The idea of a “sweet spot” on a pickleball paddle is a bit like the idea of love. We all know what it is when we experience it, but no one quite knows how to explain it. In this article we discuss commonly held misconceptions about the sweet spot and identify what it is. In subsequent articles, we will explain why the sweet spot is important, provide the mathematical equations to determine where the sweet spot is on an actual paddle, and investigate means by which you can adjust the location of the sweet spot on your pickleball paddle to suit your style of play.
Misconceptions About the Sweet Spot
Most manufacturers of pickleball paddles talk about the “sweet spot” of their paddles. I am sure that you are familiar with the numerous manufacturer’s ads claimimg “a larger sweet spot” on their paddles that result in “less vibration”, “greater stability and accuracy”, “solid feel”, “greater power or pop”, “lower arm fatigue”, (etc, etc, etc). However, they never really tell you where the sweet spot is or the design characteristics that they incorporated into their paddles to make the sweet spot larger.
Other people (erroneously) claim that a pickleball paddle cannot have a sweet spot because they are not stringed like tennis racquets. In fairness, they are using a different definition of the sweet spot involving the structural dynamic characteristics of the racquet face (which we discuss in “How Large is the Sweet Spot?“). However, even with this very narrow definition of the sweet spot, no paddle is completely rigid and must exhibit structural dynamic (vibration) modes. Anyone who has played baseball, tennis, racquetball, and golf know that their bats, racquets, and clubs have a sweet spot and they know it when they contact it.
If you ask a pickleball player about the sweet spot is on their paddles, you will get a variety of answers. Some will claim that it is merely the center of gravity (or cg) of the paddle while others will claim that the sweet spot is at the geometric center on the paddle face. Some will claim that the shape of the paddle affects the sweet spot, and that elongated, round, or oval paddles have larger sweet spots than traditional rectangular paddles. Others will claim that the sweet spot is related to the thickness of the paddle core, the materials used in the paddle construction, or the weight of the paddle.
One thing for certain though, is that very few players really understand what the sweet spot is and where it is located on their paddle. If you don’t know where the sweet spot is on your paddle, how can you possibly hit the ball consistently at the sweet spot?
What is "It"?
There is an old story about the great jazz musician, Louie Armstrong when he made the comment, “he’s got it”, when listening to another jazz artist. A reporter who was sitting nearby asked him, “What is ‘it’?” In a quintessential moment of “Zen” clarity, Louie replied, “If you gotta’ ask, you’ll never know.”
This should not be the case for pickleball players, though. We should all know “what” it is – it is the location on the paddle face where contact with the ball feels good, it has a solid sound, and the ball seems to magically fly off the paddle effortlessly with the greatest amount of speed (pop) and with the highest degree of accuracy. When the ball is contacted at other points (and in particularly mis-hits), the paddle may vibrate or sting your hand, the paddle will sound hollow, dead, or tinny, or the ball may lack speed or accuracy.
Since by experience we know what the sweet spot is, the challenge now is to know where it is on your paddle. By knowing this, you will better understand how to consistently contact the ball at this location, enabling you to hit the ball consistently with greater power, higher velocity, and pinpoint accuracy.
What's Next?
In our next articles, we will answer the question “Why is the Sweet Spot Important?” and then introduce the mathematical equations to answer the question, “Where is the Sweet Spot?” Once we know the factors affecting the location and size of the sweet spot, we will examine ways that you can modify your paddle to place the sweet spot in the ideal location for your style of play. The answers to these questions may help you select the right paddle or help you modify your swing or paddle so that you can consistently hit the ball at your paddle’s sweet spot.
