My First DUPR Rating is a....3.11? Ouch!

Well, I finally did it. After 8 games, 2 wins, and 6 losses, I received my first DUPR rating: 3.11.

I'll be honest. It wasn't the number I expected, and it definitely stung a little.

Going into the event, I actually felt prepared. The night before, I spent time drilling and working on some of the areas I've been trying to improve: cross-court drops, mid-court resets, dinks, and transition zone play. I left the session feeling confident and excited. I thought I was ready to play some good pickleball.

The funny thing is that one of the shots I normally trust the most completely disappeared when the games started.

My dinks.

Dinking is usually a strength of my game, but during the matches I found myself hitting several into the net. Looking back, I think I was so worried about making mistakes that I created the mistakes myself. There's nothing worse than watching a routine dink die in the net when it's a shot you normally make without thinking.

I also noticed that when opponents drove the ball at me, some of my returns sailed wide or ended up in the net. That's what confused me the most because just a week earlier I was playing outdoors and felt completely locked in. In rec games, I was playing some of my best pickleball.

That's where I think the biggest difference showed up.

For whatever reason, when I play organized events, ranked sessions, ladder leagues, or anything with a number attached to it, my game changes. Subconsciously, I put pressure on myself. Instead of playing freely, I start thinking about results, rankings, mistakes, and expectations.

Several matches started poorly. I honestly can't remember if I even started a game serving first. It felt like we were constantly digging ourselves out of holes, down 3-0, 4-0, or even 5-0 before settling in. That's tough against competitive players.

Playing with multiple partners wasn't easy either. Some partnerships clicked naturally while others felt difficult from the beginning. There was one younger player I got paired with who was undefeated at the time. Before we even started, he made it clear that he wasn't planning on losing. Meanwhile, I was coming in on a losing streak.

At one point he told me I should have taken a ball because I had the forehand. Maybe he was right, but he didn't know that my backhand drops are actually one of my stronger shots. The whole dynamic made it difficult to play freely. He was extremely aggressive, so I found myself backing off and letting him take more balls than I normally would.

Ironically, some of the games where I felt most comfortable ended up being losses too. When I got paired with my friend, I thought we had a great chance to win. We played well at times but still came up short.

Looking back, I think there are several things I would do differently.

I should have been more aggressive with my drives earlier in matches. Some of my best points came when I trusted my game and drove the ball through the middle. I had a few drives with the Boomstik that either won the point outright or forced weak returns that ended the rally shortly after.

That's why I don't think the paddle was the problem.

In fact, I had a great experience with the Boomstik overall. It produced some excellent drives and gave me plenty of opportunities. The more I think about it, the more I believe the issue was me, not the equipment.

I also kept forgetting a basic strategy that I know better than to ignore: target the player in transition instead of feeding the player already established at the kitchen line. It's something I know, but in the heat of competition I didn't execute it consistently.

The biggest challenge of the day wasn't my drops, drives, dinks, or paddle.

It was my mental game.

After missing a couple shots in a row, especially balls into the net, I struggled to reset mentally. Instead of moving on to the next point, I carried mistakes with me. That snowballed into more mistakes, which led to even more frustration.

Despite all of that, there were positives.

I hit some great drops. I hit some excellent drives. I got a fantastic workout. Most importantly, I finally got a DUPR rating and broke the ice.

When I told my friend what my rating ended up being, he was surprised. He reminded me that nine games isn't a huge sample size and that a first rating is just a starting point, not a final verdict on a player's ability.

Maybe he's right.

Am I upset? A little.

Am I disappointed? Absolutely.

Finishing near the bottom again felt a lot like my ladder league experience, and that's hard to swallow when you spend time drilling, practicing, and trying to improve.

Would I do it again?

Absolutely.

There were moments during the session where I wanted to swear off competitive play entirely. But the truth is I love pickleball too much. I love the challenge, the workout, the strategy, and the friendships I've made through the game.

So yes, my first DUPR is 3.11.

Not the number I hoped for, but it's a starting point.

Now I know what I need to work on: trusting my game, being more aggressive when the opportunity is there, improving my mental reset after mistakes, and learning how to bring my rec-game confidence into competitive play.

The rating may say 3.11 today.

If you're looking for a new paddle, feel free to use my discount code TechYeti on brands such as Bread & Butter Pickleball, Luzz Pickleball, Vatic Pro, and Enhance Pickleball.

