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Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
RPM Jade, Loco 2 & Luzz Cannon XPP First Look

Oct 13, 2026

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10 min read

RPM Jade, Loco 2 & Luzz Cannon XPP First Look

Lab vs. Real Games

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Every Tier 1 Paddle Clears These 2 Bars + Our JOOLA Power FX Play Test

Oct 6, 2026

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11 min read

Every Tier 1 Paddle Clears These 2 Bars + Our JOOLA Power FX Play Test

What 50 wear tests say about lasting grit, the stiffest paddle on my feel map, and a fresh fight over "dwell time."

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Inside the PPA Testing Lab + JOOLA's $180 Power FX

Sep 30, 2026

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10 min read

Inside the PPA Testing Lab + JOOLA's $180 Power FX

The New Volair CMD, new ball testing, and questions from the lab's own engineers.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | Franklin vs Life Time: The First 50 Impacts + Volair Gets HexGrit

Sep 22, 2026

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12 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | Franklin vs Life Time: The First 50 Impacts + Volair Gets HexGrit

Two balls, a surprisingly similar break-in curve, and four paddle first looks.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | 76% of Your Spin Loss Lands in the First 50 Hits + First Look at the Jelly Bean 2

Aug 10, 2026

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13 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | 76% of Your Spin Loss Lands in the First 50 Hits + First Look at the Jelly Bean 2

Infinigrit falls to tier four, the Jelly Bean 2 first look, and the grit that got better with use.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | The Dwell Myth Is Busted + RPM Punches Back at JOOLA

Aug 3, 2026

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14 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | The Dwell Myth Is Busted + RPM Punches Back at JOOLA

New Luzz Paddle, Twelve paddles tested, and the number that finally explains spin.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | Ranking Every Tier 1 Spin Paddle + Spartus Spitfire Launch

Jul 25, 2026

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11 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | Ranking Every Tier 1 Spin Paddle + Spartus Spitfire Launch

Finding the best Tier 1 spin paddle, new Selkirk shoes, and more

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | JOOLA's New Patent Grab + The PAKLE Fuse Verdict

Jul 16, 2026

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11 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | JOOLA's New Patent Grab + The PAKLE Fuse Verdict

JOOLA files for the fully floating core, three hyped paddles get their spin durability verdicts, and 22,000 pro shots reveal how points are actually won.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | Another $100 Durable Spin Contender

Jul 13, 2026

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10 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | Another $100 Durable Spin Contender

3 Paddle Giveaways, New USAP Regulation, and PAKLE Fuse Spin Durability - TESTED

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | 4,000 RPM Pickleball + Lead Tape Data

Jul 5, 2026

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9 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | 4,000 RPM Pickleball + Lead Tape Data

We played real games with ping-pong rubber paddles, then took two big sweet spot myths into the ball cannon lab.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | The $99 Spartus Spitfire + Our New Paddle Comparison Lab

Jun 29, 2026

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9 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | The $99 Spartus Spitfire + Our New Paddle Comparison Lab

And the return of Proton's NanoTac + a new tool that turns the sweet spot into a line on a chart.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | Our Updated Top 5 + New Eyewear Impact Comparisons

Jun 22, 2026

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9 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | Our Updated Top 5 + New Eyewear Impact Comparisons

A refreshed leaderboard, slow-motion eyewear crash tests, and making paddle feel measurable.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | Only 2 Paddles Passed This Test

Jun 15, 2026

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12 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | Only 2 Paddles Passed This Test

I tested 42 USAP-approved paddles against USAP's own roughness limits, two new durable grit claims hit the ball cannon, and a wild weekend at the Nerdy Tourney

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | 4 New Paddles & New Durable Grit Rankings

Jun 8, 2026

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10 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | 4 New Paddles & New Durable Grit Rankings

A new Tier 1 paddle, cheaper LT Ball, two budget hopefuls swinging at the $100 durable & more

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | New Six Zero Paddle Impressions & Durable Grit Tests

Jun 1, 2026

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11 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | New Six Zero Paddle Impressions & Durable Grit Tests

A grittier Coral Pro, Selkirk OMNI unique take, three patents reshaping paddle surfaces, and an edge guard side-by-side that did not play out how I expected.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
These Two Paddles Gained Spin After Wear

May 28, 2026

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11 min read

These Two Paddles Gained Spin After Wear

A $100 hybrid that punches way above its price tag, blind rankings, and spin testing

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Dunlop & PaddleTek First Impressions + Selkirk Buys Bread & Butter

May 19, 2026

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11 min read

Dunlop & PaddleTek First Impressions + Selkirk Buys Bread & Butter

Dunlop's first three paddles, PaddleTek's first full foam, the Selkirk and Bread & Butter merger, the JOOLA and PaddleTek patent settlement, and four raw carbon paddles through the spin cannon.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
4 Paddle First Impressions + Big Money Comes to Pickleball

May 11, 2026

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12 min read

4 Paddle First Impressions + Big Money Comes to Pickleball

$225M Pickleball Investments, four standout paddles, why I capped my commissions, and what the Starrett actually tells us about spin loss.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | The Spin Ceiling, the New UPA-A Rulebook & My New Main

May 5, 2026

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12 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | The Spin Ceiling, the New UPA-A Rulebook & My New Main

New UPA-A rulebook, my new main and the most important thing I've ever discovered about how paddles generate spin.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | New Best ~$99 Paddle?

Apr 28, 2026

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9 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | New Best ~$99 Paddle?

New spin durability data, two fresh paddles in the lab, and Eric Oncins putting up a stat line nobody's seen since 2022.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | Blue Grit Shootout, 3 Paddles for Anyone & Pros as Rock Stars

Apr 23, 2026

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9 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | Blue Grit Shootout, 3 Paddles for Anyone & Pros as Rock Stars

Updated JOOLA lawsuit, a three-paddle thought experiment, and the most chaotic prep we've ever done for a podcast.

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | JOOLA Lawsuit, Proton Banned, $400 Paddles & My Fourth Camera Just Died

Apr 8, 2026

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15 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | JOOLA Lawsuit, Proton Banned, $400 Paddles & My Fourth Camera Just Died

JOOLA sues 11 other paddle brands, Proton's out, pickleball just hit 24 million players, and the most expensive paddle

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | EP 100: Giveaways, Hot Takes & Zero Spin Lost

Mar 26, 2026

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14 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | EP 100: Giveaways, Hot Takes & Zero Spin Lost

Grit durability data, 8-paddle giveaway, hot takes, and what we got right (and wrong)

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter |  Do "Permanent" Paddle Grits Really Last?

Mar 13, 2026

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11 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | Do "Permanent" Paddle Grits Really Last?

Grit durability data, Gen 3 paddle shootout, pro roster news, & more

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
Johnkew Newsletter | Which Ball Has More Spin?

Mar 8, 2026

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16 min read

Johnkew Newsletter | Which Ball Has More Spin?

4 New paddle impressions, new pickleball shoes, ball cannon tests, & more

Sean Padilla
Sean Padilla
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© 2026 JohnKew's Newsletter.
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