Aurora Progress Update and Q&A Part 1
We’re back at it again with an update on Project Aurora, the first fully-foam paddle with enhanced long-lasting grit, made right here in the USA.
Let’s get into it -
Progress
In the last week, we made some significant strides in our progress. As of now, I’d put us around the 85% completion mark. While this is great progress, the last 10-15% is always the hardest and we will keep pushing until the finish line.
Concretely, this past week, we produced three paddle iterations, each featuring slightly different core characteristics. We will be testing and adjusting these small variations to see which versions lead to the results we are looking for until we get the final version.
Grit
Our previous announcements on our new enhanced grit drew a lot of buzz! As mentioned before, our new grit is unlike traditional grit and is actually long-lasting. We are continuously testing our new grit and will publish photos, videos, and numerical results in future updates to showcase our new grit.
Handles
While the rest of the paddle is around the 85% completion mark, the handles are close to complete in their design. Our next move with the handles is to figure out how to scale up production so it’s not a production bottleneck when the Aurora is released. Based on the feedback, responses to our questions, and overall general interest in the Aurora, we’re going to need to build a LOT of handles. These new handles will be the strongest and most durable handles on the market with the crispest bevels. If the rest of the paddle is made of carbon fiber, why shouldn’t the handle be!
Playtesting
We are now entering our formal "playtesting" phase, where we're looking to gather feedback on how the paddles perform. While we know everyone is excited to try them out, it's important to roll them out strategically, prioritizing feedback in stages. A key part of this strategy is ensuring players of all ages and skill levels have their voices heard. We're selectively choosing people close to us to cast a wide net for diverse feedback. Our testers will range from complete beginners to 6.5 DUPR players, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
As we approach our next "beta" phase, we'll begin involving people like you, specifically targeting groups or demographics from whom we haven't yet received feedback. This may include factors like age, skill level, or geographic location. Following this stage, we'll transition into an "Open Beta," where people can purchase prototypes to help us gather valuable feedback. We anticipate reaching that phase within approximately 45 days.
Submitted Questions
Thank you to everybody for sending in questions to our Google form this past week. We’ve received a tremendous number of questions and there were so many good questions in there that we want to address. There were some questions we couldn’t answer because of trade secrets but below are the most common questions and our answers:
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Can I be a tester?
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We will have betas for sale hopefully in the next 45 days. We are trying to figure out the best way to do this so we get as much feedback from different ages/skill level as possible.
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Stats (SW, TW, static weight)
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Until we have a finished product, we won’t be able to release the stats because things are still changing. Once we have set stats, we will publish them for you.
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Playing comparison to other foam paddles?
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We won't be able to comment on how it plays compared to another paddle for now. As we release betas, you will find comparisons that would be helpful from people who have played with those paddles.
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Are you planning a 16mm?
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Right now, no. Our goal is to have one paddle thickness, in a few different shapes, that plays so well that people don’t need to worry what thickness it is.
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What shapes will be at launch?
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Elongated, Hybrid, Standard/Widebody.
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How is the Aurora foam different from TruFoam?
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The materials used in the Aurora are completely different from the TruFoam. We use multiple types of foams in a radical new core design that has not been seen before in pickleball.
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What is the price range?
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We haven’t set a price yet since we’re not selling it yet, but as it stands this paddle will likely be close to the top of the price range, maybe $300+. There are a lot of factors that go into this. Most importantly, we are introducing completely new tech in the core, grit, and handle while the Aurora will be Made in the US to ensure top notch quality unlike most paddles that are built overseas.
The materials and time that go into each paddle is astounding compared to overseas manufacturing. We believe even at the price range mentioned above, this paddle will still be a steal.
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Is this a control or power paddle?
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Power paddle focused, but we want to make sure it’s still got a ton of control.
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Does this have more power than the Olympus?
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Yes.
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Will it be USAP certified?
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Yes, at launch. Betas will not be. Any betas we release will be appropriately marked so there will not be any confusion.
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The hype and interest in our paddle is more motivation to make the absolute best paddle out there. If you have any more questions for us to answer in next week’s edition, feel free to fill them out here: Submit Questions Here
Just to hold you over, we wanted everyone to know that the Oracle, the newest addition to the Apex series, is now available for pre-sale on our website. The Oracle is the widebody/standard shape in our Apex series and is available for $72 (after discount codes) for the next three weeks! That is also the shape we plan to make one version of the Aurora in so get one now to check the shape out!
Until next time,
Josh
Spartus Owner
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