Despite the outcome, I'm already looking forward to the next competitive experience.

Bread & Butter Loco vs Selkirk Boomstik Summit Edition — My Honest Long-Term Thoughts

It’s been a while since I’ve sat down to really compare paddles in depth, but after spending a lot of time with both the Bread & Butter Loco and the Selkirk Boomstik Summit Edition, I finally felt ready to talk about them. What makes this comparison interesting to me is that these paddles gave me two completely different experiences. One became my comfort paddle, while the other surprised me in ways I honestly didn’t expect.

Back in October, I purchased the tan Bread & Butter Loco and quickly fell in love with how it played. Since then, it’s been my main paddle throughout an entire 3.5+ men’s winter ladder league season and countless rec games. Even after trying other paddles, I kept coming back to the Loco. There’s just something about the balance of control, firmness, stability, and confidence it gives me that works perfectly for my game.

Honestly, there’s a reason I bought another one.

The newer Azul version feels a little different compared to my original tan Loco. The tan version feels firmer and less plush, which is actually why I prefer it right now. The Azul almost reminds me more of my Tornazo or my Vatic VSol Pro V7 LH with its slightly softer and plush response. It still feels loud and solid, but different enough that I noticed it immediately.

I’m continuing to break it in because the sound and feel of my tan Loco are a huge reason why I love that paddle so much. It may just be a one-off variation and honestly doesn’t negatively affect gameplay, but it’s something worth mentioning for players who are really sensitive to paddle feel and response.

Now let’s talk about the Selkirk Boomstik Summit Edition.

Honestly, the colorway helped convince me to finally buy it. But it wasn’t an easy purchase. The Boomstik is expensive, and I actually almost returned it before fully committing to using it. Not because I didn’t like the paddle, but because I was honestly nervous about damaging it. It reminded me of getting a brand new expensive iPhone and immediately wanting the most protective case possible. Except with the Boomstik, I didn’t even want to add edge guard tape or anything extra because the paddle really isn’t designed for that look.

Once I finally brought it indoors for rec games with friends earlier this year, I started understanding why so many competitive players love this paddle. The Boomstik absolutely excels at shaping the ball. The spin, power, and responsiveness immediately stood out, but what impressed me most was how well it handled defensive transition shots and resets off the bounce.

A lot of times in transition, players don’t have time to perfectly shape the ball or apply heavy topspin. Sometimes you’re simply reacting and sticking the paddle out there trying to survive the point and get ready for the next shot. That’s where the Boomstik shocked me. There were so many moments where I simply put the paddle out defensively and the ball somehow found its way safely back over the net.

Compared to the Loco, the Boomstik gives more help in those emergency defensive situations because of its pop, sweet spot, and stability. And we all know trying to slice against heavy slice isn’t always ideal either.

One area where I’ve had more success with the Boomstik is definitely the two-handed backhand drive. This paddle absolutely makes the ball scream off the face. The combination of power, grit, and responsiveness makes aggressive drives feel effortless at times. The InfiniGrit texture also does an amazing job helping shape the ball and generate spin on drives and drops.

I completely understand now why high-level competitive players gravitate toward this paddle. It’s aggressive, explosive, and incredibly dangerous in the right hands.

Even after all of that, I still keep going back to the Loco.

One major reason is how it performs in quick kitchen exchanges and volleys. The Boomstik feels slightly sluggish near the kitchen compared to the Loco. I think the shape and handle length both play a role in that feeling. The Loco just feels quicker and more natural in hand during fast exchanges.

Another thing I noticed is that I hit the upper edge guard area more often with the Boomstik than I do with standard elongated paddles. I can transition almost effortlessly between paddles like the Loco, Inferno, Tornazo, or Vatic VSol Pro V7 because they all share a more traditional elongated square-top shape. The Boomstik’s curved shape creates a different feel and timing window for me, especially during quick reactions. It’s not necessarily bad — it’s just different.

Because of that, if I start a competitive rec session or league night with one paddle, I usually stick with it the entire session. Only toward the very end will I start rotating in other paddles like the Volair Shift, Tornazo, or my favorite backup paddle — the metallic blue Inferno.

