Archive · 20 Jan 2026
Selkirk's Pickleball Lab: Science Meets Sport
Selkirk is a company that makes pickleball paddles.
They have a special lab where they use really advanced science, like what's used in airplanes, to make their paddles the best.
Tom Barnes, who runs the lab, says they test every tiny part of the paddle to make sure it's strong and has no flaws.
They even check each little dot of ink on the paddle.
This helps them make paddles that are super strong and great for playing pickleball.
Selkirk uses aerospace material science to develop high-performance pickleball paddles.
Tom Barnes, the director of R&D, oversees the lab and its advanced testing methods.
Engineers conduct pull tests to evaluate the resilience of paddle materials.
The lab can inspect every crystal of grit and dot of ink on the paddles to detect defects.
Selkirk's commitment to precision aims to enhance the quality and performance of their paddles.
- Who
- Selkirk, a company specializing in pickleball equipment, led by Tom Barnes, their director of R&D.
- What
- Selkirk operates a high-tech lab focused on advancing pickleball paddle technology using aerospace material science.
- When
- The specific time frame is not mentioned in the article.
- Where
- The lab is located at Selkirk's facilities, though the exact location is not specified.
- Why
- To enhance the quality and performance of pickleball paddles through scientific research and rigorous testing.
- Company
- Selkirk
- Director of R&D
- Tom Barnes
- Lab Focus
- Aerospace material science
- Testing Methods
- Pull tests, crystal and ink inspection
- Material Evaluation
- Resilience and defect detection