The KewCast with John & Eddie

We updated our paddle leaderboard, revisited pickleball eye protection with Part 2 of our ballistic dummy testing, discussed JOOLA settling with Proton over Propulsion Core patents, the return of Proton's NanoTac Series One, and whether paddle feel might actually be quantifiable.

Timestamps/Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:43 JOOLA Settles Propulsion Core Patent Dispute with Proton

5:33 Proton Series 1 Nanotac Returns

10:08 Someone pretending to be me scammed Juciao

14:43 Ballistic Dummy Head Eyewear Impact Testing, Part 2

36:59 Can the Feel Wheel be Quantified?

47:01 Kew & A: Who’s actually nerdier? The people discussing paddles for 90 minutes, or the people tuning in?

47:46 Can a 45° Carbon Fiber Layup Actually Improve Spin?

50:05 Can We Now Predict Feel and Performance From Construction Alone?

51:59 How Much Does Court Surface Affect Bounce and Spin?

53:59 Concentrated Weight vs. Distributed Weight

57:08 C45 Dynasty Owners: OMNI, Ultre, or Something Else?

58:26 11SIX24 Ultre vs. Coral Hybrid: Which Should You Buy?

1:00:44 The Irony of USAP's Spin Testing

1:03:13 Paddle Leaderboard Updates

Products Mentioned in Podcast:

Paddles:

🔹Honolulu J6CR Blue Grit (save 10% with code JOHNKEW): https://808pickle.com/products/j6cr-crystal-blue-endurance-surface%E2%84%A2-pre-order?sca_ref=4978161.g3fNpksoBn

🔹11SIX24 Ultré (save $10 with code JOHNKEW): https://11six24.com/products/ultre-power-2?sca_ref=5460250.6fDhFP0v1v

🔹Enhance MPP Turbo (save 10% with code JOHNKEW): https://www.enhancepickleball.com/JOHNKEW

🔹Friday Aura Pro (save 10% with code JOHNKEW): https://www.fridaypickle.com/JOHNKEW

🔹Six Zero Coral Pro (save 10% with code JOHNKEW):

https://us.sixzeropickleball.com/products/coral-pro?sca_ref=3538395.LI0TTTs35q

🔹Selkirk Boomstik (receive $40 digitage coupon with code INF-JOHNKEW): https://www.selkirk.com/products/selkirk-labs-project-boomstik?sca_ref=6285388.NM89wCbFwv

🔹Spartus P1 (save 10% with code JOHNKEW): https://gospartus.com/products/p1-hybrid?sca_ref=6068787.EPfiuPRWyI

Eyewear:

🔹Brioti (save 10% with code JOHNKEW): https://brioti.com/johnkew

🔹CRBN Drift & Pivot (save 10% with code JOHNKEW): https://www.crbnpickleball.com/discount/JOHNKEW

🔹Gearbox Vision (save 10% with code JOHNKEW): https://gearboxsports.com/collections/eyewear-all-eyewear?rfsn=7659766.b5c963

🔹Kitchen Blockers: https://kitchenblockers.com/products/kitchen-blockers

In this episode:

• Updated Top 5 paddle rankings from John and Eddie

• Ballistic dummy eyewear testing – Part 2

• ANSI vs ASTM impact standards explained

• Kitchen Blockers, Gearbox, CRBN and Tifosi eyewear discussion

• JOOLA settles with Proton

• Proton Series One NanoTac returns

• Quantifying paddle feel using sound and vibration data

• Weight clips vs tuning tape

• Omni vs Ultre

• Coral Hybrid vs Ultre

• Are smaller brands really designing their own paddles?

• USAP spin durability irony

Links:

Technical Pickleball Study on Quantifying Feel Chart: https://www.technicalpickleball.net/feel

JJ Pickleball's interview with Charles Darling of Proton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kevwqucK-k

JOOLA Settles Propulsion Core Patent Dispute with Proton: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/joola-settles-propulsion-core-patent-dispute-with-proton-302801589.html?tc=eml_cleartime

Kitchen Blockers safety testing: https://kitchenblockers.com/pages/pickleball-eye-safety-testing

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?

