1 reactions
DrwCHyshciiubsu I'm nore what his plans are for official USAPA approval,ut I will check with him andpdate.
tps://preview.redd.it/523mzy5kgrza1.png?width=401&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=434c6e8aca5405583b6b2249c27b0b994d47b6f6
I also don't even know if he isnterestedn shipping these out, or what he wouldharge foipping if he will.
nyways, ifou're interested in a $50 Joolayperion Ben JohnsFS 16mm, albeitith a seriouslyeduced cosmetic appeal, send me aM. Ar ht t i(pshptitdsti4I ve already referred local people interested in buyingt.
I personally played withhe modelample paddle, which had the brandingesign additions of the Amasport Kronos. It literally looked exactly like this:
& #x200B ;
https://preview.redd.it/gn1qkdi9irza1.png?width=341&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=864e30cb7eb9bcad19114037b4a848be25a73bc9
An played identically, in my opinion, tohe Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm:
& #x200B ;
https://preview.redd.it/3csoi2rgjrza1.png?width=352&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=d2034b74f7e9ae81f9332abdaa95e099023ac9ec
The 100addles thate will receive and plans toell for $50 aop will have the following graphics. I told him the graphic and language could use some work, but apparently the design is lockedn). d awCBjuOo ocmlosIwahaodiiofwlatapAtgptasaotofaodm
Fwf
Curious How Much of A Racket The Paddle Industry Is? Come Take A Peek...
EDIT 5/14 2AM PCT: Want a $50 Hyperion? Additional new info at the end of original post.
This is hardly a secret, but I thought I'd quantify just how much of a ripoff the paddle industry is at present while providing references.
Any one of us could purchase A Joola Hyperion, or literally any non-Gearbox paddle for that matter, directly from the manufacturer (Shenzhen Binghuo Brothers Industrial Co., Ltd. https://autosansports.en.alibaba.com/minisiteentrance.html?spm=a2700.details.0.0.17c0254eDIHM5l&from=detail&productId=1600740882191) out of Guangdong, China, for just over $20 via alibaba https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Custom-OEM-Thermoforming-Sealing-Edge-Pickleball_1600740882191.html?spm=a2700.details.0.0.218a3f0b9MTGnV
https://preview.redd.it/wg4pbtxuwkza1.png?width=1341&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=fbdcc3896a19ae40820724018da81696483fff5e
A bit of arithmetic leads us to conclude that Joola marks up their paddles over 1000%. But wait, are they the only ones? Hrmm...let's take a look at Shenzhen Binghuo Bros wider product offerings:
& #x200B ;
Let's Play: Find Your Paddle! https://preview.redd.it/tu9v29fyskza1.png?width=769&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=d44629da372176ba361cea7fa4ba9c85f8986b1b
Surely there aren't any CRBNs in there. Oops, missed a spot on the right:
& #x200B ;
https://preview.redd.it/cy4uxw34tkza1.png?width=352&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=09fb0e4407db2a771f7145d91dca894a0a65cc53
DIT 5/14 2 AM: I found a different manufacturer, Changsha Sweet Electronics Company, may be the supplier of CRBN 1x and 2x paddles, with these models https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/2023-customized-elongated-thermoformed-kvl-core_1600687763073.html?spm=a27aq.rank_detail.6404617500.12.657a54d7b2VezN&cardType=101001155&cardId=10001278309 or $17.50 per paddle ($15.50 for >1000). It's unclear if those prices definitely include the thermoforming, but I believe so?
