The Pickleball Industry Could Change Forever | Where is paddle technology going for 2024?

Welcome to an exciting time in the paddle market. With increasing competition, prices are dropping, giving you more options than ever before. Today, we're breaking the silence and revealing what we've been working on behind the scenes.
JOHN'S VIDEOS: / @johnkewpickleball
Join us as we take you behind the curtain and provide a sneak peek into our latest tests and innovations. Discover the cutting-edge technology that is shaping the future of pickleball paddles.
In this video, we'll discuss upcoming advancements and trends in the industry. Stay tuned for company updates and insights into the latest technologies we're developing.
Kevlar, the buzzword of the moment! We explore its potential as both a core and face material. Pairing it with softer materials can achieve a perfect balance of power and control. You'll also learn about the fascinating utilization of flax/hemp materials, known for their exceptional vibration absorption and control capabilities. While lacking some power, they excel in precision.
Another exciting development is the utilization of EVA Foam. We're exploring its immense potential in solving core crushing issues and enhancing paddle performance. Our experiments involve stacking a layer of foam with traditional PP, aiming to strike the right balance between power and control.
And when it comes to carbon fiber, we delve into the debate between 3k carbon fiber and T700. The peel press face technique using thin T700 cloth offers incredible power and a solid texture. However, the performance of 3k carbon fiber is outstanding, delivering an amazing playing experience.
Join us as we reveal these groundbreaking updates and discuss the future of pickleball paddle technology. Don't miss out on the latest innovations and trends that will shape your game in 2024.
Remember to subscribe for more exciting updates and stay ahead of the curve in the world of pickleball paddles.
Keywords: Pickleball paddle, carbon fiber pickleball paddle, T700 peel ply

[@sol1280]

Thanks for this video. Your generosity with information acquired through hard work and the passion you seem to be putting into getting great new technology into everyone's hands is admirable. Pre-ordering the Spiked now and I hope to be able to continue supporting your company in the future.

[@teakey]

I’m a new player and love your channel. I subscribed.

[@wesrxnumber]

I enjoyed hearing your vision for developing new paddles. A price point for everyone is a great idea. I like the paddle with all the cut outs. I am playing lights out with my second slice as the two ounces has made a huge difference in my game. I did not tell anyone that this is a new paddle. I have so much control in block shots down the line and in fire fights. Just from watching video I feel KiwiLabs is a company I want to continue to support when the prototypes are available. Excellent video. It was not too long as your sincerity comes through.

[@kiwilabspickleball]

Folks like you are our lifeblood! Thanks!

[@scottmanthey3549]

I had a friend get a new Slice and you changed the handle (for the better in my opinion). I love how you continue to tweak things. Interested in that new one.

[@asterisk3522]

I posted this on Chris Olsen's video re: Nomex and Kevlar, so I'll copy and paste the majority of this here: They're pretty different! They're both aramid fibers, but one is a para-aramid, and the other is a meta-aramid; not getting too deep into the differences between them, p-aramids are self-arranging in lines molecularly, leading to much higher stiffness and strength compared to m-aramids, which have molecules arranged angularly to one another. To illustrate, Young's modulus is a way to express a materials stiffness. Let's look at the three most common core materials, polypropylene honeycomb, nomex honeycomb, and kevlar honeycomb and compare their compression modulus: Polypropylene honeycomb @ 1" thick sheet, 8mm cell: 11.5 ksi Nomex honeycomb (phenolic resin-stabilized) @ 0.5" thick sheet, 3.175mm cell, 2.5mil wall thickness: 28 ksi Kevlar honeycomb (phenolic resin-stabilized) @ 0.5" thick sheet, 3.175mm cell, 1.8ml wall thickness: 400 ksi *Note that these can vary pretty wildly depending on specifications**; these are examples of commonly sold sheets from a large supplier, however different cell sizes can be specified for the two aramid core materials which can make them *significantly stiffer or, in some cases, slightly less stiff (larger cell size, thinner wall thickness); the trend remains though, with Nomex being about twice as stiff (or more) as polypropylene and kevlar being very significantly stiffer than that. The polypropylene is one of two common sheet specs and the other spec just differs in cell size (the other being a larger cell size) and just results in a ksi of 10.5 instead of 11.5. Note as well: The sheet thickness is just a standardized way to measure modulus and they can be ordered in many different thicknesses. What this means is that the aramid cores could (and likely will) feel very different from one another, with Nomex being closer to polypropylene than to Kevlar. Also note that the only pure Kevlar core paddle that I'm aware of, the ProDrive Ghost, was mentioned in that same Pickleball Studio podcast by Will as being quite probably the most powerful paddle he's hit with, or at least on the level of the most powerful.

[@chickenpotpieroasted]

Loving the colors.🔥

[@RickBescoe]

EVA foam seems to absorb some of the impact/stress your arm hand/wrist elbow would normally absorb.

[@tanthony3895]

HUDEF eva Newera paddles are awesome!! Impressive quality and incredible price. I own two of them, and LOVE them!!

[@robertritch6138]

I've had a kelvar paddles for 7 years. Great on windy days, heavy but no sweet spot.

