In the highest level of softball, all bats stay with tourney director to avoid tampering. It just makes sense. What also happened in softball is doctoring and counterfeiting. ie, taking A HOT paddle and putting a legal paddle face on it. Taking a legal paddle and changing the inside and making it hotter.
Yes. I agree that's the only way to fully ensure lack of tampering, and highly likely that some of the top players are already playing with paddles with designs that don't match the paddle they claim to be.
This has to be one of the best podcasts I have watched across the board. It was well organized, the content was so interesting, and your guest was very knowledgeable and articulate. A+++++
Well I went on a limb and got the Airbender. I did not purchase the additional weights. So far it plays lack luster for me. Anyone else have suggestions to tune the paddle for better play? I get more power from my Luxx 😮
If you two ever decide to visit Maine, go to Zu Bakery in Portland. The focaccia is outstanding. They also just won the James Beard award along with Norimoto Bakery also in Portland.
Daescu got screwed. How many times has PPA changed a rule, etc. for its top players literally with a one-day notice? Remember the PPL decided on a number for grit, and PPA lowered it because many of its TOP pro players would have failed. No matter what this guy says, Connor is in charge, so the source is still rotten. "It's been a messy ride over the last four years..." because of his boss. Not once have I seen a decision by the PPA that was for the players or for the sport. "What we have then and what we have now"... Production was much better four years ago. The sport was so much more simple and genuine four years ago. Because of the PPA, the sport has taken at least a dozen steps backward. On YT, this weekend was the worst video quality I have ever seen, in anything. Now, on PickleballTV, the quality was excellent.
@@jillybpickleball Thank you for replying. I'm a bit older than you (70), I've seen this so many times. A good manager comes in with good ideas, and he's gone in 6 months (usually quitting), with zero changes. But, this may be different. :) He said two weeks for line cameras. Let's do four weeks. That's the Selkirk Kansas City Open. :) Sacramento Open, was the worst video quality I have ever seen on TH-cam. Have a great week. :)
You asked this question, but I don't think Jason answered it. Once certification of UPA goes live in 2025, is the expectation that paddles will need to be USAP and UPA certified for amateurs? Will the UPA communicate to the public why a paddle might pass one certification but not another? Is seems to me that both organizations want to govern the amateur game
Daescu’s punishment is absolutely ridiculous. You can’t just have zero consequences and all of a sudden you’re fining a player like the amount of money that an NBA NFL player would get fined and then six months not allowing him to play in tournaments. Jill, I think you and I should run the show we will get rid of the minutia quick!!
If there are no paddle challenges after initial approval, why did ref come over and check Salome’s paddle after she beat AW? At least that’s what it looked like. Oh wait. I know the answer. lol
I do want to point out that I see people over seas still buying Joolas Fen 3 not knowing they are banned. Some do know they are banned, but trying to get away with cheating.
Yes I'm sure we will still see Gen 3s around for years to come on the rec courts. Whether that's knock offs, or left overs sold on ebay etc. But at least there is some progress on the paddle enforcement front and ultimately there is no force greater than a large group of people throwing shame so I think a lot of players will be embarrassed to show up with Gen3s now.
Refs could easily tell if a paddle has degraded after "testing". Between games give a "squeeze test". If it fails, switch paddles. Good news about replay systems coming soon.
And another ridiculous thing that ruling against James for a mandatory sticker falling off his paddle into the kitchen and losing that point is asinine that’s something that was artificially forced on their Paddle and that call was completely wrong
Hi my wife and I enjoy your show. I am interested in finding some sort of weekend clinic for her birthday. Do you have any in CA coming up? We missed the Tahoe one. It would have been perfect we live about an hour away. Thanks for your time!
I LOVE watching MLP and PPA. (MLP is by far more entertaining. Championship Sunday on the PPA Tour is pretty boring, because 90% of the same players/teams win in Women's and MIXED. There is much more parity in the Men's divisions.) The production value of MLP Atlanta 2024 was so bad; the energy of the tournament play did not translate at all. I was so disappointed. There has got to be more views, more cameras to help translate what is going on live. That first year of MLP was off the charts fun TO WATCH. ..... GO BREAKERS!
As an amateur competitive athlete my whole like I actively play PB tournaments and watch the Pro’s to gain new shots and practice new skills to bring to my game. I know stats on all the players and who they are and totally dig the pro circuit as an amateur player. The price is absolutely ridiculous for PPA and MLP and it really doesn’t need to be like this with so many players and tournaments.