We just found another Tier One durable grit paddle.

Check out my updated paddle database/interface here: https://www.johnkewpickleball.com/paddle-database

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:38 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: New Paddle Database Interface at johnkewpickleball.com

4:53 Paddles of the Week: Luzz Inferno Frozen

12:41 Scoop Sidewinder ($100 MPP paddle with claimed durable grit)

20:04 24Seven Turbo and Vantage ($100 full foam paddles with claimed durable grit)

30:11 Selkirk OMNI

39:20 11SIX24 Ultré

41:25 Vyce Honey Grips

46:06 E6 balls - a cheaper Life Time option?

50:35 Six Zero Ball

53:33 High speed footage comparing ball rebound for LT48, Franklin, Six Zero, and E6

58:07 Experiment: Hitting paddles with noise canceling headphones on

1:02:38 Tales from the Ball Cannon: Spin Durability Results for Selkirk OMNI, Six Zero Coral Pro, and PIKKL Skins

1:16:16 Kew & A: Can you identify which top spin-tier paddles are USAP vs. UPA-A certified, and what are the highest-spinning USAP-approved paddles right now?

1:19:08 What all-court paddles keep that stiff, hollow Boomstik-style feel? How do the CR series and Coral Pro fit into that conversation?

Also in this week's KewCast, we're seeing that the paddle industry may be entering its next major phase. After months of relatively slow releases, we're suddenly seeing multiple brands chasing the same goal: a high-performance paddle around the $100 price point with genuinely durable grit.

In this episode, we discuss several new releases including the Luzz Inferno Frozen, Scoop Sidewinder, 24Seven Turbo and Vantage, Selkirk OMNI, and the new 11SIX24 Ultré shape. We also take a closer look at the technologies these brands are using in an attempt to improve long-term spin durability.

Also, an experiment using noise canceling headphones and loud music while hitting different paddles. It's wild - without hearing the paddles, they all feel nearly the same.

Then it's time for another round of controlled ball cannon testing.

The biggest finding? The Six Zero Coral Pro became the newest member of our Tier One durability category, showing essentially zero spin loss after accelerated wear testing. We also review fresh data on Selkirk Infinigrit and PIKKL Skins to see how they compare.

Plus:

• New paddle database updates

• Vyce Honey Grips

• E6 and Six Zero pickleballs

• Noise-canceling paddle experiment

• Viewer Q&A

Products mentioned in podcast:

🔹11SIX24 Ultré - take $10 off with code JOHNKEW (coming soon): https://11six24.com/?sca_ref=5460250.6fDhFP0v1v

🔹24Seven Turbo and Vantage - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://24sevenpickleball.com/products/turbo-pickleball-paddle

🔹E6 Outdoor Balls - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://e6pickleball.com/product/outdoor-pickleballs/

🔹Luzz Inferno Frozen - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://luzzpickleball.com?sca_ref=10162045.DyVJzmd5hL

🔹Scoop Sidewinder - not available for sale yet

🔹Six Zero Coral Pro (coming 6/14): https://www.sixzeropickleball.com?sca_ref=3538395.LI0TTTs35q

🔹Selkrik OMNI - use code INF-JOHNKEW at Selkirk for a $30 digital gift card: https://www.selkirk.com/products/selkirk-omni-pickleball-paddle?sca_ref=6285388.NM89wCbFwv

🔹Six Zero Outdoor Balls - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://us.sixzeropickleball.com/products/6-0-pro-pickleball?sca_ref=3538395.LI0TTTs35q

🔹Vyce Honey Grips - use code JOHNKEW for 10% off: https://vycesports.com/products/honey-grip-blush-pink

If durable grit, paddle technology, and objective testing are your thing, this is a packed episode.

#pickleball #pickleballpaddle #sixzero #selkirk #11six24 #durablegrit #johnkew #kewcast #pickleballgear

What happens when a paddle GAINS spin after wear testing instead of losing it? We may have underestimated the true spin ceiling in pickleball.

