AROUND THE POST
R . I . P . Was a good paddle to the end
Dead Paddle Conundrum
BY ALEX HAMNER & JENNIFER LUCORE
Maybe you ’ ve heard it ? Maybe you ’ ve felt it ?
A different sound ... a different feel to your paddle . Sometimes you hit the “ sweet spot ” on your paddle and it feels great , other times the ball just dies when paddle meets ball . Yes , paddles go dead and should be replaced ; they do not last forever .
HOW TO TELL WHEN A PADDLE IS DEAD :
1 . Sound ( part 1 ): If you hear a change in the sound your paddle makes when you hit the sweet spot , then your paddle is most likely due for replacement . Sometimes you can just hear the difference in your paddle when you hit the ball . It can mean your paddle is dead if the sound is different than usual when you know you hit the sweet spot .
2 . Sound ( part 2 ): Take your knuckle and tap the paddle . A nice hollow ring means you are in the sweet spot . A more dull sound indicates an area with less-than-optimal response . Most performance paddles have an area of optimal response and areas with less-than-optimal response , or “ dead spots .” Dead spots are commonly found above the handle , at the corners and the very top . By tapping your knuckle around the paddle you can hear the locations of the optimal areas and those areas that are “ dead .”
3 . Feel : You can just “ feel ” it . The ball feels different when you hit it now than it did when the paddle was new . A dead spot can often be very small and therefore barely noticeable . But once you feel a paddle is not performing the way it did when it was new , then you should probably replace it .
CAUSES FOR A DEAD PADDLE :
1 . Usage : Unless you are playing with wood , most paddles will lose their optimal response within a year . The paddle may still be good for play , but just not as responsive as it was when it was new .
2 . Hitting the ground ( or fence ): When a paddle hits a hard surface , the paddle can delaminate slightly , causing dead spots .
3 . Broken handles : A broken handle , no matter how slight , can cause the entire paddle to perform poorly .
4 . Dents : Be cautious of celebrating a good point or match by powerfully hitting paddles together . One paddle ’ s edge can dent another ’ s face depending on the force of the “ Good job , partner ” slap or tap .
MULTI-TIME NATIONAL AND US OPEN CHAMP KYLE YATES ’ OBSERVATIONS :
“ When should you replace your paddle ? Let me answer that question with another question : Is your paddle ’ s deficiency directly causing you to lose points ?
You can play with a paddle that appears scratched or dented , but once you start to lose control over the ball because of the faulty paddle , it may be time to switch .
For example , recently I was playing in a tournament , and my paddle got knocked into the fence as I went for a shot out wide . The force of the blow was enough to dent the edge of my paddle a solid half-inch . To many people , it would seem ‘ broken .’ Not to me . It still played as good as new and I kept using the same paddle until I finished the tournament . I ’ m not going to say how that day ended up ( OK … Gold ).
Also , oftentimes we see our paddle ’ s face get worn down , or dirty . This could be an indication for a new paddle . Once the face of the paddle begins to ‘ wear off ,’ you should be able to determine if the paddle is breaking down . This is where you could be losing some power that a new paddle could be giving you .”
Thanks , Kyle ! Pay attention to the sound and feel of your paddle , and you might improve your game just by replacing your paddle . Thanks also for additional insights and input from Curtis Smith , CEO of Paddletek . •
Jennifer Lucore and Alex Hamner started playing pickleball in 2010 , and have competed in tournaments across the USA ( and internationally ). Between them , they have 25 National Titles , including winning gold in the Women ’ s Open Doubles at Nationals for four consecutive years ( 2011 – 2014 ). For more pickleball fun see Jennifer ’ s blog at www . allpickleball . com .
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER2017 | MAGAZINE 21