Sanyo: We're losing the essence of padel

🤔 How to choose a Starvie

Starvie is like orange wine. It's bit hard to understand and wrap your head around, but if you like it, then you love it. I recently had the chance to play with some 2024 Starvie models, so I wanted to share my opinions on who should play with which because I found this confusing when I was first learning about the brand.

We can think break Starvie rackets into their two constituent parts: its foam (EVA) core and its shape.

🫧 Starvie EVA cores

Like most quality padel racket manufacturers, Starvie uses EVA for the core of its rackets. While just a few years ago, it only had 2 types of cores, in 2024, it has 4. From hardest:

• EVA 50 Pro | the hardest, densest EVA for max power, control and ball sensation | some of the hardest rackets in the industry

• Dual | 4 layers, soft on the exterior, hard interior | designed for performance at both high and low speeds, medium-hard rackets

• EVA 30 Soft | a medium density EVA | my preferred, and the density I initially suggest to most players, medium/medium-hard rackets

• Ultra Speed Soft | a soft, low density EVA | best for cold climates, playability, comfort, and ball output, medium-soft rackets

🔵💧💎 Starvie shapes

Let’s cover Starvie's Premium line - all of these are made with a double-layer of 3K carbon fiber for extra rigidity and durability. It is composed of the: Triton, Kenta, and Astrum.

The Triton is the most aggressive premium racket that Starvie makes. It is a teardrop that normally has a very high balance, usually around 27.5 to 28cm. I don't love my rackets this heavy, but high-balance lowers absolutely can't get enough of it. All Premium and Universe models have the famously-strong, Full Plane Effect roughness.

It comes in the Pro, Soft, and Speed.

The Kenta is the update to the classic Raptor. While normally I wish padel brands would keep their classics around a la ML10, Starvie has done an amazing improvement with the Kenta, for example, testing the brand's new hexagonal roughness. It is a versatile offering, leaning towards power.

It comes in the Pro, Soft, and Speed.

If you're looking for a premium versatile offering leaning slightly more toward control, the Astrum is your pick! It is slightly more conservative than the Kenta.

It mainly comes in EVA 30 Soft.

↩️ Defending the Right-side Corner

Today, we’re tackling a common frustration: defending the right-side corners. Many players freeze up like a deer in headlights when the ball heads for the corner, but with the right strategy, you can turn this tricky situation to your advantage.

⭐️ Key Takeaways:

1. Identify the Right Ball for Double Glass: Not every shot should be left for the double glass. Focus on balls with good bounce and pace that will hit the corner-most two crystals.

2. Positioning: When opponents are at the net, expect volleys and overheads. Volleys tend to have a lower, shallower trajectory, making them tougher to defend off the double glass. Overheads, especially from the cross-court, will have more bounce and are easier to handle.

3. Anticipate Angles: Knowing whether the ball will hit the side or back glass first helps you position yourself better. A side glass-first shot generally bounces towards the middle of the court, while a back glass-first shot stays closer to the side glass.

Before diving into the specifics of positioning and movement, make sure you understand these fundamentals.

🔗 Watch the Full Breakdown on Right-side Double Glass Defense

👍 Master these tips, and you'll be owning those corner shots in no time.

🗞️ Headlines and quick hits

• Finally some research for my claims 🤪 An expert from Rafa Nadal's Academy on whether padel or tennis is more demanding, “padel is more aggressive than tennis in terms of movement...the trips are shorter and can become more explosive ,” she added.

• Daddy Yankee, owner of the Flowrida Goats Pro Padel League team, inaugurates padel club in Florida.

• Footballers can't stop playing padel: Lionel Messi Luis Suárez 🔥 The duo that dominates the football world ⚽️ now wants to conquer padel

• Coki: "I am a very solid player, who tries to make few mistakes", yes, of this, we are aware

💀 Sanyo: We're losing the essence of the sport

🫸🏻 Straight Talk: Sanyo on Padel's Evolution

Sanyo Gutiérrez, a name synonymous with padel wizardry, sat down for a candid chat that covered everything from his season's rollercoaster ride to his blunt opinions on the sport’s evolution. "This season has been different. We started with changes early on," he said, addressing his partnership with Maxi. "I’m thrilled to be back with Maxi for the third time. It shows we’re not bad partners; we have chemistry and good memories."

However, Sanyo raised concerns about the current state of padel. "We’re playing a much faster game now, and it feels like we’re losing the finesse and essence of the sport," he lamented. He believes the sport’s shift towards speed and power might be alienating both players and spectators. "The balls are lighter and smaller, making it harder to play with finesse. It favors a more direct style of play, which isn’t as enjoyable for old-school players."

📐 Sanyo's Rulebook Revamp

"Why not make courts bigger or raise the height of the walls?" he proposed. "This would make it harder to smash the ball out of the court, adding more skill to the game." He also suggested reverting to older rules, like not allowing the server to volley immediately and introducing a one-serve rule to slow things down. "We could see more tactical play and longer rallies," he explained.

Sanyo also pointed out how different playing conditions affect the game. "We go to places like Brussels to play in 10-degree weather, which changes the game dynamics. In the past, you’d prepare for a slow court in Bilbao, and that’s what you’d get. Now, the balls and courts are designed to speed up the game everywhere."

🤔 Our thoughts

What we at Padel.FYI don’t want to happen is that padel turns into an ugly smash fest. Many of us are tennis refugees where slugging is the only way to win. Let’s not bring that into our beloved padel. However, we also think that most of the problems that Sanyo is describing are only present at the top level of men’s play.

What we’ve seen in American baseball is different rules for the bats of professional players. Should we weaken padel players rackets? Maybe they go back to being wooden only?

🔗 Watch the Full Interview with Sanyo (Spanish)

Last poll’s results

What color should Premier Padel courts be?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🔵 Blue (8)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🟢 Green (1)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ ⚫️ Black (3)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🔴 Red (0)

Dream court of the week

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