Pickleball has given me a gift that I think a lot of former athletes are looking for and it’s the opportunity to improve. Not just in a pickleball game but also in tournaments and community with like minded individuals. As a former athlete this was something that was missing in my life.
Fortunately, I live in an area where there are a lot of opportunities to play in local events against players of all levels. In the past year I placed top 3 in 6 local pickleball events. I credit my success to playing regularly against good competition and improving my understanding of game strategy. But another crucial factor that I found that put me over the top was to find the right paddle that fit my style of play.
I put a lot of time into researching what paddle would best compliment my style. Having a tennis background has caused me to be a backline banger by nature. But pickleball has taught me to aggressively move up to the net and force a dink battle requiring more touch and control. I needed a power paddle with a gritty surface that gives me the ability to kill a ball out of mid air and maintain spin control around the kitchen.
There are so many different set ups, weights, grips, thicknesses, and material surfaces. But after demoing and researching a variety of paddles I found the paddle that I think best fits my game. It ended up being The Shogun by Bread and Butter. With its patented T700 Carbon Fiber x Electroplated polyester weave integrated into the face, I found a paddle that gave me the pop that I needed without sacrificing the spin control I craved. And my favorite part, in the year of owning this paddle it required no alterations and minimal maintenance before and after games.
In the first month of playing with my Shogun, my wife and I took Silver in a mixed-doubles event and was also able to nab Silver in a men’s singles event.
Knowing paddles don’t tend to last more than 18 months for active players, I have still tried out and purchased some of the newer Gen3 paddles on the market. From the Holbrook Aero T to the CRBN Gen3 and even a Joola Pegasus. And while all of these paddles have features I have enjoyed, the main paddle in my bag for competition is still The Shogun from Bread and Butter.
With that being said I am thrilled to announce that I have partnered with Bread and Butter as an Ambassador. I am thrilled to be demoing their newest Wild Thang Paddle in the coming month. And in partnering with Bread and Butter, I am pumped to announce, for everyone in our PYKLR community, we are now offering a 10% discount for purchases made on paddles at https://www.bnbpickleball.com ! Just add discount code Crosby10 before you check out!