Getting Nerdy with Justin Barton at the PPA Testing Lab | KewCast 124
For the first time, Justin from Pickleball Etc. and I sit down together for a full KewCast. We recorded at Pickle Pro Labs in Boca Raton, Florida, the official testing lab of the PPA pro tour. If you like the technical side of pickleball paddles, this one goes deep. Justin shares his perspective as the engineer and designer behind the Volair CMD, including how it feels on court. We also discuss its production model spin durability result, tour the lab, revisit KewCOR on an 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 after 100 games, and compare new ball data for the Franklin X-44 and Selkirk Pro S2. Later, Pickle Pro Labs engineers join us for questions about paddle measurements, spin, construction and the mysteries still worth testing. We also cover the JOOLA Power FX announcement and take viewer questions on concentrated weight, permanent grit, manufacturing variance, foam cutouts and more. Chapters
0:00 Introductions and episode preview
1:57 Why we are sitting in front of a ball cannon
3:40 JOOLA Power FX updates
10:39 Volair CMD with Justin, its engineer and designer
27:22 Volair CMD production model spin durability
28:59 Pickle Pro Labs tour impressions
31:51 KewCOR retest of 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 after 100 games
36:36 Franklin X-44 and Selkirk Pro S2 ball data
45:26 Justin enters Nerd Town
45:45 Why does concentrated weight feel better on foam paddles?
53:41 Does permanent grit necessarily make a paddle stiff?
57:30 Why does durable grit vary between factory samples?
1:00:23 Favorite paddle technology innovations
1:03:19 Most underrated paddles
1:05:02 Funniest lab failure
1:10:37 Paddle dissection race: who wins?
1:12:53 The most rewarding part of developing a paddle
1:15:35 Favorite paddles from lesser known brands
1:18:10 Do foam cutouts cause local deflection and inconsistent shots?
1:19:26 Why highlight paddles outside USAP specifications?
1:23:24 Pickle Pro Labs engineers: the most misunderstood measurement
1:31:19 Are paddle companies converging?
1:37:32 What stood out during the lab tour?
1:40:04 What predicts spin?
1:42:07 Why are we obsessed with paddles?
1:47:22 Biggest mysteries in paddle technology What paddle measurement do you think is most misunderstood? Tell us in the comments. High speed impact and ball deformation footage: https://youtu.be/fllRlFS1HRw Big thanks to Pickle Pro Labs (Gary, Curtis, Kayla, Lisa, et al.) for hosting the event and allowing us to film on location. #Pickleball #PickleballPaddles #KewCast
