Is Proton the Real Deal, UPA-A 100k Paddle Certification, & Can Twistweight Be Too High | EP 42

In this episode, Kyle and Braydon discuss stories from Braydon's trip to Proton's paddle launch party and if they think Proton is the real deal. Then they talk about local court challenges, UPA-A's paddle certification fees, and upcoming paddles they’ll be testing.
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Stuff mentioned:
Manitou video with Paul: • Beginner Becomes 5.0 i...
PIKKL paddles (code 10EFFECT): pickleballcentral.com/paddles...
J2K (code 10EFFECT): 808pickle.com/products/sword-...
PE Tungsten Tape: amzn.to/3XGCooz
Gherkin paddles: www.gherkinusa.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
05:41 Is Proton the real deal?
18:55 Stories from Phoenix
21:53 Braydon’s dumb interview question
26:06 Kyle’s Corner - Outer space & local court issues
31:57 UPA-A 100k certification fee
39:03 Paddle Babble - J2K & twistweight question
44:17 PIKKL paddle thoughts
49:02 Grip bands causing vibrations & tungsten copy cats
55:14 Upcoming paddle testing
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#pickleball #podcast

[@ReelStamas]

100% agree that 'durability' needs to the next big advancement (but when the manufacturers have everyone buying ~$250 paddies ever ~6mo I expect them to push back from that). Proton has the right idea...

[@mjconns]

I really appreciate Kyle responding to my Bread and Butter customer support email. Thanks, kyle!!!

[@mingez]

1- Braydon, I love your honesty about social anxiety and overcoming it. Kudos! Refreshing to hear a KZbinr be so honest about that, and it resonates with me. 2- Proton’s spin, while maxed out just like all grit paddles, has an advantage in spin on soft shots were there isn’t enough pace for the paddle to “pocket” the ball. So they tend to be much spinnier at the net during dink rallies and on speed ups. You can also lift balls from below the net. My issue is that they are just a bit too unwieldy with high swing weights. I would like to see someone test spin against low pace shots rather than just driving the ball or serving.

[@kamanhalim]

Kyle is awesome on discord and good job on the shogun release 😀

[@DinkSmashMedia]

😂😂😂

[@pickleballnic]

Hahaha... I have been waiting 4 months for my Proton order to ship. I think by the time it ships, Gen 4 paddles will be created and selling. LOL.

[@DinkSmashMedia]

That’s terrible. But yet PB Central will have paddles in July. I’m so confused

[@pickleballnic]

@@DinkSmashMedia Wow! Well that would be No Bueno.

[@rkotnana]

Why does the barrier to entry have to be financial ? It could be more rules based to prevent copycat companies to be small business friendly AND innovation

[@JimboC1957]

Less competition is NEVER good for the consumer.

[@pickleballtechdude]

That 97% Kyle mentioned is the number of gold medals at the last 30+ PPA tourneys won by big name brand paddle brand pro players! It’s wild when you think about the number of events BJ and ALW have either not triple crowned, lost, or skipped entirely. And the number is still that high because these big companies snap up all the top players… and why? Cuz they have the money already. And this procedure is just gonna line their pockets more.

[@John-cs1cj]

I bought the Hurricane Pro 16mm 3 weeks ago and really like it. Great control, pop, power, and spin. My favorite all around paddle now. I barely pick up my Ruby anymore. It was very light for my taste so I added weight at 4, 8 and 12. Now it’s perfect for me. Very stable and plenty of plow through but still very maneuverable. I bought it originally based on John Kew’s recommendation which put it near the top of the power rankings for Gen 2 standard paddles. Not sure why you are saying it’s soft. Not my experience with it.

[@pickleballeffect]

I haven’t added any weight to it yet like you have so that could be a factor.

[@samfuson]

13:48 @Pickleball Effect Proton softball bats DO NOT last longer. Bats are $$$, Always out of stock and often break within 100-150 swings

[@49pickles]

I started playing with the Vantage Pro a few weeks ago. Got both the 14 and 16mm. I agree that they have great spin. Trying to figure out weight. Had to put some on the head. I love them. Typically start with the 16 and move to the 14 if I start feeling tired.

