Why I upgraded my pickleball paddle?

As a newcomer to pickleball this year, I wanted to upgrade my inexpensive aluminum paddle to a carbon fiber one without spending over $100. Like many others, I turned to YouTube and Google for guidance.

During my search, I was surprised by the number of USAP-approved paddle companies. With so many variations in paddle shape, handle design, material, and length, I felt overwhelmed by the options. Then, on my first visit to Camp Pickleball in Plainville, Connecticut, I had the chance to try a demo paddle—the Joola Scorpeus 3 14mm. I was impressed until I asked about the price. When I heard it was around $300, I was shocked! I had no intention of spending more than $150.

I noticed that many paddles shared similar dimensions and materials, yet prices varied widely. Why were some companies charging $200–$300 while others offered paddles for $80–$150?

One day, while shopping with my family at Target, I checked out the sports equipment aisle and found a Joola and a Franklin paddle on sale for 50% off—marked down from $99 to $49. At first, I was excited, but I couldn’t help but wonder why they were discounted. I had $50 in Christmas money, and with my dad’s birthday approaching, I decided to buy both paddles. The Franklin paddle had a rough, sandpaper-like texture that I didn’t love, so I gifted it to my dad and kept the Joola Seneca for myself.

At the time, I felt good about my purchase because of the discount, but I continued researching. After trying the Joola paddle, I was somewhat satisfied, but I wasn’t convinced it was the right choice for me—$50 was still a decent investment in another paddle. That’s when I discovered Vatic Pro.

Their reviews and pricing quickly convinced me to return my Joola paddle to Target and purchase my first carbon fiber paddle from Vatic Pro. It cost $89.99 plus tax, but with a coupon code and free shipping, it remained affordable—especially compared to other brands still charging well over $100.

Was it worth it? Yes. But why?

I chose a wide paddle for more control. Its larger face provides beginners and recreational players with better control and the ability to generate spin. After playing in my first open session at Camp Pickleball yesterday, I immediately noticed the difference. As a beginner, I’m not focused on hitting the ball as hard as possible; instead, I want to work on my control, mechanics, fundamentals, and spin. I’m extremely happy with my purchase and have already recommended it to family and friends.

After trying pickleball for fun and learning more about the game, I’m realizing that I might be more of a balanced player on the court—for now, at least.

Since switching to this paddle, I’ve noticed significant improvements in response, spin, and control. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, I highly recommend the Prism Bloom 16mm or Prism Flash 16mm.

If you’re in Connecticut and would like to check out the paddle in person, feel free to reach out to me to schedule a time to play.

And when you’re ready to purchase from Vatic Pro, use code TECHYETI as a coupon code to save $10 on your order. If you do, let me know which paddle you chose, where you’re from, and your favorite places to play pickleball.

 Camp Pickleball in Plainville Connecticut

Why I Play Competitive Cornhole?

Yes, there is competitive cornhole? From the unusual sports out there of face slapping to disk golf to the more common games like dodge-ball and chase tag.  Cornhole as we know it is growing and if you are not aware, the American Cornhole League, has their National Finals broadcast on ESPN and CBS Sports.  Yes, it is a fun back yard game turned pro with the ACL and in my state of Connecticut there are multiple clubs for anyone to play socially or competitively almost every day of the week.  So why did I get into it? 

I needed to find a something to do outside of work and home.  I wanted to play softball but I wanted something to do indoors during the winter season and I needed knee surgery so I knew I could not do that.  I tried playing chess, and still do online via Lichess.org, but it can feel like a library at the chess club and I wanted something a bit more social and fun.  Then one day, at my local Costco store, I saw a cornhole set with "premium" boards and bought them for myself on father's day (2022) and fell in love with the game since.

Throughout that summer, whenever I could, I would setup the boards on the tennis courts at my apartment complex and throw for about an hour while the kids road their bikes, scooters and chalked up the court with kids art.  One day while I was throwing bags, a neighbor asked if he could join me in a friendly game. We played with these lower quality bags and decent boards but throughout the game I was not winning at all.  Actually, I lost fairly quickly but through conversation he introduced me to a cornhole club in town and explained how they run switcholios.  He then told me about an app called Scoreholio and showed me how to register and search for a switcholio tournament.

