The KewCast with John & Eddie

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

The new Franklin X-44 and LT Pro-48 started remarkably close, then both lost about 18% of their pop during the first 100 impacts. Nearly all of that change happened in the first 50. We break down what the lab data says about how quickly a new pickleball becomes a broken-in ball. Also in KewCast Episode 123, we cover the latest movement in JOOLA's propulsion-core patent litigation, including Friday's settlement and what remains unresolved. Then we look at several new paddles, including the Volair Mach 1 Forza CMD Hybrid with licensed HexGrit, the Wika QD Fire 2, Wika Next, Wika Verica, and the Ronbus Quanta Pro. The ball comparison used two brand-new balls, 100 impacts per ball, and the same cannon on the same afternoon. Out of the box, the X-44 and LT Pro-48 measured only about 2% apart in COR, and both were roughly 20% more powerful than the Franklin X-40 in this test. The key finding was not which ball won. It was how quickly both changed. Chapters/Timestamps: 0:00 Franklin X-44 vs LT Pro-48 preview 1:20 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: JOOLA Patent Updates 8:24 Paddles of the Week: Wika QD Fire 2 17:55 Wika Next X 24:04 Ronbus Quanta Pro 28:30 Volair CMD HYB with HexGrit 36:57 Gear of the Week: Franklin X-44 balls 42:56 Lab Comparison: LT Pro 48 versus Franklin X-44 49:21 Kew & A: Should durability tiers account for absolute spin, not just spin retention? 50:50 What are your impressions of the RPM Jade? 51:43 When do we get updated results for bad batch paddles like the PAKLE Fuse? 52:57 Does greater power create a larger sweet spot, or merely hide performance loss outside it? 55:44 Is Firepower accurate across the database? Why is the Luzz Cannon classified as All-Court? 57:20 Should more brands license HexGrit instead of developing less durable alternatives? Products mentioned on podcast: 🔹Volair CMD-HYB - save 10% with code JOHNKEW (pre-order): https://volair.com/collections/cmd-collection/products/volair-cmd-hyb-pickleball-paddle-16mm-dylan-frazier?rfsn=7599845.416c48&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=7599845.416c48 🔹Ronbus Quanta Pro - save $20 with code JOHNKEW: https://ronbus.com/collections/quanta-series Use code JOHNKEW where available to support the channel and receive the listed discount. Affiliate links may generate a commission at no additional cost to you. Brands do not pay for reviews or control our conclusions. Subscribe for independent paddle testing, accelerated spin-durability results, KewCOR measurements, high-speed camera analysis, and weekly pickleball gear discussion.

A new batch of accelerated spin tests just produced a brutal run of Tier 4 results for paddles marketed with durable or permanent grit. The lone bright spot: the new Gearbox Pressure X held on well enough for Tier 2. In KewCast 122, we break down the latest durability data on the Diadem Edge Flex, Element 6 Ignis, Engage Axiom, Gearbox Pressure X, and Pickleball Apes Zen S+. We also look at the microscopic images and surface-roughness measurements behind the RPM changes. The standout is Gearbox Pressure X, which lost 8.1% of its spin in our accelerated wear test and landed in Tier 2. By comparison, the Element 6 Ignis lost 26.0%, Engage Axiom Elongated lost 25.4%, and Pickleball Apes Zen S+ lost 31.2%, all Tier 4 results. The Diadem Edge Flex also showed a 21.1% average RPM loss, along with substantial measured surface-texture loss. Important context: these are controlled accelerated-wear results, not a claim that every paddle will lose the same amount of spin in normal play. Sample-to-sample variation and the ongoing correlation between cannon testing and real-world use still matter. We also cover first impressions and KewCOR data for the Diadem Edge Flex, Gearbox Pressure X, Engage Axiom, Engage X3 Pro, and Pickleball Apes Zen+, plus a follow-up human-generated spin check on the Apes Zen+ and Enhance MPP Turbo with ArmorGrit. Chapters/ Timestamps: 0:00 Spin durability results preview 2:04 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: Changes to the way KewCOR is presented on the website 6:08 Paddles of the Week: Diadem Edge Flex 24:22 Gearbox Pressure X 52:31 Engage Axiom 59:12 Engage X3 1:06:18 Apes Zen + 1:17:52 Tales from the Ball Cannon: remaining spin durability results 1:19:33 Retesting spin on Apes Zen+ and Enhance ArmorGrit 1:26:10 Kew & A: Does KewCOR correlate with deflection and where a paddle lands on the Feel Map? 1:28:18 Can you reduce pop by adding weight to a paddle? Use code JOHNKEW where available to save on paddles and gear. Affiliate purchases help support the channel and provide you with a discount. Brands do not pay for reviews or control our conclusions. Products mentioned in podcast: Apes Zen+ - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://www.pickleballapes.com/products/zen-new-paddle?sca_ref=4876737.4JZ4MIHBSA Diadem Edge Flex (release date unknown) - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://diademsports.com/pages/edge-flex?sca_ref=6541890.ZymzZY8Ua9 Gearbox Pressure X (pre-order now; launch date October 1) - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://gearboxsports.com/pages/pressure-x-series?rfsn=7659766.b5c963 Engage Axiom and X3 - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://www.engagepickleball.com/JOHNKEW #Pickleball #PickleballPaddles #PaddleReview #SpinDurability #KewCast

