Why Training with an Old Pickleball Paddle Might Be Your Secret Weapon

Let me paint you a picture. You walk onto the court, proudly waving the latest and greatest propulsion core paddle. It has all the  foam edges and injections, and boasts the best balance of power and control. It’s a beautiful thing. But here’s the catch: If you only train with the best tech, you might not be developing to your full potential.

Other sports have figured this out. In basketball, players sometimes train by shooting on a hoop that’s smaller than regulation, which forces them to focus and refine their accuracy. They also practice with a weighted ball to build arm strength and reinforce shooting mechanics (this is especially common with youth training aids, though less so at elite levels). Baseball players swing with a bat weighted by a doughnut to improve bat speed. The principle is simple: Make practice harder than the game.

That’s exactly why I’ve started using an old gen 1 pickleball paddle for my drilling sessions. This relic doesn’t have any foam running around the core. The surface is about as lively as a piece of plywood. And to really crank up the challenge, I’ve slapped a ton of lead tape around the perimeter to make it feel significantly heavier than my regular paddle.

So why would I willingly handicap myself? Because when you take away the easy power and lightweight maneuverability, your body has to step up. Instead of just swinging my arm and letting the paddle do the work, I’m forced to engage my core and legs to generate pace. My footwork has to be crisp, or I’m going to be late on every shot. My form has to be clean, or the ball isn’t going anywhere.

Keeping the handle thickness the same means that when I transition back to my current paddle, the feel in my hand is familiar. But suddenly, the paddle feels like a rocket launcher compared to the weighted club I’ve been swinging all week.

The next time you’re tempted to believe that better gear is always the answer, remember this: Training with old-school equipment might be the thing that levels up your game. When you finally pick up your high-tech paddle for match play, you’ll have the fundamentals and strength to make the most of it.

So dig that ancient paddle out of your garage, slap some lead tape on it, and embrace the struggle. Your future self will thank you when your opponents can’t figure out why you’re hitting harder and moving smoother than ever.

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