Engineers with National Testing Systems demonstrate the Instron tensile tester , used for paddle deflection , coefficient of friction , and ball compression at USA Pickleball ’ s Industry Day . Photo courtesy of Carl Schmits / USA Pickleball .
Pickleball is working directly with suppliers to ensure that thorough quality control practices are in place .
Why is testing and compliance important , even at the amateur level ? As the national governing body , USA Pickleball is responsible for ensuring fairness — more specifically , a level playing field . Without standards and compliance testing , the sport could devolve into a “ Wild West ” where anything goes . It ’ s called technology doping . Think cycling with tiny , silent motors hidden within bikes , or track and field sans restrictions on the now-ubiquitous carbon fiber footplates — two recent actual threats to the integrity of those sports that continue to be monitored by their respective national and international federations .
The Tech
Before we look at the testing , let ’ s take a peek at the technology that has changed the pickleball landscape . In early 2019 , paddle technology made a significant leap when Electrum Pickleball introduced the first paddle with a raw carbon base , pushing the limits on roughness — a key performance feature .
“ Honestly , we didn ’ t know we were going to revolutionize paddle tech . Our mission was to create a paddle that would make a significant improvement to anyone ’ s game , from a day-one beginner to a top-five professional ,” said Moheeth Alvi , the chief executive officer of Electrum Pickleball . “ Our principles were simple : Find the best materials available and seek out innovative engineering . We feel proud to see more and more brands emulating our design and leveraging the technology we put out there . It ’ s our give-back to the sport and community .”
The surface of Electrum ’ s groundbreaking paddle featured superior spin capabilities , which in theory would give athletes an edge — while remaining USA Pickleball compliant .
“ The introduction of specification-pushing raw carbon fiber , combined with newly enabled mass production , has enabled a flurry of new designs using this material ,” Schmits explained .
Following Electrum ’ s lead , many manufacturers shifted to the raw carbon fiber face . Inevitably , quality
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OCTOBER 2022 | MAGAZINE 13