opinion? Wow.
The question isnt the fee. The question is about the fact that this is not a marketing fee at all.
This was intended as a paddle tax - and it was only reframed as a marketing fee and uncoupled from the certification fee after pressure from the paddle companies.
Nick - you still have my email, right? You can always reach out for a discussion instead of venting in the comments section 😆
@@johnkewpickleball typing one up. The comment was for others not for you 😅
John be like, lets get back to paddles....
The fact that the Jilly B comment drew so much heat suggests that there is truth in the allegation. The flak is the fiercest over the target
Isn’t that why UPAA is staying a profit organization for the PPA so they can shake more money from paddle companies and then pass those fees down to consumers?
Curious to know how many paddle manufacturers the pros are using right now-surely it’s not as many as 1,200, or is it?
JK is is fascinating to listen to.
Just go back to wood paddles with the required dimensions.
Nope. People being what they are (and in particilar, business being what they are), they'd find a competitive way to game that too. What kind of wood allowed, stuff hidden inside the wood, fake wood, etc, etc, etc. The ONLY thing that would possibly solve this dilemna once and for all is the manufacture of a single standard paddle by a non-profit governing body that must be used by everyone who plays the game. And good luck with that in a country like the USA!
Yes, and no more indoor plumbing!! Back to the outhouse!
Why are the paddles logo counting and not clothing companies. It feels like they are only aiming their money gun at paddle and companies.
That might be coming next
Follow the money. That's where the margin is. Also - clothing doesn't wear out in 50 hours of use like a paddle does 😊
Make your lab open source
Zane...excellent podcast with John, he was a great guest. I just had one thought, when yall start talking about the entertainment portion of pickleball around the 53 minutes mark and creating drama, I think that is a slippery slope to walk from a pro player. In my opinion there are two roads you can take. You either are trying to legitimize the sport or you go down the entertainment side (like wrestling or wrasslin'). While drama does draw attention, I don't think you want to talk about the desire to use that as a marketing tool so openly. I'm not saying you don't do it, but to talk about it so openly and say you are "for it" could take away from the feeling that this is a legitimate sport and could make people think this is just a show (maybe like a circus). Where would the line be. Is fixing a matches results for more drama worth the fallout? The other pro leagues fight hard to make people think that is not an option. Just for the record, I enjoy wrasslin' and a circus every once in a while, but even the wrestlers call it "kayfabe" (I think). Best of luck! Keep up the good work. Thanks for the great content.
Zane needed Dong
The best way to keep pickleball paddles affordable is to stop watching the PPA. Honestly, pickleball isn’t that exciting to watch anyway. I play pickleball, but even though I don’t do MMA, I’d much rather watch ONE or UFC than the PPA
All kinds sof paddle sales have nothing to do with pro level players. Vatic and 11six24 and Honolulu l and many paddles that John Kew recommends are not played by anyone on tour. This puts to shame the $50k that is required to use the paddles on tour. It is just a money grab. And the non answers from Aspes about whether this will spread to amateur certification is ridiculous. The UPAA is for profit....being paid by Joola et al to create rules that benefit Joola et al.
As someone who has fallen in love with pickleball, I can't help but feel like people are overestimating its 'trajectory' as a viewership sport. I play 5-6 days a week, but let's be honest, it isn't exactly thrilling as a viewership sport. Even at the highest levels, I find myself getting bored fairly quickly. Even mentioning a 'dana white' of pickleball feels a tad silly to me.
Zane! What the heck did you do to your eyebrow?
Aggressive clipper
Kew looks like Bryan Cranston's brother!
PBCoR stands for Paddle-Ball Coefficient of Restitution - not pickleball ;)
The whole idea is that it's two objects colliding - the paddle and the ball 😅
Let's get the basics right.
The big problem we have here is that there is no on location power testing. We need edge to edge deflection testing ASAP. Otherwise the whole PBCoR thing done in the lab is a bit pointless
ACKCHYUALLY
Booooo
Kew is hard to listen to I turned it off after less than 5 minutes
Negative comments lacking in any substance are hard to read
lol - you may be in the minority….of 1)