Michigan-Made Pickleball Paddle: A new pickleball paddle made in Holland, Michigan, is changing the game with its eco-friendly design. Created by Hugh Davis, the paddle uses sustainable materials and offers players better durability, spin, and power—all while reducing waste in landfills. The company also plans to recycle old paddles.
Paddle Built to Last
Hugh Davis began playing pickleball with friends in Holland, Michigan, back in 2012. Over time, he noticed a problem: his paddles kept breaking. Edges came off, dents formed, and parts cracked. Davis started fixing paddles in his parents’ garage and learning how they were made.
In 2016, while in college, Davis began working on a paddle that wouldn’t break as easily. He wanted it to feel powerful, look cool, and play better than traditional paddles. His master’s thesis focused on building a fully recyclable paddle and a plan to recycle used ones.
A New Approach to Sporting Goods
Hugh Davis believes sporting gear should be made better, not just more often. “We don’t just need more pickleball equipment. We don’t need more sporting goods. We need better,” said Hugh Davis. “One way to make things better is from cradle to grave, have a lifecycle of equipment that is more conscious and thoughtfully made.”
He explained that most sports gear ends up in landfills after just a couple of years. Davis wanted to do things differently—by creating gear that could be reused and recycled.
His idea? Players would return their old paddles in exchange for a new one—maybe even an upgrade—just like recycling a can for a deposit.
Materials That Make a Difference
The paddle is made with natural materials like bioflex fibers and lava rock. These aren’t just eco-friendly—they also improve play.
“The vibration dampening of the bioflex, those natural fibers is really really good,” said Hugh Davis. “The power and the springiness of the lava rock is unmatched by other materials. The spin that we can create.”
He explained these features perform better than common materials like carbon fiber or fiberglass.
Big Changes Since 2020
Back in 2020, professional pickleball players were barely making money. Hugh Davis remembers when even the top athletes needed other jobs to get by.
“It’s crazy how the sport has exploded and how the professional scene has exploded,” he said.
A Paddle for the Future
Hugh Davis’s paddle is not just a better playing tool—it’s also better for the planet. With its long-lasting design and recycling program, it shows how pickleball gear can be smarter, stronger, and more sustainable.
As the sport grows, more players and companies may follow this example, making better gear that helps both players and the environment.
News in Brief: Michigan-Made Pickleball Paddle
Hugh Davis from Holland, Michigan, has designed a new sustainable pickleball paddle. Made from bioflex fibers and lava rock, the paddle improves power, spin, and durability. His business also offers paddle recycling to reduce waste. The project began as his college thesis and is now changing how paddles are made.