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soft touch. Graphite surface paddles are
generally a little more expensive and difficult
to source.
Polypropylene is a common facing
material used with polypropylene cores. It is
highly durable and heavier in weight.
Aluminum and carbon fiber surface
paddles are less common and therefore less
tested.
Paddle surfaces are often finished with
paint, screen print or vinyl, which can add a
small amount of texture (for spin), weight (for
power) or hardness (for power). The USAPA
has applied very stringent limits to the
amount of texture that can be on a paddle
surface. To sum it up – if the surface face
offers a spin advantage, it will probably not
pass USAPA testing.
PADDLE WEIGHT
Let me start by saying that I like heavier
paddles! Possibly the #1 most important
and easy-to-understand thing that will
affect the play of a paddle is the weight.
Some people argue that their reflexes are
slower with an 8 oz. paddle versus a 7 oz.
comparable model; however, if you’re basing
your dinking game decisions on reflex
play, you’ve probably got this all wrong.
Manufacturers and virtually all touring pros
agree that the added weight allows for less
effort to hit stronger, more accurate shots.
They would also agree that heavier paddles
have larger sweet-spots and are better for
blocking, driving and serving. My advice
would be, if you don’t have some debilitating
arm injury, then side with a heavier paddle.
FINDING YOUR PADDLE
Question: So which paddle is the best one
for you?
The answer: The paddle that you play
the best with and feel the most confident
with. But, if you’re not sure what to look
for, first determine what type of player
you think you are. Be honest. It’s not who
you want to be...it’s who you really are.
Type-A individuals may lean toward more
of an aggressive type playing paddle
having some weight and pop, while a “B”
personality may want a lighter, softer
paddle for better touch. Your personality
does matter.
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Have you ever wondered how a
manufacturer could produce two
paddles of identical size, yet one
weighs half an ounce more?
The answer is the thickness
and the size of each hexagonal
honeycomb.
By placing the holes closer
together, or by using a thicker
honeycomb, the paddle will
become heavier, and the sweet
spot will generally expand.
Our recommendation is to have a process.
1. Since weight is so important, I
recommend you check the weights of every
paddle you demo. You’ll probably see a
trend. Lighter paddles offer better control
over your dinking and soft game, but will
make it tougher to drive the ball hard when
needed. Heavier paddles offer more power
because of the extra mass behind the ball,
but this may cause you to lose control over
your soft game. Experiment and find what
gives you a well-balanced game.
Make sure your paddle has enough
power for you to easily get your serves and
returns deep in the court without having
to swing too hard. If your balls are landing
short too often, try a more powerful paddle.
If you are popping up your dinks a lot, try a
model made more for control. This power
versus control equation is key,
but also the one element that’s
different for everyone, so find
what works best for you and
your game.
2. Next, make sure to
demo at least one graphite
and one polymer paddle.
You’ll feel a significant
difference when dinking and
from the baseline. Graphite
tends to offer more touch and
feel, while composite gives a
little more pop.
3. Next, it’s time to
think about paddle shape.
Most paddles have a similar
PADDLES
conventional shape that’s usually about
8” wide and 15.75” long. If you play a lot
of singles, you want to consider a longer,
narrower shape that will help you cover
more of the court and reach more volleys
at the net. These longer paddles provide
more power, with a sweet spot more
towards the tip that former tennis players
will love; however, a narrow paddle means
a narrow sweet spot, which can make
doubles play more challenging. Also, when
it’s windy, it may be tricky for you to find
the center of the paddle.
4. Finally, you must consider
handle size and length. This is an often
overlooked part of the paddle, but it’s
probably one of the most important pieces
of the puzzle. The handle is your only
connection to the paddle and control over
the paddle face, so having the right grip is
critical to controlling your shots. Hold the
paddle like you are shaking hands with it.
With your normal relaxed grip, you should
have a little space between your finger
tips and your thumb pad—about ¼” to ½”.
If your fingertips almost touch or touch
your thumb pad, your grip is too small. If
there is a space larger than ½”, then it’s
probably too big.
Too large or small grip circumference
can cause discomfort in the form of
“tennis elbow” and hinder your play.
The length of the grip can also make a
difference. If you place your index finger
on the back of the paddle or like to slide
your hand up the grip for more control,
then try a paddle with a shorter grip
length. If you like to hit a 2-handed
backhand or if you have overly large
hands, a longer grip will work better
for you.
The point to all this is that every
paddle plays different and that it’s
your job to find out which one works
best for you. The technology has
arrived and there are many great
paddle manufacturers out
there. Go to a demo day
at a major tournament
or ask your local pro to
arrange one. Your game
will improve and you’ll enjoy
pickleball at a higher level.
T o order any of these products, call 888.308.3720 or go to Paddlesandmore.com
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