The KewCast with John & Eddie

New Honolulu M105, new Paddletek Gen 4 releases, and RPM Jade vs Spartus Spitfire after 100 games. This week on KewCast 129, we cover the latest paddle arrivals and revisit what happens to spin after real court time. The RPM Jade tester unit averaged 2,550 RPM when new and 2,585 RPM after 100 games, showing no measured spin loss in this test. The Spartus Spitfire went from 2,507 to 2,242 RPM, a 10.6% decline. But others have reported greater spin loss on their Jade paddles, and we discuss the notable QC concerns alongside our results. We also cover surface texture and Jade break-in measurements. Chapters/ Timestamps: 0:00 Preview of show 1:39 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: Planning for Worlds - Our bracket is full of reviewers/influencers 3:39 Other plans at Worlds: pro content, spin/speed data on serves, drives, etc. 4:40 Franklin X-44 Launched 7:17 Franklin's Anna Leigh Waters Event in Malaysia 9:22 Kew Queue: Honolulu M105 12:36 Paddles of the Week - Spartus Sptifire Widebody 16:02 New PaddleTeks: Bantam Jolt and Tempest Veyra 24:06 PaddleTek Tempest Veyra 32:08 Witness Rival (Thomas Wilson’s new company) 36:33 RPM Jade after 100 games, and broader QC issues 47:00 Spartus Spitfire after 100 games 49:34 Kew & A: Does the drop in real-world spin for HexGrit relate to grime building up in the texture? 50:29 If John had to pick another co-host for 6 months, who would it be? 51:35 Who would Eddie pick to co-host for if John was out? Products mentioned in podcast (affiliate links): 🔹Franklin X-44 - save 10% witih code JOHNKEW: https://franklinsports.sjv.io/PzE3yX 🔹 PaddleTek Bantam Jolt - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://www.paddletek.com/products/bantam-jolt-elongated?sca_ref=12663430.JyRJV0a0foTu2t 🔹 PaddleTek Tempest Veyra - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://www.paddletek.com/products/tempest-veyra-elongated?sca_ref=12663430.JyRJV0a0foTu2t 🔹 RPM Jade – save 15% with code JOHNKEW: https://rpmpb.com/JOHNKEW 🔹 Spartus Spitfire – save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://gospartus.com/products/spitfire-elongated?sca_ref=6068787.EPfiuPRWyI 🔹Witness Rival - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://witnesspickleball.com/ Also in this episode: • Honolulu M105 in the KewQueue • Paddletek Bantam Jolt and Tempest Veyra • Spartus Spitfire WB and its $100 price after code • Witness Rival from Thomas Wilson’s new company • Franklin X-44 launch and the latest gear news • Could grime buildup explain a drop in real-world HexGrit spin? • Who would John and Eddie choose as a temporary KewCast co-host? Explore the paddle database, Comparison Lab and more: https://www.johnkewpickleball.com DISCLOSURE AND TESTING CONTEXT: Links to paddles above are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I earn a commission and you get a discount. Paddle companies may have paid for prototype spin durability testing. The production-model results discussed here were independently produced without a testing fee or editorial input. We do not accept payment for reviews, and our opinions are our own. #Pickleball #PickleballPaddles #KewCast

Our picks for the top 3 paddles contending to replace our mains. Plus, secret shopper spin-durability results for the Honolulu J2CR Blue Grit and Six Zero Coral Pro after 200 wear impacts. Chapters/ Timestamps: 0:00 Preview of show 3:50 Is pickleball less fun at higher levels and when you're competing in tournaments? 11:24 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: USAP's Response to the Jason Aspes Letter 35:03 Paddles of the Week: Gearbox Pressure-X hybrid shapes 43:23 Top 3 paddles competing to replace our current mains 1:07:33 I retested spin on the Owl, and OMG... 1:13:48 Updated results: spin on 11SIX24 Ultré P2, after 4 months (200 games) 1:22:59 Tales from the Ball Cannon: Secret Shopper Results 1:28:29 Revised policy for paid spin durability testing 1:33:11 Kew & A: commenter is impressed with LifeTime Fitness after switching from a local franchise 1:34:54 How many cannon hits before a full-foam paddle loses power? 