A New Pickleball Paddle Reviewer Has Entered the Chat: James Ignatowich

James Ignatowich... you know him – the PPA pro who was sponsored by Selkirk for years before launching his own paddle brand, RPM.

It's true, James was among the handful of signed pros recently terminated by the UPA for participating in an unsanctioned event in Japan (a decision he's currently appealing).

That was months ago. But he's remained in Asia ever since. Why? He's using his time away from the Tour to go deeper into the manufacturing intricacies that drive a paddle brand like his. And it seems to be bearing fruit: already, he's announced an updated model of his popular debut paddle, the Friction Pro (a finalist for Paddle of the Year at this year’s Dink Awards).

But he's not just focusing on RPM; in the last couple weeks, James has started publishing unbiased, unaffiliated paddle reviews to his YouTube channel. And they're already racking up the views.

So far, he's covered:

• The Selkirk Boomstik
• The Honolulu J6CR (below)
• The Six Zero Black Opal

James talks through what he likes and what he doesn't, how the paddles play, their price points and other specs and features, offering a unique approach from the perspective of a fellow paddle brand owner.

He also puts the paddles in the hands of other pros and incorporates their thoughts and feedback.

Whether you're in the market for a new paddle, or just want to learn more about the manufacturing process, they're worth a watch.

Feature image via James Ignatowich on Instagram