https://preview.redd.it/5jxtj8qqerza1.png?width=1256&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=23ed5bc0065474ddc9d7d8b4f718e8f76fe5d545
Sure, it's literally a worse ripoff than a hotel minibar, but the lesser frequently mentioned issue is that the pickleball equipment industry epicenter is on the other side of the planet, far removed from most anybody that gives a shit about the sport. Which is why we are #blessed ith the cream of the corny crop of ads on the regular, such as:
& #x200B ;
https://preview.redd.it/9a96gtpeskza1.png?width=547&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=cfc4ccacc3ca4c6d34faf2d5c88957409d1d39f4
Sure the marketing is cringe, but it's still ridiculous to me when people call paddles like XSPAK or Amasport "knockoffs" or "counterfeit". News flash people: THERE ARE NO COUNTERFEIT PADDLES. I've played with the Amasport Kronos, and it's the Hyperion Simone Jardine 16mm. Joola and Amasport didn't even bother to rebullshitify their marketing technobabble, seeing as how the OEM itself dubs the face surface "Carbon Friction Surface (CFS)"
Thermoformed, edge foamed paddles like Legacy and Vatik are no different, as they're all manufactured in the same plant (minimum order quantity of 100 for thermoforming):
& #x200B ;
https://preview.redd.it/e9v11rbnwkza1.png?width=1255&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=8bd818c7069169f46a2f75897d62289817c40b9b
When I watch old clips of soccer, I find myself feeling guilty for looking down on the level of play, partly due to just how bad the equipment was back then. But i think one day people will look back at the present day pickleball paddle situation and think "Oh god...they were so clueless". It's too bad I don't enjoy playing with Gearboxs, as they seem to be the lone exception. But I do look forward to a future where *most* pickleball paddles aren't just rebranded junk products (anyone's fancy new paddle delaminate in days?), and are actually designed by people who have a genuine passion for the sport. Maybe then the technology will actually merit these insane markups we put up with.
EDIT 5/14 2:15AM:ull disclosure: this following friend is notake believe, but Io plannsking him for a modest cuhe take if I can refer a bunch of you to him. Inly decided to addll this information after Iaw the insanemount of attentionhisostot. Anways...
I originally became familiar withhislibaba sourcingossibility when a friend brought few different sampleso our public courtsndet me playith them, asking me afterwards if would pay $50orneftidn'tfficiallve USAPA approval. The best one of the paddles played like Hyperion,hich greatly peaked my curiosity as wondered how he could possibly turn a profit charginguch w price. So instead of telling him 'yes', I searched Alibabayself to see if Iould just cut himut of the equation.
After investigating, I was skeptical about the advertised minimum order quantity of just 2 paddles (as many of you also were), and decided the small savings gained through successfully navigating a large purchaserder directly from a ChineseEst wasn't worth the hassle. ut I guess he drummed up enough interest locally here in Santaruz to move forwardith an order for batch of 100.ha M a y t
E .
tps://preview.redd.it/523mzy5kgrza1.png?width=401&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=434c6e8aca5405583b6b2249c27b0b994d47b6f6
I also don't even know if he isnterestedn shipping these out, or what he wouldharge foipping if he will.
nyways, ifou're interested in a $50 Joolayperion Ben JohnsFS 16mm, albeitith a seriouslyeduced cosmetic appeal, send me aM. Ar ht t i(pshptitdsti4I ve already referred local people interested in buyingt.
I personally played withhe modelample paddle, which had the brandingesign additions of the Amasport Kronos. It literally looked exactly like this:
& #x200B ;
https://preview.redd.it/gn1qkdi9irza1.png?width=341&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=864e30cb7eb9bcad19114037b4a848be25a73bc9
An played identically, in my opinion, tohe Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm:
& #x200B ;
https://preview.redd.it/3csoi2rgjrza1.png?width=352&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=d2034b74f7e9ae81f9332abdaa95e099023ac9ec
The 100addles thate will receive and plans toell for $50 aop will have the following graphics. I told him the graphic and language could use some work, but apparently the design is lockedn). d awCBjuOo ocmlosIwahaodiiofwlatapAtgptasaotofaodm
Fwf
Curious How Much of A Racket The Paddle Industry Is? Come Take A Peek...
EDIT 5/14 2AM PCT: Want a $50 Hyperion? Additional new info at the end of original post.
This is hardly a secret, but I thought I'd quantify just how much of a ripoff the paddle industry is at present while providing references.
