BANNED FOR GOOD: JOOLA Gen 3 paddle update

Good day, picklers.

Today, we’ve taken the long, long, longgg scenic journey to visit the fabulous Monument Valley Pickleball Courts in Colorado Springs. While the 13-hour drive was one heck of a feat, it was ultimately inspired by the ongoing Olympic buzz soon to be realized at the Eiffel Tower-city of Paris.

DID YOU KNOW… that Colorado Springs is the headquarters for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and Training Center?

So its only fitting that we take some time to appreciate the Olympic air and play some pickleball. 😎

Here’s what’s on the docket today:

• Pickle Talk: UPDATE: JOOLA Gen 3 paddle banned for good

• Bite-sized: Naomi Osaka’s pickleball agency, The Picklr’s 2nd grand opening, pickleball trading cards SOLD OUT

• Golden Pickle: “You don’t have a pickleball body”-Winnie Landell from Hacks HBO Max

Let’s get into some PICKLE TALK

UPDATE: JOOLA GEN 3 PADDLE TESTING

For those of you who have invested hundreds of $$ on the JOOLA Gen 3 paddles, I’m sorry to have to report this USAP update:

The JOOLA Gen 3s resubmitted to USA Pickleball for testing failed again to meet the approved equipment check list. As a result, the paddles have not been added back to the USA Pickleball approved equipment list.

The response by JOOLA today is a sad one.

In short, while the team at JOOLA has tried to work with USAP to resolve the issue, they did not succeed in proving that the Gen 3s meet the paddle standard…

…even though they continue to claim that the newly submitted Gen 3s were the same materially and structurally as those approved by USAP back in 2023.

As for refunds, here’s what Joola announced: "We are offering full refunds for customers who purchased any Gen3 paddles between April 16 and June 15, 2024. For customers who purchased from our retail and e-commerce partners during that same timeframe, we are facilitating a process for refunds through them.”

Joola does plan to dispute this decision as well as move forward with “forthcoming legal proceedings.”.

Screen shots of both official statements:

INSIDER: NEW PADDLES MANUFACTURED ARE SCREWED

Let’s continue the conversation, shall we?

According to a Redditor that goes by the alias r/Powerful_Pickle8694…

“certain EVA paddles under development that are on the list are going to be removed after a CoR test.”

The test consists of a holeless ball shot at 60 mph, with the exit velocity of the rebound being measured. If velocity is outside the standard’s bounds, then it has failed that part of the test.

(If you are interested in what paddle testing actually looks like, take a look at this well-done video by Selkirk.)

The source?

The original poster received information from a paddle manufacturer owner who was notified by USAPA and informed that newly developed paddles set to release will ultimately be removed/approved.

The problem NOW is that many companies and partnering manufacturers have already begun or are even close to finishing the development of paddles similar to the technology of now-banned paddles.

The end game, unfortunately, is that companies will have to go back to the drawing board and accept the loss of money and time put into paddles that will never reach the general public.

(Note: Claim is speculation/opinion-based and should not be taken as fact. None of the information has been verified official sources.)

BITE-SIZED PICKLES

1/ THE OSAKA EFFECT: Evolve, the talent agency co-founded by Naomi Osaka, is getting into pickleball with a new division called Pro Pickleball Management (PPM), led by Jamie Duguid. PPM will focus on representing top pickleball players, starting with five pros, including Anna Bright and Federico Staksrud. Their strategy is to secure meaningful, high-quality brand partnerships, similar to what they've done with Osaka. Despite being headquartered in L.A., Evolve operates mostly remotely and plans to keep managing The Miami Pickleball Club’s commercial rights.

2/ NEW MONEY MASTER IN TOWN: George Killebrew, who’s had gigs with the Dallas Mavericks and Major League Rugby, just snagged the Chief Revenue Officer spot at the United Pickleball Association (UPA). He’s jumping in to boost sponsorships, ticket sales, and registrations for the Carvana PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball. Killebrew has been advising the PPA Tour since last October and is pumped about pickleball's crazy growth. With a killer track record in driving revenues and expanding sports leagues, he’s set to take pickleball to the next level with UPA’s CEO Connor Pardoe.

3/ THE 2ND GREAT GRAND OPENING: The Picklr, the hottest indoor pickleball franchise in North America, is dropping its second Indiana club this fall at 9847 Cumberland Pointe Boulevard, Noblesville. This 57,000 sq. ft. pickleball paradise will boast 19 indoor courts, event spaces, championship courts, grandstands, and a swanky upper-level lounge. Members get free court reservations, unlimited league play, tournaments, open play, private coaching, clinics, and more. The Picklr Noblesville is a team effort between Drew Brees’ BV Pickleball Clubs LLC and local biz guys Ron Brock and David Gilreath, with Brees repping as the national brand ambassador and mastermind behind 30 Midwest locations.

4/ LET’S TRADE: CJ Breen, a Livonia native and Leaf Trading Cards exec, shook up the game by dropping professional pickleball's first-ever trading card. Featuring top players like Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau, Leaf's move in November 2022 caused a frenzy, selling out 500 cards in two minutes with over 2,000 fans clamoring on the website. Now Leaf's known as THE spot for pickleball cards, with their latest collection, Leaf Metal Pickleball, dropping autographed gems. Breen's innovative approach not only put pickleball on the trading card map but also opened doors for quirky offerings like bowling and bull riding cards, resonating with a wide audience from grandmas to siblings.

GOLDEN PICKLE, ANYONE?

1/ “You don’t have a pickleball body”-Winnie Landell

If you haven’t seen the hilarious, Emmy-award winning show Hacks on HBO Max, then I suggest you take add a bit of humor into your life, take a winning chance, and INVEST.

Season 3 is out NOW!

So what’s the show have to with pickleball? Well, a memorable scene between characters brought up a new term that has hit the socials:

The “pickleball” body.

Offensive or not…it was hilarious. And brings up the questions:

What is a pickleball body, anyways?

Watch the BTS of the episode here:

2/ What happens when a badminton champ plays pickleball?

ONE TO WATCH… 👀👀

Waters/Johns v Johnson/Johnson at the CIBC Texas Open Powered by Tixr

ICYMI…A Pickle Talk Rewind