Nutty Pickleball parents

B

bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
I took my teenage nephew to play at a pickleball tournament, and his opponent was another sixteen-year-old kid in the semi-final. Well, my nephew beat that kid 11-0, 11-0, and after the match, the sixteen-year-old father complained to the official that my nephew used the Joola Perseus gen 3, which was not approved by the USPA. Prior to the match, the same official inspected the paddle and confirmed that it was legit. After talking it over, they defaulted my nephew for using an illegal paddle, even though it was not my nephew's fault. I told the sixteen-year-old father that he was a piece of sh_t for doing that. Had my nephew used the Joola Perseus mod TA-15 instead of the Perseus gen 3, the score would still be 11-0, 11-0.
 
bobleenov1963 said:
Prior to the match, the same official inspected the paddle and confirmed that it was legit. After talking it over, they defaulted my nephew for using an illegal paddle,
Click to expand...
You're telling me your nephew specifically asked the official if he was allowed to use the paddle before the match and the official said he was. Then he defaulted him for using an illegal paddle?

That doesn't sound believable.
 
tennis3 said:
You're telling me your nephew specifically asked the official if he was allowed to use the paddle before the match and the official said he was. Then he defaulted him for using an illegal paddle?

That doesn't sound believable.
Click to expand...
You can believe it because most tournament officials are not familiar with all the paddles. The Joola Perseus Gen 3 is NOT approved but the Joola Gen 3s IS approved by the UPA-A. As long as the paddle is approved by either organization, it is ok. The official got confused between the Gen 3 and Gen 3s.
 
How are players and their parents supposed to keep track of which paddles are legal and which are not? Are they marked on the paddle or the packaging when you buy a new one or is it Buyer Beware?
 
socallefty said:
How are players and their parents supposed to keep track of which paddles are legal and which are not? Are they marked on the paddle or the packaging when you buy a new one or is it Buyer Beware?
Click to expand...

The Joola Perseus gen 3 DOES have the "USA Pickleball Approved" on the paddle itself. The issue is that the paddle was removed/decertified by the USAP shortly it was approved by the same organization USAP. At the moment, there are two camps, USAP and UPA-A. If you play in a USAP event, Perseus gen 3 is NOT allowed; however, if you play in other events, gen 3 is allowed. To further complicate that, most tournament officials are not aware of that because all they see is "USA Pickleball Approved" on the paddle. In other words, it is a wild wild west....

It is disgusting to disqualify a kid after telling him that his paddle was allowed. The other kid's father is even worse.
 
After getting double bageled they should have hightailed it out of there as fast as they could to avoid further embarrassment. Why is a parent even allowed to insert themselves into the match?
 
Pass750 said:
After getting double bageled they should have hightailed it out of there as fast as they could to avoid further embarrassment. Why is a parent even allowed to insert themselves into the match?
Click to expand...
Tell me about it :). I dropped off my nephew at the tournament at 10am, and headed to a coffee shop to chill. I received a call from the tournament director at 10:20am that I had to be back. When I got there, they explained to me that my nephew had been disqualified for using the Perseus Gen 3. They had the referee there with my nephew and the referee said that she didn't know the Perseus Gen 3 was delisted from the USAP approved list because the paddle had the "USA Pickleball Approved" on there. It was the other kid's father that told the referee, after his kid got double pickle, that the Perseus Gen 3 was decertified. My nephew was disqualified and his kid advanced to the next match.
 
Bisquick said:
Took maybe 20 mins to play two games?
Click to expand...
Less time than that. He was only dropped off at 10am. They couldn't have started for at least 10 minutes? At least enough time for his nephew to talk to the umpire (who approved his paddle before the match).

Then they needed time after the match for the other parent to notify the umpire and the umpire to disqualify the kid and the umpire to call the OP.

Somehow all this happened in 20 minutes (including the time to play the two 11-0 sets).
 
tennis3 said:
Less time than that. He was only dropped off at 10am. They couldn't have started for at least 10 minutes? At least enough time for his nephew to talk to the umpire (who approved his paddle before the match).

