A Guide to Paddle Care

Paddle Care

Some people are absolutely anal about their paddles and preserving it in pristine condition. Others may take care of their paddles, but don’t really care about the dings and marks that are going to naturally come on a paddle that is well loved. And then there is a third group that you may be in along with myself, where we are lucky not to buy a new paddle every year with the lack of care that we put into our paddles.

When I get outA loud word(s) spoken by a player or line judge(s) to indicate to the referee and/or players that a live ball has not touched in the required court space. The preferred word to indicate a line call is “OUT”. Distinctive hand signals can be used in conjunction with a line call. Words such as “wide”, “long”, “no”, “deep” are also... to play Pickleball, it is usually with my family, which means all babysitters are playing. We take turns playing and watching the little ones. But every time I hear a cry I am having to check on her, feed her, change her, or any number of other things. By the time we leave, she has usually had enough, so I am tossing my paddle into my diaper bag and hustling outA loud word(s) spoken by a player or line judge(s) to indicate to the referee and/or players that a live ball has not touched in the required court space. The preferred word to indicate a line call is “OUT”. Distinctive hand signals can be used in conjunction with a line call. Words such as “wide”, “long”, “no”, “deep” are also... to the car, where I leave my paddle in the backseat. If my little one decides she doesn’t want to be in the car that night, then we are usually scrambling to get her into the house and outA loud word(s) spoken by a player or line judge(s) to indicate to the referee and/or players that a live ball has not touched in the required court space. The preferred word to indicate a line call is “OUT”. Distinctive hand signals can be used in conjunction with a line call. Words such as “wide”, “long”, “no”, “deep” are also... of the car seat. Which means the paddle usually gets leftThe service area on the left side of the court, when facing the net. The starting server in doubles or the singles server should be positioned on the left/odd side of the court when their score is odd. in the car in freezing or blistering conditions.

There are a few easy habits you can make a part of your Pickleball routine to keep your paddle looking new and performing at its prime.

Cleaning

Clean your paddle. The face and edge guard of your paddle can be cleaned with a glass cleaner and lint-free cloth. Graphics are going to wear over time, it’s the nature of any sport where you make contact with a ball. So do not worry if that happens to your paddle; it is a sign of a well-loved and well-used paddle.

Preserving the Grip

The handle is going to build up grime from your sweat and dead skin. Just take a moment to wipe it off with a towel or damp cloth after play. This will help to preserve the life of your grip. At some point though, you may want to replace the grip. Depending on your particular grip, you will be able to tell over time if the grip has lost its tackiness or cushion and should be replaced. How often you replace it really depends on how much you play and how much it matters to you.

Extreme Temperatures

Try to keep your paddle from extremes temperatures. If you live in colder temperatures, try not to keep your paddle in the trunk of your car or in your garage, unless it is heated. Cold air can make objects more brittle, and therefore more likely to break. You also do not want to leave your paddle sitting outA loud word(s) spoken by a player or line judge(s) to indicate to the referee and/or players that a live ball has not touched in the required court space. The preferred word to indicate a line call is “OUT”. Distinctive hand signals can be used in conjunction with a line call. Words such as “wide”, “long”, “no”, “deep” are also... in extreme heat. The paddle face can become softer after laying on a searing hot courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines. with the sun beating down on it. It is also not a great idea to submerge your paddle in water or any liquid for that matter. Most paddles have a honeycomb core that could trap water inside of your paddle.

Being Careful

The final tip for taking care of your paddle is to be gentle with it. Take a moment to look at your edge guard. The amount of wear and tear along your edgeguard is indicative of how often you hit the ground with your paddle. Most paddle manufacturers have lifetime warranties for their paddles, but these typically just cover manufacturer defects, not user error.

If you are about to take a tumble, treat your paddle like you would your wrist. In other words, don’t land on it. Paddles were not designed to prop up 140 pounds of dead weight.

Sometimes in the heat of the moment, someone, not you of course, but someone may get a little hot-tempered. Paddles were also not designed to be smashed against the ground in fits of fury. Maybe try to find another, less destructive way of cooling off.

Be mindful of where you place your paddle when not in playThe point in time when the referee or server (or server's partner per rule 4.D.2) starts to call the score.. Is it in your bag? Make sure your keys or metal water bottle are not scraping against it. This can cause undue wearing down of the graphics. Is your bag laying somewhere where other players can step on it? Or where people might just toss their own bags right on top of it?

How Long Do Paddles Last?

Most paddles will last between 1-5 years depending on use and how well it is cared for. Many manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on any manufacturer defects, however, paddles will have natural wear and tear and may suffer from negligence. In addition, with the fast pace paddle technology advancements, paddles become obsolete about every 2-3 years.

Just add a couple of these suggestions into your daily Pickleball routine to keep your paddle looking and feeling pristine.