What is a Sweetspot? Joola Core Crushing Paddles? Tournament Prep

[@bodyhelixpickleball]

Thanks for the shout out! We really appreciate all that you are doing to educate and grow the pickleball community. Thanks for your honesty and all of your hard work. Love the shirt!

[@wd122]

I wanted to thank you for the encouragement in a recent pod to apply as an ambassador. I was interested in this but didn’t think it was very realistic. After that pod I decided to go ahead and apply. Now I’m an ambassador! Thank you 🙏

[@TyrusBulls1]

which brand?

[@PickleballMedicine]

I would argue that a person isn't actually your friend at all UNTIL you Nasty Nelson them...

[@JovanniG678]

Good episode, happy to see you guys out of your caves, lol😂😂😂😅😅😅😅 bro, you gotta show the schematic tattoo.

[@Instalou]

Bummed we couldn’t play. Glad to have yall and hoping we can get some games soon boys

[@cardinals5516]

Another great podcast!

[@hruntingson]

YAASS! Sweet spot real talk. I’d add a level of predictability in energy return and direction(forgiveness). At least in pickleball as opposed to other racket sports where it is more strictly along the lines of the objective definition. Had me worried when you said it will be a shorter stop in nerd town. It is better when everyone uses the same definition.

[@ArianaWilson-]

The background for this podcast is also great lol.

[@VWKYT]

It was a very interesting and insightful discussion about sweet spot - thank you for that. I am curious about your guys opinions about the impact of paddle shape (rather than dimensions) on the size and location of sweet spot and the consistency of off-center shots. While other established racket sports (tennis, table tennis, badminton ....) tend to have rounded shapes, many, if not most, pickleball paddles are more rectangular with slight rounding in corners. I realize that pickleball paddle shapes are affected by linear dimension limits (24") and rectangles/squares allow increased surface are over ovals with the same dimensions. However, do oval shapes offer an advantage in terms the size and location of sweet spot and better consistency for off-center shots as well as improved aerodynamics? If not, why other established racket sports that spend large amounts of money on R&D don't implement shapes similar to pickleball paddles?

[@robertnowak13]

That Vanguard Pro actually has FOUR layers of 12k carbon fiber. Thing must be a pillow.

[@65atBestPB]

Hey … watched your tournament video Justin posted after the blooper video. This hurts me to say, you two got game, not trash. 😉 It is a reminder that you can have all the shots, but unforced errors in the end often determines wins and losses. I might be talking about someone typing that just pulled the Vatic Prism Flash back out of the bag … maybe. Not trash … good natured … not my type. 😂

[@Pickleballetc]

Haha. Thank you. You're very right though. If you hit 10 exceptional shots, but also hit 11 unforced errors, you'll likely still lose. Experiential knowledge 🥲

[@65atBestPB]

@@Pickleballetc Once you have the skills to compete at a level, it almost always comes down to unforced errors. True for rec tennis, but particularly pickleball doubles … it is heavily weighted towards defense. Think couple of unforced errors a game … obviously “unforced” is subjective. Granted … paddle and wiffle less predictable than strings and rubber tennis ball. The one error that drives me crazy is missing those easy block volleys at the net. You were a firefight god 😛the point before, and then you miss a slow ass block volley into net on next point. Ain’t right … stupid stupid stupid game. 😂

[@kimleith1378]

In the flesh. Right on! Liking my NEXUS PROSTAR. Was hoping for a giant sweet spot, not so much. Curious how similar it plays compared to the J2K TI? Justins ideas on "sweet spot" was great. Would love to use a Racquet Ball Racquet in your "illegal" paddle night.

[@kaisersozen]

Give us back cult leader Louis

[@LouisBrown19]

Really enjoyed your podcast bro. What three paddles would you and Justin bring to the tournament?

[@Pickleballetc]

Oh boy, this answer probably changes weekly. Right now, my top 2 are Neonic Flare and 11SIX24 Monarch All Court, but I'll probably be moving back to a hybrid shape.

[@DianSusiana98]

Great podcast. Love Justin's T-shirt. Is it from B&B?

[@TeenaSuzuki]

No, his shirt is from @buildingpickleball, Brian Lim.

[@DianSusiana98]

@@TeenaSuzuki Thanks.

[@nsj2kx]

You should definitely review Nexus ProStar! “Titanium”/carbon weave, gen 3 (foam filled core) paddle. I’m curious to know what you think of it since the J2Ti is your new “main”.

[@kimleith1378]

Same.

[@HeavyAndLow]

Any plans to review the Pickln Alecto3?

[@PickleballPursuit]

Should be talking about it a good bit next week

[@lesterma1608]

So many good paddles, impossible to choose just one today, tomorrow there will be even more!🤷🏽‍♂️

[@ernest4483]

Another great content and podcast gentlemen, so Paddletek Bantam TKO series will increase in price as of October 1st, by how much?

[@fabioconceicao3315]

Great pod guys! What’s Justin’s channel name?

[@Pickleballetc]

Hi, my channel is @Pickleballetc BUT there is nothing posted yet. It'll still be a while before I get my content creation machine up and running.

[@hack-it-ballgonzales5980]

I’ve never tried a Nasty Nelson, but I have accidentally hit the opponent I was serving to during a hard drive serve. Does that count as a Nasty Nelson, or is there a different term for that situation?

[@65atBestPB]

If you hit a female player it’s called a “lazy Susan”

[@drail15]

Really hope Honolulu comes out with the J3KTi. I can’t do the small handle on the J2

[@robertbenjamin5230]

Great episode! Again. So, when are the Nerdtown T shirts and/or hats coming out? Maybe a pb paddle locomotive design? I’m ready to pre-order. I look forward to your thoughts on the Spartus Olympus. Bob

[@JaxxCrash]

Where do you put weights on the monarch all court?