[@PickleballWill]

Kyle knows whats up

[@cwarner5909]

When I got my J2K it felt ahead heavy for my taste. I shifted the balance point by lining the buttcap with a few layers of lead tape and a overwrap. This and 3 grams at 4 and 8 made a big difference.

[@HowieB-isMe3885]

I just returned the J2K because of it being harder to flick . Great drives though. I’ve been using the Volair mach 2. I wish the 14 mm had more drive power. I would cause alot more problems for people when i used the 16 mm or the J2k. I hope someone comes out with a paddle with the drive power and control of the J2K but with easier maneuverability like the Forzas.

[@pickleballeffect]

11SIX24 is coming out some paddles next month that I'm hoping will fill in that gap.

[@HowieB-isMe3885]

@@pickleballeffect Have you tried the Ronbus Nova Fx2 yet? Both Farmer Lanky and Lucus from Raquets and Runners say this is a big step up from the Forza and is easy to flick. I’m looking forward to trying one after I recover from my surgery.

[@steve-94951]

Braydon... good job sniffing out BS artists. With big money flowing into pickleball, the BS factor is becoming huge.

[@russelllew1139]

I bought pro ton fire from Amazon cost 140. After changing the grip& putting non lead tape , it ok. But hearing that there is a break in period, I’ll give it another try. As for now I keep going back to Joola Radius. Thanks for the great pod cast

[@iugradmark]

The Proton event seems so odd. What a strange company.

[@DinkSmashMedia]

I think they probably saw Joola do their big event and the Diadem doing Diacon and decided they needed a hype event as well

[@iugradmark]

@@DinkSmashMediaThat makes sense but for a company that hasn’t been able to deliver paddles they sold to then not have any of the new launch paddles and for the new launch paddles to not use nanotech just seems bizarre. I think you dodged a bullet by not wasting your time on this one.

[@t81629]

Is UPA and PPA related to USA Pickleball? Paddle submissions are submitted to USA Pickleball.

[@johnsanchez2589]

I will never purchase a paddle that is UPA-A approved. I already know these paddles will be marked up even more than they are now to cover $100k/year membership. I don’t play tournaments so I really don’t care about the pro scene.

[@jdstuckey43]

What are the best alternatives to the Luxx Invicta shape? Having spray on grit problems need carbon fiber or Kevlar.

[@pickleballeffect]

The Prism V7 from Vatic Pro has the same shape as the LUXX Invikta, is a control paddle, and has the carbon fiber face you want. Plus, it's only $90 when you use my code 10EFFECT. Don't let the price fool you though, it's a great paddle.

[@allanisakai]

Net profit from 500 paddles equals $100,000? Sure, if the paddle sells for way more than $200. How does a paddle like the Spartus Apollo that sells for $117 after your discount code get $105,000 net profit from 500 paddles? Please do the math and make an educated guess on how many paddles it really takes to make a net profit to break even on $100,000 annual fee plus $5,000 for each paddle model. Plus, will take an additional $100,000 per year to keep the company and paddle approved?

[@mtcdnp]

I love my series 1 Proton paddles and I own at least 15 other top cost paddles

[@JovanniG678]

I am new to the game of pickleball and have been really enjoying myself but with all the crazy changes going on and issues with paddles and the governing bodies, I’m not sure if I want to play or promote the sport anymore to my friends. This may just be a bump in the road but when it’s time for a new paddle in like a year, I would hate to pay $500 for an “okay” paddle which it feels like where this is all going. I’m probably wrong especially being new but that’s just how it feels coming from not so deep pockets.

[@DinkSmashMedia]

There are still tons of value paddles in the $100ish range but I think we will see “pro” paddles which will only mean able to be played with in pro tournaments skyrocket

[@JovanniG678]

@@DinkSmashMediafingers crossed haha, I’m broke! Haha

[@kimleith1378]

Looking forward to the new Proton Kevlar edgless to drop. Check out THOMPSON Pickleball, a new comer to the paddle game. NOT a budget paddle. I just got mine and the 1100 carbon face is crazy spiny. All USA made with all USA made materials. Grip material is different. SELKIRK does not warranty their grit paint. FYI. I remove the "band" from my paddles and use a piece of bicycle inner tube, cut to width. Works great.

