Why Switch to a 14mm Paddle?
Why Switch to a 14mm Paddle?
Plus: New Diadem Speed Pro Review!
Hi Pickleballers -
About six months ago, I started experimenting with different paddle widths. I had been playing with a bunch of 16mm elongated paddles and found a few I liked: CRBN 1, Spartus Ballista, Bread & Butter Filth, and Legacy Pro, to name a few. They were good for overpowering weaker players and playing defense against hard-hitting players. However, they didn’t have the pop and speed I felt I needed for my game.
After our Simply Pickleball Podcast with SpeedUp, I tried both their paddles, including the 14mm Fire. My game immediately changed…for the better.
Was it the paddle or the 2mm difference in paddle thickness? I recently recorded my first paddle review for the Diadem 14mm Speed Pro and dug into the benefits and design of 14mm elongated paddles. I concluded that it wasn’t just my imagination - there is some science and physics to why 14mm paddles play differently.
Removing 2mm of thickness from a paddle makes it slightly lighter. A lighter paddle means a faster paddle. If you’re engaged in fast-hand battles at the kitchen, every nanosecond of extra speed or quicker reaction time makes a difference.
Also, swinging the paddle faster changes the flight of the ball. The face turns over faster than a heavier paddle and tends to flight the ball down. For me, this is most noticeable when I’m trying to put pace on my dinks.
Most 14mm paddles have firmer faces, and some remove surface area above the handle by the throat. This, combined with their lighter weight, makes them very maneuverable. You’ll hear players refer to these paddles as fast, fun, or so sick bro!
If you want to learn more about the pros and cons of 14mm paddles, check out my Diadem Speed Pro review. At the end, I added a section on how overgrip and lead tape affect the paddle specs.
I enjoyed making the paddle review video. Time permitting, I’d like to do one or two a month. Please drop me a note if you have a favorite paddle you’d like me to review.
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Thank you for reading our newsletter and supporting Simply Pickleball. Do you have any topics you’d like me to cover, questions to answer, or maybe I didn’t get something right? Send me a note - I’d love to hear from you.
Happy Dinking!
Woody
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