So I gave it a try and went to the local club and got hooked.  People had jerseys, music, drinks, premium cornhole bags, and a chance to win your money back and more.  I would never forget my first time going to a switcholio.  I was nervous but nevertheless excited to go throw bags at Naugatuck Valley Cornhole.  When I could not get the bag in the hole or even on the board it was frustrating.  I wanted to get better and did not like the fact that I could not keep a bag on the board.  After that day I quickly returned the cornhole set I got at Costco and bought my first Reynolds Pro Advantage bags and a more premium set of Cornhole Solutions boards.  At the end of that switcholio I was already looking forward to the next one. As a beginner, at that time, I was not great but I found out that this game helped me to disconnect from the world for a few hours.

Two Roads Tournament in Stratford Connecticut June 2023

 

I continued to play cornhole because it was hard for me to process my mother being in a nursing home and having to go to Florida to admit her for the first time was the hardest thing I had to do in my life.  I felt like I let my mother down because my brother and I could not care for her in our homes like we would have wanted to.   Having two young children and having my mother as a wanderer was not safe for anyone.  While she was in Florida I could not sleep, eat, and went into a depression because I would think about my mom constantly. I would think about her care and how my brother and I were going to bring her back to Connecticut.  Every nursing home I called in Connecticut either did not have an available bed, did not accept state assisted services or had a several years long waiting list.  Even the less expensive nursing homes can cost at least three hundred dollars a day!  But I kept searching, calling and visiting every nursing home I could.  One of my aunts, in Florida, did as much as she could to care for my mother and it is not easy to care for someone in this condition, especially if they are super combative.  At one time I thought my mom would have to stay in Florida and that is when I went into a deeper depression.  But I kept at it and prayed more to God for help.  Thankfully we were able to find a skilled nursing that could help care for my mother.

 

Visiting my mom at the nursing home shortly after were able to bring her back to Connecticut

 

In all I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to experience this game and the community of players we have in Connecticut.  I have met a ton of nice people who love the game just as I do.  Unfortunately I could not play as often as I would like to because of family and work responsibilities but I still enjoy it more every day.  It helps me to connect and disconnect.  If you are like me who has a parent with Alzheimer's disease, know that you are are not alone.  There are people out there willing to help and your scenerio will get better.  It will not be easy to find a place for your loved one but keep at it, educate yourself and talk to your local social worker.  Last, if you are still struggling mentally call your health insurance company to find a mental health coach to talk to.  I really learned a lot about myself during my sessions with my mental health coach. 

 

Things will get better for you!

 

As some say in the cornhole world, keep it straight and keep throwing four baggers. 

Cornhole clubs in Connecticut

203 Cornhole

Battle Baggers

Candlewood Cornhole

Central Connecticut Cornhole

Coastal Connecticut Cornhole

Connecticut Cornhole

Cornhole by The Sound

Naugatuck Valley Cornhole

 

Review of the Lenovo T495 Laptop after Four Years

Review of the Lenovo T495 Laptop after Four Years of Use

This laptop is no longer available for purchase at Lenovo.com, but I wanted to share my personal insight after using it for almost four years. Many reviews are written when devices are new and with very limited usage, so I hope my experience over an extended period will be helpful.

Why I Chose the Lenovo T495

About four years ago, I made the switch from a fifteen-inch 2015 MacBook Pro to a Lenovo T495. One of the main reasons for this switch was the superior keyboards Lenovo had at the time. Additionally, I no longer needed a virtual machine with a Windows operating system to run IT-related applications.

Currently, while new Apple laptop keyboards have improved, I still wouldn’t go back to a MacBook because of the limited ports. If you're deciding between a MacBook Air or Pro and a Windows computer, this post may offer some valuable insights. Here, I’ll highlight some features and benefits of the Lenovo T490 series laptop.

Performance and Usability

The Lenovo T495 is my daily work computer, and overall, I’m very satisfied with its performance. One of the standout features is the Lenovo ThinkPad keyboard, which is among the best on the market.

If you are a college student, teacher, professor, business manager, or director, the Lenovo T490 laptops are a great buy for their price. The newer version of this laptop is the Lenovo T14 model. While they look and feel similar to the T490 series, the T14 has some internal updates, the most noticeable being the new glass-like trackpad and improved ports.

