UNFORCED ERRORS A PICKLEBALL PLAYERS WORST NIGHTMARES

PICKLEBALL PADDLE SELECTION, BUYING & CLEANING GUIDE  

*If you plan on attending a Beginners Pickleball Instruction Program you should bring your own paddle.  Beginner wood paddles are inexpensive learning paddle for class and take home practice. I would also recommend purchasing three (3) Indoor Pickleball either Onix or Dura Fast Brand.  Color wise yellow or lime green are popular but the orange color shows up better for players with color vision problems.  Most beginners classes only have the lime green or yellow, few if any have orange. So its good to have your orange color balls if you need them.  Just make sure you clearly print your last name on each ball with a permanent black marker.

The Official IFP/USAPA Official Pickleball Tournament Rulebook 2018 Version, Section 2-Court & Equipment, ss 2.D Ball Specifications, provides detailed ball construction specifics and dimensions allowed for play.  Basically there are two types of pickleballs, an Indoor Ball and an Outdoor Ball.

The Indoor Ball is designed of a slightly softer material, and produces more bounce, off of the indoor wood or tiled court surfaces.  The Outdoor ball is slighter harder in texture, and produces good bounce off the outdoor synthetic surfaces.

The Outdoor Ball is slightly heavier and has smaller holes. Reason being, better wind resistant than the Indoor Ball.  Here's the Rub! The Official Rulebook accepts all approved balls, Indoor and Outdoor, to be used for either indoor or outdoor play. The Rules do not require only Indoor Ball only on Indoor Courts, nor do they require only Outdoor balls on outdoor courts.  However, some outdoor players prefer the Indoor Balls so they use them. I have not hear of many  indoor players using Outdoor Balls. Confused, don't be! Just play with the balls provided.  Or bring your own.    

The venue sponsoring the Class usually supplies beginners paddles but often from an over load of new students, the paddle supply runs out.  The wood practice paddles are less than $20 and balls run around $8. The wood practice paddles are all about the same weight and grip size.  If later you decide to upgrade your beginners paddle to match all the new skills you learned, you can usually sell the wood paddles to other beginners.

The forthcoming specifications are to use when you go to purchase your improved skills paddle for Open Play Pickleball.  These specifications are from my own experience with selecting and using a large number and wide variety of paddles during my freshman pickleball player years. I have done most everything to a paddle that anyone can legally do.

While we are on the subject of LEGALITY, I have summarized and condensed the rules for brevity.  The most basic legal concerns about paddle selection and alteration begins with "paddle hitting surface, "which cannot contain holes, indentations, rough texturing, tape or any objects or features that allow a player to impart additional spin on a ball. No, you cannot determine the roughness of the paddle hitting surface, by running you grubby fingers across the face.  All that does it transfers the dirty oils from your skin onto the paddle surface, and makes it more slippery.  Enough oil comes from hitting the ball (made from fossil fuel petroleum based materials).

TOUCHY SUBJECT....touching (pardon the PUNN), someone else's paddle face for any reason is a MORTAL SIN!.  When you die you will go straight to HELL! KEEP YOUR SKUNKY, SKANKY, SCUZZIE, SCUNGY FINGERS OFF OTHER PEOPLES PADDLES, ESPECIALLY MINE! If you really have to handle someone else's paddle, grab it by the handle, that's what the damn handle is for.  DON'T EVER TOUCH OR USE ANOTHER PERSONS PADDLE without their expressed permission to do so, and by all means, wash your dirty germ infested hands before you do so.  
ENOUGH SAID! Back to selecting a paddle.

Paddle Rules include size restrictions. "The combined length and with including any edge guard and butt cap shall not exceed 24 inches. There is no restriction on paddle weight. This means that you can add weight to your paddle or reduce the weight of your paddle.  alterations can be made to the grip, and  adding an edge guard, In an upcoming Blog I will discuss my method for legally adding weight to a paddle.  But for now back to selecting an upgraded Open Play paddle.

 The following numbered items  are important considerations, you should take into account before purchasing your upgraded paddle.

1. Paddle Wgt: 7-8oz. Stay in this weight range. *Light weight paddle may swing better, but need more energy to hit longer shots, serves & baseline drives.*Slightly heavier paddle provide better ball control & shot placement, than those under 7oz weight.

2. Paddle grip circumference 4” to 4.5” .
*Smaller the grip the better. *Smaller grip allows a looser grip, so paddle moves & control ball placement.  Large grips force tight death grip, that hinders paddle performance & ball control. *Smaller grips promote  smooth pendulum-like swings. * Smaller grips offer a more comfortable hand fit without need to choke grip.

3. Paddle handle length 4 ¾” to  5 1/4” from throat to butt cap.
*Shorter handles cause players to grip paddle high, placing thumb around “throat” of paddle where face  widens out.  *A high griped on paddle ruins paddle balance, lessens ball control & shot placement. 
*Paddle grips vary from person to person.  *The basic “continental  grip”is taught to beginners. *But as players  advance in their skills, they often adapt a variation to “continental” grip.  Remember, it’s not one size fits all. 

4. Paddle Face Surfaces (Graphite or fiberglass)
 -Graphite offers more control or finesse.
 -Graphite is lighter & good for dinking at net.
 -Fiberglass weighs more than graphite. 
 -Fiberglass has more power (pop).
 -Fiberglass  is most common facing on courts.
 -Fiberglass is not as strong as graphite or carbon fiber
 -Fiberglass is usually less expensive than graphite.

