In a previous article, we reviewed the technical basis behind the baseball / bat coefficient of restitution (BBCoR) and the pickleball paddle / ball coefficient of restitution (PBCoR). In this review, we postulated that there may be a direct correlation between the bat bending and hoop vibration modes and the paddle diving board and trampoline […]
Paddle Reactivity Rankings Read More »
In a previous article, we evaluated the paddle / ball coefficient of restitution test (PBCoR) using principles of conservation of momentum and energy. This evaluation found that after accounting for the elastic deformation of the ball and the rigid-body motions of the ball and paddle, only 2.3% of the kinetic energy remains for deformation of
Paddle Dynamics & PBCoR Read More »
The pickleball Coefficient of Restitution (CoR) has become a hot topic in recent weeks, as the USAP has adopted a new Paddle / Ball CoR testing standard (PBCoR). This test was considered necessary in order to reduce the so-called “trampoline effect” in paddles, which was felt to give players an unfair advantage by adding power
Analysis of the PBCoR Test Read More »
The increased popularity of pickleball has generated an increased demand for courts, some of which have been constructed in the middle of residential communities. Unfortunately, the loud pinging and popping caused by the ball striking the paddle has become a major source of annoyance for nearby homeowners, and in some cases, homeowners have claimed that
Quiet Play Paddle Review Read More »
The Slyce Sports SpeedCap is a weighted cap that fits onto the end of a pickleball paddle handle. The company claims that the SpeedCap improves paddle balance and reduces its swing weight by shifting the paddle center of mass (cG) towards the handle, thereby making it feel lighter and improving maneuverability. How much of this
Slyce Weighted SpeedCap Review Read More »
Your ideal serve will consistently land in-bounds and will arrive in your opponent’s court at the desired location and velocity. Discovering your ideal serve may require several hours of experimentation, practice, and training to determine what works and what does not. Once we are satisfied with our serve, we will normally “lock it in” so
Improving Serve Accuracy with Topspin Read More »
Your ability to impart spin to the pickleball is an important skill that can add new dimensions to your game. Spin affects the ball’s aerodynamics, causing it to drop, rise, float, or curve as it sails through the air. This might allow you to drive the ball harder, drop it softly into the kitchen, lob
Does Friction Create More Spin? Read More »
This article was originally written in December 2023. Since that time, we have developed new testing methodologies and criteria for classifying paddles for power, control, and spin and have summarized the test results of several paddles in our article, “Paddle Technical Data“. In this updated article, we revisit the Joola paddle test data and evaluate
Joola Hyperion & Perseus Paddle Review – UPDATED Read More »
Contrary to popular belief, a paddle’s swing weight is not an intrinsic property of the paddle, nor will the same paddle provide the same swing weight for every player. This is because the paddle swing weight depends on how and where a player grips the paddle. Therefore, a paddle that might seem to have a
What do the Swing Weight Numbers Mean? Read More »
Many pickleball enthusiasts are willing to brave extreme cold or hot temperatures to play their favorite sport. While we all know (intuitively) that warmer temperatures translate into softer balls, has anyone determined quantitatively the relationship between ambient temperature and ball stiffness? Further, how does the ambient temperature affect ball bounce and velocity? In this article
How Does Temperature Affect a Pickleball? Read More »