Join Braydon Unsicker and Aaron Ghena on the Pickleball Effect Podcast for honest, data driven takes on paddles, gear, trends, and the business of pickleball. Real testing, real opinions, and conversations that actually help you play better and understand the game.
We Tested If Paddles Are Getting Faster + Anna Leigh’s Lob Serve Explained | EP 143
Are paddles getting too powerful again? We ran an experiment to find out. Plus, we break down why Anna Leigh Waters’ lob serve works, check out SENS—a brand-new paddle company—and its Atra paddle, and discuss Holbrook’s new Fuze with VantaGrit.
👉 Shop Pickleball Central (use link to apply up to 10% off everything): https://a8qh.short.gy/save (https://a8qh.short.gy/save)
👉 All PE discounts: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/)
__________________________________________
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Preview
03:04 Special delivery - BNB Loco 2, Gearbox Pressure X
04:34 Aaron it Out - Why is Anna Leigh’s lob serve working?
13:00 Ben Johns lost three times on Championship Sunday
20:08 Reddit on how durable grit paddles are holding up
26:27 Paddle Babble - Are paddles getting too powerful experiment
35:44 Sens Atra
43:33 Holbrook Fuze VantaGrit
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👉 Links to stuff mentioned:
How long should a paddle last?: https://pickleballeffect.com/resources/how-long-should-a-pickleball-paddle-last/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/resources/how-long-should-a-pickleball-paddle-last/)
How much should you spend on a paddle?: https://pickleballeffect.com/resources/how-much-should-you-spend-on-a-pickleball-paddle/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/resources/how-much-should-you-spend-on-a-pickleball-paddle/)
👉 Support the channel:
Save on gear and support the channel using our discount codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/)
Pickleball Effect products: https://pickleballeffectshop.com/ (https://pickleballeffectshop.com/)
👉 Join the PE community:
Website: https://pickleballeffect.com/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/)
PE/Braydon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickleballeffect/ (https://www.instagram.com/pickleballeffect/)
Aaron’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghenaric/ (https://www.instagram.com/ghenaric/)
👉 Paddle Database: https://pickleballeffect.com/pickleball-paddle-database/
#pickleball #podcast
29 Sept 2026
Rafa Filippini on Pressure X, Paddle Engineering & Why Gearbox Does Things Differently | EP 142
We sit down with Gearbox founder and engineer Rafa Filippini to talk about the new Pressure X, what makes its construction different, and his approach to paddle design and testing. We also hear about Aaron’s pickleball adventures in New York and run through release dates for all the major upcoming paddles.
👉 Shop Pickleball Central (use link to apply up to 10% off everything): https://a8qh.short.gy/save (https://a8qh.short.gy/save)
👉 All PE discounts: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/)
__________________________________________
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Preview
01:38 Added edge guard tape to paddle tuning lab
04:10 Special delivery - Neonic FLX, SENS, Holbrook Fuze, Engage Pursuit
07:28 Aaron it Out - Pickleball in New York
25:39 Paddle Babble - Upcoming paddle release dates
27:51 Interview with Gearbox CEO & engineer, Rafa Filippini
28:54 Overview and goals with Pressure X paddles
33:33 Inside the Pressure X
42:32 Difference between Gearbox and other other brands
46:30 Do the Pressure X paddles break in and get hot
53:09 Durable grit on the Pressure X
55:38 What does paddle testing have right and wrong
1:06:04 Post interview thoughts
__________________________________________
👉 Links to stuff mentioned:
Paddle Tuning Lab: https://tune.pickleballeffect.com/ (https://tune.pickleballeffect.com/)
Gearbox Pressure X 8M Specs & Review: https://pickleballeffect.com/paddles/gearbox-pressure-x-8m-elongated/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/paddles/gearbox-pressure-x-8m-elongated/)
Gearbox Pressure X 8E Specs & Review: https://pickleballeffect.com/paddles/gearbox-pressure-x-8e-elongated/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/paddles/gearbox-pressure-x-8e-elongated/)
👉 Links to gear mentioned:
Promo code: PBEFFECT
Paddles:
Gearbox Pressure X 8M (stiff/hollow): https://gearboxsports.com/products/pressure-x-8m-pickleball-paddle?rfsn=7676489.281577 (https://gearboxsports.com/products/pressure-x-8m-pickleball-paddle?rfsn=7676489.281577)
Gearbox Pressure X 8E (soft/dense): https://gearboxsports.com/products/pressurex-8e-pickleball-paddle?rfsn=7676489.281577 (https://gearboxsports.com/products/pressurex-8e-pickleball-paddle?rfsn=7676489.281577)
All our discount codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/)
👉 Support the channel:
Save on gear and support the channel using our discount codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/)
Pickleball Effect products: https://pickleballeffectshop.com/ (https://pickleballeffectshop.com/)
👉 Join the PE community:
Website: https://pickleballeffect.com/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/)
PE/Braydon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickleballeffect/ (https://www.instagram.com/pickleballeffect/)
Aaron’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghenaric/ (https://www.instagram.com/ghenaric/)
👉 Paddle Database: https://pickleballeffect.com/pickleball-paddle-database/
#pickleball #podcast
22 Sept 2026
Volair CMD First Impressions and the Tech in JOOLA’s Foam Paddle | EP 141
Volair licensed 11SIX24’s HexGrit for the new CMD, and our first impressions are good. We break down how it plays and compare it to the 11SIX24 Power 2 Ultre, Jelly Bean 2, Six Zero Coral Pro, and Selkirk OMNI. We also share new details on what’s inside JOOLA’s upcoming Power FX foam paddle.
