In this episode, John and Eddie discuss the latest pickleball news, compare some top contenders for edgeless paddles, give updates on the Apes Pulse, and answer some viewer questions.
Save 20% on Centerline Athletics with the code JOHNKEW: https://centerlineathletics.com/kewcast
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:32 John seeking partner for Worlds tournmanent
4:29 USAP releases regulations for new exit velocity PBCoR paddle testing/certification procedures
23:22 Selkirk is releasing new Labs 007 paddle
26:00 Survey from University of Manitoba on Health & Pickleball
31:59 Paddles of the Week: Holbrook Aero
42:57 Gamma Airbender
47:40 Thompson 515 Uni & Twill
54:19 Deep Dive: John’s home rig for low-speed PBCoR
1:01:24 Gear of the Week: Slyce’s new adjustable weighted cap
1:07:23 Kew & A: What’s the best standard-widebody paddle option to play against bangers?
1:08:18 Side note: John’s updates on Pickleball Apes Pulse paddles
1:16:53 Eddie’s updates on Spartus Apollo paddle
1:19:35 Is the Spartus Olympus for advanced players?
1:23:04 Is there a good way to make grip size smaller?
University Manitoba Survey, Health & Pickleball:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/pbhealth
Products Mentioned In Pod:
★Selkirk: Get digital gift cards up to $40 off (contingent on total price) with code INF-JOHNKEW, or this link: https://tinyurl.com/57np7947
★Holbrook: Get 10% OFF at checkout using code JOHNKEW: https://bit.ly/4fha6Xc
★Gamma: Take 10% OFF at checkout using code JOHNKEW: https://bit.ly/3YkLRkl
★Thompson: Take 10% OFF at checkout using code JOHNKEW: https://thompsonpickleball.com/products/model-515-uni
★Pickleball Apes: Take 10% OFF at checkout using code JOHNKEW:http://tinyurl.com/yc432jc5
★Slyce: Take 10% OFF at checkout using code JOHNKEW: https://tinyurl.com/3fjpvrp7
★Spartus Olympus: Save 15% by using code JOHNKEW at checkout: https://gospartus.com/products/olympus?sca_ref=6068787.EPfiuPRWyI
★PaddleTek: Get 10% OFF your purchase with code JOHNKEW: https://www.paddletek.com/6xAhP5
★Babolat: Get 20% OFF your purchase with code JOHNKEW: https://www.babolat.com/us
★Centerline Athletics Clothing: Save 20% with the code JOHNKEW: https://centerlineathletics.com/kewcast
Search my paddle database and perform analytics at my website, https://www.johnkewpickleball.com/
Listen/subscribe on: Apple Podcasts: http://tinyurl.com/u2t7a3uy
Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/57kv8de8
Google: http://tinyurl.com/2hvvj3up
Follow on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnkew.pickleball/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnkewPickle
50 Comments
I always wonder what i John Kew personally paddle
It’s cool to see the innovation in the edgeless paddles as I’ve always preferred the look and durability of them. I’m interested in your notion of the spin lasting longer on the American made carbon fibers. Keep us posted on how the Thompson’s spin holds up! In my mind that would easily justify the higher price points!
I could see a potential work around, make a ultra low SW and gross weight paddle that will pass the PBCoR ( it will deflect more since its lighter and get pushed back easier by the test ball) and then weight it up with tungsten and the plow through (Gross weight) will increase power. , I guess it all depends on how the PBCoR test protocol has the bearing setup for paddle deflection.
25:15 Nexus Pickleball USA already put out a paddle called the Phaze 1 Shroud with this type of face in a similar shape as the Power Air. Selkirk is late to the game lol
I played with the Jellybean and love the accuracy but have problems playing with it against the wind. I’m not able to generate a lot of my own power. The G3 Collin Johns worked. Obviously can’t use that. Any suggestions?
I have the MOD which I like. I find myself loosing points because I don’t want to take someone’s eye out. I’m competitive but not that competitive.😂
A leaded up Trainer paddle is a ton of fun. I have open played with it and is a kick. I do get a lot of "what is this jerk doing look" but a lot of laughes too.