In the end, the Loco is still my main paddle. It simply fits my game best. I trust it more with drives, dinks, drops, kitchen exchanges, and overall consistency.

But this comparison honestly gave me a whole new appreciation for the Boomstik. It truly is an amazing paddle. For serious tournament players or competitive league players, I absolutely understand the hype now and would confidently recommend it. For casual rec play, though, I think the Loco is probably the easier paddle for most players to enjoy consistently.

If you decide to pick up a Bread & Butter paddle, feel free to use discount code TECHYETI at checkout. It truly helps support both the blog and the channel. And if you decide to pick up a Boomstik or another Selkirk paddle or pair of shoes, feel free to use my referral link below as well.

Thank you all again for the support. Until next time, enjoy the spring weather and here’s to another full summer of pickleball.

The Most Competitive Pickleball Games I’ve Had in a Few Weeks (And What I Learned)

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After dealing with colder New England weather and men's ladder league over the last few months, I finally had one of the most competitive pickleball sessions I’ve had in a long time this week. One of our friends came back after taking several months off during the colder fall and winter months, and the games immediately felt different. The rallies were longer, the hands battles at the kitchen were more intense, and every game felt like it could go either way. At one point, I really wish I had worn my smartwatch because I’m pretty sure my heart rate had to be pushing close to 180+ BPM. One game honestly felt like it lasted somewhere between 15 to 20 minutes because neither team wanted to give in. I lost some games and won some, but those are the kinds of matches that remind me why I love pickleball so much.

One of the biggest adjustments during these games was switching from the Selkirk Pro S1 Pickleball Ball back to the Franklin X-40 Outdoor Pickleballs. I forgot just how different the X-40 feels after spending time with the Selkirk ball. The Franklin felt softer, the bounce seemed lower, and kitchen exchanges almost felt like they were happening in slow motion compared to what I had grown used to. I found myself needing to move faster in transition because the ball just didn’t bounce the same way. It really reminded me that changing pickleballs can affect your game just as much as switching paddles, especially when you’ve grown comfortable with one type of ball.

Speaking of paddles, my current go-to is still my Bread & Butter Loco Elongated Pickleball Paddle. It continues to be the paddle that feels most natural for my game and always finds its way back into my bag. I recently picked up the Azul version, and while I do like it, I’m still adjusting because my original tan version just feels slightly different. I also spent some time using my Volair Shift Elongated Pickleball Paddle and even gave the Luzz Inferno Pickleball Paddle another shot, but I didn’t really click with it right away. On top of that, I keep thinking about picking up another Vatic Pro Saga V7 Pickleball Paddle or trying a new Prism V7. I still regret giving away my old Saga 16mm short handle. As a Vatic Pro ambassador, I probably should have held onto it just to keep a better collection of their paddles.

As for my actual performance, I think I played okay. I wouldn’t say I played amazing, but I definitely did some things well. My serves stayed consistent and rarely found the net, and I had some solid resets using two hands on the paddle. I also felt like I did a better job of moving the ball around and not becoming too predictable. One thing that has helped me improve lately is recording our matches and uploading them privately to YouTube so my friends and I can watch them back. It’s been one of the best ways to identify habits, weaknesses, and tendencies that are easy to miss while you’re caught up in the moment of playing.

One thing I noticed during these games was how often players try to speed up balls that probably shouldn’t be attacked. There were a few moments where a player tried speeding up a ball that was near knee level, and it ended up either going into the net or setting up the other team for an easy winner. Sometimes the better play is simply being patient, resetting the ball, or continuing a dink rally until you get a better opportunity. Not every ball needs to be attacked, and that’s something many recreational players still struggle with.

I also noticed a few areas where I need to improve. I need to do a better job attacking balls off the bounce without hitting them into the net, which is something my Boomstik paddle seems to help me with. I also need to add more topspin on my returns and fourth shot drives because there were a few times where I left the ball sitting too high, giving my opponents easy chances to poach or apply pressure. These are small adjustments, but they can make a huge difference in tighter matches.

By the end of the night, I pulled out my Volair Shift Elongated Pickleball Paddle again and started thinking that it might be my main paddle for next week’s games. Then again, part of me wants to bring out the Boomstik. Realistically though, I’ll probably end up going back to what always works best for me—my Bread & Butter Loco Elongated Pickleball Paddle. It continues to be the paddle I trust the most when games get competitive.

