BC SENIOR GAMES - PADDLE DEBATE

I've been asked by Fred Hubbick and Ken Witt, Zone representatives for our area,  to address the issue before the Rules Committee of the BC Senior Games.  In my capacity as President of Pickelball Canada I've written a letter to Darlene Currie who is the Chairperson on the Rules Committee for BC Senior Games explaining Pickleball Canada's position on paddle specifications as it should apply to any future BC Senior Games.

The content of that letter is as follows:

BC Senior Games Society
203 – 2453 Beacon Avenue
Sidney, BC V8L 1X7


Attention:  Darlene Currie – Rules Chairperson

Dear Ms. Currie:

    I have been contacted by both Fred Hubbick and Ken Witt with respect to Pickleball Canada’s official position on the standard rules and paddle specifications for pickleball as it currently applies to tournament play throughout Canada, the USA and Internationally and as it should apply to any future BC Senior Games.

    I have attached a letter which was sent to the editor of Senior Living Magazine as a result of some published errors in information that I can only assume were provided by Mr. Chuck Lefaive.  The letter outlines the current status of pickleball nationally and is included in my correspondence in order to provide background information regarding Mr. Lefaive and his business partner, Mr. Brent Johner from Calgary.

    The game of pickleball was created in the summer of 1965 and the US national association was formed in 1984.  The standardized set of rules for the game was published in May 2008 and along with these rules is the Paddle Material Specifications which is revised as new paddles are tested and introduced to the marketplace.

    Pickleball Canada is the only governing national pickleball organization for Canada.  Pickleball Canada was initiated by a Founding Committee in 2006.  In 2008, an official Board of Directors was elected and presently we have Board members from western, eastern and Maritime provinces with more than 400 paid members across Canada.  This Board is a volunteer non-profit Board formed solely to promote and support the sport of pickleball.  We do not sell, promote or endorse any specific products or paddles.

    In 2010 Pickleball Canada joined the International Federation of Pickleball.  This federation encompasses the USAPA (United States of America Pickleball Association), Pickleball Canada and the All India Pickleball Association.  Each of the representative organizations supports the International Rules of Pickleball along with the associated paddle material specifications regulations.  These specifications can be found at the following link:

http://ipickleball.org/rules/IFP_Paddle_Material_Specifications.pdf

    It is important to note in paragraph (2) of the document:  “In deciding any matter related to equipment, the IFP is required to interpret the Rules in a manner which will preserve the traditional nature and character of the game and preserve the skills traditionally required to play the game.”  In the following paragraph the rules state:  “Paddles that produce a trampoline effect similar to a stringed racquet are specifically disallowed.”

    You will note that the only two paddles that do not pass the test for rigidity and compressibility are the Apike and current version of the Hush paddle which are both manufactured by Mr. Frank Wu and aggressively promoted by Mr. Chuck Lefaive.

    It is Pickleball Canada’s contention that the Apike and Hush paddles not only represent an unfair advantage by players who choose to use them but more importantly represent a safety hazard to opposing players who by the very nature of the game stand 14’ away and can be subjected to a ball coming at them at a velocity that could be hazardous.

The following statement was  copied  directly, without any editing on my part,  from Mr. Lefaive and Mr. Brent Johner’s retail web site, http://www.okpickleball.ca/

“3G pickleball paddles are made overseas. They have softer surfaces and offer a little more power and control. This small increase in power frightens some seniors. So some clubs and tournaments have banned them. However, they are proving to be very popular with players who dislike the edge guards on 2G pickleball paddles.


The revolutionary APIKE pickleball paddle is the top selling 3G paddle in the world. It is made entirely from advanced resins and polymers and features a vibration-absorbing core.

Older players at the beginner and intermediate levels are unlikely to notice any increase in power between this paddle and 2G pickleball paddles. However, younger, stronger and/or more advanced players may notice an ability to hit 5-10% faster with the Apike.”

   The first paragraph says it all:  “This small increase in power frightens some seniors.”  Why, you may well ask?  Because the ball is traveling at a velocity that can not only frighten but  injure an opponent.

    Pickleball Canada and the International Federation of Pickleball have long argued that the Apike and Hush paddles should not be used in tournament play.  I am a competitive player that has reached an advanced level and the 5-10% that the above advertisement represents is a substantial velocity,  one which I feel places me in jeopardy.  In addition, the 5-10% they willingly concede may well be understating the real increase in velocity which I feel is an underestimation of their claim.

    I respectfully submit that BC Senior Games and specifically you as chairperson of the Rules Committee have the obligation to preserve the nature of our game and to protect your participants from harm.  This can only be accomplished with a fair playing field and adherence to internationals rules of play.

    If you require any further information from Pickleball Canada or me personally, I’d be more than willing to discuss this matter further.

    Regards,  


 
Colin Caldwell – President
Pickleball Canada
president@pickleballcanada.org