KewCast Episode 20: Testing the 14mm Six Zero Ruby & Black Diamond & QUARTZ; Latest News

John & Eddie discuss their initial impressions of Six Zero's new offerings, latest news with the UPA-A's paddle certification program, highlights from the PPA Orange County Cup, and answer viewer questions.
In this show, we are both wearing hats from Cheers Pickleball. Get 15% anything at the Cheers site with code JOHNKEW48, or at this affiliate link: cheerspickleball.net/?ref=JOH...
Discount/Affiliate Codes for Products Mentioned in Pod:
★Take 10% off the Ruby 14mm with the code 10JOHNKEW, or at this link: tinyurl.com/fbu7dhyz
★Take 10% off the Black Diamond 14mm with the code 10JOHNKEW, or at this link: tinyurl.com/2689mxrn
★Honolulu Pickleball: Get $20 OFF any Kevlar paddle using code JOHNKEW-KEVLAR, or 10% off any other paddle using code JOHNKEW: 808pickle.com/
★Mark paddles - Get 10% OFF using code JOHNKEW: tinyurl.com/58hr96sb
★SLYCE weighted speedcaps. Get 10% OFF using code JOHNKEW: slycesport.com/products/speed...
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:19 Experiences in San Clemente after our tournament bracket
4:27 Updates on UPA-A paddle certification program
9:20 Notable matches at PPA Orange County Cup
13:45 John's observations about how various pros weighted their paddles in San Clemente
17:59 Notable matches, continued
28:53 Thoughts on the Six Zero Ruby 14mm and Black Diamond 14mm
42:14 Six Zero Quartz
50:01 Kew & A: Does a large twist weight hamper paddle maneuverability on shots like flicks?
54:59 USAP got a bad rap - weren't the only paddles they messed up on the JOOLA Gen-3s?
57:31 Ideas on how to get paddle companies to self-regulate
1:02:54 How much does climate affect ball spin rates?
1:07:48 Wrap-up; plans for next week
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Follow on:
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Twitter: / johnkewpickle

[@corinnaburrows3275]

I demoed the Quartz the other day and I absolutely loved it! For only $90 it’s a total steal!!!

[@DeeTeeHawaii]

Thumbnail is giving me Super Mario Bros vibes and I'm all for it! ✊️🏓

[@race_to_5.0_pickleballers]

Drivers in golf do change the COR in the life of a driver. In the latest US Open the winner said his driver still needed another 120 drives to get a level of consistency. Recently Rory McIlroy retired a driver before a tournament because he felt it had gotten too “hot”. Even titanium flexes with a firm ball. What we are all trying to achieve is forgiveness, power and consistency across the face. It will come. Plenty of design lessons to be learnt yet from golf. Especially in the ball

[@user-jx1vp5ei4u]

On the Quartz, I would like to support your findings. The Quartz is the perfect paddle to take a new player to 3.5 due to the ease learning how to build muscle memory for resets, and dinks. The paddle fills a very necessary. gap, a budget price targeting an especially large group, played who are learning how to become proficient in pickleball.

[@Fillamatics]

Initially my Ruby 14mm did have a fair amount of adjustment coming from dbd 16mm but once broken in it’s my go to paddle. I tried putting lead tape in multiple areas ended up going back to stock . Ruby 14mm is such a fun refined paddle

[@john34557]

Will there be a full review of the 14 mm? Interested to hear if the vibration is an issue as mentioned on pb studio

[@charlesong5753]

Thanks for the podcasts. really entertaining and informative.

[@TennisObsessed]

Thanks, guys! I'm really intrigued by the Quartz, nice to see a different shape available. Can't wait to get one!

[@BlGSac]

With JW Johnson, he weights his paddle differently every week based on temperature and stuff, sometimes he does wrap all the way round, sometimes I see it at the throat and up. I wish I knew how to lead based on how hot and humid it is. That's how some pros do it. Depending how hot, cool, humid, they weigh it up differently based on that

[@ColeScottPhoto]

At this juncture , the UPA paddle certification program seems to be a calculated move to consolidate power, eliminate competition and increase revenue. Hope I’m wrong, but the fact they still have come out with the fee structure doesn’t look good.

[@bunsen27]

Thanks for the extended thoughts on the upcoming Six Zero Quartz! Interesting comparison with the Luxxe, I've heard the Quartz is a reset machine from those who have played with it. The Quartz is indeed a direct competitor to the Vatic Prism Flash, which is a great paddle at an excellent price point. The Quartz paddle has been on my radar since it showed up on the USPA approval list in May. Dale has shared details about it on Discord, but we are still waiting on a confirmed release date. Late July or early Aug was the last release window given, so we are getting closer...finally!

[@123BV8]

Interested is it a 16.5x 7.5 or their 16.35 length?

[@bunsen27]

@@123BV8 The Quartz a standard shape paddle with a 5.0 in handle, thus likely 16.35in or less in length.

[@2musiclover534]

Liked! Thanks for all the podcasts.

[@mrfofung]

Funny enough I have been waiting and waiting for this next episode You got me hooked

[@ArianaWilson-]

Thanks for your review. I played the Ruby 14mm last week, and I felt that its power was not so strong and its weight was too heavy. I heard that HUDEF Mage Gen2 will come out soon, they sent me a demo paddle, and I felt Mage Gen2 was more outstanding. The controls made me feel really good, the swing weight was only 111. I let a few friends around me demonstrate it, they all said they want to buy it, and now they are waiting for the Mage Gen2 to hit the shelves. We all felt it was really good. John, I highly recommend that you also do a video review for HUDEF Mage gen2.