And if you’ve been thinking about trying a Bread & Butter paddle, I was recently accepted as an ambassador. If you decide to pick one up, feel free to use code TechYeti at checkout to save a little money. It genuinely helps support both my blog and YouTube channel.

Until next time, keep dinking, driving, and dropping.

Why the Boomstik Makes Sense for My Game?

A few weeks ago I got back on the court with the fellas and decided to give the Boomstik another try. It had been a while since I used it because I’ve mostly been playing with other paddles like the Volair Shift, but I figured why not bring it back into rotation.

When I first used the Boomstik, I liked it, but I didn’t stick with it long enough. Coming back to it now, the first thing I noticed again was the pop and power. I know a lot of people say it’s too poppy or too powerful, and I thought I might feel the same, but honestly it works pretty well for my game.

We played about 7 games over 2 hours, which is usually how we run it. We rotate partners every couple of games and just keep it going. I recorded all the games like I normally do now and shared them with the group. Watching them back, I felt like I played better than I thought I did while I was on the court.

One thing that really stood out was my drops, especially from the baseline. They felt really smooth. I wasn’t trying to do too much—just keeping the paddle out in front, slowing my swing down, and letting the paddle do the work. The ball was getting over the net clean more often than not.

I’ve also been trying to get better at mid-court transitions, and that’s still one of the harder parts of pickleball for me. It’s easy to hit the ball too hard, pop it up, or dump it into the net. But in these games, I felt a little more comfortable there, especially adding some topspin on balls in the air.

As for the Boomstik itself, it played really solid. Drives had good power, and quick hands at the kitchen felt nice. The paddle feels stable overall, even on shots that aren’t hit perfectly. One thing I did notice is that the ball comes off the paddle pretty quick, so you have to be ready for fast returns.

The handle is something I wasn’t sure about at first, mainly because of the shape and the bigger end cap, but it’s actually grown on me. It feels comfortable now, and I don’t notice any vibration. Two-handed shots feel good too, even though I didn’t get a ton of chances to use them.

With the power, you do have to stay under control. There were a couple of shots where I could tell if my angle was off, the ball was either going long or straight into the net. So it’s not a forgiving paddle if your mechanics aren’t there, but when you’re dialed in, it feels really good.

If I had to point out anything negative, it would be on some serve returns. There were a few times where I sent the ball deeper than I wanted, especially on slice or shorter serves where I had to move forward. It didn’t happen a lot, but I noticed it enough.

Durability is still something I’m not sure about yet. I already saw a small ding on the edge guard, but overall the paddle still feels good and the surface is holding up so far. I just haven’t used it enough to really judge that yet.

At the end of the day, I came away from that session really liking the Boomstik more than I expected. It’s powerful, poppy, and stable, and for my style of play, it fits pretty well. Right now, it’s up there with my Bread & Butter Loco as one of my go-to paddles.

I’m looking forward to getting back out there again soon, hopefully outdoors once the weather gets better. If not, we’ll keep it going indoors.

If you’ve been thinking about trying the Boomstik, I’d just say make sure it fits your game. It’s not for everyone, but if you can control the power, it can be a really fun paddle to play with.

When Trying New Paddles Starts Hurting Your Game

I recently gave the RPM Q2 a shot—and honestly, it didn’t last long. I returned it almost right away. It’s just not for me.

Right off the bat, it felt way too poppy. The balance point wasn’t where I like it, and while the handle circumference was okay, the shape felt really rectangular and flat in my hand. For the price, it just didn’t make sense to keep it.

But this isn’t really about the paddle itself—it’s more about what I realized because of it.

Lately, I’ve been trying a lot of different paddles, doing reviews, and chasing that “next one.” And I started noticing something during rec play the other night—I wasn’t playing well. Like, noticeably off. My drops were inconsistent, my resets weren’t as clean, and I was popping balls up way more than usual. With the RPM Q2, it was probably the worst I’ve seen in a while.

Now to be fair, no one expects to pick up a new paddle and instantly play their best. But that’s when it hit me: constantly switching paddles might actually be holding me back.

Every paddle has its own feel—different response, different pop, different timing. Some are close, sure, but none are identical. And when you keep switching, you’re always adjusting instead of improving. With the RPM, I could feel how good it was on dinks and soft shots, but I just couldn’t keep the ball down consistently. That disconnect was frustrating.

