Custom Paddles with Jack Kasarjian and John Grantuskas

“Good players drill three times more than they play.” - Jack Kasarjian Share on X

What kind of paddle do you use? For most of us, we are probably using the off-the-shelf paddle that we picked up at the store without a lot of thought. But did you know that the right equipment in pickleball is not a one size fits all? Paddle playability is an overlooked part of the game. Not a lot of players are very well educated about the materials their paddles are made from and the difference the shape of the paddle can make on your gameplay.

That’s why I asked Jack Kasarjian and John Grantuskas on for today’s episode on Custom Paddles. Jack is the founder of Third Shot Drop Custom Pickleball Paddles whose mission is to make you a better player by getting the right equipment in your hands. John is a court ambassador in the Mid-Atlantic region for Third Shot Drop who does demos with players of all skill levels to show the benefits of custom paddles.

“Players will have the most success with the heaviest possible paddle that they can swing.” - Jack Kasarjian Share on X

Show Notes:

[1:17] – The mission of Third Shot Drop is to make you a better player by getting the right equipment in your hands that was made for you. Not a one size fits all.
[2:13] – Jack shares how he was inspired to create Third Shot Drop and how pickleball paddles were very commercialized.
[3:01] – Jack also has a custom baseball equipment company as well, but discovered that custom pickleball equipment is much more difficult to develop.
[4:25] – Pickleball is the only sport that players are using off the shelf, one-size-fits-all paddles. All other sports are using equipment that fits each athlete.
[6:40] – The core materials are 75% of the way the paddle performs. The surface materials are just fine tuning that core.
[7:10] – Jack describes some different types of core materials and how they compare to each other.
[8:49] – There are 18 different combinations of paddle materials. Jack describes a few of the combinations and what kinds of players choose each kind.
[10:12] – Jack recommends heavier paddles and explains why this is.
[11:48] – The shape of the paddle should be determined by the type of player you are. What shape is the best for how you play? Jack gives examples of how the shape of the paddle changes your game.
[13:23] – John describes the process of trying various materials to determine the perfect combination for each player.
[16:09] – John also explains that in the paddle demos, they also find the correct grip size for each player.
[17:05] – It is not uncommon for players to change their style of gameplay and skill level over time. This could influence the perfect paddle as well.
[18:40] – Depending on how often you play, your average paddle lasts about 8 to 12 months. After that, the paddle will start to have dead spots, especially the off-the-shelf manufactured paddles.
[19:38] – When looking for a new paddle, get more than one paddle and alternate using each one every time you play while you demo.
[20:52] – Jack describes why he uses a youth paddle or “training paddle” to warm up.
[22:18] – The goals of the player makes a huge difference on the paddle needed to be successful. Jack gives examples of why people are choosing to play.
[24:13] – The hardest part is for a player to evaluate their gameplay.
[25:19] – Jack gives examples on the increase in skill level when using a custom paddle. The changes are visible and remarkable and almost instantaneous.
[28:15] – Everybody typically uses whatever comes on the paddle they bought off the shelf. The process of customizing a paddle is eye opening.
[29:20] – Have an open mind. Don’t have any preconceived notions about what you think you will like. Try them out and feel what works best for you.