Improvements in Trackpad

Historically, Lenovo ThinkPad trackpads were considered one of the worst on the market due to poor clicking mechanisms and design. However, they have made significant improvements over the years, with the T14 model showcasing a vastly better trackpad design. My T495's trackpad is an improvement over previous models and still performs well.

Ports and Connectivity

Another great feature of this laptop is the variety of ports it offers. It includes:

• Two USB A ports
• One Thunderbolt port
• HDMI port
• Headphone/microphone jack
• MicroSD card slot
• Ethernet port (RJ45)

This wide range of ports eliminates the need for carrying a multiport adapter when connecting to external monitors or projectors. Despite the numerous ports, the laptop remains relatively slim and lightweight.

Design and Durability

The Lenovo T495 boasts a professional and sleek design. One aspect that stands out is its spill-resistant keyboard. In terms of build quality, the laptop is durable and has held up well over the years.

Comparison with MacBook Pros

One thing to note about the new Apple MacBook Pros is their size and weight. While they have a nice design, they are heavier devices to carry around. If I were to purchase a MacBook again, I might opt for the MacBook Air for its lighter weight. However, the Lenovo T495 perfectly meets my needs, balancing performance, portability, and design.

What IT certification to study in 2022?

I spent most of my time studying for the Cisco Certified Network Associate last year. In my previous post, I explained my experiences with the exam and why I did not pass. In the end, I was not ready and needed more time. I enjoyed my studies, especially the Boson labs but after that exam, I took some time to reflect on my career and personal development goals for 2022..."What do I do now?".

I thought very hard about what to do after not passing the CCNA exam. Should I go after it again or learn something new? After that exam, I took time off from studying and spent more quality time with my family and friends. With the holidays come and gone I decided to not go for the CCNA just yet. Why? Because I want to learn more about CyberSecurity.  I will eventually go back to the CCNA studies but for now I want to focus my learning on something else.  Even if I did not pass the exam I still learned a lot and I that is why I am focusing on CyberSecurity.  So I did some research, found a video online and went to TryHackMe.com.

Why TryHackme.com? Because I like their content, format, and labs. So I signed up for the CompTIA PenTest+ learning path. Why this? I wanted a place that would provide hands-on experience with applications like BurpSuite, OWASP, Nmap, and more. 

Will I go for my PenTest certification exam? Not any time soon because my goal is to learn the content and find my passion through learning. Not that I was not passionate enough with the CCNA but I want to go about this learning path differently and so far it has been great. With TryHackMe I now have hands on experience with Nmap, BurpSuite, and OWASP Zap. Plus, I did a little bit of Advent of Cyber 3 in early December and learned a bit on web exploitation. Why this path? 

In general, I am a curious person, I may not be the most technical person but I am a team player and enjoy learning new technologies. Plus I saw a job posting that caught my eye which required experience applications BurpSuite, OWASP, Nmap, and more. So I wanted to learn some more about those applications and PenTesting.  That is why I found the CompTIA PenTest+ path in TryHackMe.com. 

Will I go back to the CCNA? Yes, absolutely! I will but I want to learn something else that is not Cisco or networking related and that is why I want to focus a bit more on information security. I almost went to Juniper's JNCIA because their exam vouchers are not as much and sometimes provide discounts if you take their online training or practice exam. But when I saw TryHackMe.com I just got hooked.  Plus most of their courses are free but if you want to use their virtual machines longer than the allotted time one has to subscribe to their services, which is not priced bad. I am not sponsored by them for this but recommend you take a look at the difference between the free version and the paid version of TryHackMe.  Why Subscribe to TryHackMe

My approach this time is not to pass the certification but go through the PenTest exam objectives. During my studies, if I noticed myself interested in taking an exam I will then sign up and schedule a date for the PenTest+. For now, I will do the TryHackMe.com site and learn as much as I can with their labs. 

I hope you are all well and have a prosperous new year. Be safe and keep on learning!

How was the CCNA exam?

The Cisco Certified Network Associate exam was not easy and neither was the Network+ certification when I pass that on November 2019. I had a feeling earlier during the week that I would not pass and had a feeling that I should have rescheduled it.  Why did I not reschedule?    

