KewCast Episode 21: New & Upcoming Paddles - Fat Boy, Proton Series 4, Reload

[@keithheintzleman7831]

I love your paddle database. It provides the data supporting why I play well with the Ruby. I appreciate it's high spin, higher power, lower pop character. The low pop allows me to keep banger's drives in play, but can still hit hard and spinny drives and serves. The PIKKL Hurricane Pro 16 mm has the best overall specs of the legal paddles in your database (particularly among standard/widebody paddles). While your brief review was very positive, I'm surprised you haven't discussed it more in your podcasts.

[@2musiclover534]

Liked. Thanks John & Eddie.

[@DinkSmashMedia]

I bought a PE paddle too. Braydon was going to give me one but the cause was totally worth it. They turned out sweet.

[@BH-qd4yb]

Would love your thoughts on how the Fat Boy compares to the Shogun. I have been playing with the Shogun for several weeks and can’t put it down. Best ‘feel’ paddle I have ever experienced! Thank you for another fantastic pod John & Eddie and keep up the great work! 🥊

[@Dy1pickel]

Wider sweet spot. Faster hands. More poppy, less power. Good all court paddle.

[@waynekurtz660]

Interesting you mentioned shogun as best paddle feel. I'm curious if you have hit with an Engage Pursuit Pro MX or Pro 1

[@Dy1pickel]

@@waynekurtz660 it’s relative to what an individual desires. I haven’t played with the MX but have the EX 6.0 version.

[@waynekurtz660]

@@Dy1pickel agreed was just curious if it was among your comparisons.

[@groot3371]

I enjoyed the podcast. Thank you.

[@ianjohnson8101]

Thank you for finally answering the Kevlar cleaning for me!!! I’ve had a dirty ruby for 2 months and just came to the conclusion I could never get it clean again

[@johnkewpickleball]

For some reason, "dirty ruby" made me nearly spit out my coffee 😂

[@caseydog237]

I predicted a month ago that the Proton would be banned. Nanotech is another name for rubber (even if it isn’t technically rubber). Took me 30 seconds of inspection and playing to figure that out.

[@jeffkreamer6948]

It would be really interesting to see a new set of metrics on the Proton 4 after your mods…it would also be cool to pick one metric, if doing the whole thing, is too much after each incremental change to see if the numbers match your feel

[@SailCamaraderie]

Great job as always... Next cast...can you further explain the Proton 4 on screen comments that came out after you shot your podcast? Particularly interested in comment that theres a bi directional carbon weave topped by a kevlar raw surface. It that all topped by a peel ply as well...and what is the benefit they claim? I'm still loving the Ace you recommended but always on the lookout!

[@dv8tion388]

I use water and my hand to wash/wipe away the paddle surface. Holding the paddle under the water stream at a decline, then blot dry with a microfiber cloth. No friction from an eraser, no worry about knocking down grit. If its a quality paddle the edge guard wont have an issue with the water.

[@wupat81]

A rubber eraser won’t damage the grit. It’s rubber.

[@dv8tion388]

@@wupat81 its friction regardless, just like the plastic ball eventually knocks down the grit.

[@kimleith1378]

Hoping PIKKL makes a clear skin or blank w/o their huge logo. PB Stuio does a piece on the Proton face testing issue. Hope Proton didn't drop any money on patents. Is the Kevlar used being sourced in the USA? John try the THOMPSONs, Play the CHUCK when you can.

[@lynnew09]

Question... What is the best way to make a grip smaller. There are many players with small hands but seems like grips are getting larger.

[@terogan]

One way is to remove the stock grip and wrap one thin over grip.

[@bodhipickleball]

I agree with @terogan

[@thomasjparks]

Eddie, how are you liking the UA StealthForm Uncrushable Hat?

[@EddieK-PB]

Good catch! Man, this hat is freakin' amazing! It's so light and cool. The brim is a little too arched for my preference, but otherwise, it's a winner. Even at $45, I think it's well worth it. I can tell it's going to hold up. Now if it only came in white!!

[@slothlife380]

Im assuming its safe to use an eraser on the shogun since its raw carbon and Ti. I never see any ball dust on it though, so i dont really erase it. Have you checked microscopically if there is ball dust on the shoguns or does the dust not stick to the shoguns as bad?

[@johnkewpickleball]

I haven't checked under a microscope, but I agree the Shogun generates less ball dust. But yes, the eraser is safe to use on it

[@teddclauson7996]

Great podcast as always. Wondering if the Franklin FS tour paddles will be added to your database anytime soon? Thanks

[@ArianaWilson-]

I usually use a damp microfiber cloth to clean my Hudef Mage Pro Gen2.

[@pickleballtravel]

The smaller beginner level ladies that I coach will ask me what is a good paddle and typically I will say one that is a descent paddle over $100 that feels comfortably in the hand, but I'm wondering if you have recommendations beyond that--would you recommend a paddle with more power and pop in order to make up for lower natural power, or a paddle with more control to help with the one-hand backhands that will often go astray. Thx

[@waynekurtz660]

I believe the proton was being compared to a proton APP was sent for testing and similarly and the new production paddles are not similar in terms of friction to what they had on site at the tournament for comparison.

[@terogan]

Comment on using the face sheets on other paddles even if they don’t quit fit by Eddie. My understanding is these are USAP approved only as a combined unit. I would also guess the reload paddle face is smooth? Wonder if these even stick to another paddle in play.

[@N8zAdventures]

In a recent episode you guys talked about the balance point of a paddle in reference to the slice endcaps. Is there any science or wisdom from other racquet sports like tennis about the ideal balance point? Would a balance point at the top of the grip be ideal similar to sword sport?

