As a company, we love information. Experimental data collection and analysis, in-depth materials explanations, the underlying physics of paddle/ball interactions, we love it all!
Sometimes, though, we realize it can be a bit much to consume! For that reason, we've created this quick primer so you can learn as much as possible in just a short amount of time--then if you want to read more, you can dig deeper into our content!
Who is Players Pickleball?
- Founded 2016 by Josh Bechtel and Mike Bennett.
- Combined 40+ years of sporting goods product development including Pickleball, Hockey, Lacrosse, Golf, Billiards, Bikes and more.
- After making over 60,000+ paddles as a contract manufacturer, Josh and Mike structurally re-aligned to focus on their own brand of paddles.
What Makes Players Pickleball Different?
- The Scientific Approach to Paddle Making.
- GOAL: To understand paddles better than anyone has before:
- Non-biased, scientific testing & development.
- Custom built test rigs to produce objective results.
- Comparison of unbiased lab results with subjective player feedback.
What's an Example of this Scientific Approach to Paddle Making?
- Gel-Core Example:
- 3-am "Ah-ha!" moment led Josh to wonder, "What if we..."
- Prototypes created.
- Prototypes analyzed on test machines, yielding positive results.
- Double-Blind player test conducted, also yielding positive results.
- Combination of lab testing and real-world player feedback and the direct correlation meant we had a winner!
What's the Paddle Lineup?
Players Pickleball offers 3 primary lines of paddles:
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Rogue2 - The successor to the first generation Rogue paddles, the Rogue2 has undergone a complete overhaul and now features even more, with Second Generation Gel-Core and the vibration-damping carbon fiber throat reinforcement. It's also available in four distinct shapes! Get yours now!
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Rogue2 Carbon - The 3K twill weave raw carbon fiber version of the Rogue2. It features the same features in the same four shapes as the Rogue2, but the carbon fiber surface provides for a softer touch and more consistency overall. Get yours now!
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Scout - This is our entry-level paddle. Ideal for those new to the sport and just testing the waters. It's a solidly-performing paddle at a fantastically low price.
Why Isn't Players Pickleball Available Everywhere?
The answer is simple. We want to save you money.
- Buy direct and eliminate the "middle man."
- Paying retailers and distributors means more of your payment goes to distribution & marketing, rather than the paddle itself.
- When we sell directly to you, we can build a better paddle with more details & features at a lower price.
Why don't Players Pickleball Paddles Cost More?
- Customers sometimes comment, "I won't use a paddle that costs less than $180!"
- Based on false belief that "more expensive" = "better quality."
- In reality, the extra paddle cost might pay for:
- Profit to distributors & resellers.
- Marketing expenses.
- Sponsorships.
- Players Pickleball sells directly to customers, meaning profit distribution to "middle men" is eliminated.
- Most of our marketing is grassroots, word-of-mouth, and via low-cost social media.
- Our sponsored-player list is small and well-focused.
- If you choose to spend more money on a paddle, that's your prerogative, but we highly recommend that you educate yourself on why a particular paddle costs more--is it truly a better paddle or are you just helping pad other people's pockets with unnecessary markup?
What Does Players Pickleball do for the Environment?
- Materials:
- Shipping boxes are recycled/recyclable/compostable.
- We use recycled paper packing materials - NO PLASTIC BAGS!
- Even the glue on the packing tape we use is corn starch based, rather than petroleum based!
- Charity
- We work with the charity "One Tree Planted."
- For every paddle we sell, we plant a tree.
- When you buy a paddle from us, you're helping a team of dedicated professionals plant an entire tree that with a little luck will grow up to help support a diversified and healthy ecosystem!
Who is Using Players Pickleball Paddles?
- Players of all skill levels:
- Recreational
- Competitive
- Amateur
- Professional
- All over the World!
- US
- Canada
- Mexico
- ...and far beyond!
- Professional Pickleball Players
- We have joined forces with the one and only J "Gizmo" Hall. You can learn more about J and his signature paddle, available exclusively from Players Pickleball.
Does Players Make Custom Paddles?
Absolutely.
What's Up With the Squirrel Logo?
- To us, pickleball is a sport that above all else, is about fun.
- Pickleball requires:
- Nimbleness of body and mind.
- Playful spirit.
- Determination.
- A clever approach.
- We wanted a mascot and a logo that embodied all of those traits. Based on our collective experience, a squirrel was the obvious choice.
Is There More to Learn?
Of course.
- We post lots of information and material to our News page.
- You can learn more about the founding members and the full story behind the "Be the Squirrel" mantra.
- What is Gel-Core?
- See the Players Pickleball Healthy Planet Initiative
- Find out how Players Pickleball paddle technology is significantly different?
- Hear what people are saying about Players Pickleball Paddles
- Check out these real-world results, from real people using Players Pickleball Paddles
