These articles describe the technology and science related to pickleball paddles, including the sweet spot, materials, shape, weight, balance, friction, etc.
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 »
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 »
In a companion article, “Paddle Technical Data“, we presented test and analysis results of several different paddles that will enable you to objectively compare the technical characteristics of several different paddles so that you can find your ideal paddle. What does this data mean? How can you assemble the data in a manner that allows
Paddle Technical Characteristics Read More »
In several articles (see for example “Paddle Dynamics“), we alluded to the idea that the amount of power in a pickleball paddle is maximized with lower-stiffness paddles. This is due to the fact that when you strike the ball, the force of the ball causes the paddle face to deform like a trampoline and the
Paddle Frequency & Power Read More »
In a previous article, “Paddle Dynamics”, we described the trampoline and diving board effects and how these paddle dynamic characteristics affect paddle power. We further postulated that if the paddle dynamics are properly tuned, both the trampoline and diving board modes will reach maximum amplitude simultaneously with the release of the ball, thereby increasing the
Paddle Throat Stiffness Read More »
Since the shape, weight, and materials of the various pickleball paddles on the market may seem to be identical, one might conclude that all paddles are the same. While this may be true on the lower end of the paddle spectrum, there are significant differences in paddle performance at the higher end. What causes these
We have all experienced mis-hits where the ball either lands into the net or sails long over the opposite baseline. One key contributor to these mis-hits involves the rotation of the paddle face about the longitudinal (handle) axis. These rotations come about by not striking the ball at the center of the paddle, which causes
How Does Twist Weight Affect Accuracy? Read More »
In a previous article, “How is Topspin Generated?”, we showed that topspin is created by sweeping your arm in an upward arc while striking the ball. During contact, the ball flattens and the paddle face bends, increasing the contact time and contact area between the paddle and ball (Figure 1). The upward motion of your
Paddle Spin Capability, Friction, & Stiffness Read More »
The large number of pickleball paddle manufacturers and the wide variety of paddles they offer makes it virtually impossible for a player to try them all to determine the right paddle for their style of play and abilities. Among the most basic considerations in selecting a paddle are its weight characteristics; however, very few (if
Paddle Swing Weight, Recoil Weight, & Swing Radius Read More »
This post has been updated since the original publish date by including videos that demonstrate the tapping test described below. In several previous articles (“Thermoformed Paddle Delamination” and “Jansen vs Devidze Revisited”), we discussed a potential damage mechanism for delaminated paddles. In our analysis, we determined that delamination likely reduces the bending stiffness of the
Thermoformed Paddle Delamination Revisited Read More »