Then they needed time after the match for the other parent to notify the umpire and the umpire to disqualify the kid and the umpire to call the OP.

Somehow all this happened in 20 minutes (including the time to play the two 11-0 sets).
Click to expand...
Single PB is very quick, especially when the returner couldn't return the serve or with a weak return shot, the 3rd shot is a put away. When you have a 5.0 player vs. a 3.0 player, it can finish in less than 15 minutes. In case you are not familiar with the Perseus G3, it has a very unique pop sound.
 
bobleenov1963 said:
I took my teenage nephew to play at a pickleball tournament, and his opponent was another sixteen-year-old kid in the semi-final.
Click to expand...
bobleenov1963 said:
Single PB is very quick, especially when the returner couldn't return the serve or with a weak return shot, the 3rd shot is a put away. When you have a 5.0 player vs. a 3.0 player, it can finish in less than 15 minutes. In case you are not familiar with the Perseus G3, it has a very unique pop sound.
Click to expand...
How did this kid get to the semi-finals? Is it a 3.0 tournament that your 5.0 nephew signed up for?
 
bobleenov1963 said:
I took my teenage nephew to play at a pickleball tournament, and his opponent was another sixteen-year-old kid in the semi-final. Well, my nephew beat that kid 11-0, 11-0, and after the match, the sixteen-year-old father complained to the official that my nephew used the Joola Perseus gen 3, which was not approved by the USPA. Prior to the match, the same official inspected the paddle and confirmed that it was legit. After talking it over, they defaulted my nephew for using an illegal paddle, even though it was not my nephew's fault. I told the sixteen-year-old father that he was a piece of sh_t for doing that. Had my nephew used the Joola Perseus mod TA-15 instead of the Perseus gen 3, the score would still be 11-0, 11-0.
Click to expand...
EVERYONE knows the Gen 3s are illegal - its been the biggest story in PB this year. This is on you/nephew's parents/nephew for the kid showing up to a tourney with a paddle everyone knows is banned. The ref probably thought it was a 3s not a gen 3 because they look similar. You can blame the official or the dad or whoever but in the end if you bring an illegal paddle to a tourney you're getting DQ'd.
 
Last edited:
What kind of PB tournament was this?

Most PB players are at least 80 so that puts the parents at 105 or more.

Shouldn't OPs nephew be playing a sport with people his age?
 
My partner and I got beat in the mixed bronze medal match of a PB regional tournament this summer with the male opposite using the Joola Gen 3. His wicked spin was our undoing. The ref checked all four paddles for texture of the surface as they do, but non of us realized what paddle he was using. No excuses, he was the superior player of the four of us on the court.
 
atatu said:
Ok, but they also show professional tag and bowling. Actually tag requires much more skill and athleticism.
Click to expand...
Combine professional tag and lawn bowling. Betcha Bocce would be must see again. Played doubles with bocce, horseshoes, and shuffleboard playing next to us. Whistle drove me nuts. Kept stopping play.
 
bobleenov1963 said:
I took my teenage nephew to play at a pickleball tournament, and his opponent was another sixteen-year-old kid in the semi-final. Well, my nephew beat that kid 11-0, 11-0, and after the match, the sixteen-year-old father complained to the official that my nephew used the Joola Perseus gen 3, which was not approved by the USPA. Prior to the match, the same official inspected the paddle and confirmed that it was legit. After talking it over, they defaulted my nephew for using an illegal paddle, even though it was not my nephew's fault. I told the sixteen-year-old father that he was a piece of sh_t for doing that. Had my nephew used the Joola Perseus mod TA-15 instead of the Perseus gen 3, the score would still be 11-0, 11-0.
Click to expand...

This is also happening at the pro level. Many paddles are failing the grit (coefficient of friction must be low to limit spin) and deflection (power must be low) tests. I heard that the paddles are sometimes tested after a match, and if they fail, they are confiscated but the player is not penalized and can move on. Pros are bringing a dozen paddles to a match because they don't know which one will fail and be confiscated.

