Pickleball Effect: The Podcast

Join Braydon Unsicker and Aaron Ghena on the Pickleball Effect Podcast for honest, data driven takes on paddles, gear, trends, and the business of pickleball. Real testing, real opinions, and conversations that actually help you play better and understand the game.

Pickleball Effect: The Podcast is a sports podcast hosted by Braydon Unsicker, with 136 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Braydon Unsicker hosts Pickleball Effect: The Podcast, a sports show with 136 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #136

  New Paddles: Boulder Opal, UnMarked 2026, LUZZ Inferno 2 & Quanta Pro

  Aug 18, 202655 min

  We break down several new paddles, including the LUZZ Inferno 2, Six Zero Boulder Opal, Quanta Pro, and the surprisingly good Mark UnMarked 2026. Plus, I share new grit durability results from five different brands and what stood out in testing. Shop Pickleball Central (use link to apply up to 10% off everything): https://a8qh.short.gy/save Tungsten Tape Amazon: https://amzn.to/4g54OBD Tungsten Tape Shopify: ​​ https://pickleballeffectshop.com/products/pickleball-effect-weighted-tungsten-tape-1-gram-per-inch-safe-alternative-to-lead-tape?variant=46219251613920 __________________________________________ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Preview 04:38 Cheaper tungsten tape is available 06:35 Special delivery - Selkirk bags, Quanta Pro, Engage Axiom 08:19 Special delivery - Inferno 2, Boulder Opal, Wilson, Poppers 09:59 Aaron it Out - MLP quarters update 14:12 Read it on Reddit - live reactions 21:24 Paddle Babble - 5 grit durability test results 28:36 Mark UnMarked 2026 - this one is good 30:33 Aaron first impressions 33:24 Braydon first impressions 39:37 Six Zero Black Opal 46:49 Ronbus Quanta Pro 50:42 LUZZ Inferno 2 stats __________________________________________ Links to stuff mentioned: New Hot List hub page: https://pickleballeffect.com/hot-list/ New Hot List Power page: https://pickleballeffect.com/equipment-reviews/best-power-pickleball-paddles-pickleball-effects-hot-list/ Links to gear mentioned: Promo code: PBEFFECT Mark UnMarked 2026 (launches Aug 26): https://markpickleball.com?sca_ref=6258187.LVz22xOG9U Ronbus: https://ronbus.com/?ApplyPromo=pbeffect Six Zero Boulder Opal: https://us.sixzeropickleball.com/products/boulder-opal?sca_ref=9892574.6WfkgoNKloc0yI&sca_source=yt LUZZ Inferno 2: https://luzzpickleball.com/products/luzz-inferno2-m1?sca_ref=9809117.VbWrtANPhw&sca_source=yt All our discount codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ Support the channel: Save on gear and support the channel using our discount codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ Pickleball Effect products: https://pickleballeffectshop.com/ Join the PE community: Main Paddle Monitor: https://main.pickleballeffect.com/ Website: https://pickleballeffect.com/ PE/Braydon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickleballeffect/ Aaron’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghenaric/ Paddle Database: https://pickleballeffect.com/pickleball-paddle-database/ #pickleball #podcast

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  Pickleball Effect: The Podcast

