TechTalk with ProXR Pickleball and Their Game-Changing Handle Technology

ProXR have established themselves as innovators in other sports like the NHL and MLB, and they are bringing the same creativity and technology to the sport of pickleball with the first ergonomically designed handles to give you more spin, greater control and quicker reloads on every shot. The angled handle keeps your hand in the proper grip and finger placement, leading to more powerful shots. ProXR Pickleball launched 3 paddles in 2021: Signature, Tour and Advantage, sold exclusively at PickleballCentral.

ProXR has performed well in other sports; how did the knowledge learned in baseball and hockey translate to pickleball?

The knowledge we gained while designing products for our other sports gave us great insight into how to approach the design process for pickleball. We were able to use the experience and feedback gained in those sports, as well as the advice and feedback of many high level pickleball players, to create revolutionary technology for the sport of pickleball!

With over fifteen years of research and development in technology for both baseball and hockey, we have gained extensive knowledge about the connection between an athlete’s hands and their bat and/or stick. When we began studying the relationship between pickleball players’ hand and wrist movement with their paddles, we quickly saw many similarities to baseball and hockey.

The most important take-away we gained from the research was the need to design a handle that is extremely versatile so a player can make all types of shots. In pickleball, not all shots are made the same way. A player needs a handle that is equally beneficial for serves, groundstrokes and dinks. We have designed a handle that is advantageous to players in all three of these critical areas.

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Can you tell us about the tests you put the paddle through?

We believe in the importance of getting as much feedback as possible from professional and amatuer players alike. In our manufacturing facility, we created over one hundred prototypes of different faces, cores, shapes, sizes and weights. We then put our different paddles into the hands of players and listened carefully to all of their feedback. Through many rounds of revisions based on this feedback, we were able to design three very different, high-performing paddles, each with distinct features and benefits. Once we compiled the feedback and settled on designs, we submitted them to USA Pickleball to ensure that they are legal for tournament and recreational play. USA Pickball certified them all.

While we are happy with our current offerings, we never feel like we are over the finish line. We are dedicated to creating the perfect paddle for every type of player, which is why you will see some exciting new product launches coming in the next few months!

Is there anything that surprised you about how the technology performs in pickleball?

When we entered the pickleball market, we suspected that those who have enjoyed our ergonomic handles in other sports would be immediately attracted to our pickleball paddles. It was incredible how quickly the rest of the pickleball community recognized the advantages of our technology and became excited to try our new designs.

Even more exciting was the enthusiasm surrounding innovation in general within the pickle community. Our goal is to always lead through innovation; being part of a market that recognizes and values innovation is awesome.

We believe that an absolutely critical part of innovation is open and honest feedback from the community. We have received a lot of input so far and will continue to create a comfortable environment in which players can share their feedback and ideas for continued improvement.

Can you talk us through the three models you have currently and what types of players would like them?

We currently offer three paddle models- Advantage, Tour and Signature. There are unique features and benefits to each one. All three have our patented ergonomic handle design and a polypropylene honeycomb core interior.

Advantage - Our Advantage paddle is manufactured using a fiberglass face, which is what many of the professionals use. When fiberglass makes contact with the ball, it releases energy, giving you more POWER when you hit it perfectly on the sweet spot. Shop Advantage Paddle!

Tour - Our Tour paddle is manufactured with a carbon fiber face, which is great for TOUCH and CONTROL players. Unlike glass fiber, carbon fiber absorbs energy, giving you maximum control over your shots and a larger sweet spot. Shop Tour Paddle!

Signature - Our Signature paddle was designed to be a ‘best of both worlds’ solution for players who want both power and control. We found that by cutting our carbon fiber into strips and weaving it together, players get the advantage of the huge sweet spot from the carbon fiber, while also being able to generate power thanks to the strength of the weave. We proudly believe this paddle, with our handle technology, is the best performing paddle in the market today. Shop Signature Paddle!

What is next for ProXR in Pickleball?

Without giving away too many secrets, ProXR is poised to have a HUGE year in 2022!

Now that we've seen success with our first-generation models, we are excited to continue expanding and refining our product offerings. We will be releasing new paddles to more precisely fit each and every player interested in improving their game with pickleball’s most innovative technology.

ProXR Pickleball is not just a “handle” company - we are an innovation and technology company. We did not set out to just improve your grip on your paddle; we set out to change the way you play pickleball. The handle is just the beginning!

We understand that as an innovation and technology company we will have eager early adopters who will quickly support our new innovations.  We also know that others will want to take some time to try them before becoming comfortable with our paddle designs.

In our first six months of business we have been very fortunate to gain many fans of our pickleball technology with an unexpected number of players adopting our new paddles.  We have also run into a handful of skeptics along the way. We appreciate everyone's feedback and understand that sometimes new technology can be unsettling to some.

Much like Apple, Tesla, Uber, Grubhub, and other disruptive concepts, it might take some time to fully appreciate the benefits of our innovations. But similar to those game-changing technologies, once you become comfortable with them, it will be hard to imagine a life without them!

Still not sure which one you should get or want to know more about a certain paddle? Call us at 1-888-854-0163. Nothing makes us happier than helping you find a paddle that fits your game. Buy with confidence, knowing you have a 30-day test drive to make sure it works on the courts – where it counts.

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