Sometimes paddles are tested before a match. Some pros are putting the paddle in a fridge freezer overnight to pass the deflection test, which might fail when the paddle heats up.

In one video, this pro said that he had obtained illegal paddles and even a beginner could tell how insanely powerful they were.

One reason deflection test is used is to reduce chances of eye injury to the opponent.

In one tournament in Atlanta, 65% of the paddles failed testing.

There are also allegations that manufacturers are teaming up with one of the two groups of governing bodies so that their paddles are OKed in tournaments. Sometimes it is alleged that the 6 samples they are required to send for approval may not be representative of their mass-produced paddle.

Seems to me that Pickle technology is far more sophisticated than tennis.

@ByeByePoly Don't worry at your rec levels no one is testing so feel free to fish for illegal paddles and win against your opponent Fat Jim.
 
All paddles should have a QR code which an official can scan and find the legal status on his own in a second.
 
bobleenov1963 said:
I took my teenage nephew to play at a pickleball tournament, and his opponent was another sixteen-year-old kid in the semi-final. Well, my nephew beat that kid 11-0, 11-0, and after the match, the sixteen-year-old father complained to the official that my nephew used the Joola Perseus gen 3, which was not approved by the USPA. Prior to the match, the same official inspected the paddle and confirmed that it was legit. After talking it over, they defaulted my nephew for using an illegal paddle, even though it was not my nephew's fault. I told the sixteen-year-old father that he was a piece of sh_t for doing that. Had my nephew used the Joola Perseus mod TA-15 instead of the Perseus gen 3, the score would still be 11-0, 11-0.
Click to expand...
On the flip side, it may have been a blessing in disguise. If your nephew had played the final and won and posed with the trophy and the paddle, it might have been very embarrassing down the line.
 
sureshs said:
This is also happening at the pro level. Many paddles are failing the grit (coefficient of friction must be low to limit spin) and deflection (power must be low) tests. I heard that the paddles are sometimes tested after a match, and if they fail, they are confiscated but the player is not penalized and can move on. Pros are bringing a dozen paddles to a match because they don't know which one will fail and be confiscated.

Sometimes paddles are tested before a match. Some pros are putting the paddle in a fridge freezer overnight to pass the deflection test, which might fail when the paddle heats up.

In one video, this pro said that he had obtained illegal paddles and even a beginner could tell how insanely powerful they were.

One reason deflection test is used is to reduce chances of eye injury to the opponent.

In one tournament in Atlanta, 65% of the paddles failed testing.

There are also allegations that manufacturers are teaming up with one of the two groups of governing bodies so that their paddles are OKed in tournaments. Sometimes it is alleged that the 6 samples they are required to send for approval may not be representative of their mass-produced paddle.

Seems to me that Pickle technology is far more sophisticated than tennis.

@ByeByePoly
Click to expand...
Yeah, I mentioned this in the thread When will pickleball become an Olympic Sport back in 2023 but was told that it was not true and that it was all being worked out by the manufacturers.

When will pickleball be an Olympic sport?

When will pickleball be an Olympic sport?
tt.tennis-warehouse.com tt.tennis-warehouse.com
 
bobleenov1963 said:
I took my teenage nephew to play at a pickleball tournament, and his opponent was another sixteen-year-old kid in the semi-final. Well, my nephew beat that kid 11-0, 11-0, and after the match, the sixteen-year-old father complained to the official that my nephew used the Joola Perseus gen 3, which was not approved by the USPA. Prior to the match, the same official inspected the paddle and confirmed that it was legit. After talking it over, they defaulted my nephew for using an illegal paddle, even though it was not my nephew's fault. I told the sixteen-year-old father that he was a piece of sh_t for doing that. Had my nephew used the Joola Perseus mod TA-15 instead of the Perseus gen 3, the score would still be 11-0, 11-0.
Click to expand...
you are such a nice and pleasant to deal with individual. you are also an outstanding role model for your nephew. I have no words.
 