  11SIX24 Jelly Bean 2 Impressions, Apes Zen Grit Test, & Reddit Recs | EP 135

  Aug 11, 202654 min

  11SIX24 revamped its Jelly Bean series with durable HexGrit and a new foam core material and we have our take on how it plays. We also dig into PPA’s new ranking system, and share our grit durability test results for Pickleball Apes. Shop Pickleball Central (use link to apply up to 10% off everything): https://a8qh.short.gy/save See all PE promo codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ __________________________________________ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Preview 03:02 Cheaper tungsten tape is coming 04:20 Ronbus anniversary sale 06:20 Special delivery - Mark UnMarked, Engage X2 Pro, Nike GP 08:34 Aaron it Out - PPA launches World Rankings 18:12 Reddit paddle recommendations 24:23 Paddle Recon - what paddles got approved 27:54 Paddle Babble - Jelly Bean 2 short tech overview 28:48 Performance stats 30:01 Aaron first impressions 34:47 Braydon first impressions 40:09 Compared to JB1, Power 2, Coral Pro 46:38 Apes Zen grit durability test results 49:24 Meeting with Gearbox __________________________________________ Links to stuff mentioned: New Paddle Database page: https://pickleballeffect.com/pickleball-paddle-database/ Links to gear mentioned: Promo code: PBEFFECT Ronbus: https://ronbus.com/?ApplyPromo=pbeffect 11SIX24: https://11six24.com/?sca_ref=7474553.EbeKeAv2hF0Rh4oJ&amp%3Bsca_source=review&sca_source=review#038;sca_source=coupon Pickleball Apes Zen S+: https://www.pickleballapes.com/products/zen-new-paddle?sca_ref=4608508.ipmCfUFGpV&sca_source=stats Gearbox: https://gearboxsports.com/?rfsn=7676489.281577 All our discount codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ Support the channel: Save on gear and support the channel using our discount codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ Pickleball Effect products: https://pickleballeffectshop.com/ Join the PE community: Main Paddle Monitor: https://main.pickleballeffect.com/ Website: https://pickleballeffect.com/ PE/Braydon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickleballeffect/ Aaron’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghenaric/ Paddle Database: https://pickleballeffect.com/pickleball-paddle-database/ #pickleball #podcast

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  Episode #134

  Just When You Thought Foam Peaked... Apes Zen S+ & 11SIX24 Jelly Bean 2 Preview | EP 134

  Aug 4, 202650 min

  Foam paddles are still evolving. We break down what makes the Pickleball Apes Zen S+ and 11SIX24 Jelly Bean 2 different from the foam builds we’ve seen so far. We also preview the MLP playoffs and discuss another negative Proton headline. Shop Pickleball Central (use link to apply up to 10% off everything): https://a8qh.short.gy/save Active Tac Overgrips Amazon: https://amzn.to/4pRV3K8 Active Tac Overgrips store: https://pickleballeffectshop.com/products/active-tac-overgrip-6-pack-ring?variant=53761859485920 __________________________________________ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Preview 01:33 Active Tac grips are here 05:31 Special delivery - Jelly Bean 2, Geau Bag, Thrive Ignite 09:30 Stride Orthotics, GX2 Power colorway 12:47 Aaron it Out - MLP playoffs preview 15:07 Proton lawsuit with player 18:38 RPM lawsuit with JOOLA 20:51 Paddle Babble - Apes Zen S+ tech 23:59 Static & performance stats & impact feel 28:38 Aaron first impressions 33:03 Braydon first impressions 42:07 11SIX24 Jelly Bean 2 tech 47:11 Thrive Ignite Elongated 48:39 Paddles in the work __________________________________________ Links to stuff mentioned: New Paddle Directory and pages: https://pickleballeffect.com/paddles/ Follow Pickleball Pundits: https://www.instagram.com/pickleballpundits/ Links to gear mentioned: Promo code: PBEFFECT Active Tac Overgrips Amazon: https://amzn.to/4pRV3K8 Active Tac Overgrips store: https://pickleballeffectshop.com/products/active-tac-overgrip-6-pack-ring?variant=53761859485920 Pickleball Apes Zen S+: https://www.pickleballapes.com/products/zen-new-paddle?sca_ref=4608508.ipmCfUFGpV&sca_source=stats Thrive Ignite Elongated: https://thrivepb.com/products/ignite-elongated-foam-new/?sca_ref=5610194.6jsyCS8G5F BNB Loco sales: https://www.bnbpickleball.com/?irclickid=z7sxc2zguxycWhd042UQL24mUkuSHvXHCyx2zM0&sharedid=&irpid=5059526&irgwc=1&afsrc=1 All our discount codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ Support the channel: Save on gear and support the channel using our discount codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ Pickleball Effect products: https://pickleballeffectshop.com/ Join the PE community: Main Paddle Monitor: https://main.pickleballeffect.com/ Website: https://pickleballeffect.com/ PE/Braydon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickleballeffect/ Aaron’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghenaric/ Paddle Database: https://pickleballeffect.com/pickleball-paddle-database/ #pickleball #podcast