[@wesmudd7947]

Thank you for the info on FirePower. Is there a way to view the database?

[@DogBehaviorSolutions]

Which weight of the Slyce cap would you put on a Proton Series Type A?

[@NJCheenz2388]

@johnkewpickleball I've been waiting a while for the CRBN paddles to come out. Do you think that there would be any chance that it would be banned? You mentioned the power and I'm worried about it getting into some trouble.

[@johnkewpickleball]

Right now things seem so chaotic at USAP that I wouldn't really be surprised if any paddle got delisted, ha. But CRBN is definitely working within the rules, crossing their t's and dotting their i's

[@NJCheenz2388]

​@@johnkewpickleballawesome! I really appreciate you taking the time in answering me back. I'm a new listener of the pod but I watch your reviews! Keep up the good work fellas!

[@bigdog343]

How’s the spin specs for the series 4 - i bought the series 1 because of the high spin potential - and it was horrible. I returned it. I have year old paddles with a higher spin rate than the series 1 with the nanotech face

[@PhoenixRugerRedBird]

I hate tacky grips. Living in AZ, I prefer the dry/soft overgrips. Absorbs the sweat much better. My go-to grips are from Alien Pro.

[@rogerfernandez4839]

Another great podcast. One note/question: Did you get a special all-Kevlar Fat Boy or did you just forget to mention that it's a Carbon Fiber/Kevlar Weave? Just asking as you repeatedly called it Kevlar. Looking forward to your full review of the Fat Boy. Dying to hear from more people how it compares to paddles like the Apollo and the new Monarchs (especially the All Court CFC).

[@kanadiankreme]

DUDE! Get back on the kit!!!! Miss your drumming vids of Tool and others.

[@nadzoll]

I'm tellin' you, use Reset paddle cleaner

[@joshhartman1488]

Couldn't agree more!

[@jaycohen5482]

Solid podcast, great shirt, where'd you get it. Thanks.

[@NguyenDex1993]

Not saying you are wrong about how to clean Kelvar paddles, but I've asked both Spartus and 11six24 on the care & maintenance of their Kevlar paddles and they both recommend using a damp microfiber cloth.

[@johnkewpickleball]

@@NguyenDex1993 Maybe they got spooked by the Ruby incident. But the only way Kevlar threads can be pulled through the peel ply texture is if there’s already a hole in the epoxy, or if it’s compromised. Either way, there would’ve had to be an issue before the eraser was used

[@terogan]

To back up John’s answer, watch the Kevlar Myths (Episode 3) podcast of Pickleball Pursuit.

[@hruntingson]

So basically the firepower metric is analogous to CoR for mid and higher total velocities.

[@johnkewpickleball]

Correct, it should correlate with CoR

[@lebronsinclair8012]

Glad it’s 4.25 grip on fat boy paddle.

[@bad_trick]

JOHNKEW discount code doesn't work for me when trying to buy reload pickleball paddle.. 😢

[@johnkewpickleball]

I don't think they're allowing any discount codes until the promo deal ends in a couple of weeks. But thanks for trying my code!

[@3joez3]

Anyone know what the gen 2 joola paddles firepower is?

[@exemplaryemu6153]

John, thank you for the pod. I respectfully dislike how you differentiate pop and power by the style of swing as opposed to the speed of the swing. Pop should be defined as how fast the ball comes off when the paddle is moving at slow speeds, whereas power is when the paddle is moving at high speeds. Your power metric works because you’re swinging as hard as you can no matter what. Your max arm speed is going to be much more consistent paddle to paddle. Similar to spin. You could make a new category called “roll volley spin” and this would compare to spin how your current pop metric compares to power. I believe you have failed to isolate the pop variable and you made a still useful stat, but different than what pop should be. I think pop comes into play on shots like dinks and resets-shots that you’re not trying to hit fast. If a paddle is too poppy it will be hard to control those. When you are swinging such short distances, the weight of the paddle comes into play much more than with a bigger swing. This could explain the wacky relationship between power and pop. And a real pop metric could show paddles with different “moods” Keep the firepower and add pop

[@craigcable2982]

Maybe if Reload went with an edgeless paddle to get weight down. Not legal but I would love to see what this skin would do to a Gearbox Gx5😮.

[@samuraistabber]

Eddie, you should call your podcast Kangversations with Eddie.

[@EddieK-PB]

I like it! 😂

[@thirtydayjeff]

@johnkewpickleball what’s your thoughts on the proton road runner behind you in the vid???? Can you give a quick and dirty

[@johnkewpickleball]

We covered it - 26:21

[@thirtydayjeff]

@@johnkewpickleball ahhh I’m only 5:58. I jumped the gun

[@bobbutnari5290]

Hey John...wanna sell that Proton series 4 hanging on your wall? It's not meant to be a decoration....😉

[@fmroke]

Dam what a shame just bought the series 1, should I cancel my order? Lol

[@winstonprather1582]

How do we access your database?

[@johnkewpickleball]

www.johnkewpickleball.com/paddle-database

[@mcnillerandsons7906]

Wait, I can use an eraser on my Ruby?

[@terogan]

To back up John, watch the Kevlar Myths (Episode 3) podcast of Pickleball Pursuit.

[@HeavyAndLow]

CRBN charges too much for me.

[@emason17]

From what it sounds like, crbn is doing actual r&d which is probably worth a little more than normal companies 50:04

[@MrPanthers23]

Honolulu company told me I could use an eraser on my j2k

[@omadscience7358]

New Joola Gen 3 coming. Mod TA-15 coming to retail. Perseus shape only in 16mm and 14mm. Get ready !! @johnkewpickleball