Alright, so I’ve been messing around with this new thing, the Selkirk Jack Sock paddle. Yeah, the name’s a mouthful, I know. Anyway, I got my hands on one of these bad boys a while back and figured I’d give it a whirl. I’d heard some chatter about it online, especially since Jack Sock, that tennis guy, switched over to pickleball. Apparently, Selkirk, the company that makes these paddles, teamed up with him to create this thing.
First off, let me just say, this paddle is not your grandma’s wooden paddle, okay? It felt different right out of the box, kind of fancy. I started by just hitting some balls against the wall in my driveway. I did it like a hundred times, maybe more. I’m no pro, but I could tell this paddle had some serious pop. The ball just flew off it. I was hitting it back and forth, back and forth, trying to get a feel for it.
- Then, I took it to the local courts. You know, the ones down by the park where all the retirees hang out? Yeah, those ones.
- I played a few games with my buddy, Mark. He’s been playing pickleball for years, so he’s pretty decent. I’m just a beginner.
- We rallied for a bit, just to warm up. I did a dink shot. Then I tried a smash! Then, Mark tried to return it with a drop shot. I lost the point, but it was fun.
- I noticed right away that this paddle is powerful. Like, really powerful. I accidentally launched a few balls over the fence. Whoops!
- Mark was impressed, though. He even asked to try it out. He said it felt lighter than his paddle, but just as strong. He did a couple of serves. Then he did a volley. Then he did a groundstroke. He was like a pickleball machine!
Experimenting on the Court
After a couple of hours of playing, I was getting the hang of it. I was smashing the ball, serving aces, well, maybe not aces, but you get the idea. I’m no Jack Sock, but I felt like I was improving with every swing. I even managed to win a few games against Mark, which never happens! He was not happy, let me tell you.
So, yeah, the Selkirk Jack Sock paddle. It’s definitely something else. I’m still figuring it all out, but so far, I’m digging it. It’s powerful, it’s got a good feel, and it makes me feel like a better player than I actually am. If you’re into pickleball and looking for a new paddle, you might want to check this one out. Just be careful not to hit any balls into your neighbor’s yard, okay?