🔹Save $20 on Enhance MPP Turbo hybrid with code JOHNKEW at checkout: https://www.enhancepickleball.com/JOHNKEW

Chapters/ Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

1:33 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: Selkirk extending warranty on Bread & Butter paddles from 6 months to 1-year

3:31 Paddles of the Week - Enhance MPP Turbo – new hybrid shape

10:22 Tales from the Ball Cannon, Part 1: Spin durability on traditional grit paddles (Selkirk Power Air and Engage Encore)

17:40 Tales from the Ball Cannon, Part 2: Spin Durability on Proton Nanotac and Owl Paddles

23:52 Is the spin ceiling higher than we thought, or are Nanotac and Owl felt getting elastic snapback?

28:33 Kew & A: Are you going to test the durability of the Gearbox GX2 Power paddles, and is Gearbox going to enter the field with an extended durability surface?

29:58 Should USAP and UPA-A drop surface roughness/spin limits and instead ban only materials that create rebound effects like ping pong rubber, since friction-based spin appears to have a natural ceiling anyway?

32:43 Do I even need to clean my paddle? Is that for aesthetics or is there some performance reason to clean my paddle?

34:55 Best foam-core paddle recommendations for soft resets and blocks with long-lasting grit that minimizes pop-ups?

36:42 Why do you think an edge guard is important for making a good paddle, and what role does it play in paddle performance and design?

38:53 Can you recap some niche pickleball gadgets you’ve tried — like the red light therapy device, cap coins, and handle weights — and whether you still use them or if they eventually faded out?

55:26 Gear of the Week: Update on JOOLA R4LLY shoes and Selkirk Legacy shoes

59:54 Blind Rank - Can We Rank These Paddles WITHOUT Knowing What’s Next?

1:17:21 Selkirk OMNI

In this episode of KewCast, we break down surprising spin durability test results from Proton Nanotac and Owl paddles—spoiler alert: spin actually INCREASED in a big way after accelerated wear testing.

We also explore whether these surfaces are doing more than simple friction… and whether tangential snapback might be entering pickleball.

Plus:

•Blind ranking mystery paddles with locked placements

•Enhance MPP Turbo first impressions

•New paddle from Selkirk: the OMNI

•JOOLA R4LLY shoe durability after 6 weeks

•Selkirk Legacy shoe discussion

•Red light therapy gadgets

•Firefly Recovery claims and evidence

•Foam-core paddle recommendations

•Why edge guards matter

•The future of paddle spin regulations

If you’re into paddle tech, spin science, durability testing, and gear nerd discussions… this one gets weird.

Aireo’s Nanograph and Thrive’s Clear Fusion Grit were finally tested — which spin durability tier did they rank in?

In this episode of KewCast, we test the Cyclone and Ignite/Clear Fusion grit technologies using accelerated wear testing, radar gun RPM testing, ball cannon analysis, and Starrett surface roughness measurements.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:50 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: PPA receives $225 million investment

6:49 Tama becoming superstar overnight

13:27 ALW dropped out of singles for Finals in San Clemente

15:46 Thoughts on “Partners” – New PPA Documentary

22:28 Article: Can you trust paddle reviewers because of different commissions?

39:14 Paddles of the Week: Gherkin Draco elongated and widebody

45:50 Warping Point Sophon

50:58 Aireo Cyclone with NanoGraph Grit

54:51 Pickle Poppers Pop N Pink

1:02:55 Tales from the Ball Cannon: Spin/Grit Durability Testing: Aireo Cyclone Nanograph & Thrive Clear Fusion Grit

1:10:59 Tales from the Ball Cannon Part 2: Comparing texture loss to spin loss (Starrett Results)

1:23:23 MPP Paddles & Disbonding

1:30:21 Kew & A: Do MPP or EPP foam cores offer better sweet spots at lower swing weights?

1:31:44 Could a rubber-like paddle face be legal under UPA-A rules if it passes all performance tests?

1:34:12 Does UPA-A test surface roughness, or only spin/RPM similarity testing?

