Product Review: Slam Master Pickleball Training Tool

While I was writing an article on training aids to develop top spin in Pickleball, I was reminded of a great training aid I used during COVID-19.  It is called the Slam Master Training Practice paddle and it was developed by Gordon G.G. Gebert.  I first saw the training aid when Gordon shot a video of him using it during a snow storm in Connecticut.  I invited him to be on the Pickleball Fire podcast and immediately purchased the practice paddle.

Gordon likens the Slam Master to the donut you put on the end of your bat or golf club or the speed bag in boxing.  It is a training aid which helps you to develop hand-eye coordination and improves reaction time.  The training aid will remind you of the small paddle with a red ball attached to it via a string.  Of course, the Slam Master is more robust than this and Gordon spent a lot of time getting the design right.  The string linking the paddle and the ball is seven feet long.  Of course as Pickleball players we know the non volley zone is seven feet from the net on each side of the court.  But ironically Gordon found this to be the optimal distance when experimenting with different string lengths.

I recommend The Slam Master especially for those who want to try Pickleball but have never played a sport or for those who have not played a racket sport.  The Slam Master comes in two versions.  One is a wood paddle which is heavier than a normal graphite paddle.  The advantage of this is that it can help build strength in your arm and shoulder.  The graphite version is best for improving reaction time as it will be more similar to the paddle most people use when they are on the court.

You can purchase both the wood and graphite version of the Slam Master on Amazon for $40 and $68 respectively.  You'll notice in the reviews some people had trouble hitting the ball more than a couple of times.  So be sure to watch the videos on how to use it as you actually need to pull the paddle back to make the ball return.  Also know that you can hit a variety of shots with the paddle from soft ones to drives.