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  Episode #133

  These Paddles Will Make a Comeback + Steal These Shots From Pros | EP 133

  Jul 21, 20261h 7m

  Shop Pickleball Central (use link to apply up to 10% off everything): https://a8qh.short.gy/save See all PE promo codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ __________________________________________ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Preview 01:53 Weekly update - Claude is Braydon’s new friend 08:01 How AI is affecting reviews 14:04 Special delivery - Active Tac, Haworth Sig, Mission First 16:46 Under Review - Top three skills/shots amateurs should steal from pros 20:00 #1 Pre shot preparation 23:10 #2 Backhand slick dink & drop 25:57 #3 The short hop 31:27 Aaron it Out - Drafting our full pickleball kit (a cruel game) 44:47 Paddle Babble - Playing with Anna Bright 128 SW setup 52:20 Ronbus Tenon update 56:48 Five paddles that will resurge with durable grit __________________________________________ Links to stuff mentioned: New Paddle Directory and pages: https://pickleballeffect.com/paddles/ Follow Pickleball Pundits: https://www.instagram.com/pickleballpundits/ Links to gear mentioned: Promo code: PBEFFECT Ask in comments for links to gear mentioned or look up brands here: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ Support the channel: Save on gear and support the channel using our discount codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ Pickleball Effect products: https://pickleballeffectshop.com/ Join the PE community: Main Paddle Monitor: https://main.pickleballeffect.com/ Website: https://pickleballeffect.com/ PE/Braydon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickleballeffect/ Aaron’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghenaric/ Paddle Database: https://pickleballeffect.com/pickleball-paddle-database/ #pickleball #podcast

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  Pickleball Effect: The Podcast

  Ronbus Tenon Grit Test, Pakle Fuse + USAP Finally Doing Spin Test | EP 132

  Jul 14, 20261h 9m

  👉 Shop Pickleball Central (use link to apply up to 10% off everything): https://a8qh.short.gy/save 👉 See all PE promo codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ __________________________________________ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Preview 02:04 Weekly update - best jeopardy scores 04:05 Braydon is a banger 07:36 Special delivery 12:26 Under Review - Anna Bright’s heavy widebody setup 20:06 Aaron it Out - USAP finally doing spin testing! 28:17 Do brands need to certify with UPA anymore? 32:05 Answering Reddit paddle comparison questions 32:40 Coral Pro Hybrid vs Power 2 Ultre 33:58 $300 budget for bag and paddle birthday gift 36:40 Good on demand all court paddle 38:24 What are the latest hyped control paddles 39:56 Aura Pro vs Power 2 Ultre 41:24 Paddle Babble - Catherine Parenteu playing LUZZ Glider 42:49 Ronbus Tenon performance stats & play impressions 52:02 Tenon grit retention results 54:37 Aaron’s Pakle play impressions 1:02:01 Pakle vs Spartus Spitfire 1:03:11 Head Pro Boom EX 1:05:37 Selkirk CourtStrike 3.0 shoes __________________________________________ 👉 Links to gear mentioned: Promo code: PBEFFECT Selkirk CourtStrike 3.0 shoes (code inf-braydonu): https://www.selkirk.com/collections/courtstrike-3-0/?sca_ref=1945879.KgYa6r1ANw&sca_source=yt Ronbus: https://ronbus.com/?ApplyPromo=pbeffect Six Zero Coral Pro: https://us.sixzeropickleball.com/products/coral-pro?sca_ref=9892574.6WfkgoNKloc0yI&sca_source=yt 11SIX24 Power 2 Ultre: https://11six24.com/collections/power-paddles/products/ultre-power-2?sca_ref=7474553.EbeKeAv2hF0Rh4oJ&sca_source=pr Friday Aura Pro: https://fridaypickle.com/products/aura-pro-paddle?snowball=pbeffect CRBN: https://www.crbnpickleball.com/discount/10EFFECT Honolulu Pickleball: https://808pickle.com/?sca_ref=5946671.20PzzMr8tb Pakle Pickleball: https://paklepickleball.com/discount/BRAYDONUNSICKER?rs_ref=lHCnu22r 👉 Support the channel: Save on gear and support the channel using our discount codes: https://pickleballeffect.com/discounts/ Pickleball Effect products: https://pickleballeffectshop.com/ 👉 Join the PE community: Main Paddle Monitor: https://main.pickleballeffect.com/ Website: https://pickleballeffect.com/ PE/Braydon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickleballeffect/ Aaron’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghenaric/ 👉 Paddle Database: https://pickleballeffect.com/pickleball-paddle-database/ #pickleball #podcast

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