👉 Products Mentioned in Podcast (Affiliate Codes):

🔹Aireo Cyclone (Nanograph) - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://tinyurl.com/ybecf22t

🔹Gherkin Draco (all shapes) - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://tinyurl.com/45n7nzk6

🔹Honolulu J2CR Blue Endurance Grit (code JOHNKEW for 10% off): https://tinyurl.com/yc6p5wj6

🔹Honolulu J6CR Blue Endurance Grit (code JOHNKEW for 10% off): https://tinyurl.com/mrxbkvjt

🔹11SIX24 Power 2 Series (code JOHNKEW for 10% off): https://tinyurl.com/5npfvt9y

🔹Pickle Poppers Pop N Pink - take 15% off with code JOHNKEW: https://tinyurl.com/46me5rts

🔹Thrive Ignite (Clear Fusion Grit) - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://tinyurl.com/2wjk2c9c

🔹Chorus Coda with Harmony Grit - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://tinyurl.com/yrk7t94r

🔹Warping Point Sophon - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://warpingpoint.com/

In this episode, we also break down:

•Texture loss vs spin loss

•Rz vs Rt Starrett readings

•Why some paddles lose spin faster than others

•MPP vs EPP foam core discussion

•UPA-A surface roughness testing

•PPA Atlanta reactions

•ALW singles withdrawal

•Pickleball Inc.’s massive new investment

•New paddle releases from Gherkin, Warping Point, Aireo, and more

#pickleball #pickleballpaddles #johnkew #kewcast

What if I told you most paddles already max out spin… and more grit doesn’t actually increase it?

And at the same time, new UPA-A rules could completely change how paddles are judged mid-match.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:33 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: Proton is back

4:00 UPA-A is now nonprofit 501-C(3), and has new rulebook

4:27 Who is this rulebook for?

7:19 Paddle compliance

11:04 Weight modification - Slyce Slyders and Pickleclips are not allowed

12:00 Paddle Challenges

16:40 Spin Penalty

19:53 Ball interaction - no more blowing the ball over the net

21:48 Balls - No more stopping play or redo unless ball is SERIOUSLY damaged

22:51 Line Calls

26:10 Serve Rules

28:15 Video Challenges

29:05 Card System

31:37 What constitutes "unsportsmanlike" behavior?

33:53 Weird / Edge Case Rules

35:43 Will local tournaments eventually adopt UPA-A rules?

36:40 Key differences between USAP & UPA-A rules

40:11 Paddle of the Week: Honolulu J2CR LH Blue Grit

49:09 Tales from the Ball Cannon: We tested a rubber surfaced paddle…and it broke everything

55:09 The Spin Ceiling Explained

56:11 If roughness can't take you beyond the spin ceiling, why are grittier paddles better?

58:56 Why rubber breaks the spin ceiling

1:00:37 My experiment: high speed footage of ball spin with ping pong rubber

1:05:16 Testing spin with radar gun

1:06:20 Takeaway: Why RPM Numbers Cluster

1:07:14 Takeaway - what this experiment tells us about the future of paddle grit technology

1:17:50 Kew & A: Will future paddles reduce noise, or is sound an important feedback mechanism that’s here to stay?

1:20:13 Why does Eddie prefer the J6CR over the J2CR, despite typically favoring hybrid/widebody paddles?

1:22:00 Will pros start using durable grit paddles, or will they remain mostly for non-pro players?

1:23:07 Is yelling after an opponent’s error more unsportsmanlike than blowing the ball over the net?

1:25:21 Do higher RPM differences between arm vs. cannon testing correlate with swing weight or added rotational velocity?

In this episode of KewCast, we break down the brand-new UPA-A rulebook and what it means for both pro and amateur pickleball—along with one of the most important discoveries we’ve ever made in paddle testing.

We tested a rubber-surfaced paddle… and the spin numbers weren’t even close.

Tennis Warehouse study by Crawford Lindsey (2023): “Pickleball Spin — Why Is A Rubber Hitting Surface Illegal?”

👉 https://twu.tennis-warehouse.com/learning_center/pickleball/rubberpaddle.php

This leads to a bigger question:

👉 Is there actually a limit to how much spin a pickleball paddle can produce?