So I decided to return it—not just because I didn’t like it, but because I’m kind of done chasing paddles for a while.

At this point, I’d rather focus on getting better.

Ironically, the paddle I keep coming back to is still the Bread & Butter Loco. It just fits my game. I’ve also had some surprisingly good runs with the Boomstik too—something about the stability and higher twist weight seems to help more than I expected.

But overall, I’m just tired of buying paddles that look great on paper but don’t actually help my performance.

What I learned the other night was more important than any paddle review. My returns are still solid—low, controlled, and intentional—and I’ve actually been doing better with my resets lately by slowing things down and staying patient. That said, I still struggle more against aggressive players, and that’s something I need to work on. I also want to start paying attention to whether I play better on the left or right side of the court. Another big area for me is being more intentional during rallies—understanding what to expect on the next shot instead of assuming the point is over. I’m not always trying to hit a winner, but I think I need to stay mentally in the rally longer and expect the ball to come back every time. Maybe I’m already doing some of that and just don’t see it clearly in the moment—I really wish I hadn’t forgotten my tripod to record the games. Either way, it was just an off night… honestly, for most of us.

The biggest areas I need to improve? Long-distance drops—especially on my backhand—and being just a bit more aggressive when it matters. I had a couple of really solid forehand drops from the baseline, so I know it’s there. It just needs consistency.

At the end of the day, this was a good reminder: not everything that’s new is better. And sometimes, sticking with what works is the best way to actually improve your game.  For me, that is the Bread and Butter Loco elongated paddle.  Its not going anywhere...yet or until the grit really wears out. 

 

Up Close Looks on the Loco, Inferno and Boomstik Paddle Face

I borrowed a Supereyes USB camera pen to take close-up images of the grit and paddle faces on three paddles: the Boomstik, Loco, and Inferno. I wanted to see how the center of the paddle face compares to the edges where the ball rarely hits, mainly to compare grit levels and durability.

Picture 1 – Boomstik (center of the paddle face)
This area shows some durability wear. I’m not a big fan of how it looks, although I understand that no paddle is indestructible. Still, for the price of this paddle, I expected it to be a bit more durable. My guess is that this is partly due to the painted surface used for the paddle’s design.

 

Picture 2 – Boomstik grit face
Here you can see circular or bubble-like microdots on the paddle surface. I’m assuming this is the InfiniGrit texture.

 

Next is a picture of my Boomstik edge guard. At first, I thought the edge guard was cracking or defective, but looking closely it appears to actually be InfiniGrit. It seems like they sprayed the entire face and even the top part of the edge guard.

You be the judge — do you think having grit on the edge guard is a good idea?

In pictures 1 and 2, you can see what remains of the InfiniGrit.
Picture 3 shows a cleaner view of the edge guard with most of the InfiniGrit still present. This texture appears to run across the entire face and onto the edge guard. On a white edge guard, it can actually make it look like the plastic is cracking.

These are more pictures of the Boomstik on other nicks that happened to the paddle face.  Again I have only used this in maybe 2 or 3 full open play sessions and would say it was about 4-6 hours of games.  Note, that I actually used the Selkirk Pro pickleballs during these games. 

One of the pictures also shows the Boomstik area near the handle, where there has been no visible degradation.

Next are images of the Luzz Inferno.

The first picture shows the center of the paddle face, and the one below it shows the carbon face near the base of the paddle, an area where I’ve never hit the ball. One thing I noticed is that the weave pattern looks flatter and not as pronounced. Of course, we’re looking at this at a very close micro level, but you can still feel a difference.

 

Luzz Inferno – Picture 2 (near the handle)
This was taken closer to the handle area for comparison.

Lastly, here’s the Bread & Butter Loco.

There has been some discussion about how the Loco’s grit wears down fairly quickly. I can feel some of that on the paddle face, but I haven’t noticed a huge difference in my gameplay. My guess is that the paddle’s firm feel helps the ball pop off the face regardless. The only time I may notice a difference is on third-shot drops, where there might be slightly less spin. Overall though, the paddle still plays well, just like the others mentioned in this post.

 

Picture 1 – Center of the paddle face
You can see some threads spreading apart and looking flatter.  