5. Paddle Core (Nomex, Graphite, Polymer honeycomb patterns)
*Nomex cores are louder than polymer cores & produce  more power but less ball control. *Graphite cores are strong & provide great ball control but sacrifice a bit of power. *Polymer core is softer & has larger honeycomb cells, quieter & has great power, but less control compared to nomex & fiberglass cores.

6. Paddle Dimensions (IFP Rules: ”Paddle length & width combined measurement cannot exceed 24”)
*Paddle length: should not to exceed 15-3/4” .
*Paddle face width:7 ¾” to  8” symmetrical design see example.
* Paddle Shape: symmetrical same top and bottom design. Provide larger “sweet spots,” better balance and more power for longer shots. Avoid tapered “tear drop” shape paddles. Poor ball control, balance and power
BLOCK SHAPED  PADDLE FACE PROVIDES BETTER BALL CONTROL AND SHOT PLACEMENT THAN A TAPERED TEAR DROP SHAPED FACE PADDLE.                                  
HOW TO PURCHASE YOUR UPGRADED PADDLE.
Select your preference in each of the six (6) paddle features that best fit your hand size, weight preference, grip circumference, grip length, paddle face material, & paddle core material, based on feel, play, responsiveness, ball control and how much you want to spend.
Rule #1: Try different paddle out hitting balls before you buy.  
Rule #2: Shop in Racquet Sports Stores with a Practice Court & Demo Paddles to try before you buy.
Rule #3: Ask other players to try out their paddles?  Hit some balls, test paddle feel in hand, weight balance, ball control & listen for the clear pop sound when hitting a ball. Demo a paddle with both an indoor and outdoor ball.  

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR PADDLE FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE ON THE COURT 
FIRST & FOREMOST, WASH YOUR GRUBBY GERM INFESTED, OILY HANDS, & WAS 'EM GOOD.  Who ever heard of cleaning a Pickleball Paddle? Ask “PADDLETEK“ Leaders in Paddle Production & Sales.  PADDLETEK is most Pro Sponsored Brand in pickle ball, & They provide a written guarantee with CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS for each paddle they sell. (Windex Glass Cleaner, Nylon Dish Brush, Tap Water.).

Major Paddle Brands like Paddletek recommend cleaning paddle after  heavy use. *Oils & court wax on balls stick to paddle surface, dampen  ball & spin control. *Rinse off both sides of paddle face with warm tap water. *Spray Windex Brand Glass Cleaner on each side of paddle face. *Use clean unused nylon dish brush to lightly scrub paddle face with clockwise circular motion. *Rinse off paddle with warm tap water.  Do not dry with cloth or paper towel. *Compressed air work wells, or hold paddle by handle & vigorously wave paddle up & down until all signs of wetness are gone from face.

*Afterwards DO NOT touch paddle face with hands, or let others touch paddle face with hands. *
A soft form fitting paddle cover will protect your paddle during travel, and prevent scratches or dings on paddle face.  These accessories are relatively inexpensive insurance for your costly poaddle. 
*YOU SHOULD EXPERIENCE IMPROVED PADDLE PERFORMANCE AFTER CLEANING.    
If you plan on attending a Beginners Pickleball Instruction Program you will need your own inexpensive practice paddle for class and take home practice.  You will also need three indoor pickle balls for home practice.
                             RECOMMENDED LOCAL PICKLEBALL GEAR SUPPLIER
HOLABIRD SPORTS, 9220 Pulaski Hwy, Chase, MD 21220 410-687-6400 for all your racquet sports and pickle ball paddles, court accessories and shoes. They also have an caged indoor practice area where you can try out their demo paddles before you buy one.
ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS OR SKILL RELATED PROBLEMS CONTACT
“Joe Palmere Jr.”(410-852-0550) non-answering line, leave message, & hang up)
IPTPA Certified Professional Pickleball Coach, Beginners & Intermediate, Insured USAPA Pickleball Association Ambassador, Baltimore County, MD  

DANGER WILL ROBINSON, DANGER WILL ROBINSON, caution to those "buck squeezers" who are looking for a cheap deal on a good paddle.  GO AHEAD & MAKE YOUR "PENNY PINCHING PURCHASE."  But don't come crying back to me when you find out, after playing a few games with it, that the paddle has lost all signs of life, "no pop, not even a pip" no ball control, on ball miscontrol,  and no power, other than the Lightening Bolt Logo on the face.  Worst of all it lost whatever sweet spot it had.  OH, BUT YOU SAY, this paddle was used by an Advanced Player who won lots of tournaments with it.  GOOD! Get your friend, the CHAMP to autograph the paddle and hang it in your trophy room, cause it ain't no more good for the courts. If the CHAMP was really that good, he probably got the paddle for free from a paddle manufacturer, or won it in a tournament. Then used it for 3 or 4 years, just waiting for the first DUMMY to come along and buy it.

Let me know if these tips helped in selecting and purchasing your upgraded paddle.

Well ladies and gents the hour grows late.  As the greatest of Bards, Shakespeare wrote the line for Romeo in his sonnet, "Romeo and Juliet," good night, good night sweet Juliet, sleep has shrouded my being, ah to sleep, to sleep per chance to dream, and dream of  you alone, fair  maiden, I shell." OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT!