Pickleball paddle with weighting assembly

Abstract

A pickleball paddle having a perimeter weighting system to improve performance characteristics and/or to provide swing weighting. The weighting system may include flexible weight strips disposed in recesses formed about a perimeter of the paddle. Alternatively, the weighting system may include slidable weights disposed in one or more channels. The weighting system may further include handle weighting to provide swing weighting. The at least one weight can have a relatively high mass, sufficient to noticeably alter CG of the paddle.

1 . A pickleball paddle, comprising:
 a paddle head comprising an interior core disposed between a front face plate and a rear face plate, the paddle head defining a paddle periphery;   a frame comprising an interior frame surface and an exterior frame surface opposite the interior frame surface, wherein the exterior frame surface defines discrete first and second recesses;   a first weight strip disposed in the first recess; and   a second weight strip disposed in the second recess.   
     
     
         2 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior frame surface further defines discrete third and fourth recesses, the pickleball paddle further comprising a third weight strip disposed in the third recess and a fourth weight strip disposed in the fourth recess. 
     
     
         3 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth weight strips comprises an equal strip length. 
     
     
         4 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 3 , wherein the equal strip length comprises 3.5 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 2 , further comprising a discrete fifth recess and a fifth weight strip disposed in the fifth recess. 
     
     
         6 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second weight strips comprises a tungsten material mixed with a TPE, a TPU, or a polyether block amide. 
     
     
         7 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the first and the second recesses comprises a discrete recess depth;   each of the first and second weight strips comprises a weighted strip thickness; and   the weighted strip thickness is substantially equal to the discrete recess depth so that top surfaces of the first and second weight strips are flush with the exterior frame surface surrounding each of the first and second recesses.   
     
     
         8 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the first and second recesses comprises a discrete recess depth;   each of the first and second weight strips comprises a weighted strip thickness; and   the weighted strip thickness is greater than the discrete recess depth so that top surfaces of the first and second weight strips protrude from the exterior frame surface surrounding each of the first and second recesses.   
     
     
         9 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second weight strips comprises a mass between 1 gram to 10 grams. 
     
     
         10 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a first frame component joined to a second frame component. 
     
     
         11 . A pickleball paddle, comprising:
 a paddle head comprising an interior core disposed between a front face plate and a rear face plate, the paddle head defining a paddle periphery;   a frame comprising an interior frame surface and an exterior fame surface opposite the interior frame surface, wherein the exterior frame surface defines discrete first and second recesses;   a first weight strip disposed in the first recess;   a second weight strip disposed in the second recess; and   a handle coupled to the frame and comprising:
 a handle exterior surface including a butt end; 
 a handle bottom interior surface opposite the handle exterior surface and defining a handle recess; and 
 a handle aperture formed in the butt end and fluidly communicating with the handle recess; and 
   a handle weighting system coupled to the butt end and extending through the handle aperture into the handle recess.   
     
     
         12 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 11 , wherein the handle weighting system comprises:
 an end cap housing;   a handle weight disposed in the end cap housing; and   an end cap coupled to the housing and sized to extend over the handle aperture.   
     
     
         13 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 11 , wherein the end cap housing comprises a cylindrical rod and a hexagonal disk. 
     
     
         14 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 11 , wherein the handle weight comprises a press fit screw. 
     
     
         15 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 11 , wherein the handle weight comprises a mass between 1 gram to 10 grams. 
     
     
         16 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 11 , wherein the handle weighting system is removably coupled to the butt end of the handle. 
     
     
         17 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second weight strips comprises a strip length of 3.5 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 11 , wherein:
 each of the first and second recesses comprises a discrete recess depth;   each of the first and second weight strips comprises a weighted strip thickness; and   the weighted strip thickness is substantially equal to the discrete recess depth so that top surfaces of the first and second weight strips are flush with the exterior frame surface surrounding each of the first and second recesses.   
     
     
         19 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 11 , wherein:
 each of the first and second recesses comprises a discrete recess depth;   each of the first and second weight strips comprises a weighted strip thickness; and   the weighted strip thickness is greater than the discrete recess depth so that top surfaces of the first and second weight strips protrude from the exterior frame surface surrounding each of the first and second recesses.   
     
     
         20 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second weight strips comprises a mass between 1 gram to 10 grams.