1:37:05 Which overgrips do each of you prefer? Products discussed in this podcast (affiliate links): 🔹 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 – save $10 with code JOHNKEW: https://11six24.com/products/ultre-power-2?sca_ref=5460250.6fDhFP0v1v 🔹 Bread & Butter Loco 2 – save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://breadbutterpickleballco.sjv.io/Qj390x 🔹 Honolulu J6CR Blue Grit – save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://808pickle.com/products/j6cr-crystal-blue-endurance-surface%E2%84%A2-pre-order?sca_ref=4978161.g3fNpksoBn 🔹 Luzz Cannon XPP – save 15% with code JOHNKEW: https://luzzpickleball.com/products/luzz-cannon-xpp-m1-paddle?sca_ref=10162045.DyVJzmd5hL 🔹 Neonic Swift FLX – save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://neonicpickleball.com/products/neonic-pickleball-swift-flx?sca_ref=5483926.I2u0jGSSKQ 🔹 RPM Jade – save 15% with code JOHNKEW: https://rpmpb.com/JOHNKEW 🔹 Spartus Spitfire – save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://gospartus.com/products/spitfire-elongated?sca_ref=6068787.EPfiuPRWyI In KewCast 128, John and Eddie give their top 3 paddles contending to replace their current mains. We break down power, spin, swing weight, feel, and the tradeoffs that could convince us to switch. Also, our first secret shopper results: Six Zero Coral Pro and J2CR Blue Grit put through the 200 impact accelerated wear test. We also revisit the spin on John’s 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 after 200 games, discuss an OWL paddle spin retest, and look at the Gearbox Pressure-X hybrid shapes. Then we dig into the USAP and UPA-A certification debate, including Jason Aspes’ criticisms and Carl Schmits’ response on behalf of USA Pickleball. Also in this episode: Are tournaments making pickleball less fun? Does getting better change what you enjoy about the game? And why is John winding down paid spin-durability development testing while continuing independent review testing? What paddle are you playing now, and which one has the best chance of replacing it? Let us know in the comments. PADDLE DATA AND COMPARISONS https://www.johnkewpickleball.com DISCLOSURE AND TESTING CONTEXT: Links to paddles above are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Paddle companies may have paid for prototype spin durability testing. The production-model results discussed here were independently produced without a testing fee or editorial input. Cannon wear-test tiers are comparative lab results. Tier 1 ratings discussed here are provisional pending supporting real-world evidence. Accelerated wear does not translate directly into games played or predict a paddle’s lifespan. Human-generated spin RPM and cannon spin RPM are separate measurements. #Pickleball #PickleballPaddles #KewCast

Four buzzworthy paddles. Two head-to-head matchups. Bread & Butter Loco 2 vs RPM Jade, and Spartus Spitfire vs Luzz Cannon XPP: which would you buy? We compare spin, power, feel, handling, price and provisional spin durability results. Chapters/ Timestamps 0:00 Intro and episode preview 0:50 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: Selkirk S2 Pro ball dropping October 20th 2:49 Picklr Bankruptcy 8:05 New favorite podcast: Friday pickleball 9:00 Consumer report on paddle sales/satisfaction 14:57 Paddles of the Week: Vanwin Alpha Control Elongated 18:42 CPX Hyper + 22:51 Paddle Matchup: Spartus Spitfire vs. Luzz Cannon XPP 31:33 Matchup: Bread & Butter Loco 2 vs. RPM Jade 42:00 Tales from the Ball Cannon: clearing up ambiguity regarding Tier 1 status 47:39 Kew & A: Control and power paddles are separated by only a few of miles an hour - how can that be? 51:01 How did you measure swingweight when choking up on the same paddle? My Briffidi only allows this if I tilt the paddle. 52:00 Does a softer rating mean slower ball speed, regardless of whether the paddle feels hollow or dense? 