👉 Shop Pickleball Central (use link to apply up to 10% off everything): https://a8qh.short.gy/save (https://a8qh.short.gy/save)
👉 All PE discounts: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/)
__________________________________________
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Preview
03:20 Results from paddle picking game, web updates
08:20 Upcoming videos
09:26 Special delivery - Bling Bag Unbagging
11:33 Special delivery - Ascend, Axiom Widebody, Diadem Shoes & grit update
14:54 Aaron it Out - Experience attending PPA Arizona live
24:52 Paddle Babble - Volair CMD tech
24:03 CMD static & performance stats
28:54 Aaron CMD first impressions
33:01 Braydon CMD first impressions
36:19 CMD vs 11SIX24 Power 2 & Jelly Bean 2
38:27 CMD vs Coral Pro Hybrid
42:16 CMD vs Selkirk Omni
43:56 CMD weight setup
45:46 What’s inside JOOLA foam paddle
47:20 Choosing shapes based on tech
__________________________________________
👉 Links to stuff mentioned:
New paddle fitting quiz (live): https://pickleballeffect.com/equipment-reviews/pickleball-paddle-fitting-quiz/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/equipment-reviews/pickleball-paddle-fitting-quiz/)
👉 Links to gear mentioned:
Promo code: PBEFFECT
Paddles:
Volair CMD: https://volair.com/collections/cmd-collection/products/volair-cmd-hyb-pickleball-paddle-16mm-dylan-frazier?rfsn=7475751.28260c (https://volair.com/collections/cmd-collection/products/volair-cmd-hyb-pickleball-paddle-16mm-dylan-frazier?rfsn=7475751.28260c)
11SIX24: https://11six24.com/?sca_ref=7474553.EbeKeAv2hF0Rh4oJ&sca_source=coupontable (https://11six24.com/?sca_ref=7474553.EbeKeAv2hF0Rh4oJ&sca_source=coupontable)
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid: https://us.sixzeropickleball.com/products/coral-pro?sca_ref=9892574.6WfkgoNKloc0yI (https://us.sixzeropickleball.com/products/coral-pro?sca_ref=9892574.6WfkgoNKloc0yI)
Diadem Court Burst Shoes: https://diademsports.com/products/court-burst?sca_ref=6013060.T2dFY8p25O (https://diademsports.com/products/court-burst?sca_ref=6013060.T2dFY8p25O)
Engage Axiom Widebody: https://engagepickleball.com/collections/allpaddles/products/engage-axiom-widebody-pickleball-paddle?snowball=PBEFFECT (https://engagepickleball.com/collections/allpaddles/products/engage-axiom-widebody-pickleball-paddle?snowball=PBEFFECT)
All our discount codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/)
👉 Support the channel:
Save on gear and support the channel using our discount codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/)
Pickleball Effect products: https://pickleballeffectshop.com/ (https://pickleballeffectshop.com/)
👉 Join the PE community:
Main Paddle Monitor: https://main.pickleballeffect.com/ (https://main.pickleballeffect.com/) Website: https://pickleballeffect.com/ (https://pickleballeffect.com/)
PE/Braydon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickleballeffect/ (https://www.instagram.com/pickleballeffect/)
Aaron’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghenaric/ (https://www.instagram.com/ghenaric/)
👉 Paddle Database: https://pickleballeffect.com/pickleball-paddle-database/
#pickleball #podcast
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
2,826,887
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.2 / 5
10 ratings
Spotify
4.6 / 5
27 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
44
Social presence
97
YouTube
93
Engagement
75
Contact Pickleball Effect: The Podcast
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