Exclusive Interview with Morgan Evans: Selkirk Pro & Top Tournament Champion
PBC: "Morgan, thank you for spending some time chatting with us about this exciting new paddle. I want to start by asking you, why did you get involved with Selkirk?"
Morgan: "If someone asks you if you want a ride on a rocket ship, you don't ask which seat, you just get on! "PBC: "That's a great response. I know you've been a Selkirk guy for a while, what paddle are you playing with and why?"
Morgan: "I play with the new AMPED Maxima for a couple of stellar reasons. Firstly, I love how the paddle plays, it suits my game perfectly. It allows me to be aggressive from all over the court while still allowing me the touch and feel to engage in extended dinking rallies."PBC: "What do you like the most about the new AMPED version of the Maxima? "
Morgan: "The new Amped version has a substantially larger sweet spot, giving me far greater control on off-center shots, if I was to ever hit one of those of course..." (Editor's Note: If you don't know Morgan, you have to understand he's a rather cheeky chap, and he was winking with a big grin during that last answer.)
PBC: "We had an opportunity to chat about your involvement with Selkirk when you were here playing here at our courts last month. I wanted to follow-up and ask you how you think Selkirk's approach to design and manufacturing has improved the paddles you use:"
Morgan: "I think this is a classic chicken and the egg scenario. The meticulously well-crafted paddles play extremely well, there's no doubt, but would a 'rose by any other name still smell as sweet'?. The artistry that goes into the design of every paddle is simply gorgeous, and, like it or not, I think a number of players try them out because of this. Their designs get the foot in the door, luckily every paddle has the core to back up the check that its face has cashed. How ya liking these analogies? "PBC: "Wow, Morgan, this is a fun Q&A. If you hit us with any more analogies, I might have to call a fault. (grin). Seriously though, you have a reputation as a great instructor. I'd like to tap into that expertise in regard to the AMPED line-up of paddles. Is there a particular Selkirk AMPED model that you think would be perfect for a new player who doesn't have any racquet sports experience?"
Morgan: "I think either the Omni or the S2 are perfect paddles to get started with for players with no previous racket experience. Their surface area and forgiveness make them ideal to build confidence in new players like this."PBC: "Same premise, is there a particular model you think is perfect for someone making the jump from Tennis to Pickleball?"
Morgan: "Honestly, I believe the Maxima is the best choice coming over from tennis. It has a way of lifting the ball on groundstrokes so tennis players don't need to alter their technique to start playing aggressive pickleball."PBC: Same premise, is there a particular model you think is perfect for someone looking for a 'touch' or 'control' paddle?
Morgan: "I think the Epic paddle is well designed to control the ball in all different positions. It's touch and feel gives players a sense of security that even when they are off balance, they can still put the ball where they want it."PBC: "OK, one more time - same premise, is there a particular model you think is perfect for someone looking for a 'power' paddle?"
Morgan: "The Maxima wins again!! Precision and power is the name of its game, and I'm not just saying that because it has my name on it. At a maximum legal length of 17 inches, the leverage available at the sweet spot provides a huge amount of energy, and somehow keeps the ball in."PBC: "I want to shift the chat a bit in a different direction. I think we'd love to know what its been like representing Team Selkirk out on the courts - can you share a bit about that experience?
Morgan: "It's been a real honor to represent TeamSelkirk. When I go to tournaments, I really feel like I am part of a team, and that sense of comradery goes a long way to helping perform at my best. I feel like they support me and my endeavors on and off the tournament court. They understand something that rings true with me, the game is more important than the match. They see the big picture in pickleball and support the game at every level, so when the day comes that I stop getting on the podium, I know that my place within the company isn't over."PBC: "Morgan, thank you for sharing your thoughts on the exciting new Maxima AMPED paddle."
PBC Editor's Note: For those of you who haven't heard of Morgan before, he's an amazing pickleball player, coach and personality. Playing in sunny Southern California gives him weather that is similar to his 'home down under', but with the added advantage of a serious pickleball community. Morgan is a multiple time podium medalist at the sport's most prestigious events including the US Open and USAPA Nationals.
Review of the AMPED Maxima X5 by Padre Pickleball Club
My husband received an Omni Amped X5 Fiber Flex paddle from Selkirk and was very excited to start using it. Unfortunately for him (very lucky for me), he injured his leg and hasn’t been able to play so I decided to give it a try. I had been using a Selkirk Pro S1C and was hesitant to switch paddles, as I'm the type of player that doesn’t make changes easily. After about 15 minutes I was hooked, though! Poor hubby may not get it back.
I noticed right away that I felt less vibration traveling through the paddle and into my shoulder. That has always been a concern for me and is why I started using a Selkirk paddle over a year ago. That surprised me since it's a little bit heavier than I am used to: 8.0 oz versus 7.3. I felt like I had a little more power and control when returning a fast-moving volley. I've always needed help staying in control of a fast, powerful shot coming at me.
Now I can hurtle one right back across the court. Along with the weight, it seems like there's a larger sweet spot allowing for more accuracy in ball placement. Dink shots seem to make it over the net more frequently, too. I have a feeling of confidence that I will use just the right amount of power to barely drop the ball over the net and not come up short.
Joyce
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Review from Gregg Boury, Wheeling, WV (3.5/4.0)
When I first picked up the Amped Maxima, the first thing I noticed was the amount of balance I felt. The paddle felt more like an extension than an addition to my hand. I would think tennis players transitioning to pickleball would find this quite helpful. My next impression was for the quality of build. The paddle feels solid and even more so during play. It feels like a Cadillac when many other paddles feel like Chevys. (Sorry, Chevy!)
I love the customizing options available when ordering. Having small hands, I prefer and need a smaller grip diameter. I could also envision having both the light weight and standard weight versions of the paddle in my stable for different balls, different opponents and even weather conditions, i.e. wind. The choice of colors is a nice bonus.
Once again using the automobile reference, the Amped Maxima plays like a Cadillac or a Maxima for that matter. Its quality build yields a very solid feel and extreme shock absorption on impact with the ball. The thickness of the core certainly helps in this regard.
The elongated design coupled with the tapered bottom reduces wind resistance substantially compared to a standard paddle. In my opinion, this greatly helped my arm speed and ability to meet the ball at appropriate places. Upon contact, I first noticed the how long the ball stayed with the paddle. This minute extra contact, gave me a sense of control that I have not experienced (or at least noticed) with any other paddles. In my opinion, this characteristic is the defining one for the paddle. If you value control over power in your game, this is the paddle for you.
That said, power is available from two sources… the described shape with the resulting arm speed and the choice of the standard weight paddle allow for plenty of power. The grip wrap is comfortable and remains tacky even on hot days. I never did find a spot on the paddle that did not feel like a sweet spot, so I have to assume it encompasses most of the paddle’s surface.
All in all, the Amped Maxima is a pleasure to use and will satisfy a wide range of play styles. I would think the paddle would be well suited for, as I said before, a transitioning tennis player. It would also work well with newbies due to the great control and for the less mobile player due to the longer profile.
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