A $100 paddle just earned the first Tier 1 spin-durability rating I’ve seen at a true budget price — but the Vatic V-Sol Tour result comes with an important caveat. The Luzz Inferno 2 also posted a strong Tier 2 result, yet both paddles lost more measurable surface texture than their retained spin would suggest. So are these breakthroughs, or results we need to watch more closely? In KewCast 120, we dig into a new round of accelerated wear testing, including the Vatic V-Sol Tour, Luzz Inferno 2, Boulder Opal, and Mark Unmarked 2. The V-Sol Tour lost just 4.8% of its measured RPM after accelerated wear, landing in Tier 1, while the Inferno 2 lost 8.8% and landed in Tier 2. But the Starrett roughness measurements tell a more complicated story: both showed double-digit declines in surface texture. That leaves me cautiously enthusiastic. Retained spin is ultimately what matters to performance, but players may still notice or dislike a surface that feels substantially smoother over time. These are intriguing results, not a final verdict, and I want more testing and real-world correlation before fully embracing what they mean. The big story this week is spin durability, but the stranger finding may be the disconnect between retained RPM and measurable surface texture. That’s something I’ll be watching closely as more paddles go through the protocol. Chapters/Timestamps: 0:00 Preview of show 1:05 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: UPA-A releasing surface roughness & deflection measurements 7:08 PPA tournament discount codes 7:31 Selkirk & Tesla team up again (Aurum) 9:09 MLP Finals this weekend 10:12 Paddles of the Week: Six Zero Boulder Opal 17:29 Luzz Inferno 2 24:20 Vatic V-Sol Tour 30:49 Mark Unmarked 2026 35:38 Enhance MPP Turbo with Armor Grit 38:27 Gear of the Week: Brioti Velox Eyewear 43:10 Selkirk Pro Line 2.0 Bags 52:01 Tales from the Ball Cannon: The KewCOR method, explained 1:06:39 Tales From the Ball Cannon, Part 2: New Tool Developed – Ball Speed in Play 1:15:26 Kew & A: When Do KewCOR Hot Spots and Dead Spots Actually Matter? 1:17:55 Will Tier 1 spin paddles that aren’t currently USAP approved become legal under the new spin-testing system this fall? 1:19:37 Could your spin durability testing create a Goodhart’s Law problem, where brands optimize for your protocol rather than real-world performance? Products mentioned in podcast: ➜Brioti Velox Eyewear - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://brioti.com/products/velox-matte-onyx/johnkew ➜Enhance MPP Turbo with Armor Grit - save $20 with code JOHNKEW (September 20 launch): https://www.enhancepickleball.com/JOHNKEW ➜Luzz Inferno 2 - save 15% with code JOHNKEW: https://luzzpickleball.com/collections/inferno-paddles?sca_ref=10162045.DyVJzmd5hL ➜Mark Unmarked 2026 - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://markpickleball.com/collections/paddles/products/unmarked-2026?sca_ref=6367831.WhS3ko26w7 ➜Selkirk Pro Line 2.0 Backpack - $30 gift card with code INF-JOHNKEW: https://www.selkirk.com/products/selkirk-pro-line-2-0-team-backpack-25l?sca_ref=6285388.NM89wCbFwv ➜Six Zero Boulder Opal - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://us.sixzeropickleball.com/products/boulder-opal?sca_ref=3538395.LI0TTTs35q ➜Vatic V-Sol Tour - save $10 with code JOHNKEW (August 31 launch): https://vaticpro.com?sca_ref=3717419.wRxewY5VFb #Pickleball #PickleballPaddles #KewCast

