What happens when you independently test USAP-approved paddles against USAP's own surface roughness limits?

I tested 42 paddles from 42 different brands using the same methodology described in the USAP standards. The result was shocking: only 2 paddles passed.

Does that mean everyone is cheating? Not necessarily.

In this episode, we discuss why modern paddle technology may have outgrown the current roughness standards, what these measurements actually mean, and why approval standards may need to evolve alongside the sport.

We also examine two new grit technologies through accelerated wear testing:

• Luzz EP-12 Surface

• Scoop DEF (Durable Epoxy Fusion) Grit

Plus:

• Facolos Elite X removed from USAP certification

• Anna Leigh Waters named among TIME's most influential athletes

• Nerdy Tourney recap

• New paddles from Slamopus, Neonic, and 11SIX24

• Listener Q&A

Chapters/ Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

2:20 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: Facolos Elite X removed from USAP certification

6:09 Anna Leigh Waters makes Times Magazine's 100 Most Influential Athletes

8:23 Nerdy Tourney Recap

22:09 Experiment: I tested 42 paddles from 42 different brands to see which pass USAP surface roughness standards

32:13 Paddles of the Week: Slamopus Core X

37:41 Neonic FLX Series

44:11 11SIX24 Ultré

47:50 Tales from the Ball Cannon: Testing the durability of Luzz's new grit

52:35 Spin durability testing for DEF Grit (Scoop Sidewinder)

1:04:24 Kew & A: Should spin testing include a low-speed protocol to measure spin on dinks and drops? It could help differentiate grit technologies that produce similar spin numbers on full-speed shots.

1:09:22 As foam-core and other modern constructions continue to improve sweet spot size and stability, is twist weight becoming a less important metric than it used to be?