Any one of us could purchase A Joola Hyperion, or literally any non-Gearbox paddle for that matter, directly from the manufacturer (Shenzhen Binghuo Brothers Industrial Co., Ltd. https://autosansports.en.alibaba.com/minisiteentrance.html?spm=a2700.details.0.0.17c0254eDIHM5l&from=detail&productId=1600740882191) out of Guangdong, China, for just over $20 via alibaba https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Custom-OEM-Thermoforming-Sealing-Edge-Pickleball_1600740882191.html?spm=a2700.details.0.0.218a3f0b9MTGnV
https://preview.redd.it/wg4pbtxuwkza1.png?width=1341&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=fbdcc3896a19ae40820724018da81696483fff5e
A bit of arithmetic leads us to conclude that Joola marks up their paddles over 1000%. But wait, are they the only ones? Hrmm...let's take a look at Shenzhen Binghuo Bros wider product offerings:
& #x200B ;
Let's Play: Find Your Paddle! https://preview.redd.it/tu9v29fyskza1.png?width=769&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=d44629da372176ba361cea7fa4ba9c85f8986b1b
Surely there aren't any CRBNs in there. Oops, missed a spot on the right:
& #x200B ;
https://preview.redd.it/cy4uxw34tkza1.png?width=352&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=09fb0e4407db2a771f7145d91dca894a0a65cc53
DIT 5/14 2 AM: I found a different manufacturer, Changsha Sweet Electronics Company, may be the supplier of CRBN 1x and 2x paddles, with these models https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/2023-customized-elongated-thermoformed-kvl-core_1600687763073.html?spm=a27aq.rank_detail.6404617500.12.657a54d7b2VezN&cardType=101001155&cardId=10001278309 or $17.50 per paddle ($15.50 for >1000). It's unclear if those prices definitely include the thermoforming, but I believe so?
https://preview.redd.it/5jxtj8qqerza1.png?width=1256&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=23ed5bc0065474ddc9d7d8b4f718e8f76fe5d545
Sure, it's literally a worse ripoff than a hotel minibar, but the lesser frequently mentioned issue is that the pickleball equipment industry epicenter is on the other side of the planet, far removed from most anybody that gives a shit about the sport. Which is why we are #blessed ith the cream of the corny crop of ads on the regular, such as:
& #x200B ;
https://preview.redd.it/9a96gtpeskza1.png?width=547&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=cfc4ccacc3ca4c6d34faf2d5c88957409d1d39f4
Sure the marketing is cringe, but it's still ridiculous to me when people call paddles like XSPAK or Amasport "knockoffs" or "counterfeit". News flash people: THERE ARE NO COUNTERFEIT PADDLES. I've played with the Amasport Kronos, and it's the Hyperion Simone Jardine 16mm. Joola and Amasport didn't even bother to rebullshitify their marketing technobabble, seeing as how the OEM itself dubs the face surface "Carbon Friction Surface (CFS)"
Thermoformed, edge foamed paddles like Legacy and Vatik are no different, as they're all manufactured in the same plant (minimum order quantity of 100 for thermoforming):
& #x200B ;
https://preview.redd.it/e9v11rbnwkza1.png?width=1255&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=8bd818c7069169f46a2f75897d62289817c40b9b
When I watch old clips of soccer, I find myself feeling guilty for looking down on the level of play, partly due to just how bad the equipment was back then. But i think one day people will look back at the present day pickleball paddle situation and think "Oh god...they were so clueless". It's too bad I don't enjoy playing with Gearboxs, as they seem to be the lone exception. But I do look forward to a future where *most* pickleball paddles aren't just rebranded junk products (anyone's fancy new paddle delaminate in days?), and are actually designed by people who have a genuine passion for the sport. Maybe then the technology will actually merit these insane markups we put up with.
EDIT 5/14 2:15AM:ull disclosure: this following friend is notake believe, but Io plannsking him for a modest cuhe take if I can refer a bunch of you to him. Inly decided to addll this information after Iaw the insanemount of attentionhisostot. Anways...
I originally became familiar withhislibaba sourcingossibility when a friend brought few different sampleso our public courtsndet me playith them, asking me afterwards if would pay $50orneftidn'tfficiallve USAPA approval. The best one of the paddles played like Hyperion,hich greatly peaked my curiosity as wondered how he could possibly turn a profit charginguch w price. So instead of telling him 'yes', I searched Alibabayself to see if Iould just cut himut of the equation.
After investigating, I was skeptical about the advertised minimum order quantity of just 2 paddles (as many of you also were), and decided the small savings gained through successfully navigating a large purchaserder directly from a ChineseEst wasn't worth the hassle. ut I guess he drummed up enough interest locally here in Santaruz to move forwardith an order for batch of 100.ha M a y t
E .
| 2,000 mlx | |
| 97 | |
| 1 |