Doug Sapusek built the Loco, sold Bread & Butter to Selkirk, and has a theory about Chris Olson and wide bodies.
Bread & Butter sent me the Loco 2 free.
Loco 2, $198 with code NICOTHELEFTY: https://www.bnbpickleball.com
Every brand that takes the code: https://www.nicothelefty.com/deals
All my paddle reviews: https://www.nicothelefty.com/reviews

No notes, no prep. Doug is the founder of Bread & Butter, the creator of the Loco, and now a Selkirk employee. We get into why Selkirk said no to a wide body, why the hybrid Loco 2 launched late, why no reviewers got it early, what annoys him about paddle reviewers, where the X-rays come from, how the Loco got its name, life inside Selkirk, and the bags, shoes and polos coming next. He also made a pisco sour.

Chapters
0:00 The Chris Olson strangulation multiverse
0:40 Bread & Butter sold to Selkirk. Now what?
1:20 No notes, one pisco sour
3:15 Did Chris Olson kill the wide body?
5:26 "Look at this thing. It's freaking ugly."
8:28 Why Selkirk said no to a wide body
12:06 Why the hybrid Loco 2 launched late
15:12 Justin Barton called it lazy. Doug answers.
18:09 Why no reviewers got the Loco 2 early
19:52 What annoys Doug about paddle reviewers
23:19 Do reviewers chase commissions?
25:50 The $14.99 Adidas Metalbone
27:13 Only one reviewer does it full time
28:13 Dave Portnoy-style paddle reviews
28:59 Where do reviewers get paddle X-rays?
31:15 The original Loco and a lawsuit threat
32:56 How the Loco got its name
33:47 Chris Olson or John Kew: who does Doug trust?
38:22 You can be a nerd and win in pickleball
39:53 Trust fund kids and Daddy's Backyard
43:30 Life inside Selkirk
47:53 What's next: a new paddle, bags and shoes
53:24 A polo without a collar
54:59 Will a PPA pro ever play the Loco?
59:58 Nico's picks: J Dub and Hayden
63:20 Ben Johns, Franklin and lifetime contracts
68:10 Is Robert Slusky Batman?
69:42 Which camera should Nico buy?
71:37 Watch next

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3AzwFqfAT6k

Find me
Website: https://www.nicothelefty.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicothelefty/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicothelefty_

Selkirk: https://www.selkirk.com

#pickleball #pickleballpaddle #breadandbutter

James Ignatowich launched the RPM Jade with almost no reviewers, and says it sold almost 30,000. Here is why he did it.

James is the co-founder of RPM, a former PPA pro, and the least filtered person in pickleball. We talk about why he named a paddle the Jade, the line call that ended a friendship at the PPA Masters, why he stopped sending paddles to reviewers, the buyout offer he would not take, and what he would tell a 21-year-old pro.

I earn a commission when you use code NICOTHELEFTY. RPM sent me the Jade free. James is RPM's co-founder and CEO.

RPM Jade, $230 with code NICOTHELEFTY: https://rpmpb.com/NICOTHELEFTY

Every brand that takes the code: https://nicothelefty.com/deals

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/svjVFh3XIjU

Website: https://www.nicothelefty.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicothelefty/

In this episode of the Forehands Middle podcast, Nico and Gino dive deep into the latest storylines shaking up the pickleball world. From their own recent tournament experiences to the ups and downs of fantasy pickleball, the brothers bring a mix of firsthand insight, sharp analysis, and plenty of humor.

The conversation takes listeners courtside at the PPA Cincinnati tournament, spotlighting the continued dominance of Anna Leigh Waters in women’s singles, the shifting dynamics in men’s doubles, and the fast-evolving landscape of mixed doubles. They also celebrate the rise of the Kawamoto sisters, who continue to prove themselves as must-watch players.

Beyond the matches, Nico and Gino unpack the business side of the sport with the launch of James Ignatowich’s new paddle company, RPM Pickleball—highlighting how pickleball’s growth is no longer just about the game, but also the personalities, stories, and brands shaping its future.