Let’s be clear: Jason Aspes owes you nothing, and yet he came on your show and answered each question with class despite the bitterness, sarcasm, snickering, and Jill's overt disdain for all things PPA. It seems obvious that it all comes down to what was said in minute 58. PPA has the better players. You're not one of them. That's ok. Get over it! PS. here's a pro for Jill who mocks Jason for his media training: Uncross your arms. It's a bad look. Honestly this was embarrassing. There's a difference between "asking the tough questions" and the complete lack of class shown by the two of you.
APP is the Minor League feeder program for the Major League PPA and serves that role well. Also a nice place for older players late 40's to remain competitive against some less quality players in the APP.
Excellent interview and so happy you asked the tough questions and made him answer. The issue he doesn’t want to address the drug testing which in my opinion is cheating at the highest degree! It is visibly clear which players are 💉💉
We spoke to him more about the drug testing and he is definitely considering when and how to implement. On one hand it's costly, but on another hand, its a very established and existing test to imlement vs exit velocity which needs to essentially be invented or adapted for pickleball, which is tricky because the ball is so thin. But I do believe we will see drug testing next year.
Pickleball at the rec level is screwed. Hot paddles sell because they give the player an advantage. Chinese paddle manufacturers will replicate the hot paddles. In rec play there’s no way to check what kind of paddle the opponent is using
@@WisdomInsightReality so you'd have no problem playing against someone using a paddle they design and let's say that paddle hits 10x harder than the joolas
@@jillybpickleball Off the available pro/am sports, even with hot paddles, pickleball is one of the wimpiest and least dangerous. Baseball, football, soccer, boxing, et. al. are capable of life altering damages. Checkers is a good, safe hobby-sport! ;) I say that it is up to the market forces of manufacturers and buyers to drive the sport, not the corporate entrepreneurs who want to decide on how the game is played. I don't buy what the guest is selling.
great interview. Jason comes off to me as insincere. in my opinion he is saying things he thinks the audience wants to hear. The fine to Andrea is extreme and is being used to strong-arm the players by instilling fear. Hitting a lacross ball is akin to baseball/softball bats being "rolled" to break in and get more pop. Yes, I agree with Jill.
I wish KDub would write down her questions so she isn't stumbling over 19 words before getting to the point. Frustrating. I think Aspes has a hell of a task right now and seems to have the best intentions to make forward progress and be transparent. I wish him well. Lots of bitterness from the podcasters due to personal feelings. This was supposed to be a comedy podcast, right?
Having a select few major paddle companies on the "advisory council" for UPA-A is a huge red flag for me. It creates a bad incentive structure. Even if the companies aren't "voting" for rules, they'll be incentivized to make hot paddles (because hot paddles sell) and they'll be incentivized to put pressure on the UPA-A to write rules that allow for the paddles they want to make. Jason's answer when pushed on this topic downplayed the role of those companies, but that concerns me even more. Why even form such a board then? I hope I'm wrong about this, but I'm concerned. USAP's a mess right now, but I'm actually more optimistic about their future.
Yeah it definitely felt like a red flag to us, but lets hope the perspective of the companies ranging from hot (Joola/Gearbox) to not so hot (Franklin/Vulcan) can balance each other out as voices in the room.
How long before you are "certification ready"? You say you are serious, yet you are not currently certificatiion ready, which is it? Having listened carefully to this interview, how the hell can you justify fining Daescu $50,000.00 and a two month suspension. This interview, combined with your double talk and lack of articulation, has destroyed your credibility! You say everything and everyone is going to be held accountable, how about we start with you?
I hear Joola may be filing a $45 million dollar lawsuit against the USAP. I hope so, this is long overdue!. What independent body is overseeing the USAP testing model, holding them accountable, making them more timely, more responsive to their clients? The USAP is the problem! They have no transparency, and no accountability, they're a black hole. Who is the third party tester, what is their company name, what are their qualifications, what is their track record, years in business, customer list, customer references, what scientific equipment are they using, where are their detailed, published, scientific test results for each paddle tested? The USAP collects too much money, tens of millions of dollars, to be shrouded in such secrecy. Sunlight is the best disenfectant. Pickleball is going soft with all this talk about injury, liability etc. There's a simple solution, wear protective eyewear, when compared to paddle prices, this is a simple, cheap solution. Don't dumb down pickleball more then it is. Be progressive, continue to evolve, keep an open mind, remember your fans/viewers.
They will sue for sure.. They invested in R&D for almost a year making a paddle that conformed to USAP standards at the time.. Now all of a sudden after the alpha paddles were approved months ago they have an issue also not only with the production ones.. USAP has no money to fight Joola I can guarantee you that.. It will get ugly...