We explain the concept of the spin ceiling, why most paddles are already near it, and why durability might matter more than peak grit.

Latest News / Gear Gossip:

•Proton is back (kind of?)

👉 Charles & Brant IG post: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXiKc1IEeq_/

On the rules side, UPA-A is introducing major changes:

👉 https://upaa.unitedpickleball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-UPA-A-Rulebook-V0.7-4.20.2026.pdf

•Ongoing paddle compliance (even after approval)

•Paddle challenges mid-match

•New serve enforcement standards

•Strict rules on ball interaction (yes—blowing on the ball is banned)

•A pro-style penalty system with cards and point penalties

We also compare UPA-A vs USAP and ask the big question:

👉 Can both systems coexist—or will one take over the sport?

🧪 Topics Covered:

•New UPA-A rulebook breakdown

•Paddle compliance and performance drift

•Paddle challenges and penalties

•Spin ceiling explained (friction vs elasticity)

•Rubber vs grit paddles (and why rubber is banned)

•Why RPM numbers cluster

•Durability vs peak spin performance

•Future of paddle technology

🏓 Paddle Featured:

•Honolulu J2CR LH Blue Grit

💬 Q&A Topics:

•J6CR vs J2CR paddle preference

•Future of paddle sound and noise

•Will pros adopt durable grit?

•Sportsmanship debates in pickleball

•Cannon vs arm spin differences

Durable grit might be the biggest paddle innovation right now.

We explain how it’s made, why it matters, and where it’s going next.

In Episode 104 of the KewCast, we dig into the latest paddle tech, including how durable grit is actually made, what it costs manufacturers, and which brands are pushing the boundaries next.

Plus, we break down new paddle releases, updated ball cannon spin data, and answer your questions about control vs power paddles, swing weight decisions, and more.

If you're trying to choose the right paddle—or just want to stay ahead of where the sport is going—this episode is packed with insight.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

3:52 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: Oncins/Black posted zero errors on serves, drives, and 3rds during gold medal match

6:25 Oncins blowing ball over net - poor sportsmanship?

13:07 Hunter Johnson's paddle throwing incident

15:20 JOOLA expands lawsuit to monetary damages

19:24 Paddles of the Week: Luzz Pro-Blade 2

24:03 Luzz Glider

28:49 Enhance MPP Turbo Widebody

34:14 Tales from the Ball Cannon: Generating Spin with Arm vs. Ball Cannon, Revised

44:59 Kew & A: As a 3.25 player struggling with pop-ups, is the J2CR Blue Grit too much compared to what I preferred in the J2NF?

47:25 What is durable grit made of, how is it applied, what does it cost to manufacture, and which brands are expected to adopt it next?

53:28 Why do some companies intentionally undersize paddle dimensions—does it help control overall weight and swing weight?

🔗 Products Mentioned in Pod (save on all with code JOHNKEW):

🔹Luzz Glider and Pro-Blade 2: https://luzzpickleball.com?sca_ref=10162045.DyVJzmd5hL

🔹Enhance MPP Turbo (release date April 15): https://www.enhancepickleball.com/JOHNKEW

🔹Chorus Coda with Harmony Grit: https://tinyurl.com/38nk37we

🔹Honolulu J2CR Blue Endurance Grit: https://tinyurl.com/yc6p5wj6

🔹Honolulu J6CR Blue Endurance Grit: https://tinyurl.com/mrxbkvjt

🔹Selkirk Boomstik (code INF-JOHNKEW): https://tinyurl.com/5dcka9sy

🔹Six Zero Coral: https://tinyurl.com/yc2sru9u

🔹Spartus P1: https://tinyurl.com/yzd5t7rx

What if you had to pick just 3 paddles for ANY player in the world, without knowing skill level or preferences?

In this episode of KewCast (Episode 103), we break down the safest bets, plus the latest paddle drops, PLUS we pit Honolulu Blue Grit up against all the other durable grits.

And in one of our most fun segments yet, we chose famous musicians who reminded us of the top 20 pickleball pros.