[@shaynsnyolo]

10-2,4-8 works well for me

[@bethr2745]

Which Body Helix shirt are you wearing? They have 2 models. Love your channel. Thank you!

[@PickleballPursuit]

It’s the Cool Flow Performance Shirt

[@bethr2745]

@@PickleballPursuit Many Thanks!

[@qauckerman7629]

Yall gonna be at stacks friday?

[@af02271]

Already retiring the monarch AC? 😂

[@dominionn09]

I am interested in the X5 to replace my Luxx Epic. Control is still my game and I'm looking for a softer paddle but with a little more oomph then the Luxx. Would this fit the bill?

[@65atBestPB]

Illegal paddle goggles night … I’m in … I’ll bring the beer. No kitchen on goggles night.

[@timwelch107]

Great Podcast as always, I tried out the Gold Kevlar X4, coming from a Gen 1 X4 was too stiff for me, also just FYI for everyone, if you use balls with your name written on them with a permanent marker it can/will leave black marks on the Gold Kevlar. There is a note in the package saying that, but who looks at those when you are excited to try a new paddle. :) Thans again !!

[@65atBestPB]

Tighter sweet spots feel better.

[@65atBestPB]

You two get to hit every paddle you want to hit … and still have a problem with commitment. What chance do the rest of us have? BTW … Justin … I also have a personal delisted list … and bonus sharing, saws. After trying all shapes, I am back to hybrid Vatic Prism Flash 16 mm. It seems the two most important metrics might be 1) unforced errors … and 2) wins. Who knew? After trying all shapes now, I have come to the conclusion hybrid makes most sense for me. I tend to hit more toward the tip than center (did that with tennis also), and hybrid shapes appear to have sweet spot more towards tip than standard shape. I miss banging with extended paddles, but I am better at kitchen with hybrid. So now I can narrow to: - hybrid - 8.2 oz - 8.4 oz - put top tier spin near the top - control and accuracy over power - would like good feel, but I don’t think any will be great until tech changes So where that leaves me is basically “how much power”, and “how much pop”. The power is easier for me to zero in on. Would I like more drive pace than Flash … of course, but not at expense of loss of accuracy and more errors. I think one of the most important shots is return of serve, every miss is a point for opponent. I will also take accurate return target (center, opponents backhand or backhand side foot, target weaker opponent, etc) all day over more power but less accurate. Similar on pop in kitchen play. I figure you could harness the dinking with any paddle, but I rate being able to flick to tight targets over any flicking pace. For me the verdict is still out on whether pop helps of hurts with flick/roll accuracy. I have no problem with wife’s Vatic Pro Flash 16 mm, or my Vatic Pro Prism Flash 16 mm … both very different pop. I was not as accurate on flicks with standard Apollo, and extended V7. I liked V7 best from baseline and overheads and Apollo best in firefights. For the rest, hybrid. I like my Vatic Pro Flash 14 mm, and play some of my best when on, and also like the performance of thermoformed paddles. But every time I pull out the Prism the game becomes more effortless to avoid those stupid errors that lose games. So … hybrid it is, give me a little more power than Prism without control loss, and all the additional spin I can get … and I’m happy. Well … happy for a while until another “this paddle is awesome” video. Or … could forget about WINNiNG!!! and enjoy some of that tennis banging from baseline with an extended power paddle. That thought comes up often.

[@Pickleballetc]

I'm totally with you. I think I'll be moving back to hybrid shape. You'll probably really like the J2Ti based on what you're looking for as long as you are okay with a short-ish handle.

[@65atBestPB]

@@Pickleballetc How long do you think we will last with this declaration? 😂 I go back and forth on what handle length would be best for me. I added two handed backhand(2hbh) late in my tennis, so my go to instincts in pickleball is usually one handed backhand. I actually use 2hbh crosscourt dink and 2hbh 3rd shot crosscourt drop more than drives or returns. I have intended to add more 2hbh play for months, particularly transition zone swing volleys … must be a memory problem. Same memory problem of intending to dink to players backhand foot. My hands fit fine on the Vatic paddles, and although I enjoyed the 11six24 Control+ handle, paddle is only a short lever compared to tennis 2hbh, so my guess is I benefit more from control than grip comfort. We had 7” racquet grips, pickleball 2hbh finger behind paddle was so weird and wrong at first, now feels normal. I was considering trying the 5.75” Prism Flash, still am … always felt bad sending Daryl back the Oni. My problem is I only play indoors, and loss of paddle surface might not be my aging eyes friend. Lasik gave me a couple of decades of 20/20 … and then it didn’t.

[@lesterma1608]

You can hit anyone with a speedup whether or not with a control paddle or power, be ready!

[@lesterma1608]

Are you using an illegal noisy paddle???

[@BrownKoat4ever]

I commented on another podcast that they did a Red Herring with the foam diving board. The actual power comes from the core crushing not the foam. This explains why Ben Johns was not using it. He has an engineering background saw what they were doing and feared tarnishing his wins if this came out. He might be a womanizer but at least he cares about pickleball.

[@JaxxCrash]

What he's a womanizer? Tell me more about this lol

[@Geos-g5e]

Ripple is significantly better than gearbox pro power ultimate? Interesting.

[@EdwinPBGT]

Sorry about the finger. It was the 14mm i was playing with in the video. The 16mm core crushed in less than 2 weeks Would not buy another Joola paddle