Respect to Jason. Jill insinuating that Jason knew about pros delaminating their paddles and taking no action is low. Jill casting shade and claiming knowledge of wrongdoers delaminating paddles should pull on the big girl pants and name the names. As she said there is only one truth.
With Connor still there, Jason won't last, if he does, he won't get anything done. Agree, if she is absolutely positive about someone, she should say. But remember, whistle-blowers are usually persecuted by the higher-ups. It would be absolutely feasible for the PPA to ban her from tournaments because she snitched on a PPA top player. PPA has already screwed players for speaking out about things. She has to weigh the consequences. It is easy for us to say, "Who is it". There are no consequences to us.
The playing field is fair, Ben Johns and Anna Leigh are just the best, and JW and Georgia just keep crushing it with Franklin, the most poorly reviewed paddle on the planet. Stop stifling innovation and dumbing down the sport, or you'll lose all fans/eyeballs at the pro level.
As always, discount codes in description. Thanks for watching and subscribing!
Incredible interview. Thank you for asking every single uncomfortable question possible. I think Jason did a good job answering questions.
We tried not to hold back. Thank you.
In the highest level of softball, all bats stay with tourney director to avoid tampering. It just makes sense.
What also happened in softball is doctoring and counterfeiting. ie, taking A HOT paddle and putting a legal paddle face on it. Taking a legal paddle and changing the inside and making it hotter.
Yes. I agree that's the only way to fully ensure lack of tampering, and highly likely that some of the top players are already playing with paddles with designs that don't match the paddle they claim to be.
Best Podcast
This has to be one of the best podcasts I have watched across the board. It was well organized, the content was so interesting, and your guest was very knowledgeable and articulate. A+++++
Thanks Kevin. Yes he is quite articulate isn't he?
Awesome podcast! You asked tough but important questions to Jason. I really enjoyed it. Thank you!
for another, how much do they charge the manufacturers just get their paddles certified?
Super glad that you found the paddle for you!
Well I went on a limb and got the Airbender. I did not purchase the additional weights. So far it plays lack luster for me. Anyone else have suggestions to tune the paddle for better play? I get more power from my Luxx 😮
If you two ever decide to visit Maine, go to Zu Bakery in Portland. The focaccia is outstanding. They also just won the James Beard award along with Norimoto Bakery also in Portland.
Mouth is watering !!!
That’s right, shout out to MLP #1 Production team baby!! Ohh the stories I could tell…
🙌 you know it!
I am disappointed in Jill's interview style. The tone and verbiage you used when asking questions to Jason was biased and accusatory. Be better.
usap claims that joola gen3s are unsafe, but never presented any data to prove that point 😢😮
joola's gen3 design was copied from gearbox.. why is gearbox not delisted?
USPA lawsuit needs to settle out of court or they will sink. G3’s need to stay on market. Needs a better future testing standard
Daescu got screwed. How many times has PPA changed a rule, etc. for its top players literally with a one-day notice? Remember the PPL decided on a number for grit, and PPA lowered it because many of its TOP pro players would have failed. No matter what this guy says, Connor is in charge, so the source is still rotten. "It's been a messy ride over the last four years..." because of his boss. Not once have I seen a decision by the PPA that was for the players or for the sport. "What we have then and what we have now"... Production was much better four years ago. The sport was so much more simple and genuine four years ago. Because of the PPA, the sport has taken at least a dozen steps backward. On YT, this weekend was the worst video quality I have ever seen, in anything. Now, on PickleballTV, the quality was excellent.
It's an uphill climb for sure. Let's give Jason 3-6 months and see what he can disinfect.
@@jillybpickleball Thank you for replying. I'm a bit older than you (70), I've seen this so many times. A good manager comes in with good ideas, and he's gone in 6 months (usually quitting), with zero changes. But, this may be different. :) He said two weeks for line cameras. Let's do four weeks. That's the Selkirk Kansas City Open. :) Sacramento Open, was the worst video quality I have ever seen on TH-cam. Have a great week. :)
The rosebud!!! Nice! 😂
You asked this question, but I don't think Jason answered it. Once certification of UPA goes live in 2025, is the expectation that paddles will need to be USAP and UPA certified for amateurs? Will the UPA communicate to the public why a paddle might pass one certification but not another? Is seems to me that both organizations want to govern the amateur game
Will USAP be around after this $200MM lawsuit? 🤷
Sounds like Jason plans to be very up front about why paddles pass or fail, but we will have to wait and see.
Daescu’s punishment is absolutely ridiculous. You can’t just have zero consequences and all of a sudden you’re fining a player like the amount of money that an NBA NFL player would get fined and then six months not allowing him to play in tournaments. Jill, I think you and I should run the show
we will get rid of the minutia quick!!
