I play competitive doubles pickleball at a 5.0+ DUPR — as a serious competitor who trains, travels to tournaments, and cares about equipment at a level where differences actually matter.
How I test
I care about how paddles perform under pressure: resets against hard attackers, dink placement in extended rally battles, etc. I also care about specific metrics: RPM, swing weight, twist weight, and how surface texture holds up over weeks of play.
No brand pays for review spots on this site. I write honestly — including the negatives.
What you’ll find here
- Paddle reviews — structured the same way every time: quick specs, feel & control, power & pop, spin, who it’s for, honest verdict. No scores.
- Head-to-head comparisons — when the “which one?” question comes up enough to deserve a dedicated answer.
- Buying guides — best paddle for specific player types and situations, optimized for actually being useful rather than gaming search results.
- Gear reviews — shoes, bags, and other equipment worth writing about. Selkirk shoes in particular are underrated and drive real value for the right player.
On affiliate links and the Selkirk code
I’m on Selkirk’s Emerging Pro team. That means I have a discount code — EP-NSMYTH — that saves you money at checkout on Selkirk.com. It applies across the full catalog: paddles, shoes, bags, apparel, accessories. I earn a small commission when you use it. This is disclosed on every post with affiliate links.
That relationship doesn’t change what I write. If a Selkirk paddle has a problem, I say so. The reviews that actually build trust are the ones that call out real trade-offs.
Who this is for
Players who want specifics. I write with a competitive lens but explain the concepts when they’re useful — you don’t need to be a 5.0 to get value from these reviews. If you’re deciding between two paddles, stepping up from a beginner option, or trying to figure out whether a new release is actually worth the hype, this is the right place to check first.
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Affiliate disclosure: This site contains affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. No brand pays for review coverage.