  

I was at a point where I was burnt out from studying. I went through the Cisco exam objectives, Boson labs, watched David Bombal Udemy videos, used Todd Tammle's CCNA book as a reference, flash cards, practice exam and even took an official week long live virtual training back in the spring. But none of what I learned was enough to pass the exam. But why did I not reschedule the exam? I wanted to keep my commitment and I wanted to accept the outcome regardless of the exam results. Let me explain my experience with the exam. 

I took the Pearson Vue exam at work.  I was lucky enough to reserve a small huddle room in the human resources building because I have too much equipment in my office to move out for a two hour exam.  In the huddle room it had a small table, an office chair and network jack.  There were no pictures on the walls, no monitors, no computers and it had good lighting.  I used a spare work laptop and had it wiped and reconfigured with no firewall settings or no antivirus.  It had the bare-bone Windows 10 image to make sure I was not blocked or disconnected from the exam since I was taking the exam at work.  Also, with a hybrid work schedule for some people in the building I knew I was not going to be disturbed.  The check in process by Pearson Vue was amazing.  I would highly recommend you take the exam at home or work versus going to a testing facility.  Once I finished my I exam I got the notification right away that I failed.  I was hoping to see the details on the exam but they did not include that in the end but I knew I did really bad.  Halfway through the exam I used up to much time on some difficult questions and guessed on a few questions.  I did not want to end the exam without time and now I know. I was not ready for this exam.

My detailed exam results came in the next day.  Once they did I logged back into Pearson Vue right away and it showed the percentage scores of each category. I wanted to post them here with this blog post but I am too embarrassed to show my results with anyone. I am still upset at myself for not rescheduling the exam with how bad I score but I wanted to keep my commitment to the scheduled date.

 

I was at a point where I was putting too much pressure on myself for this exam. At the end of the day, it is just an exam. This does not define who I am and what I am capable of doing and if you are in the same just know that you are not alone.  I am thankful for my job and the opportunity they have given me at work, to learn and develop my skills.  I am most thankful to my wife who is always supportive of my goals and I could not be more grateful for her loving support.  

I am happy that I failed because I will get back to my studies after I have take a small break and spend some time with my wife and kids during the holidays.  

 

Stay strong, keep moving forward and keep on learning. 

Happy Holidays!

Time-Saving Tricks for Subnetting by Practical Networking - My CCNA Studies 10 days Left

With my exam in ten days I have to brush up on my subnetting skills. I will be doing this every day till exam day.  If you are looking for ways to learn subnetting check out the links and video below by Practical Networking. I highly recommend you watch all of the Subnetting Mastery videos and website. If you have done subnetting before and just need a refresher check the video I included below.  The video provides great quick tips.

 By far these are the best videos on subnetting. I think being able to do subnetting quickly is a must know for the CCNA exam.  I have seen at least one or two questions within the Boson ExSim practice exams that require subnetting knowledge.

The links below are directed to their blog, website and YouTube videos on subnetting.  If you want to practice check out subnetipv4.com.  It has a clean and simple to use  tool that populates random CIDR notation to practice from.  In there one has to figure out the Network ID, Broadcast ID and if stuck it can populate the answers.  

Now I got to practice to get fast and better at subnetting. 

https://subnetipv4.com/

Subnetting Mastery Blog Post by Practical Networking

 Subnetting Mastery by Practical Networking

CCNA Studies - Learning Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol w Jeremy's IT Lab

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Quick Study Update – 12 Days to Go!

My exam is in just twelve days, so I wanted to give you a quick update on how my studies are going. Since my last post, I’ve been making steady progress, but there’s still a lot of ground to cover.

Lately, I’ve been focusing on reviewing the topics I’m less confident in. I’m using Anki flashcards daily to reinforce those concepts and plan to go through Boson ExSim exams B and C soon. I recently retook Boson Exam A and scored much better, though I’ve identified a few areas that still need work.

One big takeaway from my practice exams: read the questions carefully. It’s easy to rush through and make quick selections without fully thinking things through—something I’ve been guilty of. Taking an extra moment can really make a difference in choosing the best answer.

Also, I wanted to share a helpful resource on Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol. If you haven’t already checked out Jeremy’s IT Lab on YouTube, I highly recommend it. He offers tons of free videos that cover all the CCNA topics. If you’re looking for a solid, free online trainer, this is a great option.

