We discuss pickleball with an emphasis on gear and equipment
Johnkew Podcast
Claim This Podcastby Johnkew
5.0(17 reviews)
107 episodes
Updated Weekly
Accepts GuestsHas Sponsors
Podcast Overview
We discuss pickleball with an emphasis on gear and equipment
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
1/29/2024
1 verified contact email on file for Johnkew Podcast
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Recent Episodes
July 31, 2026
The “Dwell = Spin” Myth, Tested | KewCast 118
How many times have you heard that a paddle's "dwell" helps spin the ball, supposedly because the ball sinks into the face more, or it dwells longer, giving you more spin? Well, I put that to the test. I ran 12 paddles through one fixed rig and checked whether face deflection, the closest thing we can measure to dwell, actually predicts how much a ball spins. It doesn’t. Deflection barely moved with spin at all (an R² of 0.02). The number that actually tracked spin was launch angle, at 0.89 — about as tight as real-world paddle data ever gets. Those turn out to be two separate design levers, not one. KewCast 118 covers three things worth your time: ● The spin experiment: why “dwell time” may be the most repeated idea in pickleball that nobody has actually tested, and what the data says is really driving spin (probably surface friction at contact, not pocketing). ● RPM vs. JOOLA: RPM became the one brand answering JOOLA’s patent suit in court while most of the field paused behind the ITC. We break down its 13 defenses, the “your patents are invalid” nuclear option, the honeycomb-core “gap” argument, how JOOLA narrowed its own claims to get the patent granted, and the boldest line in the filing: RPM asking the court to make JOOLA pay its legal fees. ● The Dink (movie): our spoiler-light take on the new Jake Johnson pickleball comedy — is it really the best pickleball movie ever made, and does it actually “get” the sport? ● Plus Gear Gossip: the Chris Haworth signature paddle, the Gen-3 Luzz Glider 2026, and Kaitlin Christian suing Proton for breach of contract. We finish with your questions in the Q&A. So next time someone tells you a paddle’s “dwell” is why it spins more, you can politely point them to this episode. Chapters/ Timestamps: 0:00 Eddie punches John in the face as an experiment for PBCOR (J/K - everyone just skips over this if I write "Intro") 1:14 Latest News/Gear Gossip: Chris Haworth signature paddle - Luzz Glider 2026 5:34 Kaitlyn Christian suing Proton for breack of contract 7:18 RPM responds to JOOLA Lawsuit 19:43 Our thoughts on the movie The Dink 25:33 Tales from the Ball Cannon: does "dwell" (pocketing) affect spin and launch angle? 38:28 Kew & A: Have you compared multiple identical paddles to see how much manufacturing variability exists or whether specs change after launch? 40:26 How would you compare the playstyle and feel of the J6CR versus the J2CR Long Handle? I love a two-handed backhand and am considering switching. 44:48 If durable grit is making paddles feel stiffer or deader, could applying it in a non-continuous pattern help preserve feel while maintaining durability? 47:06 What are the trade-offs of durable grit? Do Tier 1 coatings inevitably change paddle feel or swing weight, or can manufacturers achieve long-lasting grit without those compromises? 51:00 John, I recently rediscovered your channel after rewatching your drum covers. Many of us have missed your music and wondered what happened. Would you ever share why you stepped away from drumming on YouTube, and do you still play today? 👉 Explore the newly revamped paddle database, comparison lab, and x-ray lab: https://www.johnkewpickleball.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnkew.pickleball/
July 15, 2026
JOOLA's New Patent Could Change Pickleball Forever + Spin Durability Results
JOOLA has filed a continuation patent application that appears to expand beyond its existing Propulsion Core patents toward a fully floating core surrounded by foam. What does that actually mean—and could it affect the future of pickleball paddle design? In Episode 116 of KewCast, we break down the patent claims, discuss prior art, and explain why protecting innovation and protecting competition are both essential parts of a healthy patent system. We also cover: • New spin durability testing on the PAKLE Fuse, Spartus Spitfire, and Ronbus Tenon • Why the PAKLE results were disappointing • What USAP's new direct spin testing limit actually means • Whether USAP and UPA-A appear to be converging on spin testing • A fascinating new research article analyzing over 22,000 professional pickleball shots • Engage's upcoming X2 Pro • Mission First's new FireFight Pro • Viewer Q&A covering Quanta vs Tenon, Coral Pro, JOOLA Gen 4, MPP foam, and more. ➡️ Check out my newly updated paddle database/comparison lab: https://www.johnkewpickleball.com/ Chapters/ Timestamps: 0:00 Preview 2:27 JOOLA continuation patent going for full foam ring 21:11 Is modern pro pickleball won with power or with touch and spin? 30:09 Paddles of the Week: Engage X2 Pro 34:51 Paddles of the Week: Mission First FireFight Pro 37:57 Tales from the ball cannon: spin durability testing updates - PAKLE Fuse 41:49 Spartus Spitfire Spin Durability Results 43:52 Ronbus Tenon Spin Durability Results 45:42 Tales from the ball cannon Part 2: Are USAP and UPA-A aligned with direct spin testing, and what does the 2,100 RPM limit actually mean? 56:17 Kew & A: Will Today's Elite Spin Paddles Pass Future USAP/UPA-A Spin Testing? 