[@DinkSmashMedia]

We both have the Thompson paddles we will be putting some more time into them not that they got their approval

[@hudefpickleball]

Love it.

[@DinkSmashMedia]

I sent you guys an email but got no love! Let’s hop on a call 😂

[@loveleshchawla4406]

have you played with j3k and do you have a preference between j2k and j3k and why ?

[@pickleballeffect]

I've hit the others but need more time with them before I form an opinion. Really liking the J2K right now though.

[@rdelnaja2558]

I had the Hurricane Pro and sent it back and stuck with the Apollo instead happy with my decision.

[@DinkSmashMedia]

What didn’t you like about the HP?

[@rdelnaja2558]

@@DinkSmashMedia The Spin, the Apollo has more spin than the HP. My shots where going long and dropping late with the HP. Not sure how some folks are getting higher RPMs on the HP. Apollo grab the ball much better at sharper angles as well.

[@terogan]

Does the 500 paddles include the cost of employees’ time to receive, stock, and ship those paddles? Does it include office space to store the paddles until they sell? I’m pretty sure these smaller companies are only ordering 500 paddles at a time at least until they know they will sell if it is a new model. And that means they are profiting $200/paddle when they all claim they aren’t making the profit/paddle everyone thinks they are.

[@lesterma1608]

How much do companies make? What are their net and profit? Is it profitable? Or are they killing it?

[@landonp.4073]

Proton also said they would be fully stocked on the 25th which is… today

[@DinkSmashMedia]

Lol

[@pickleballhi]

UPAA rumor was that existing paddle approvals sunset end 2024. 2025 new $ barrier to entry enforced for pros. 2026 enforced for amateurs.

[@pickleballeffect]

Thanks for the added context there.

[@robertharless3304]

You would think that the paddle companies would build paddles with planned obsolescence and not to last forever

[@86309]

Mechanically speaking, balance point is a bigger factor than twist weight for flicks

[@cindydarling6315]

Why is that?

[@padflash]

Twist weight can definitely have an impact on backhand flicks, it is the resistance around the vertical axis. Think about your swing, unless you have a perfectly flat swing, twist weight will contribute to inertia. I think this could be even more true for flicks than other shots due to the swing path along a paddle's vertical axis. To what degree does it impact, I couldn't tell you. I would assume it is something to take into account more for where you put your lead than on a paddle to paddle basis.

[@86309]

I agree , of course it’s a component, and does affect it certainly, as well as total weight , balance point , etc… it’s all in the equation. My point is balance point and how heavy the head is has a larger role in flick acceleration than twist weight component. That is all I’m getting at.

[@lesterma1608]

Oh we should pay more money to start playing pb? FO!

[@echotango-az]

Proton is side is a total db.

[@SteveOBrien-zn2mi]

Nanometer tech? Seriously? Less then 100 nanometers manipulation?

[@rusty935]

cupcake is a fruity ahh name ngl

[@DinkSmashMedia]

It was my callsign for the VBSS team in the Navy

[@russelllew1139]

Enough about host, co host, who cares, people are watching. Kyle reminds me of Jimmy Miller.

[@DinkSmashMedia]

Is that a good thing or a bad thing 😂

[@russelllew1139]

It’s just not a paddle that I said it’s a great paddle. If I would have watched this pod cast first I wouldn’t have bought the paddle. But I wouldn’t recommend it!

[@ktoddstorch]

Agree. That 'bit' on the other podcast is waaaayyy old and annoying.

[@bart1476]

What is Kyles rating? He just doesn't look athletic at all.

[@DinkSmashMedia]

I mean I’m a 35 yr old dad that can bench 365, strict press 235 and deadlift 500 but yeah basically 0 athletic ability to go with that stuff 😂

[@coach_mlopez]

I have played with Kyle and I can attest that not only is he athletic AF, but he is not afraid to beat up on any 5.0s on any given day.