Johnkew , can you at least tell us what the 007 is designed to be? All court, control, power?
Well said with the "hot spot" term on the Olympus. I've been feeling kind of crazy with that paddle as well because I haven't been able to develop a good level of consistency, but I can obviously see the appeal. Everyone seems to be loving it, but it hasn't been very intuitive for me. The way you guys talked about it makes perfect sense to me. 🧠
Always good John. Love your analytical approach to pickleball. Totally agree re: some paddles (e.g. Mod TA-15/3s) may require higher speed/more force to "activate" the core and make it come back faster off the paddle. One other item I noted in the picture you showed of the other machine is that the end of the head was clamped. This would take paddle flex out of the equation when compared so if you are building a machine (and hopefully how USAP/UPAA is testing) then only the handle should be grasp/clamped so the paddle flexes naturally when it contacts the ball. Otherwise the that would be an area where manufacturers could game the system.
PSA … Hopefully most people know that tennis butt caps are available with trap doors (to put weight inside) for less than $10 and they are available in different sizes so that you can find the one that fits the end of your paddle. Nothing against Slyce but $40 and have to change the weights from the inside is a bit ridiculous IMO.
Man, the internal weights on the Slyce cap is one of the dumbest techs I've seen. Maybe they didn't have a good, safe design for exterior installation yet — if that's the case, they should have just worked on it and waited.
John, how do you have the perimeter weighting setup on your Ronbus Ripple R2?
The addiction is strong… I woke up and first thing searched JohnKew just to see if there’s a new podcast uploaded (not sure if there’s a schedule).
Guys! Thanks for discussing the Thompson. I am not affiliated with them at all but their factory (USA) is near where I grew up and I hope they succeed! Cheers
Hey so what are your thoughts on the esq c 12.7 now with all these new paddles? Is it not your main anymore? Anything that feels similar but better?
Why can't they convert a golf club swing robot to swing a paddle? Seems doable to me. Hit off a "tee" ball post.
Paint grit "out lasting' "peel ply" epoxy, not carbon fiber itself.
I like my THOMPSON UNI. Over gripped it since the stock grip was slick. Weighted the throat too. Agree with Eddie on new styles from them.
Pass on the SLICE CAPS. I'll stick with my using "bolts" that screw into the end cap.
Curious how the the Hockey tape would hold up as an overgip?
Hey. My wife and I follow you and Pickleball Studio alot. We have never been disappointed in your reviews or tests. QUESTION. What has happened to Legacy. It is my wife's favorite paddle, and originally it was highly touted. I can't find anything. Have you heard anything, are they goinging out of business, what's up?
I’ve been using the power pro for over a year and I’ve always been baffled why reviewers never talked about it. In my humble opinion, the Holbrook Power Pro series is the BEST alternative on the market for the CRBN 1X. Glad to hear you like the Aero series. I’m hoping to get my hands on one soon.
No idea why they would put the weight adjustment inside – why – just why
Jon and Eddie, I really appreciate the brief but meaningful commentary on the feel of tennis style swings on both elongated and standard/wide body shapes. Feels like you guys remembered the comment thread from last video and brought that into this one. Makes more sense that Anna Bright and Kate Fahey load up their Scorpeus shapes closer to the top for that feel. Great stuff guys!
Isnt the ruling if its comes in above .44 as of 11/1/24 its only good legal till 4/2025 dont think its 18 months thats the UPA A deal
and I still think shooting a “holeless” ball to a starionary paddle at 60 MPH is dumb. Should be some kibd of robot arm swinging a paddle at a set speed.
DM me your address and shirt size (or if you want a hat) and I’ll send you a Mojo Pickkeball Shirt or 110Hat 😊
and what about with these paddles that can change their core and get hotter?
I think high speed vs.. low speed CoR testing would have a lot of value.
It explains why the Ripple and Gen3s have a lot better touch at the net than the GB PPE while having comparable high speed punch.
@John, seems like you prefer the standard/wide body paddles now vs. the hybrid such as the Ronbus R1. If so, what caused you to switch?