57:18 My B&B lost its grit fairly quickly - is the Six Zero Coral Pro a good alternative? 59:24 Anna Bright mentioned that most pros do not prefer full foam Gen-4 paddles. Curious to know your thoughts 1:00:48 Is the MPP Foam Feel Profile Better Suited for Amateurs Than Pros? 1:02:56 Viewer Spotlight: A Look at Pickleball's Rapid Growth in the Philippines 1:03:44 Viewer Perspective: Is Pickleball in Southeast Asia Transitioning from Boom to Sustainable Growth? 1:06:41 Are "All-Court" Labels Being Influenced More by Feel Than Actual Performance? 1:07:29 Which Offers Better Control—the Quanta R2 or the Ronbus Tenon? 1:09:02 Where's the Line Between Inspiration and Copying in Paddle Reviews? 1:11:48 How is it that your controlled cannon testing puts the Spartus Spitfire in Tier 3, while Braydon's testing puts it in Tier 1? ➡️Products mentioned in podcast: 🔹Engage X2 Pro (launching end of July) - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://www.engagepickleball.com/JOHNKEW 🔹Mission First FireFight Pro - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://missionfirstpickleball.com/products/project-matic-firefight-pro-edition?sca_ref=11830625.l0kpr7cFhZHVyPA 🔹Spartus Spitfire (launching end of July) - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://gospartus.com?sca_ref=6068787.EPfiuPRWyI 🔹PAKLE Fuse - save 10% with code JOHNKEW: https://paklepickleball.com/products/fuse-new-gen5-pickleball-paddle?rs_ref=2aQegQcw 🔹Ronbus Tenon (coming July 24) - save $20 with code JOHNKEW: https://ronbus.com/collections/tenon-series
June 26, 2026
Spartus Spitfire First Look + Do KewCOR Curves Predict Paddle Feel?
Will the Spartus Spitfire with "PermaGritNano" become the first true budget paddle to deliver durable spin, or is that still reserved for paddles costing twice as much? Welcome to KewCast Episode 113! We also introduce KewCOR Curves, a new visualization tool that maps paddle response along the centerline of the face to help explain why some paddles feel incredibly consistent while others have pronounced hot spots. Do these curves finally quantify sweet spot quality? Also in Episode 113: • Spartus Spitfire details and launch expectations • Proton Series One prototype updates • Aireo Cyclone Hybrid impressions • Website upgrades including comparison tools and KewCOR surface maps • Thoughts on MLP and recent player moments • Why losses are essential for improvement in pickleball and life • Viewer questions on perimeter weighting, handle weighting, and whether skateboarders have an advantage in pickleball. Timestamps/Chapters: 0:00 Introduction/ Preview of Show 1:01 Latest News/ Gear Gossip: General thoughts on MLP – is it growing on you – did you watch much over the past few weeks? 6:10 Website updates: spin tiers, comparison lab with z-scores and KewCOR curves 9:41 Paddles of the Week: Spartus P1 Widebody 15:54 Spartus Spitfire 21:38 New Proton Nanotac Gen-4 Paddles 31:58 Aireo Cyclone Hybrid UPA-A Only 38:44 KewCOR Curves - do they match our perception of paddle performance? 52:17 Deep Thoughts with John & Eddie 53:49 John's Deep Thought: Man in the Arena Quote 59:40 Eddie's Deep Thought: Survivorship Bias 1:04:47 Kew & A: Does adding perimeter weighting change the data for the new feel wheel values? 1:08:23 Handle/End Cap Weight: Balance Point, Swing Weight, and Twist Weight Effects? 1:10:41 Do Skateboarders Have an Advantage Learning Pickleball? 1:14:39 Miscellaneous anecdotes: what music we're listening to lately 🔗 Check out the new Paddle Comparison Lab (with KewCOR curves) here: https://www.johnkewpickleball.com/paddle-comparison-lab 🔽 Products Mentioned in Podcast (Affiliate Links) ▫️Spartus Spitfire (coming July) - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://gospartus.com?sca_ref=6068787.EPfiuPRWyI ▫️Spartus P1 Widebody - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://gospartus.com/products/p1-standard?sca_ref=6068787.EPfiuPRWyI ▫️Aireo Cyclone Hybrid (UPA-A Version) - take 10% off with code JOHNKEW: https://tinyurl.com/4kfc8ne8 STAY CONNECTED ➜Subscribe to JohnKew Newsletter for weekly insights into paddle and gear news: https://johnkewpickleball.beehiiv.com/ ➜New paddle database and analytic tools: https://www.johnkewpickleball.com/paddle-database ➜Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnkew.pickleball/
107 total episodes available
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- What is Johnkew Podcast?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates weekly.
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This podcast is available on 7 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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