What Is Pickleball Paddle Delamination?

[@BGK2223]

Thanks for the explanation - there's so many discussions that assume everybody understands what it is

[@ralphparker]

What questions need to be addressed? Assuming a company is not providing a "special paddle" for its favorite PB Pro then a failure had to occur with the paddle. During a tournament, when to test a paddle: Before the start of the tournament is fair. After the tournament is over, not fair. During a match can the paddle be challenged? Stop the match and test the paddle, not fair. After the game and before the next game, OK if timely. Some of the complainers are complaining because they were overwhelmed with skill, not because they could really tell the paddle had failed. But if the glue bond fails and thus the paddle no longer meets USPA's specifications, then FUTURE tournament play with the paddle should be prohibited. But since testing is fairly technical and complicated, challenging the paddle and then testing after the match is a bit unfair.

[@ralphparker]

After reading the rules, challenges during the match can lead to forfeiture of the match. Before the match, the questioned paddle can be replace. After the match, the results stand.

[@peterhoopis]

great points! Agree!

[@DaveColorado]

Why would a defective paddle work better?, shouldn't it be the opposite? I would love to see a study showing that delamination improves the power of the paddle.

[@peterhoopis]

I think there are different levels to this. A “slightly” delaminated paddle, that would qualify as delaminated in theory provides more “pop” or “spring”. One that is extremely delaminated would probably be worthless.

[@ron2368]

More likely structural weakening of the honeycomb allows it to deform with hitting the ball and this gradually allows the bond to carbon fiber to weaken.

[@kathybell4878]

Can't you hear a difference in the sound of the paddle when the ball hits it too? Isn't that the most obvious way to tell there is an issue?

[@peterhoopis]

Absolutely! In our blog post about delamination I have a link to a video that shows the sound difference! Major!

[@kathybell4878]

@@peterhoopis Perfect! You hadn't mentioned it in the video so thanks for the prompt to check that out. You can hear it three courts away when someone's paddle is funky :)

[@masterflamewing234]

This is like western players complaining about boosting in table tennis because they couldn’t beat Chinese players and their boosted rubbers

[@raydyck6387]

Duh, a lot of words... why not show us an example of a delaminated paddle, which parts are glued

[@peterbarrett5496]

20 subs cut him some slack bro 😂

[@raydyck6387]

@@peterbarrett5496 20 Subs?? Sorry that I'm not cool enough to know what that means. What I do know is when I have a delaminaton in my paddle - and I have had delamination in a cheap paddle - I can hear it and feel it. Then I chuck it. Why don't we all just play and enjoy the game.

[@chongheelim]

pickleball players are so whiny. delamination make the bat better, so thats good correct?

[@masterflamewing234]

You forget they’re all failed tennis and table tennis players. So them saying fast equipment isn’t fair is going to be common