🚨 PPA is Out for Paddle Makers (Like Us) 🚨

Published: Mon, 07/01/24

No real intro today, because our top story is kind of a big deal.

Is the PPA Tour about to Knife Small Paddle Producers (Like Us) Right Between the Shoulder Blades?

This news came out last week (h/t Rob Nunnery) and we've been so shocked and appalled that we haven't written an issue since.

Allegedly, @PPAtour is charging paddle brands $100k per year and $5k per paddle cert/reg in 2025.

@USAPickleball approved paddles will be sunset at the end of 2025 for UPA events.

Thoughts?
- @_robnunnery

This is unequivocally bad.

It makes it basically impossible for new paddle creators who are trying to innovate on design, engineering, or price to get showcased on one of the biggest stages in pickleball. There's no way we'd be able to get even one paddle registered for the tour at this point.

Second, it stinks of corruption. Want to guess who's on the UPA-A's equipment board?

Selkirk
Vulcan
Franklin
Gearbox
JOOLA
Onix
Paddletek / ProXR

These are all established equipment producers who would likely benefit from the decreased competition.

There's an active discussion taking place on reddit where you can see paddle producers and players voicing frustration with the possible decision.

Other News

Finally, the pickleball sponsorship we all knew was coming - USA Pickleball has finally partnered with... milk. More specifically with the United Dairy Industry of Michigan in celebration of National Dairy Month. Because there's nothing I want more after a few hours of playing pickleball in the sun than a nice cold glass of... milk.

ALW 👑👑👑 x 27 - Her 11-6, 11-6 win over #2 Catherine Parenteau at the Select Medical Orange County Cup makes it 81 crowns with no sign of slowing down (she's only 17 😳).

ALW + Ben Johns 💪 - ALW and Ben Johns took gold in mixed doubles over Catherine Parenteau and Christian Alshon 11-0, 11-7, 11-4.

Waters/Johns v Parenteau/Alshon at the Select Medical Orange County Cup Presented by FitVine

And of course, ALW handily won women's doubles too - 11-2, 11-6, 11-8.

That debate was one of the wildest things I've ever seen. But at least we got some memes out of it.

Drills, Baby, Drills

How to Defend the Pop Up

There comes a time every game when the ball bounces too high off the paddle face and we say some version of, "Oh #$%&!"

Sometimes we flail. Sometimes we duck and cover. But @thepickleyogi is here to teach us a better way.

Production Update

We're creating the types of paddles and apparel we want to use and wear. This section is where we build in public so you can see what it takes to bring a paddle to market.

It's been a slow and frustrating week as we continue to work through color matching.

One of the drawbacks of working with an overseas factory is the time delay in communication. The folks we're working with are great, but time zones are time zones.

Still hoping to have paddles by the end of July. 🤞

Daily Mantra

MANTRA

It's all fun and games.

647 Lawson Ave
Havertown PA 19083
USA

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