The "treatment" (this is the exact term) on padel rackets is the process that makes the surface where the ball impacts rough. Our opinion on this issue, which scares a bit or makes many others sceptical, is that the treatment has the purpose of improving the tool and not just to give effect to the ball. These factors can change the way you play for the better and make the shovel better than before. Precisely for these attitudes we want to dispel a commonplace here: "the treatment makes the racket's plate harder". Completely wrong! If the processing is performed with the right components, the treatment can only be ameliorative. In all senses! Unfortunately this hardening occurs when the treatment is done as standard directly in the factory by the manufacturers. These use resins that alter (harden) the face of the racket.

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Right where we started 10 years ago, Glipper has "re-invented" this procedure unlike any other, marrying the rule of "not altering the main characteristics of the dish, rather enhancing them". Ten years ago we began a collaboration with a paint industry by discovering a transparent product which, after drying, preserves the elasticity of the surface on which it was applied. Finding this "right chemistry" with this paint that used in our Basic treatment with microspheres (but then also used for other treatments) made us take off. The Basic, still today, is one of the most "effective" treatments on padel. On our site we also report in detail other treatments used for padel.

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But then hardening can't be done? A few years ago we also developed the hardening technique of the plate because it is in great demand in beach tennis, later experimenting it also in padel. Operation that became necessary for "certain customers". Then you will say: "ah, see that it hardens!". We answer: "sure but only if we/you want it/want"! We receive requests to harden the plate with our treatments because the shovel purchased is too soft/elastic.

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A dutiful clarification on the subject of paint: Glipper does not use products such as epoxy resins, much less products used for painting cars. Products for "automotive" use are not suitable for this use because they harden regardless, preventing the elasticity of the material on which they are applied, so we find it really out of place and counterproductive to opt then, trying to solve the problem, with the addition of an elasticizer that certainly does not solve the problem.

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The "treatment only serves to get the ball rolling", another commonplace, let's also debunk this common rumor. The treatment, rightly so, gives a more or less accentuated effect on the ball depending on the type of material spread on the plate, but in any case it serves to improve the characteristics of the blade. Example: it favors a more accentuated ball exit, a wider sweet spot, or a harder plate because we have discovered that our blade is too elastic and has little power. We support the thesis of treating the racket to remove the defects (not only the aesthetic ones) thus elevating the characteristics of the same.

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The experience gained in all these years has made us understand that the keystone of the treatment is not only to give effect to the ball, it is not only to remove the defects, but it is to fulfill the wishes of the player who already has Bought that specific racket and needs help! This is our professional leitmotif which has led us, in all this time, to transform a "commercial" racket into an ad hoc one, that is modified according to the customer's needs. We are convinced that many users would not sell their shovel after a few weeks with the increasingly recurrent justification "not suitable for my style of play". Glipper always tries to adapt the shovel to the athlete's style of play. Of course, this is as far as possible.

The weight gain of our treatments ranges from 3 to 10 grams, depending on the treatment chosen.

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Can it be removed if I don't like it? There is no doubt that once the treatment has been performed, it will then be difficult to remove it. But we are of the opinion, indeed we are sure of it, that once it is done there are much more "pros" than "cons".

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Let's face the longevity topic of the treatment with the unknown how long does it last? A lot or a little? Depending on the fact that even the shovel does not last very long, everything is correlated. Many good level players change the racket every 6 months, some "pros" even after 2 months. So it's all in proportion but we calmly affirm, indeed we are absolutely certain that our Basic and Strong last much longer than 6 months. The most perishable is our Flatty, since it is a powder added to the paint, but which can still be restored. At the command: "when does your treatment last?" we answer “change the shovel first!”. Precisely in reference to the Flatty and Flatty Mask we would like to reiterate that these two treatments were invented by Glipper precisely for padel. The Flatty has the property of "destroying" the smooth and shiny effect of traditional blades by preventing the ball from sliding on the plate, with a significant increase in control during the game phases and with the possibility of imparting some effect on the ball, moreover you will have a surface without too invasive materials and a really negligible additional weight. These are the strengths of the Flatty. The Flatty Mask is instead used, again on fully polished rackets without 3D, to simulate a 3D effect that does not exist, with a decidedly greater advantage than before, in addition to the fact that it weighs only 3-4 grams.

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Can rackets with a 3D effect be treated? Here is another interesting topic. We say yes, precisely because of what we have reported just now, i.e. the ability to enhance the characteristics of our peel or to harden the dish, in addition of course to the "slice" effect that is obtained. It is true however that on these blades with 3D the interventions with treatment are widely considered and discussed by both sides (Glipper / player) because the type of material added to the plate must not be too thin otherwise it would get lost under the protrusions of the 3D, but not too sharp when in 3D with little relief (the so-called aesthetic 3D) it would be too invasive on the ball. Treatments with a very pointed and therefore very aggressive scale could have an opposite effect: that the ball sticks too much making the game very difficult, even if we have had players who have "demanded" it precisely because it is necessary for their game characteristics. Glipper was born with beach tennis where this aspect is instead a determining factor as the surface of the plate is not completely perforated and where the ball is considerably more tender. “The more pointed the better”, they ask us. This is why some beach tennis treatments are NOT performed on padels.

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Also considering the current regulations on the subject, our treatments do not exceed the current rules on the thickness of the blade, making the treated rackets "compliant" with the current regulations.

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We hope that all of this has been helpful in better understanding the topic of "treatment" of the racket and we are sorry if we have dwelt so much on the subject that we believe is important for all of you. Thanks for the attention.