This one gets surprisingly deep… and a little chaotic.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

2:22 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: Elongated shapes now available for CRBN Barrage

2:47 Paddles of the Week: NOX X-Foam

9:14 Engage X2

14:03 Head to Head: Honolulu Blue Grit vs. 11SIX24 Hex Grit vs. Spartus Permagrit vs. Chorus Harmony Grit

37:49 3 Paddles for Anyone

52:13 If pickleball pros were musical artists, who would they be?

53:49 Noe Khlif

56:10 Jade Kawomoto

57:34 Eric Oncins

58:51 Lea Jansen

1:01:13 Gabe Tardio

1:03:16 Parris Todd

1:04:38 Fed Staksrud

1:06:45 Kate Fahey

1:08:11 Andrei Daescu

1:09:59 Rachel Rohrabacher

1:11:10 CJ Klinger

1:12:41 Catherine Parenteau

1:13:35 Chris Haworth

1:14:57 Jessie Irvine

1:16:18 Hayden Patriquin

1:17:38 Tyra Black

1:18:38 JW Johnson

1:19:43 Jorja Johnson

1:21:29 Christian Alshon

1:23:01 Anna Bright

1:24:26 Ben Johns

1:26:37 Anna Leigh Waters

1:29:42 Kew & A: If brands invest in innovation (like Six Zero’s Diamond Tough grit), can they realistically stop copycats—and should we expect legal action?

1:31:17 Do Paddle Shapes Affect Power? Does the data show consistent power differences across shapes—like elongated paddles hitting harder than standard or widebody—and are any clear trends emerging?

1:35:43 Do lighter paddles actually help younger players, or could they limit development compared to standard or elongated shapes?

🔗 Products Mentioned in Pod (save on all with code JOHNKEW):

🔹11SIX24 Power 2 Series: https://tinyurl.com/yc6taeh5

🔹Chorus Coda with Harmony Grit: https://tinyurl.com/38nk37we

🔹Enhance MPP Turbo: https://tinyurl.com/mut2nnzb

🔹Engage X2: https://tinyurl.com/bdhr9ryv

🔹Friday Aura: https://tinyurl.com/3395yabc

🔹Honolulu J2CR Blue Endurance Grit: https://tinyurl.com/yc6p5wj6

🔹Honolulu J6CR Blue Endurance Grit: https://tinyurl.com/mrxbkvjt

🔹JOOLA Pro V: https://tinyurl.com/yc3p5hhj

🔹NOX X-FOam: https://tinyurl.com/ms4e8myc

🔹Selkirk Boomstik (code INF-JOHNKEW): https://tinyurl.com/5dcka9sy

🔹Six Zero Coral: https://tinyurl.com/yc2sru9u

🔹Spartus P1: https://tinyurl.com/yzd5t7rx

Find all paddle data, rankings, and deals here:

👉 https://www.johnkewpickleball.com

This lawsuit could reshape pickleball paddle design overnight…

Episode 102 of the KewCast breaks down one of the biggest moments in pickleball gear history — JOOLA’s ITC lawsuit targeting multiple paddle brands and technologies.

We explain what the patents actually cover, why this isn’t just about “Gen 3” paddles, and how this could impact EVERYTHING from foam cores to hybrid designs.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:48 JOOLA lawsuit against 11 other paddle companies

23:21 PPA Hanoi Cup standout moments

27:54 Paddle of the Week: Thrive Ignite

34:06 Gear of the Week: JOOLA R4LLY Shoes

44:57 Deep Dive: Study on Grip Strength, Impact Location and Ball Speed

1:06:44 Kew & A: Franklin Aurelius for junior players (8–12)?

1:09:10 Paddle erasers: safe or damaging?

1:13:03 Can UPA ban blacked-out Proton paddles?

We also dive into:

Thrive Ignite (new full foam paddle)

JOOLA’s new R4LLY pickleball shoes

PPA Hanoi Cup takeaways

And a fascinating study showing grip strength might NOT matter for power

Key Topics

🔹 JOOLA lawsuit explained (ITC, patents 826 & 891)

🔹 Brands and paddles named in the complaint

🔹 Could foam + hybrid cores be restricted?