If only... haha
If there are no paddle challenges after initial approval, why did ref come over and check Salome’s paddle after she beat AW? At least that’s what it looked like. Oh wait. I know the answer. lol
I do want to point out that I see people over seas still buying Joolas Fen 3 not knowing they are banned. Some do know they are banned, but trying to get away with cheating.
Yes I'm sure we will still see Gen 3s around for years to come on the rec courts. Whether that's knock offs, or left overs sold on ebay etc. But at least there is some progress on the paddle enforcement front and ultimately there is no force greater than a large group of people throwing shame so I think a lot of players will be embarrassed to show up with Gen3s now.
@@WALLAGOLF it also helps that tons of courts have straight up banned them.
Refs could easily tell if a paddle has degraded after "testing". Between games give a "squeeze test". If it fails, switch paddles.
Good news about replay systems coming soon.
And another ridiculous thing that ruling against James for a mandatory sticker falling off his paddle into the kitchen and losing that point is asinine that’s something that was artificially forced on their Paddle and that call was completely wrong
Yes! We recorded before that happened otherwise would definitely have talked about it.
Hi my wife and I enjoy your show. I am interested in finding some sort of weekend clinic for her birthday. Do you have any in CA coming up? We missed the Tahoe one. It would have been perfect we live about an hour away. Thanks for your time!
Email us at thispblife@gmail.com !
I LOVE watching MLP and PPA. (MLP is by far more entertaining. Championship Sunday on the PPA Tour is pretty boring, because 90% of the same players/teams win in Women's and MIXED. There is much more parity in the Men's divisions.) The production value of MLP Atlanta 2024 was so bad; the energy of the tournament play did not translate at all. I was so disappointed. There has got to be more views, more cameras to help translate what is going on live. That first year of MLP was off the charts fun TO WATCH. ..... GO BREAKERS!
As an amateur competitive athlete my whole like I actively play PB tournaments and watch the Pro’s to gain new shots and practice new skills to bring to my game. I know stats on all the players and who they are and totally dig the pro circuit as an amateur player. The price is absolutely ridiculous for PPA and MLP and it really doesn’t need to be like this with so many players and tournaments.
who hits the lacross ball with the paddle what player hmmm?
I was at Pictona last year I have an idea
Let’s be clear: Jason Aspes owes you nothing, and yet he came on your show and answered each question with class despite the bitterness, sarcasm, snickering, and Jill's overt disdain for all things PPA. It seems obvious that it all comes down to what was said in minute 58. PPA has the better players. You're not one of them. That's ok. Get over it!
PS. here's a pro for Jill who mocks Jason for his media training: Uncross your arms. It's a bad look.
Honestly this was embarrassing. There's a difference between "asking the tough questions" and the complete lack of class shown by the two of you.
APP is the Minor League feeder program for the Major League PPA and serves that role well. Also a nice place for older players late 40's to remain competitive against some less quality players in the APP.
Streamed pickleball is far and away my viewing preference over live TV.
The die hards will always agree. But we need more than die hards.
Get rid of the song.
Excellent interview and so happy you asked the tough questions and made him answer. The issue he doesn’t want to address the drug testing which in my opinion is cheating at the highest degree! It is visibly clear which players are 💉💉
We spoke to him more about the drug testing and he is definitely considering when and how to implement. On one hand it's costly, but on another hand, its a very established and existing test to imlement vs exit velocity which needs to essentially be invented or adapted for pickleball, which is tricky because the ball is so thin. But I do believe we will see drug testing next year.
Pickleball at the rec level is screwed. Hot paddles sell because they give the player an advantage. Chinese paddle manufacturers will replicate the hot paddles. In rec play there’s no way to check what kind of paddle the opponent is using
Not to worry, it sounds like you're better suited to checkers, it's much safer.
@@WisdomInsightReality so you'd have no problem playing against someone using a paddle they design and let's say that paddle hits 10x harder than the joolas
so instead of being a victim and getting screwed, you'll decline playing against these criminals who have these hot paddles. LOLOLOL
It's definitely concerning and difficult to enforce for pros and even harder for amateurs.
@@jillybpickleball Off the available pro/am sports, even with hot paddles, pickleball is one of the wimpiest and least dangerous. Baseball, football, soccer, boxing, et. al. are capable of life altering damages. Checkers is a good, safe hobby-sport! ;) I say that it is up to the market forces of manufacturers and buyers to drive the sport, not the corporate entrepreneurs who want to decide on how the game is played. I don't buy what the guest is selling.
great interview. Jason comes off to me as insincere. in my opinion he is saying things he thinks the audience wants to hear. The fine to Andrea is extreme and is being used to strong-arm the players by instilling fear. Hitting a lacross ball is akin to baseball/softball bats being "rolled" to break in and get more pop. Yes, I agree with Jill.