54:01 Favorite 3 paddles right now? 57:06 Why are other gritty paddles getting USAP approval while 11SIX24 HexGrit remains UPA-only? In KewCast Episode 127, John and Eddie break down two paddle matchups and the tradeoffs behind the numbers. The Loco 2 and Jade both delivered Tier 1 (Provisional) cannon results, while the Spitfire and Cannon XPP pair similar firepower with different wear-test outcomes. We also clarify the path from prototype testing to an independent production-model rating, why real-world play matters, and why we haven’t set a fixed percentage-loss threshold for confirming Tier 1. Also in this episode: •Latest gear and industry news, including the Selkirk S2 Pro ball and The Picklr •Paddles of the Week: Vanwin Alpha Control Elongated and CPX Hyper+ •KewCOR and Firepower explained, and why a score difference is not a percentage difference in ball speed •Measuring swing weight when you choke up on the handle •Our paddle choices, the Feel Map, and a viewer question about the Ultra’s certification Which matchup would you choose: Loco 2 or Jade, and Spitfire or Cannon XPP? Tell us what matters most to you: feel, handling, price or spin durability. Paddle data, resources, and links mentioned in podcast: Explore the paddle database and comparison tools: https://www.johnkewpickleball.com Paddle consumer report discussed in the episode: https://pickleballunion.com/paddle-consumer-report/ Friday Pickleball Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uzsj8RBxyA&t=3660s The Dink’s coverage of Picklr’s bankruptcy: https://tinyurl.com/2ujxcbws Paddles discussed Bread & Butter Loco 2 – save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://breadbutterpickleballco.sjv.io/Qj390x RPM Jade – save 15% with code JOHNKEW: https://rpmpb.com/JOHNKEW Spartus Spitfire – save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://gospartus.com/products/spitfire-elongated?sca_ref=6068787.EPfiuPRWyI Luzz Cannon XPP – save 15% with code JOHNKEW: https://luzzpickleball.com/products/luzz-cannon-xpp-m1-paddle?sca_ref=10162045.DyVJzmd5hL Disclosure and testing context: Links to paddles above are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Bread & Butter and RPM paid for prelaunch Loco 2 and Jade prototype spin durability testing. The production-model results discussed here were independently produced without a testing fee or editorial input. Cannon wear-test tiers are comparative lab results. Tier 1 ratings discussed here are provisional pending supporting real-world evidence. Accelerated wear does not translate directly into games played or predict a paddle’s lifespan. Human-generated spin RPM and cannon spin RPM are separate measurements. #Pickleball #PickleballPaddles #KewCast

RPM Jade, Bread & Butter Loco 2 and Luzz Cannon XPP are giving us promising early reasons to watch their spin performance. But how much can early testing really tell us about whether that spin will last? In KewCast Episode 126, we discuss the buzz around the Jade and Loco 2, take a first look at the Cannon XPP, and dig into how ball-cannon wear results compare with actual games. The Jade retained essentially all its measured spin after cannon testing and 20 games. But that is still an early checkpoint, not a final durability verdict. This episode explains why, including a surface that held spin in the lab but lost spin early on court. Also in this episode: •RPM Jade’s SiCMatrix texture and early spin retention •Bread & Butter Loco 2 elongated and hybrid models, human-generated spin and a closer look at the grit •Luzz Cannon XPP full-foam construction, green silicon carbide texture and first spin measurements •HexGrit and BlueGrit: where cannon testing and logged games agree, and where they diverge •Enhance ArmorGrit Batch 2 and Mark VelosiGrit wear results •Engage Pursuit Pro 2, RPM Diesel and new arrivals in the Kew Queue •Kew & A: can an early spin drop skew a durability rating, and how do local and global deflection relate to paddle feel and power? The cannon gives us a controlled way to compare surfaces. It does not provide a fixed conversion from impacts to games, and initial spin alone does not establish durability. Real-world testing is ongoing. Chapters/ Timestamps: 0:00 Episode preview 0:28 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: "Prickled" animated series 2:57 Kew Queue: Vanwin Alpha Control Elongated 5:18 CPX Hyper+ 7:42 Paddles of the Week: Engage Pursuit Pro Power 2 12:32 RPM Jade 22:21 RPM Diesel 28:15 Bread & Butter Loco 2 38:38 Luzz Cannon XPP 45:52 Tales from the Ball Cannon: Correlating spin loss on cannon versus logged games 47:32 11SIX24 HexGrit test results 51:25 Honolulu Blue Grit test results 57”13 RPM Jade SICmatrix test results 1:00:01 Enhance Armor Grit (Batch 2) test results 1:03:02 Mark Velosigrit test results 1:04:51 Lessons learned about the cannon versus real-world play 1:06:23 Kew & A: Could local versus global deflection explain paddle feel and power better than terms like “dwell” and “pocketing”? Would a global deflection test with the paddle’s edges braced help distinguish their effects? 