optic yellow said:
More to the point, why is the nephew using a paddle that was known to be illegal if a non-illegal paddle would result in the same match outcome?
Click to expand...
He didn't know the paddle was delisted/decertified, and his mother, my sister, bought the paddle when it first came out, before it was delisted, and most people do not follow USAPA news That's why you have officials at tournaments to inspect/confirm paddle. That's their jobs, not the teenager. It is funny that he won the round 32, 16, quarterfinal with the same paddle, and the paddle was inspected by three different officials and passed. Go figure.
 
bobleenov1963 said:
He didn't know the paddle was delisted/decertified, and his mother, my sister, bought the paddle when it first came out, before it was delisted, and most people do not follow USAPA news That's why you have officials at tournaments to inspect/confirm paddle. That's their jobs, not the teenager. It is funny that he won the round 32, 16, quarterfinal with the same paddle, and the paddle was inspected by three different officials and passed. Go figure.
Click to expand...
Okay this is fair as much as I dislike the Perseus 3 the approval bait and switch is not reasonable.
 
LOBALOT said:
Jack made the switch for some extra $. I assure you he would much rather be making the $$$$$$$ on the ATP.

Most rec PB players are shuttled to tournaments from the senior center in one of those vans with a lift.
Click to expand...
lol I can say the same about 3-3.5 USTA. Go signup and record your play in a 4.5 PB tourney, we could use the laugh!

Jack made the switch because his singles career was over and there’s more money to be made in PB than ATP doubles. The sponsorship money alone is gonna exceed his ATP money if he can stay in the top 10 for the next decade. There is CRAZY money to be made in PB in the next decade because the PB player base is already larger than tennis and still growing while tennis is shrinking. Doubles ATP sponsorships can’t compete with the sponsorship money he stands to make in PB. The only place tennis still shines is elite singles play where it makes for good TV.
 
Last edited:
vex said:
lol I can say the same about 3-3.5 USTA. Go signup and record your play in a 4.5 PB tourney, we could use the laugh!

Jack made the switch because his singles career was over and there’s more money to be made in PB than ATP doubles. The sponsorship money alone is gonna exceed his ATP money if he can stay in the top 10 for the next decade. There is CRAZY money to be made in PB in the next decade because the PB player base is already larger than tennis and still growing while tennis is shrinking. Doubles ATP sponsorships can’t compete with the sponsorship money he stands to make in PB. The only place tennis still shines is elite singles play where it makes for good TV.
Click to expand...

PB isn't going to exceed any tennis money. No one is going to watch PB on TV. It is unwatchable. Without TV there is no money.

Our town just had a PB tourney. I didn't play as I don't play but there were more old geezers there than the bingo night at the rec center.
 
LOBALOT said:
PB isn't going to exceed any tennis money. No one is going to watch PB on TV. It is unwatchable. Without TV there is no money.

Our town just had a PB tourney. I didn't play as I don't play but there were more old geezers there than the bingo night at the rec center.
Click to expand...

Do you have any evidence to back this up?

PB is NOT going to exceed any tennis money. That's the fact in 2024; however, that might change 20 years from now. You now have Private Equities & Wealth Management interested in investment in PB. That will increase in revenue in the future. The future is looking really good for Pickleball. Not sure if you are aware but they showed PB on regular CBS TV this past weekend and the weekend before that during the 3pm-6pm ET time. CBS would not have shown them if there weren't any interests.

As I already mentioned in previous posts, most of the technology vendors were doing customer relationships/events, those used to be golf events 100% of the time. I am now seeing PB events about 50% of the times, and 50% of time golf. Times are changing because so many young and old people are into PB these days. As much as I love tennis, tennis people are fighting a losing battle. Here in Fairfax County Virginia, tennis courts are being replaced with PB courts. Almost 100% of the new home sub-divisions are built with PB courts and ZERO tennis courts. You would think that they could build tennis courts and put PB lines on there for dual-use but they do NOT. They build dedicated PB courts. That is also going on a lot in Florida when I was there a few months ago. As much as it pains me to say this but PB is here to stay and will take over tennis in the US in the next few years.
 
