In KewCast 96, we cover the latest pickleball gear news, new paddle releases, spin durability testing results, and answer some great listener questions.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

4:16 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: JOOLA Pro V Teasers

11:30 Pickleball comedy 'The Dink', produced by Ben Stiller; debuts on Apple TV in July

12:47 Paddles of the Week: Update on Apes Joy break-in

21:01 Maverix Havik 2

29:19 Enhance MPP Turbo

37:36 Tales from the Ball Cannon: New spin durability testing methodology

47:02 Accelerated break-in coming soon

53:08 Kew & A: Please create a video about the paddle with most durable grit on the market after extended testing for us: Spartus P1 or 11six24 Power2

53:48 Even though testing RPM with a cannon and clamped paddle produces less RPM than your arm, do you trust the results of the cannon more?

58:02 A player drilling outdoors in cold weather compares LT and Selkirk S1 pickleballs, noting that LT stays lively, durable, and round in all weather, while Selkirk is very durable but can temporarily go out of round when hit hard in cold temperatures.

1:00:26 A user asks whether the Franklin ball’s tendency to become less perfectly round could increase its dip after leaving the paddle by enhancing the Magnus effect compared to a more consistently round LT ball.

Products mentioned in pod:

🔹 11SIX24 - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://11six24.com/?sca_ref=5460250.6fDhFP0v1v

🔹Enhance - take $25 off with code JOHNKEW: https://enhancepickleball.com/discount/JOHNKEW?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fpaddles

🔹Maverix - take 15% off with code JOHNKEW: https://www.maverixpickleball.com/

🔹Pickleball Apes - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://www.pickleballapes.com?sca_ref=4876737.4JZ4MIHBSA

📰 Latest News

• JOOLA Pro V confirmed for March 3 release

• Honeycomb graphics + flex references

• Pickleball comedy “The Dink” coming to Apple TV

🏓 Paddles of the Week

• Apes Joy update (break-in + release info)

• Enhance MPP Turbo launch details

🎯 Tales from the Ball Cannon

📏We’re building a repeatable spin durability testing protocol:

• Paddle locked at 30°

• 100 impacts @ 70 MPH

• Example Result:

• Vatic Saga Flash

• New: 1,906 RPM

• After 100 impacts: 1,565 RPM

• Loss: -341 RPM

📏Controlled accelerated break-in

• 550 Newton applied force

• 80 impacts @ 50 MPH

We also discuss how grit durability testing is evolving and how this could shape 2026 paddle innovation.

🗣 Q&A Topics

• Most durable grit: Spartus P1 vs 11six24 Power2

• Stationary paddle spin vs player-generated spin

• LT vs Selkirk S1 vs Franklin ball durability

• Does ball distortion increase Magnus dip?

Thanks for listening to KewCast.

See you in the lab.

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