Project Pickleball

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Pickleball has been on my radar for about two years now. I was planning to give it a shot last year (September-May season), but couldn't do it. I'm really considering giving it a shot this season. Looks pretty fun! It can't be by accident it's such a success and the fastest growing sport in the US.

There's abosutely no proper infrastructure available where I live to try it right away. Only a couple municipal courts I play tennis at, but it's not possible to putting in and out the proper lines for the pickleball court every time. I would like like an "alien" playing Pickleball in this small town anyway!

For starters, there's a private abandoned tennis court I can play at whanever I want to and that has the advantage of privacy and Pickleball sounds won't be annoying for any houses nearby (only one across the street).

First things first, I have to find one or two of my tennis hitting partners or a couple of amateur friends into trying it, once I've set lines, net and have a couple of Pickleball paddles to use.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Looks like there are 3 main candidates for starters:

Selkirk Dude Perfect pack
Diadem Hero pack
Head Flash pack
Joola Ben Johns/Tundra pack

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

2 Pickleball Paddles along with 12 Pickleball balls are on their way from Zhuge Liang's motherland.

All badget-friendly introdactory paddles available for sale in Europe are 80€+ and have fiberglass finish.

The ones I ordered for 25€ have the following specs (supposingly):

16mm thickness Carbon Fiber
Polypropylene honeycobe core
Frosted finish
7.8 oz weight
5 inch grip (I think)

 

[BlueB]

there's a private abandoned tennis court I can play at whanever I want to

Just stay there

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Introductory gear is here. Balls arrived in 10 days and the 2 paddle pack arrived in 30 days, exactly as stated.

These paddels are indeed USAP approved.
I'll share first impressions when I manage to hit with them.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Exchanged some balls with my 8 year old nephew today for 20 minutes under our house kiosk (no net, no nothing). This thing is incradibly easy to pick up and just have fun. He said "even grandma can play this!". Can't wait to hit a tennis court with it and try it with the net (a bit lower) etc

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

A couple tempting "edvocate" offers at hand, one is much more tempting than the other, but I'll see what I can get until the end of the week.

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Hi!

Is anyone aware about the cost of Customs, tariffs, taxes, or duty fees applied upon delivery of a Pickleball package to European country (Greece) is?

I now have at hand some great sponsorship offers from Pickleball brands from the US, but I don't want to be caught off-guard by ridiculous cost of importation.

Talking about a package of commercial price of 1000$ with several paddles, bag and balls included.

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: total import costs are 400€ give or take, since two couriers I had a phone chat with couldn't be sure about the Customs Duties charging policy...

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Due to uncertainty about Customs/Duty Costs/Tariffs and other "EU - von der Leyen" importation "laws", I have put on hold or should I say turn down Sponsorships/Ambassador offers from some US Pickleball brands like Selkirk, Gearbox, Neonic, 11six24, Six Zero.

Tennis Warehouse Europe doesn't stock enough options from these top brands, yet. I hope this will change in time, as the sport will grow.

I clinched a pretty damn good deal with Juciao from China for 6 paddles. Until they arrive, I'll be using the 2 paddles I have and try set-up the pickleball court.
In time, I'll be trying to get my hands on whatever paddle I can get.

 

[I Dink Too Much]

I just joined the largest privately-owned indoor pickleball club in the country. (I'm sure that status will not last; somebody will build a 40 or 50 court facility.) But for now ... 24 courts!

Konstantinos, do I understand you have a difficult time buying Selkirk, Paddletek or Engage paddles (as examples) because of heavy tariffs? Wow! Do you have any American friends who can *gift* you with some paddles?

See if you can find some paddles with carbon fiber faces. The fiberglass face had a very brief life in the sport; not nearly as much control / spin as one can get with carbon fiber.

- Dink

 

[konstantinos kalfountzos]

Konstantinos, do I understand you have a difficult time buying Selkirk, Paddletek or Engage paddles (as examples) because of heavy tariffs? Wow! Do you have any American friends who can *gift* you with some paddles?

Selkirk or other US-based brands sending a package to someone else in the US and that guy opening the package, removing the "bill" and then sending the package as his gift to me could work.
Makes total sense. Thanks! I will definitely check this case out and if it is valid, I'll see who I can find to assist on this.

For now, I'm waiting delivery of the 6 Juciao paddles I attach above. A couple of them are regulated. All of them will be more than fine for kicking-off Pickleball here.

I have to test the surface of the tennis court I have available, see what parts of it are decent to play Pickleball.

EDIT: "gift" can be sent to Greece with the sender writing "gift" and a "value" < 22€, so a tax of 24% will be paid for the value of the gift (<22€) and little to none customs fees.