LOBALOT said:
PB isn't going to exceed any tennis money. No one is going to watch PB on TV. It is unwatchable. Without TV there is no money.

Our town just had a PB tourney. I didn't play as I don't play but there were more old geezers there than the bingo night at the rec center.
Click to expand...
Its like soccer in US, supposedly so many people play, but it never catches on. Pickleball while great for people to play is impossible to watch, it will never catch on as a spectator sport. When people reach high levels and it turns into a dinkfest, not fun at all to watch.
 
bobleenov1963 said:
Do you have any evidence to back this up?

PB is NOT going to exceed any tennis money. That's the fact in 2024; however, that might change 20 years from now. You now have Private Equities & Wealth Management interested in investment in PB. That will increase in revenue in the future. The future is looking really good for Pickleball. Not sure if you are aware but they showed PB on regular CBS TV this past weekend and the weekend before that during the 3pm-6pm ET time. CBS would not have shown them if there weren't any interests.

As I already mentioned in previous posts, most of the technology vendors were doing customer relationships/events, those used to be golf events 100% of the time. I am now seeing PB events about 50% of the times, and 50% of time golf. Times are changing because so many young and old people are into PB these days. As much as I love tennis, tennis people are fighting a losing battle. Here in Fairfax County Virginia, tennis courts are being replaced with PB courts. Almost 100% of the new home sub-divisions are built with PB courts and ZERO tennis courts. You would think that they could build tennis courts and put PB lines on there for dual-use but they do NOT. They build dedicated PB courts. That is also going on a lot in Florida when I was there a few months ago. As much as it pains me to say this but PB is here to stay and will take over tennis in the US in the next few years.
Click to expand...

Nothing but history Bob. You know that subject they teach at Virginia.

Everyone said in the 80s racquetball was going to replace tennis and everyone was playing it and stopped playing tennis. Racquetball was on TV and all (also impossible to watch on TV) and everyone said tennis was dead and going to be replaced by racquetball. Yes, all the racquetball vendors came out of the woodwork and new technology and all.

And then whoooosh!

Can you tell me when was the last time you watched racquetball on TV Bob?
 
bobleenov1963 said:
Do you have any evidence to back this up?

PB is NOT going to exceed any tennis money. That's the fact in 2024; however, that might change 20 years from now. You now have Private Equities & Wealth Management interested in investment in PB. That will increase in revenue in the future. The future is looking really good for Pickleball. Not sure if you are aware but they showed PB on regular CBS TV this past weekend and the weekend before that during the 3pm-6pm ET time. CBS would not have shown them if there weren't any interests.

As I already mentioned in previous posts, most of the technology vendors were doing customer relationships/events, those used to be golf events 100% of the time. I am now seeing PB events about 50% of the times, and 50% of time golf. Times are changing because so many young and old people are into PB these days. As much as I love tennis, tennis people are fighting a losing battle. Here in Fairfax County Virginia, tennis courts are being replaced with PB courts. Almost 100% of the new home sub-divisions are built with PB courts and ZERO tennis courts. You would think that they could build tennis courts and put PB lines on there for dual-use but they do NOT. They build dedicated PB courts. That is also going on a lot in Florida when I was there a few months ago. As much as it pains me to say this but PB is here to stay and will take over tennis in the US in the next few years.
Click to expand...
The issue is that PB will never ever ever be as compelling to watch on TV as as tennis since it lacks any sort of grandeur.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Dae18
Need a new paddle
Replies
2
Views
984
Dae18
Dae18
1HBHfanatic
Wood pickleball Paddle/s anyone!?!?
Replies
2
Views
1K
1HBHfanatic
1HBHfanatic
S
A Pickleball confession
5 6 7
Replies
339
Views
21K
jhick
jhick
The_Order
Carlos losing would be a disaster for the tour
2 3 4
Replies
177
Views
10K
DariaGT
DariaGT
konstantinos kalfountzos
Project Pickleball
2
Replies
56
Views
6K
konstantinos kalfountzos
konstantinos kalfountzos
Back
Top