These articles describe the technology and science related to pickleball paddles, including the sweet spot, materials, shape, weight, balance, friction, etc.
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 »
The women’s semi-final singles match of the Selkirk Red Rock Open in St. George, Utah in April 2023, featured Lea Jansen verses Salome Devidze. During this match, Devidze hit several groundstrokes for winners with an exceptional amount of velocity and topspin. Based on the lower frequency “thud” of Devidze’s paddle and the amount of velocity
Jansen vs Devidze Revisited Read More »
The thermoforming of pickleball paddles provides several advantages. For paddle manufacturers extra materials, adhesives, and labor are not required to bond the edge guard to the paddle. For pickleball players, the stiff carbon fiber edge acts like a frame that is similar to a tennis racquet, which allows the center of the paddle to behave
Thermoformed Paddle Delamination Read More »
The ability to put topspin on the ball should be an important component of every player’s game. As we have discussed in previous articles (see for example, “How Fast is a Pickleball Serve?”) you must hit serves and ground strokes on an upward trajectory to clear the top of the net, and soft enough so
Predicting a Paddle’s Spin Capability Read More »
In a previous article, “Power vs Control Paddles”, we discussed the important characteristics and differences between power and control paddles. In our analysis, we found that “power” paddles will tend to have softer faces than “control” paddles. Our testing methodology relied on our ability to calculate the change in kinetic energy caused by dropping a
Quantifying Power & Control Paddles Read More »