I recently spent way too very much time looking for the best pickleball edge guard tape because I was tired of seeing my favorite paddle get disposed by the court surface. If you've ever lunged with regard to a low dink only to hear that heart-wrenching scrape against the gritty asphalt, you know precisely what I'm talking about. The majority of us drop anywhere from $150 to $250 on a high-end paddle, also it feels such as a crime in order to let the sides get chipped and ugly within the first week of play.
The particular thing is, despite the fact that most paddles come with a built-in edge guard, those plastic bumpers aren't invincible. They're usually made associated with a hard plastic that can break, or worse, begin to peel away from the honeycomb primary. That's where a good edge tape comes in. It acts as a sacrificial layer. You'd very much rather scuff upward a five-dollar piece of tape compared to a two-hundred-dollar part of carbon fiber.
Why You Actually Require This Stuff
A lot of people think edge tape is just for aesthetics, but it's actually fairly functional. For beginners, it keeps your own paddle looking brand new. If you're the type of person who loves to trade or market your gear every six months to try the latest technology, keeping that edge guard pristine is going to save you a lot of money on the resale market. Nobody wants to buy a "lightly used" paddle that appears like it was dragged behind a 52 pick up.
Beyond looks, the best pickleball edge guard tape also offers a bit of structural integrity. If your edge guard is starting to loosen up—which happens a lot with certain brands—a tight wrap of high-quality tape can press everything back collectively and stop that annoying buzzing audio when you hit the ball. As well as, if you play the lot of outside, the sun and heat can create the adhesives within your paddle proceed a bit soft. A protective coating assists in keeping everything covered up tight.
Different Materials intended for Different Players
When you begin searching for tape, you'll realize it isn't just "one size fits all. " You basically have three main classes to select from, and each has its very own advantages and cons.
The Classic Electric Tape Approach
To tell the truth, a lot of pros just use standard electrical tape. It's inexpensive, stretchy, and you can think it is within about a number of colors at any kind of hardware store. It's great because it's thin and doesn't replace the weight of the paddle very much. However, it's not the most long lasting option. One good scrape and this usually tears right through. It also tends to get "gooey" in case you leave your paddle in the hot car, which is a clutter nobody wants to deal with.
Premium Protective Tape
The products marketed specifically as the best pickleball edge guard tape generally are a little bit thicker than electrical tape. They're usually made from the reinforced PVC or a cloth-like material that's designed to take a beating. These are the types I usually recommend. They have a more matte finish, they don't get as slimy in the temperature, and they're broad enough to protect the entire edge guard in one go.
Weighted or Lead Tape
This can be a bit of a different beast, but it's worth mentioning. Several players use weighted tape (usually guide or tungsten) under their protective tape to alter how the paddle feels. In case you feel such as your paddle will be too light or perhaps you want a bigger "sweet spot, " you can add some fat to the sides. Once you've obtained the weight exactly where you need it, a person cover up with your protective edge tape. It maintains the weight through flying off plus the actual whole set up look clean.
What Makes a Tape the "Best" In any case?
If you're shopping around, don't simply grab the very first roll you see. Generally there are a several things that really separate the good stuff from the particular junk.
First, go through the adhesive. You want something that sticks well enough to stay on during a three-hour session in the humidity, but not something that's going in order to leave an everlasting, sticky residue if you try out to peel it off. Most high-quality tapes use the specialized acrylic cement adhesive that's designed in order to be "low-residue. "
Second, consider the width. Many pickleball paddles are usually either 13mm, 16mm, or sometimes actually 20mm thick. If you buy a tape that's too narrow, it won't wrap around the edges correctly, and it'll start peeling at the sides. The best pickleball edge guard tape is usually close to 20mm to 25mm wide, which gives a person enough room in order to fold it over the edges for a secure fit.
Lastly, think regarding the texture. A few tapes are quite slick, while other people have a slight rubberized grip for them. We prefer the somewhat textured ones because they don't reflect the sun into your eye, and they seem to hold up a little better against the friction of the particular court.
Exactly how to Apply That Like a Pro
Applying the tape is a bit of a good art form, yet it's not very hard as soon as you get the hang of it. I've messed this up plenty of instances, so here's the best way in order to do it without obtaining those annoying bubbles or wrinkles.
- Clean the particular edge guard. This is definitely the most essential step. Use a little bit of rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and wipe the entire plastic edge. You need to get off all the skin oils, dirt, and court grime. If the surface area isn't clean, the tape will peel off off in 2 days.
- Measure and trim. I usually like to wrap the tape through the bottom of one side from the face, all the way throughout the best, to the bottom of the some other side. Don't consider to wrap this around the handle—just the hitting region.
- Start from the center. This is a pro tip. Instead of beginning at one end, find the middle of your tape and place it from the very top center of your own paddle. This can help you keep it based as you work your way down the sides.
- Stretch slightly (but not too much). Since you pull the tape down the sides, give it a very slight tug. This particular helps it shape to the curves of the paddle. When you stretch this too hard, it'll eventually shrink back and start peeling.
- Smooth the edges. Once the tape is centered upon the edge, make use of your thumb in order to fold it over the sides of the edge guard. Consider your time here. Smooth out any kind of wrinkles as you go.
Coping with the "Goo" Factor
One factor nobody tells you are that ultimately, you'll want to make tape. Maybe it's gotten as well shredded, or maybe you just need new color. Once you pull that tape off, you may find some sticky residue left behind. Don't panic and don't try to scrape it off using a knife—you'll ruin the paddle.
Just use a little bit of Goo Long gone or even just some more scrubbing alcohol. It'll break down the adhesive within seconds, and you'll have a clean surface ready for the next layer. This particular is why locating the best pickleball edge guard tape is worth it; the premium brands usually don't leave nearly as very much mess since the inexpensive stuff.
Looks Matter (Admit It)
Let's end up being real for the second: we all need our gear to appear cool. The excellent thing about edge tape is that it's an simple way to customize your paddle. If you have a plain black paddle, adding several neon green or even bright orange tape can make it pop. Or, if you prefer the "stealth" look, a nice matte black tape can hide a scratched-up edge guard and make a classic paddle look completely new.
Some companies even sell tape with patterns on them—camo, floral, checkers, you name it. It's a fun way to differentiate your exercise in the ten additional identical ones sitting around the "next game" rack at the particular local park.
Wrapping Some misconception
At the end of the time, picking the best pickleball edge guard tape arrives down to how much you play and how much you care about your gear. In the event that you're a casual player who hits the courts as soon as a month, you may not need much. When you're out generally there grinding every day time, diving for balls and playing strongly, a roll of high-quality tape is usually the best five-dollar investment you can make.
This keeps your paddle safe, allows you to personalize the weight, and ensures that your expensive equipment continues provided that possible. Plus, there's just something satisfying about a freshly taped exercise. It feels tight, looks clean, and is ready for one more round of heavy hitting. So, perform your paddle a favor and obtain it some protection—you'll thank yourself the next time a person scrape the ground on a match-point dink.