1:11:45 Does spin durability testing penalize paddles whose initially high spin drops, then stabilizes? Could manufacturers improve their tier rating by pre-wearing the surface before shipping? Products mentioned in podcast: •Bread & Butter Loco 2 – save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://breadbutterpickleballco.sjv.io/Qj390x •RPM Jade – save 15% with code JOHNKEW: https://rpmpb.com/JOHNKEW •Luzz Cannon XPP (launching Oct. 15) – save 15% with code JOHNKEW: https://luzzpickleball.com?sca_ref=10162045.DyVJzmd5hL •CPX Hyper+ - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://cpxpickleball.com/products/cpx-hyper-pre-order •Engage Pursuit Pro 2 - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://www.engagepickleball.com/JOHNKEW Explore the paddle database, test results and calculators: https://johnkewpickleball.com “Prickled” animated series: https://youtu.be/VDgNGrxpqnI?si=cwxkJ-I9DhIQRfVi #Pickleball #KewCast #PickleballPaddles

What do Tier 1 pickleball paddles have in common? I went back through 50 accelerated wear tests, and every Tier 1 result shared two traits in the surface roughness left after wear. In KewCast 125, we unpack what those findings could tell us about durable grit and lasting spin. All 10 Tier 1 results cleared two post-wear roughness levels: Rz of at least 33.6 microns and Rt of at least 50.2 microns. But paddles can clear those levels and still miss Tier 1. We explain why these patterns are useful clues, what they cannot prove yet, and how they will help me double-check future spin durability results. The Vatic V-Sol Tour cautionary tale helped prompt this deeper look. We discuss unit-to-unit variation, why a borderline Tier 1 result deserves more scrutiny, and how profilometer readings can provide a separate sanity check on the ball cannon results. Also this week: JOOLA Power FX results, a second batch of the Enhance MPP Turbo with ArmorGrit, Neonic FLX with NeoGrit, the Ascend Sonic, and Fortix Lance. Then we tackle your questions about twist weight, ball hardness, secret shopper testing, power versus spin, and why I prefer “pocketing” over “dwell time.” Our accelerated wear method uses 100 ball cannon shots at 70 MPH with the paddle clamped at 30 degrees, plus before-and-after spin measurements at 60 MPH. Surface roughness is measured before and after wear with a Starrett profilometer. The patterns discussed here are strong leads from this dataset, not confirmed physical laws. Chapters/ Timestamps 0:00 Episode 125 preview 3:54 JOOLA Power FX spin durability results 18:03 Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit batch 2 20:47 Neonic FLX with NeoGrit 27:15 Ascend Sonic 31:56 Gear of the Week - Update on Franklin X-44 and Selkirk S2 Pro balls after a 2 weeks of use 40:19 What 50 wear tests reveal about Tier 1 grit 41:24 The Vatic V-Sol Tour cautionary tale 45:36 The two roughness traits shared by all Tier 1 results 47:41 Why those numbers do not guarantee Tier 1 50:56 How these findings change future testing 58:10 Can a paddle have too much twist weight? 1:02:51 Secret shopper paddle comparisons 1:04:04 Does more power or pop create more spin? 1:06:38 Why replace “dwell time” with “pocketing”? Could we keep the familiar term “dwell” and add something like “slippage” to describe the difference? Products mentioned in podcast: JOOLA Power FX (affiliate link): https://joola.com/products/perseus-power-fx-pickleball-paddle?bg_ref=SGHmrvEFDJ Ascend Sonic - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://ascendpickleball.com/products/sonic-full-foam-mpp-paddle/johnkew Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://www.enhancepickleball.com/JOHNKEW Franklin - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://franklinsports.sjv.io/WqZr1O Selkirk - digital coupons with code INF-JOHNKEW: https://www.selkirk.com?sca_ref=6285388.NM89wCbFwv Explore the paddle database, testing reports, and calculators: https://johnkewpickleball.com Subscribe for independent pickleball paddle reviews, lab testing, and weekly KewCast discussions. Have a question for Kew and A? Leave it in the comments. #Pickleball #PickleballPaddles #KewCast