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These "illegal" paddles could change the game forever #rippickleball

These "illegal" paddles could change the game forever #rippickleball

PLUS: The pickleball peeping Tom, arrested & the pro-defense move no one is talking about

Welcome back, picklers.

Read time: 5 min

Science reveals the mental health benefits and addictive nature of the pickleball boom.

Ummm…come on, Science. Did we really need you to prove that fact?

Anyways…

Let’s get into more interesting findings, shall we?

TODAY’S MENU

Daily Scoop: A discussion→ Are EVA foam paddles the future?
News Stash: Building the BIGGEST pickleball facility ever. Pickleball bubble? The pickleball peeping Tom, arrested.
Sizzling Skills: Balls go up, your paddle goes down. Like…all the way down.
Kitchen Talk: Why am I better at singles than doubles? 🤔

DAILY SCOOP

Discussion: Are EVA foam paddles the future?

I often wonder: How much more can pickleball paddles improve? Like…really?

It seems like, aside from the price tag and beautiful marketing jargon, paddles, from the average ones to the most expensive, aren’t all that different these days.

Is it fair to say paddle technology has gone…stagnant?

Well, thanks to Reddit, I think I found my answer: yes, it has…and with reason.

The next big thing to come to paddle technology is alive and well with added controversy, hence the caution from paddle makers and players alike.

Enter: EVA foam paddles.

Let’s get into it.

***

So… what is EVA foam?

In short, think of shaving foam. But it solidifies when injected into the paddles in combination with the original core.

The advantages? Faster. Quieter. Powerful.

Example: Look at the HUDEF paddle with an EVA foam core.

(Also, notice the caution warning.)

And because of its “unfair” advantage during play, EVA paddles are not approved by the USAPA.

***

Here was the Reddit discussion:

In the original post, the poster asked about thoughts on current and future pickleball paddle and ball technology. The original poster had his own opinions:

He feels EVA foam paddles are the future to increase pace, reduce noise, and improve sustainability compared to current paddles.

BUT they believe "old money" is resisting EVA.

What do others think of EVA paddles?

In the comments, perspectives varied quite a bit:

One felt EVA foam raised concerns, and they preferred not to play against it. The reason is that EVA paddles are “way too powerful and would totally change the game.”
Some expressed interest in EVA foam as a quieter, still powerful material, but the EVA foam paddles could raise the bar and drive average players away from the game
Some believe that while EVA paddles are more powerful, paddles and balls could degrade much faster, not helping the waste problem pickleball already contributes to.

***

HOT TAKE: EVA paddles could make pickleball too intense for some and could drive many people away from the sport, similar to what happened with racquetball.

What are your thoughts?

NEWS STASH

The LARGEST pickleball facility in the world

Happenings: Just…WOW. Scottsdale, Arizona, will soon become the pickleball capital of the US with a new 11-acre facility planned by PURE Pickleball and developer Caliber.

Slated to open in 2024, it will be the largest pickleball venue in Arizona and one of the biggest globally.

Think you seen big? Think AGAIN. The indoor portion will have 28 courts with tech for streaming matches, plus a 500-seat stadium court. In addition, it will serve as headquarters and training center for USA Pickleball. Later phases will add 16 outdoor courts, restaurants, gym, and more amenities.

I think it’s time to move to Arizona.

Will the pickleball bubble POP?

Happenings: Pickleball's explosive growth has sparked a sports business frenzy as companies and investors rush to capitalize on the sport's surging popularity.

Diving in…this week's national championships, expecting over 4,000 players and 50,000 spectators, showcase pickleball's potential, with major corporate sponsors signed on.

The industry is seeing massive investment estimated at over $250 million in new pickleball gear, apparel, courts, and TV broadcasts as major brands and entrepreneurs vie for market share.

HOWEVER, it's uncertain if the crowded business ecosystem is sustainable long-term as supply catches up to demand.

So where’s the optimism coming from? Key indicators like 15% of Americans having played recently, thousands of new courts being built, and major fitness chains converting real estate signal staying power.

Pickeball bringing a different type of pleasure, literally.

Happenings: In disturbing news…a 49-year-old Arlington man was arrested for a “public pleasure session” after allegedly being caught while peeping into a boxing gym window along Columbia Pike on Friday night.

Lesson learned? Nope. The same man was also linked through evidence to a previous public incident in May at the Walter Reed pickleball courts.

Arlington County police took the suspect into custody on Monday, and he is being held on charges of two counts for the act and one count of peeping.