Picture 2 – Near the handle (unused area)
This area looks more intact since balls haven’t been hitting here. In comparison to the center, the weave appears straighter and more even.

Just to be clear, this post is purely for educational purposes. Looking at the paddle faces this closely doesn’t really change my overall perspective on these paddles. With all the recent conversations around grit durability, I thought it might help some players see what these surfaces actually look like up close and possibly help them decide which paddle might work best for them.

From a gameplay standpoint, all of these paddles still perform fairly well based on the sessions I’ve played. The paddle I’ve used the most—and the one that’s still my main—is the Bread & Butter Loco, which is why you can see the most visible difference on that one. I can definitely notice it under the camera.

The others show less noticeable wear, although I was a little surprised that the Boomstik showed a nick sooner than I expected. Yes, it’s only a nick, but when you’re paying $333 for a paddle, little things like that matter.

That said, most paddle companies offer warranties, and I always recommend checking the manufacturer’s website or contacting their customer service if you have concerns so you can make the most informed decision.

Overall, I’d still buy another Loco if I needed to. It just fits my style and feels like a great all-around paddle. The Boomstik is an offensive and defensive beast, while the Inferno really shines on drives and overheads.

These are simply my personal opinions. I don’t have affiliate links with Bread & Butter or Selkirk, but if you decide to pick up a Luzz paddle or accessory, feel free to use code TechYeti at checkout. It genuinely helps support the channel and the website.

Giving the Volair Shift Elongated a Real Chance

I’ll be honest — I was pretty skeptical about the Volair Shift Elongated Pickleball Paddle when I first bought it. What really pulled me in was the price, the shape, and the overall feature set. I’ve always been curious about Volair paddles, but I never pulled the trigger before.

 

When I first started hitting with it, I wasn’t a huge fan. Being a 14mm paddle, you can definitely feel off-center hits more than thicker paddles, and some shots transferred straight into the handle. It made the paddle feel a little unforgiving at first and the higher swing weight has activated my tennis elbow again. 

After a few sessions I almost reached the point where I was ready to move on from it. But instead of giving up on it, I decided to keep playing with it and give it a proper break-in period.

That decision paid off.

After about two to 4 hours of open play and drilling again the wall, something started to click. The paddle began growing on me in ways I didn’t expect.

Drives, Resets, and That “Connected” Feel

Where this paddle really shines for me is on drives and resets. There’s a really nice sense of connection with the ball when you’re hitting through your shots. The paddle has good pocketing on drives and putaways, and it feels controlled without being overly powerful.

It’s not quite as explosive as some of the stiffer paddles I like — especially compared to my main Bread & Butter Loco Pickleball elongated paddle, which is usually the first paddle I grab when heading to the courts. But in a weird way, playing with the Shift felt like a breath of fresh Volair.

Yeah… I had to say it.

The swing weight also works really well for me but at the end I can feel the strain kicking in. I’m not a fan of super light paddles, and the balance point here feels just right, especially on serves where that extra weight helps me drive through the ball.

Where It Still Needs Some Work

The biggest adjustment for me has been dinks and drops.

I was able to hit some but lately Ive been off. It takes more effort and focus to gauge the paddle’s response on softer shots. It doesn’t quite have the pop or responsiveness that I personally prefer at the kitchen line or mid-court resets.

That said, I think this paddle could benefit slightly from some lead tape, though it actually made the experience worse for me. While adding weight usually improves stability, it ended up compromising the paddle's sweet spot and overall feel. Additionally, the swing weight on this 14mm feels notably higher than my Bread & Butter Loco elongated.

Design, Packaging, and First Impressions

One thing I really appreciated was the simple presentation.

Volair did solid job with the packaging. The paddle came with a bag, paddle cover, and a sticker — simple things, but they make the purchase feel more complete. The packaging was clean and well done.

I can’t help but compare that to my experience with the RPM Q2 Pickleball Paddle, which honestly arrived with nothing extra besides the paddle itself. For a paddle that retails around $250 before discounts, that felt a little underwhelming.

Where This Paddle Fits in My Bag

Right now, my main paddle is still the Loco. That one isn’t going anywhere.

But after spending more time with the Shift, it has definitely earned a temporary spot in my bag. I’d honestly say it’s become a good paddle to bring to the courts. Especially when I feel off with some of my more firm powerfully paddles. 