🔹 Thrive Ignite paddle breakdown

🔹 JOOLA R4LLY shoe tech + weight comparison

🔹 PPA Hanoi Cup observations

🔹 Grip strength vs ball speed (Technical Pickleball study)

Podcast Takeaway

At the sweet spot, the ball is gone before your grip even has time to matter — impact location is doing almost all the work.

Helpful Links

🔹Technical Pickleball Study: https://www.technicalpickleball.net/grip

🔹Thrive Ignite: save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://thrivepb.com?sca_ref=5609835.GqRRIIgfl9

🔹JOOLA R4LLY shoes (releasing in May): https://www.joola.com/?bg_ref=SGHmrvEFDJ

Pickleball just hit 24 MILLION players—but the biggest story right now is a pro paddle ban…

In Episode 101 of KewCast, we break down the Proton ban (what we know vs what we don’t), why pickleball is still the fastest-growing sport in America, and what’s happening behind the scenes at the PPA.

We also dive into new gear—including the Six Zero Coral Lightweight, Franklin C45 Aurelius, and the $400 Kobo Thunder Axe—and unpack one of the biggest debates right now: why spin results differ between the ball cannon and real gameplay.

Plus: giveaway winners, audience Q&A, and what high-speed footage is revealing about pro-level mechanics.

If you're into paddle tech, data-driven testing, and where the game is headed—this one’s for you.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

2:51 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: Proton Banned from PPA

11:06 Pickleball the most dominant growth leader across all sports

16:52 John's experience at PPA Black Desert/Zion Cup

24:55 Winners of 100th Episode Paddle Giveaway

29:22 Top 10 Favorite Podcast Moments (From Audience Responses)

35:59 Paddles of the Week: Six Zero Coral Lightweight

42:10 Franklin C45 Aurelius (ALW)

50:34 Kobo Thunder Axe

1:04:07 Gear of the Week: Babolat Jet Mach 4s

1:07:48 Update: Blumaka Konnect Insoles

1:10:08 Selkirk Legacy shoes

1:13:29 What we're learning from high-speed footage of pros

1:20:41 Tales from the Ball Cannon: Another high speed camera down :(

1:25:56 Kew & A: Could premium brand perception and industry consolidation sustain $300 paddles even without clear performance advantages—and would a failure from JOOLA challenge that idea?

1:27:52 Could differences in paddle head speed—driven by swing weight and maneuverability—explain why spin results vary between your arm tests and the cannon?

1:29:56 Is comparing cannon RPM to serve RPM misleading since real shots involve incoming ball speed—potentially changing average contact speed compared to serves, drives, or drops?

1:32:24 Should we all play with the same paddle to keep pickleball simple, affordable, and focused on skill over equipment?

1:35:36 How can Life Time sponsor the PPA as the official ball if it can’t keep products in stock—and shouldn’t there be a more reliable partner?

Products discussed in podcast:

🔹Babolat Jet Mach 4 Shoes: save 20% with code JOHNKEW at checkout: https://www.babolat.com/us/jet-mach-4-all-court-men/30S26629B.html

🔹Blumaka Nonslip Performance Insoles: save 20% with code JOHNKEW: https://blumaka.com/products/nonslip-insoles?sca_ref=9901941.bcFPwzuTR4v

🔹Franklin C45 Aurelius Anna Leigh Waters: save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://franklinsports.sjv.io/OYYNEn

🔹Kobo Thunder Axe: save 15% with code JOHNKEW: https://www.kobopickleball.co/JOHNKEW

🔹Selkirk Legacy Pro Shoes: receive $20 digital gift card with code INF-JOHNKEW: https://www.selkirk.com/collections/legacy-pro-shoes?sca_ref=6285388.NM89wCbFwv

🔹Six Zero Coral Lightweight: save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://us.sixzeropickleball.com/products/coral-16mm-lightweight?sca_ref=3538395.LI0TTTs35q