[@scottfrancis13]

Im curious in your review of the Black Diamond 14mm you said there were a lot of hybrid shaped options in 14mm? Hurache and Volair Mach 1, Gearbox PPI, C2 Hyperion but what else? BD14 Id bet is the best of the bunch.

[@kimleith1378]

Great interview with Brian. Love that guy. I think dropping the 100k annual, and stick with the 5k per model would work for keeping the "sub standard" paddles out of the picture. Any chance to hit the THOMPSON? Really liking how mine feels and plays.

[@supermochithedog6896]

John wished I bumped into you at San Clemente! Love your pod!!

[@groot3371]

I enjoyed the podcast. Thank you.

[@MattyRut2922]

Enjoyed the EdCast as always!!!

[@johnkewpickleball]

@@MattyRut2922 hahaha, this joke has jumped platforms!

[@MattyRut2922]

⁠@@johnkewpickleball I saw what you did with the “Kew & A” section. Good one! 😂 ☠️

[@LouisBrown19]

Good job. Your review is very helpful in my choice of paddle. When will Quartz be available?

[@DianSusiana98]

Great podcasts. Good paddles. Ruby is very similar to the upcoming HUDEF Mage Gen2 I've seen on the USAPA list. I'd love to hear what you think about them.. TY

[@pickleballtravel]

Was so cool to speak with you in San Clemente about pickleball generally, and also a new paddle I bought, the Spartus Apollo. I'm wanting a paddle face cleaner for this paddle, and wondering what you would recommend to clean the paddle face for Kevlar vs. other materials.

[@klaforever6933]

Just wondering if you have hit with the BD JMV 16mm yet, and if so how it compares with the BD 14mm? The stats on the JMV version look great.

[@HowieB-isMe3885]

I get alot of topspin using flicks. Kind of a combination of shoulder lifting and paddle wrist flicking. The J2K was harder to flick and keep the ball in- i think because the ball shoots off of the paddle so fast that I couldn’t get enough topspin on my flicks compared with my Forza.

[@philamguambomb]

Please do a review or data on the Franklin FS Tour Featherweight 12mm🙏.

[@jimwaldemarsen472]

Great pod as usual. I like that hat you're wearing John. When is Banger Nation going to add that on their website

[@johnkewpickleball]

Yeah I dig the hat, too. It's available here: cheerspickleball.net/products/harborview-banger-nation Coupon code JOHNKEW48 will get you 15% off

[@landenmcclellan7780]

Don't know the weight of Chris's paddle, but he has a strip of lead at the head at the top from corner to corner, 1 gram per inch

[@Jadrianson]

In your professional opinion, what would you say are the major trade-offs between the Ruby 14mm and the Thrive Azul?

[@jburton1419]

How does the 14mm dbd compare to these?

[@terogan]

lol. Pickleball Pursuit’s podcast today talked about too high a twist weight hampering the roll shot as Eddie described the shot.

[@robertharless3304]

Eddy is the host and John, you’re the co host.

[@Bcizzler22]

Hawai’i brand Yobi makes a 14mm Kevlar paddle called the “Kai” 🤙🏽

[@brianbanks3044]

i could have sworn many months ago that six zero was going to make a new paddle called the "Emerald" to go in line with the Ruby and the Diamond....I see they made the Australian colors but did I just imagine the Emerald or is it still a possibility????

[@Pickleball_Longevity]

What’s those hats?

[@terogan]

Based on a discord discussion a possible new test (as if you don’t already have enough on your plate): paddle surface temperature. Stats of a few different paddles at 45°, 80°, 100° F. I know they talk about the ball being different. Interesting to know how a paddle changes. This is from players storing their paddles in coolers before submitting them at tournaments. (Travis R. just said on Tennis Sucks podcast that Protons increase in power by 50% once broken in.?.

[@johnkewpickleball]

@@terogan Wow, I need to check out Travis’s comment on his pod. I chatted with him in San Clemente and he said Meghan let him borrow her broken-in Series One and he loves it. I would like to do a quick video comparing performance metrics on the same paddle in two different environments (e.g., Colorado vs. Florida). But no way I’m recording everything for every paddle for different temperature brackets 😅

[@yNotFPS]

im wondering if the writing on the Black diamond 14mm indicates that its a 6mm honeycomb core cell size. if so that would make sense that it has more power. think typical cell size is 8mm but i have seen a few companys trying 6mm cell size honeycomb

[@johnkewpickleball]

That's a solid guess...hopefully Dale will confirm

[@tylernguyen8511]

I did notice my BD 14 was a little head heavy than what I'm used to. I thought it was the weight balance but if this theory is true it would make sense why this 14mm doesn't lose out on any power.

[@john34557]

​@@tylernguyen8511is the vibration similar to the 16mm?

[@scottfrancis13]

absolutely it is 6mm PP core

[@scottfrancis13]

@@tylernguyen8511yeah combo of HH and 6mm core would explain the power. I ordered a 7.9 oz BD that way can add weight at 4 and 8 still wont weigh too much. BD Series is the best of the 6.0 lineup IMO

[@andrewroberts9716]

When are they banning the gearbox?! It's got a built in trampoline...

[@trumpisastump9382]

Define "trampoline" as the USAP has not done so.

[@123BV8]

I believe the “ball dust” is actually the peel ply breaking down not from the ball.

[@mddale]

I think the brand of ball is a huge variable. I wish they'd do away with the "indoor" ball. I hate its bounce. Too soft.