And that’s saying something, because I have a good amount of paddles. (Boomstik, Inferno, VSol Pro) 

Final Thoughts

The Shift probably isn’t the best paddle on the market, but it has a lot of things I personally like. The balance is good, the swing weight feels okay and the performance on drives and resets is really solid.

More importantly, it’s a paddle that grew on me the more I played with it.

And honestly, I think this paddle is pretty underrated.

It took some time to get used to its quirks, but once I did, I found myself really enjoying it. For the price, the build quality, and the performance it delivers, I’m happy I gave it a chance.

This one is definitely staying in my bag...for now! 

The Training Tool I Wasn’t Sure I Needed - Dink Master 3.0 by Enhance Pickleball

When I first purchased the Enhance Dink Master 3.0, I’ll be honest—I had a little bit of buyer’s remorse. My first thought was that maybe I had just spent a bit too much money on something I didn’t really need. Like most pickleball players, I’m always curious about paddles, and part of me wondered if that money would have been better spent trying another paddle instead. After all, paddles are usually the exciting purchase.

 

The real reason I bought the Dink Master, though, had nothing to do with gear hype. I was simply tired of hitting pickleballs against my fireplace whenever I wanted to get a few reps in at home. I also liked the idea that the system could double as a net setup. The wall can come down and convert into a net at the proper height, which means I can set it up in the driveway and hit around with my kids or play a few games with my brother-in-law when he comes over for family gatherings. In my mind it felt like a win-win, even if I still had some doubts after placing the order.

Once the Dink Master arrived and I set it up, my thoughts about it changed pretty quickly. I started doing short daily drills with it, usually about eight minutes at a time, and it didn’t take long before I noticed that those quick sessions were actually helping my game. The areas where I saw the most improvement were with my dinks, volleys, and drop shots.

One of the things I like most about the Dink Master is that the board can tilt up or down depending on what you want to practice. The setup I use the most is with the board tilted slightly upward. When you hit the ball into the center of the board, it pops the ball up and sends it back with a floating return. That type of return is actually perfect for practicing sweep volleys on both the forehand and backhand side. When I first started playing pickleball about a year ago, I would often hit those balls straight into the net because I was swinging too hard. Over time I’ve started focusing less on power and more on control, paddle positioning, reach, and sometimes a bit of topspin to guide the ball instead of forcing it.

The rebound from the board also works really well for practicing drop shots. The drop is something I’ve been trying to improve because it’s such an important shot for transitioning from the baseline to the kitchen. Sometimes it takes me a moment to get moving forward, and if the drop isn’t good I end up stuck in transition or reaching for the next ball. Repeating drops with the rebound board has helped that movement feel more natural, and it has helped me focus on touch and arc rather than speed.

Another drill that has become part of my routine involves practicing resets. If you tilt the board forward slightly, the ball comes back lower and faster, which creates a good opportunity to work on defensive resets. In the year that I’ve been playing pickleball, I’ve started to realize that resets and transitioning to the kitchen might actually be the hardest part of the game. It’s not dinking, and it’s not smashing the ball to finish a point. Controlling the ball when you’re under pressure and trying to move forward is where a lot of points are won or lost.

The Dink Master also includes target zones on the wall, which encourages you to think more about placement than power. Recently I’ve been trying a drill where I attempt to volley into zone three, then zone two, and finally zone one. Practicing that sequence on both my forehand and backhand has been a good way to work on accuracy and consistency rather than just hitting the ball back.

One of the biggest improvements I’ve noticed from using the Dink Master regularly has actually been patience. When I practice dinks with the rebound board, I try to wait for the ball to reach its highest point before making contact. That small adjustment has helped my control more than I expected, and it has made me feel more confident in softer exchanges at the kitchen line.

Living in the Northeast also makes a training tool like this more useful. Winters can get pretty cold, and it’s not always easy to get consistent court time. Having something at home allows me to stay loose and keep working on my game even when I’m not playing as often outside.

Looking back now, it’s funny that the thing I was hesitant to buy has turned out to be one of the most useful training tools I’ve added to my pickleball routine. It doesn’t take long practice sessions to get value from it either. Even a few minutes a day can help build consistency over time.

If you’re thinking about getting one yourself, I’d definitely recommend it. And if you do decide to pick one up, feel free to use the discount code TechYeti at checkout.

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