I talk with Carl Schmits, Managing Director of Equipment Standards and Facilities Development over at USA Pickleball. We talk about paddle delamination, thermoforming, facilities and courts, paddle testing, his background and how it shaped who he is, and his perspective on the current landscape of the sport and what aspects can and will keep it from growing.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:04 Guest introduction

03:02 New testing tool Optical Scanning Platform

05:45 What is the scanner looking for?

07:30 Travis Rettenmeier and PPA Red Rocks

09:25 What about paddles already out on the market

09:54 Delamination

12:10 Evolution of paddles

14:20 How to detect delamination

17:15 What is USAP’s role in disputes and conflicts in competition

18:45 How does PPA not being USAP sanctioned effect the tournament?

21:12 How quickly does the testing provide results?

24:20 What paddle does Carl use?

25:22 MLP Daytona thoughts

27:01 What do you think is the best way to regulate the standards for testing

31:31 Benefit of open throat paddle design

34:30 Carl's background before Pickleball

44:30 Facilities design and development

50:00 USAP updates

57:18 Advice

01:00:40 Closing, info, resources

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Leave a comment with your thoughts on rules and regulations, which should go and which should be added.

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#pickleball #pickleballpaddle #usapa #usapickleball #podcast

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Check out all the episodes here https://www.youtube.com/@buildingpickleball

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