I’d love to go into more detail about what I’ve been learning, but I’ve got to get back to the flashcards and keep grinding. The next time I post, it’ll be after the exam.

Exam day: November 19th.

Till next time—wish me luck!

CCNA Studies - I Took My 1st Boson Practice Exam

I finally took my first Boson ExSim practice exam this week, and I did horribly. I’m not kidding—I only got 34% of the questions right, and by question number sixty, I had only 18% correct. After that score, I decided to take a mental break from anything IT-related, including studying for the CCNA and even work. So, I took the weekend off from all of it.

I’ve been working six days a week for most of this year, and lately, it's been super busy with many people returning to their offices after eighteen months of working from home. Why am I working every Saturday? Overtime pay! Out of a large team of technicians, I volunteered for it—but only after checking in with my wife to make sure she was okay with being home alone with the kids. I can't thank her enough for her support. Working Saturdays has been a win-win for us: I get the extra pay and use my free time to study for the CCNA.

Besides the good pay, it’s been a nice shift to catch up on repairs or incidents from the week. Most Saturday shifts were quiet and typically around 7 to 8 hours, but in September, the hours were extended to 12 due to more staff, faculty, and students returning to campus. I enjoy the extra hours and the studying, but I was starting to feel burned out and needed a mental reset—especially after taking that Boson practice exam.

So, I told my manager I wouldn’t be covering this past Saturday and spent the whole weekend with my wife and kids. No labs, no studying, no work—just family time. I went to my five-year-old son’s soccer game and was so excited to see him score his second goal. After the game, we stayed a bit longer to let the kids play on the playground. We did a lot of fun things together, and I couldn’t have asked for better fall weather in Connecticut.

At times, I wanted to pick up my flashcards or do a Boson lab, but I really enjoyed the break and being present with my family. I was due for it—and I'm glad I took the exam when I did.

The exam itself was great. It felt like getting punched in the gut, but it was important to gauge where I stand with what I’ve studied so far. I’ve heard nothing but great things online about Boson’s practice exams from people who’ve passed. The format is solid, the content is tough, and the questions are well-written. I’d recommend Boson ExSim and NetSims to anyone prepping for the CCNA. The only thing I wish the ExSim had was an option to break it down by chapter, subject, or content. When I studied for the Network+ exam, I’d go chapter-by-chapter and test myself after each one, which really helped.

Why did I take the exam now? I scheduled my actual exam for mid-November and needed to identify my strengths and weaknesses. It’s clear I have more weaknesses than strengths, but during the practice exam, I realized I actually knew some of the answers. My main issue was misreading the questions or answers.

After seeing my score, I’m considering rescheduling my exam—and if I do, that’s okay. But I’ll wait until I get closer to the date to reassess. If by the end of October I’m still not retaining the information, I’ll know what to do.

I keep hearing from folks on YouTube and elsewhere that the CCNA isn’t a destination—it’s a journey. And if now’s not the time, that’s okay. I remind myself that I’m still new to this content, and many others have been in my shoes. My goal after passing the CCNA is to become a Network Administrator, Technician, or Junior Network Engineer—whether within my current company or somewhere else.

I’m thinking of rescheduling because I have a lot of information to absorb, and I’ve got about fifty days left. There are still exam objectives I don’t fully understand. The CCNA covers a ton of material. What confuses me most right now—among many things—is how packets flow. I have a general idea, but if I had to explain it to someone else, I might miss a few key points. With seven weeks and three days to go, I’ve still got a lot to learn, test, and review.

Honestly, I don’t know how people take the exam in under eight weeks without any prior IT or networking knowledge. I mean, sure, anyone can learn it—but for me, it’s taking time to really understand the concepts. Learning what specific commands do and memorizing them is a workout in itself.

All in all, I’m glad I took the weekend off and now I’m excited to get back into studying. I’m not rescheduling just yet. There’s still a lot to learn, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed or burned out, it’s crucial to take breaks—especially if you’ve got a family and other responsibilities. Take advantage of every moment, and don’t be afraid to hit the reset button when needed. Just don’t stop, and don’t give up.

I’m ready for these next seven good weeks of studying. See you soon, CCNA.