How do you actually pronounce JOOLA—and does spending $400 on a paddle really make you a better pickleball player?

In this special edition of Kitchen Conversations, Mike welcomes the podcast’s first-ever co-host, Jody Allen, co-owner of SMASH Courts in Peterborough, for a candid and wide-ranging conversation with JOOLA Canada’s Michael Cannon.

Michael brings decades of experience from inside the Canadian sporting-goods industry—including senior roles with National Sports, Pro Hockey Life, Bauer Hockey and other major brands. Today, he is helping shape JOOLA’s rapidly expanding presence in Canadian pickleball.

And yes, he finally settles the debate: JOOLA is pronounced “YO-la.”

But this conversation goes far beyond the name.

Michael and Jody take us behind the curtain of the pickleball equipment business to explore:

🏓 Why the most expensive paddle is not necessarily the best paddle for you

🏓 What swing weight, twist weight, dwell time and paddle construction actually mean

🏓 How professional paddles differ from what recreational players buy

🏓 Why lessons may improve your game more than another equipment upgrade

🏓 The controversy surrounding paddle testing and certification

🏓 Whether increasingly powerful paddles are changing—or potentially damaging—the game

🏓 How paddle design can affect vibration, tendonitis and other injuries

🏓 The equipment gaps facing older adults, women and junior players

🏓 How JOOLA develops products for everyone from beginners to Ben Johns

🏓 The challenges retailers face when technology evolves faster than inventory can move

🏓 Why reliable participation data remains surprisingly difficult to find

🏓 Where pickleball equipment—and the sport itself—may be heading next

It’s an honest conversation about technology, performance, accessibility, business and the constant tension between innovation and protecting the game that millions of people have fallen in love with.

Whether you are shopping for your first paddle, considering a major upgrade or simply curious about what separates a $70 paddle from a $400 one, this episode will help you make a smarter decision.

And remember: a new paddle might complement your game—but it cannot replace practice.

Connect with Joola Canada

https://joola.ca/

Connect with Jody Allen at SMASH COURTS

https://www.smashcourts1.com/

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And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.