Spin durability may not work the way we’ve been measuring it. Spin doesn’t necessarily fade gradually. On some paddle surfaces, it crashes early, then levels off. For this test, I doubled my normal wear protocol to 200 impacts and added checkpoints every 50 hits to see the actual shape of the spin-loss curve. The results were striking. Selkirk’s Infinigrit on the OMNI suffered 63% of its total 200-hit spin loss in the first 50 impacts. Raw carbon fiber on the Loco was even more front-loaded at 76%. Note that this result is not unique to the Loco - most raw carbon fiber paddles I've tested have performed similarly. Then there’s 11SIX24’s HexGrit on the Pegasus Jelly Bean 2. No crash at all. RPM actually increased 3.4% over 200 impacts. There are some important caveats. The OMNI’s ball cannon-impacted area was too small for my human spin test, so I used my well-worn Boomstik, at roughly 50 games, as a real-world proxy. It showed 12% spin loss, although the readings were noisier than I’d like. For HexGrit, my Ultré with 72 logged games is down just 4% from new. Two very different tests, accelerated wear and real-world play, pointing toward the same durability story. KewCast 119 also covers: ●11SIX24 Jelly Bean 2: the first pickleball paddle built with EMA foam, what that material actually is, and how it’s made. ●Thrive Ignite Pro: why the Elongated and Elongated Arc feel noticeably hollower than the original Hybrid, despite all three sharing the same full-foam core. ●Gear Gossip: a recap of MLP Orlando, including a case for the best point in the format’s history, and your Q&A on hybrid shapes, ball compression, launch angle, twist weight, and the Coral Pro grit debate. So next time you assume a paddle’s spin fades gradually, remember: for most surfaces, the damage is already done by hit 50. → Explore the paddle database, comparison lab, and x-ray lab: https://www.johnkewpickleball.com/ → Best point ever played in pickleball? https://youtu.be/xqif5SdIIaU?si=yNNtdHwj6IotBjA-&t=3541 Chapters/ TImestamps: 0:00 Preview: What's in KewCast 119 1:38 Paddles of the Week: 11SIX24 Jelly Bean 2 15:49 Paddles of the Week: Thrive Ignite Elongated and Elongated Arc 25:36 Tales from the Ball Cannon: Mapping the Spin Loss Curve (Extending Accelerated Wear) 27:52 Spin Life of Selkirk Infinigrit 37:00 Spin life of Bread & Butter Loco 38:43 Spin Life of 11SIX24 Hex Grit 46:13 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: MLP Orlando Delivers - Best Point Ever Played in Pickleball History? 52:37 If you had to choose a pro pickleballer to babysit your child, who would it be? 54:54 Kew & A: If the most popular paddle on your website is best at nothing but weak at none, does that also apply to paddle shape? 1:00:39 I'm praying you cover the Coral Pro Rainbow grit controversy somewhere in this episode (grit is different from Coral Pro Black) 1:03:10 What about ball compression instead of paddle pocketing? Could the ball flattening against the face create more friction, giving the paddle more opportunity to “catch” the ball and generate spin? 1:05:00 If a soft grip reduces rebound in tennis, why doesn’t a loosely clamped pickleball paddle do the same in cannon testing? 1:10:29 Why do thinner paddles seem to have a lower launch angle than thicker paddles? Products Mentioned Every product named in the episode, with its current discount code. Verify each link resolves correctly before publishing. ● 11SIX24 Jelly Bean 2 — $160 with code JOHNKEW, launches 8/21: https://11six24.com./collections/frontpage?by=series&value=jelly-bean-2?sca_ref=5460250.6fDhFP0v1v ● Thrive Ignite Pro Hybrid — $198 with code JOHNKEW: https://tinyurl.com/y4h8w745 ● Thrive Ignite Pro Elongated — $198 with code JOHNKEW: https://tinyurl.com/38w57jzh ● Thrive Ignite Pro Elongated Arc — $198 with code JOHNKEW: https://tinyurl.com/yycbkwxw ● Bread & Butter Loco Hybrid — $179.10 with code JOHNKEW: https://breadbutterpickleballco.sjv.io/0GAxPR ● Selkirk OMNI — $300 with code INF-JOHNKEW: https://tinyu