Andrei's paddle didn't pass testing. Period. Just like tens of thousands of other paddles. That should've been the end of it.
I wish KDub would write down her questions so she isn't stumbling over 19 words before getting to the point. Frustrating. I think Aspes has a hell of a task right now and seems to have the best intentions to make forward progress and be transparent. I wish him well. Lots of bitterness from the podcasters due to personal feelings. This was supposed to be a comedy podcast, right?
KDub did an excellent job!!! It was clear Jilly B want feeling good
Even sadder to know that I did write down the questions. Glad you survived. ;-)
Having a select few major paddle companies on the "advisory council" for UPA-A is a huge red flag for me. It creates a bad incentive structure. Even if the companies aren't "voting" for rules, they'll be incentivized to make hot paddles (because hot paddles sell) and they'll be incentivized to put pressure on the UPA-A to write rules that allow for the paddles they want to make.
Jason's answer when pushed on this topic downplayed the role of those companies, but that concerns me even more. Why even form such a board then?
I hope I'm wrong about this, but I'm concerned.
USAP's a mess right now, but I'm actually more optimistic about their future.
Yeah it definitely felt like a red flag to us, but lets hope the perspective of the companies ranging from hot (Joola/Gearbox) to not so hot (Franklin/Vulcan) can balance each other out as voices in the room.
@@jillybpickleball That's a really good point. I hope that is the case as well.
How long before you are "certification ready"? You say you are serious, yet you are not currently certificatiion ready, which is it? Having listened carefully to this interview, how the hell can you justify fining Daescu $50,000.00 and a two month suspension. This interview, combined with your double talk and lack of articulation, has destroyed your credibility! You say everything and everyone is going to be held accountable, how about we start with you?
I hear Joola may be filing a $45 million dollar lawsuit against the USAP. I hope so, this is long overdue!. What independent body is overseeing the USAP testing model, holding them accountable, making them more timely, more responsive to their clients? The USAP is the problem! They have no transparency, and no accountability, they're a black hole. Who is the third party tester, what is their company name, what are their qualifications, what is their track record, years in business, customer list, customer references, what scientific equipment are they using, where are their detailed, published, scientific test results for each paddle tested? The USAP collects too much money, tens of millions of dollars, to be shrouded in such secrecy. Sunlight is the best disenfectant. Pickleball is going soft with all this talk about injury, liability etc. There's a simple solution, wear protective eyewear, when compared to paddle prices, this is a simple, cheap solution. Don't dumb down pickleball more then it is. Be progressive, continue to evolve, keep an open mind, remember your fans/viewers.
They will sue for sure.. They invested in R&D for almost a year making a paddle that conformed to USAP standards at the time.. Now all of a sudden after the alpha paddles were approved months ago they have an issue also not only with the production ones.. USAP has no money to fight Joola I can guarantee you that.. It will get ugly...
But Joola admitted that submitted the wrong paddle!
@@hurricanecat1 A clerical error, not admitting an attempt to defraud the system.
Have him back in six months? He won't last that long. We need doers, not politicians, and head nodders.
And this guy was a politician. Generalized answers.
He is new, trying to find his feet. I hope he is not gone in six months. Thanks
@@kevinhowell5808 Thank you, civil debate is good for the country, and the sport, it flushes out ideas, and moves things forward.
@@kevinhowell5808 Connor is his boss, nothing will change.
Respect to Jason. Jill insinuating that Jason knew about pros delaminating their paddles and taking no action is low.
Jill casting shade and claiming knowledge of wrongdoers delaminating paddles should pull on the big girl pants and name the names. As she said there is only one truth.
With Connor still there, Jason won't last, if he does, he won't get anything done. Agree, if she is absolutely positive about someone, she should say. But remember, whistle-blowers are usually persecuted by the higher-ups. It would be absolutely feasible for the PPA to ban her from tournaments because she snitched on a PPA top player. PPA has already screwed players for speaking out about things. She has to weigh the consequences. It is easy for us to say, "Who is it". There are no consequences to us.
The playing field is fair, Ben Johns and Anna Leigh are just the best, and JW and Georgia just keep crushing it with Franklin, the most poorly reviewed paddle on the planet. Stop stifling innovation and dumbing down the sport, or you'll lose all fans/eyeballs at the pro level.