How should I decide if one of the new super powerful paddles are right for me? I like dinking and I’ve been using the Selkirk LUXX for a while now but I can’t help but feel like I’m missing out on some put-away power.
- Nancy from Columbus.
Hi Nancy, Great question, it’s certainly an exciting time to be a Selkirk player. For the longest time, it wasn’t the arrow, it was the archer. Not the paddle, but the player. Times have changed dramatically though, and these days you’re not just playing against people, you're playing against technology designed to propel the ball at alarming speed. In deciding on whether or not to stick with a control pickleball paddle like your Selkirk LUXX pickleball paddle, or wield one of the new Boomstiks, here are a few things to consider.
Your priorities
- Dinking and control. If what really gives you the warm and fuzzies is winning long drawn out dink rallies, then a control pickleball paddle will almost certainly be the go-to option — unless your opponents disagree with the style by speeding every chance they get. Unfortunately, it takes at least three to tango in the chess version of pickleball that dinking allows for. If two players want to bang, and they are good enough at it, then settling them down into your desired speed will be near impossible.
- Putaway power. Did you become a soft and controlled player simply because that’s how you were taught or perhaps thought that you weren’t physically able to hit with real power, regardless of the paddle? Those days are over Nancy, over! A power pickleball paddle is for you, and if you can put the pickleball paddle behind the ball, you can hit a winner. The problem is, you can also put a hole through the back fence! Just remember what your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man said: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
- Simply winning. This is where the majority of players reside and whatever gets the job done is going to be the weapon of choice. With the direction the game is heading, you will soon be left with little choice but to pick up Thor's Hammer. This doesn’t mean you can’t still dink, just know that there will be a learning curve to get yourself as proficient as you once were. The good news is, there is one soft shot that is aided by power paddles: the reset. I’ve found that there is now almost zero effort required beyond getting the paddle behind the ball and giving it a little lift.
Your body
Before you make the switch, please know that you should prepare your body for it. Far too many people see the shiny new toy and don’t think twice before smashing every serve and 3rd ball like it owes them money. Those same people usually also wonder why they quickly develop wrist, elbow, or shoulder injuries. Some basic wrist curls and rotations with low weights, forearm stretching, and gentle massage after your play will help ease the transition.
Beyond that, don’t think that just because you will soon be able to drive the ball like a young whipper snapper, that you should. Practice restraint and perhaps you can set a good example as we all step into this brave new world.
Oh, and one last thing, if you go for the power paddle, wear some eye protection — the faster you hit it, the faster it comes back!
- Morgan Evans
Learn more about Morgan Evans and CoachME pickleball.