Lead in pickle ball paddies? Is that safe environmentally? Not good in paint. Just asking ?
Have they thought about making a weighted overgrip? I.e overgrip tape with a lead base on the bottom that tapers so it adds some weight to the lower part of the handle and is more replaceable / adjustable. feel free to steal idea (TM)
How the power on the pulse v vs the monarch all court
Great episode. I saw that HUDEF has released a new paddle called Newera Luxury Gen 1, which also has a hole and is 18mm thick. I would like to hear your opinion. TY.
I still don't see a lot of people talking about the Standout KC1
use that hockey tape as edge guard tape. lasts way longer than electric tape.
Thanks for the in-depth talk about the new USAP rules. Another great podcast!
John I think at 9:25 of the video you misspeak when you say May 2025… I think you're meaning May 2026 and it's causing a little confusion among people that I talk to who own the Mod.
It's sort of irrelevant because no mod is going to last 18 months but they are a little nervous that you're saying May 2025 which is 6 or 7 months from now
Idea for John. Start an Association of Pickleball Paddle Reviewers and pool your money to buy one cannon trsting setup that you can all share.
Then you can sell your services to the small paddle companies
Will fill out the survey. Great podcasts as always and have to give a thumbs up for mention of Loma Linda, CA! Keep it up guys and love the content!
Shouldn’t paddles be tested after the tournament rather than before?
So the contribution of the area around the edges is irrelevant by the new standard. Stiffness is considered to be static across paddles tested and it's okay to use a solid sphere instead of a ball with cutouts because elasticity is not considered here at all. Where does the outbound a azimuth of 10 degrees derive from?
Interested on your take, PFAS forever chemicals, are they in the balls, paddles and shoes we are wearing? There seems to be another push on the closing of courts because of noise, I suspect courts would be closed immediately in certain states if environmentalists went the route of PFAS chemicals or the dust of all over the courts being washed off by rain water into our community water ways, wells, streams and other water ways. Along with it being in the air. How about as influencers you guys tackle this and clean up the sport we love before this happens?
I just played with my Pulse V brand new, stock, last night for 1.5 hours, it feels exactly as you describe, it felt tighter than my Shapeshifter, more firm,. The sound on mine sounds like a gen 2 at this time. I also hit a serve return off the edge of the paddle (in that carbon strip and it went VERY wide. so instead of just a weak mid-court short return I would have had with the shapeshifter , it was a crazy launch. (no I didnt hit the edge guard,) I missed a overhead long because Im not used to a wide body shorter in reach yet and hit it on the carbon edge at the top. overall it wasn't a huge adjustment relative to the shapeshifter, but the launch angel is a bit higher off the paddle face than im used to , so that is a bit different with punch volleys at the net as well as defensive transition resets from the midcourt compared to the broken in shapeshifter.
Power phobia, Lets call it '' CLUTCHING THE SWING" when you have to do it with the extreme power paddles.
How much of the coefficient restitution exit velocity impacted by the ball stiffness?
It's too low speed
I see the Holbrook Aero Metallic T behind you! Any thoughts?
John, have you done a review on Holbrook metallic t?
How would you compare the Thompson 515 to the Spartus Olympus? I currently switch between the Vatic Prism pro flash 16 and the Olympus. I love the vatic for how plush it is and how well it resets but it has zero power. I like the Olympus but I'm not in love with it. I tried the Vatic Saga Flash but it felt too head heavy for me. Looking at the specs, I'm very interested in the two offerings from Thompson. I absolutely love spin, and the 107 swing weight on the Thompson 515-Uni seems like it's in the range I'm looking for. Thought's on the 515 vs the other paddles? Vs the Olympus the Twill looks very similar but with more spin? How does the forgiveness and plushness compare?
if yall dont like those thompsons, could i try those please? @johnkew
I hear that Holbrook Titanium is one of the most underrated paddles out there.
Is this the new model of the Thompson since they just changed to a Hexagonal handle?
Would love to see a dedicated review on the Thompson 515, especially the uni. Any chance?