Educate us tennisnerds!

[cd3768]

Hi all,

I currently work at a tennis/pickleball shop. I’m a tennis nerd but barely know anything about pickleball. I’ve played a couple times but play tennis much more. Could I get some advice on pickleball paddle and ball tech? All I know is that the thicker paddles absorb the ball better, some paddles have a textured surface for spin, some paddles are lengthened or have shorter handles, and outdoor balls have more holes.

Thanks!

 

[Lorenn]

Really depends on where you play and who you play with which ball is best. Outdoor balls have 40 holes and indoor balls have 26. From lowest bounce to highest... or from fastest to slowest.

Dura fast 40- Many consider it the only ball one should play with...mainly because it is a insanely popular tourney ball. It was the first mass produced pickleball. It is a low bounce hard ball. Normally tends to force the game towards finesse versus power. Ball will normally crack before wearing out. Hard hits tend to make the ball crack or go out of round. Considered low bounce, low durability, fast ball. Costly to play with...

Franklin x-40- Gaining footholds against the durafast as it is the second most popular ball in tournaments. Bounces a little higher. Better durability(than dura fast).

Penn 40- Interesting color. Bounces higher than above balls, has great durability.

Onix Fuse G2- Bounces a little higher, tends to get soft quickly compared to Penn 40 and Onix Pure.

Onix Pure- tends to bounce higher then the above and has great durability.

Normally I would use Penn 40 or Onix Pure for a new group of players. Franklin X-40 or Penn 40 for advance. Dura fast if you are prepping for tourneys which play with said ball. Lower the ball bounces the more the game tends to end up with dinking. Dinking is soft low shots barely over the net normally forcing the other side to pop up or dink the ball back.

Paddles I would pick a middle of the road and not stress about it. Long paddles are good for increased reach and power. The issue is they are less wide so might be difficult for players without past sport experience(tennis, racquetball, baseball or squash). Personally I like polypropylene core with carbon fiber face. Normally I would get a two paddle bundle of affordable generic paddles. There are upper end paddles worth considering but unless you know what you want ...one is better off getting a generic paddle as a new player. Then when you know what you want you have spare paddles for friends. I normally bring two spare paddles with me. Prince makes nice well rounded paddles if you need a name brand.

 

[myth]

Thanks all the advice.
I have never played the game.
But i do play a lot of tennis.....and would be interesting playing pickleball.
Do you have any advise on some generic paddles to buy?

 

[SteveI]

Thanks all the advice.
I have never played the game.
But i do play a lot of tennis.....and would be interesting playing pickleball.
Do you have any advise on some generic paddles to buy?

What is a good frame in the $70.00 price range? I thought there was a ton of tennis rackets out there...LOL. PB has as just as many.

 

[Harry_Wild]

Thinner beam paddles equal more power, the opposite of tennis racquets! Heavier equals more power too.,

 

[LeeD]

More power depends on your ability to swing fast, hit center, and your idea of the game.
I see plenty if good players who always dink and slice. They do not want power.
I've seen a few young ex tennis players who hit groundies with heavy topspin, play all court, and volley like tennis. They like power, mostly use graphite rackets, and play like 5.5 level college players.
I'd like to play like the latter, but not sure my arm would hold up to all the topspin shots and full speed swings.

 

[Harry_Wild]

I've seen a few young ex tennis players who hit groundies with heavy topspin, play all court, and volley like tennis. They like power, mostly use graphite rackets, and play like 5.5 level college players.

That is how I play!

 

[StringGuruMRT]

More power depends on your ability to swing fast, hit center, and your idea of the game.
I see plenty if good players who always dink and slice. They do not want power.
I've seen a few young ex tennis players who hit groundies with heavy topspin, play all court, and volley like tennis. They like power, mostly use graphite rackets, and play like 5.5 level college players.
I'd like to play like the latter, but not sure my arm would hold up to all the topspin shots and full speed swings.

The toughest transition for me going from (and between) tennis and pickleball was not being able to hit with the topspin I was accustomed to in tennis. Trying to find a good paddle that allows for this has been a constant search!

 

[LeeD]

The toughest transition for me going from (and between) tennis and pickleball was not being able to hit with the topspin I was accustomed to in tennis. Trying to find a good paddle that allows for this has been a constant search!

I just hit flat and slice in pBall.
Tennis, strong SW forehand and mostly slice backhand.
Very short baseline rallies in pBall, and good players just hit low kitchen to counter strong baseline shots.

 

[StringGuruMRT]

I just hit flat and slice in pBall.
Tennis, strong SW forehand and mostly slice backhand.
Very short baseline rallies in pBall, and good players just hit low kitchen to counter strong baseline shots.

YEah I still have to work on my patience in pickleball... Tennis too to be honest, even after 43 years!

 

[LeeD]

Yeah, from 49 years of tennis, I can hit almost any 4.5 pBall player off the court if we stayed baseline.
And conti grip.
But short low dinks coupled with occasional waist high net putaways have me at 3.0 pBall level.

 

[StringGuruMRT]

Yeah, from 49 years of tennis, I can hit almost any 4.5 pBall player off the court if we stayed baseline.
And conti grip.
But short low dinks coupled with occasional waist high net putaways have me at 3.0 pBall level.

Yes! I feel like a 4.0-4.5 but my tournament results prove otherwise!