[@LuisGarcia-ei1to]

Sent yah an email a while ago, was hoping to pick your brain on something’s pertaining your video on starting a company. Appreciate yah and all you do. 😊

[@kiwilabspickleball]

Sorry if I missed it! Reach out again if so!

[@LuisGarcia-ei1to]

@@kiwilabspickleball will do!

[@jasonvtsportsguy2692]

I love PickleBall! I would love a new PickleBall paddle!! #002

[@Naphiflush]

I want that purple and black paddle!

[@kiwilabspickleball]

😍😍😍

[@mlee9049]

I had a ProDrive, which has a Kevlar core. I did not find it loud. However, Kevlar does not absorb vibration well. As a result, my hand was vibrating like a pitch fork when I was done playing. First time this ever happened to me. In the long run, this may not be healthy.

[@christopherahmed8961]

Sooo interested in trying the purple paddle! Hope it's not up there in price. Is 3k what gearbox cx14's and cx11's have been using on the exterior (I know the interior is a whole other thing that everyone else)?

[@kiwilabspickleball]

Yes I think gearbox and Selkirk have 3k on a few paddles. But I have not done a head to head yet. I played with a cx14 and I can say our new one is a bit softer

[@terogan]

Interested.

[@cgretired6976]

The "Spike" looks incredible, I can't wait for its debut. Any thought as to when it will be sold so I can start saving my pennies now??? HURRY THE R&D UP!

[@kiwilabspickleball]

Should be submitting to USAP in about 2/3 weeks :)

[@billtaber5093]

I would guess that a paddle with many slots around the perimeter would naturally have a longer dwell time than the same paddle with no slots. I don’t believe the slots are an aerodynamic feature.

[@billtaber5093]

Kevlar is known for being abrasion resistant. It is not brittle like carbon fiber.

[@tommymorgan9293]

I tried a thermoformed paddle and it felt head heavy and actually hurt my arm. I prefer a softer paddle for sure

[@mlee9049]

Thermoforming did not cause that. It's the balance point of the paddle.

[@cz8024]

For that purple one, I thought you couldn’t have holes on the hitting surface…..or on the face of the paddle

[@kiwilabspickleball]

Based on what I have seen, that only is a rule that refers to many drilled holes across the center of a paddle. Enough holes to create a texture of sorts.

[@cz8024]

@@kiwilabspickleball Ah, interesting. I’m intrigued by that paddle. Looks great. I love my Slice….I also got a new ergonomic paddle from Bird Pickleball….which is interesting too. Keep up the good work. I’ll be watching

[@michaelfargarsonpickleball9707]

One Shot Aero paddles have similar but smaller holes on the sides and they have been USAP approved since September 2021.

[@AMurderOfLobs]

But you DO have to bust your arm for the power of a z5. That stupid paddle is the most unwieldy block of garbage I've ever touched.

[@ajfloresii]

When is the spike aka the purple paddle coming out?

[@kiwilabspickleball]

Still need to send it to the USAP… so hoping in about 2-3 months :)

[@frank88ster]

Get me 'soundless paddle' now. Why isn't that happening? No more battles with noise control neighbours....

[@kiwilabspickleball]

We tried one made out of a pillow. But the power was lacking

[@gilbd]

Hmmm, maybe this Kevlar thing is going to be the next big thing for paddles. Look forward to the upcoming reviews on it. PS - I think your hot link to Johnkew pickleball is incorrect - YT gives me the 404 Not Found Monkey.

[@roguegaston]

Where does the texture come from with the 3k carbon fiber? How does it seem to be lasting compared to the T700 peel-ply texture? Nice job, enjoyed the video!

[@kiwilabspickleball]

I can’t speak for all 3k paddles but the weaves on the paddle in this video come from the actual construction. The downside is that we needed to add a spray coating layer for grit. Still tinkering with some things… but we’re thinking we will need the spray coating to pass grit tests.

[@TonyPB-wb1qe]

You can also make texture same as the raw carbon fiber on the surface of 3k by peel ply, but that may hard to make the paddle into a edgeless paddle.

[@ricardojsbrito]

I enjoyed the possibility to use Eva foam. But not sure about using it in layers. I would assume it would be better to use the honeycomb holes filled with Eva foam, like the haxcore foam.

[@kiwilabspickleball]

Yes, we’re working through how it will work still. It’s tricky because it’s a rare case where we’re trying to reduce the power of a paddle 😅 filled foam is not out of the question. However, my concern is weight at that point.

[@AMurderOfLobs]

"Labs" because we engineer our technology within our R&D laboratory. Oh wait....😑

[@kiwilabspickleball]

Someday

[@TickleMyPickleball]

Awesome video guys! Just discovered your channel and have been going through your videos. Excited to hear more about the new paddles you have in R&D, let me know if you need any help play testing 😊. I've got family up in Michigan too so hopefully I can catch you guys at a local event some time

[@kiwilabspickleball]

We would love that! I think you still have our email! Definitely reach out if you’re ever around!

[@Kingbasspickleball1]

👏