Is Your Paddle Approved For Tournament Play? 


Are you aware of the new paddle testing drama?

If you remember, the UPA-A issued an approved paddle list in late December, 2024.

The "list" caused some issues because certain popular paddles were not on the approved list at that time.

What is the big deal if your paddle is not on the approved list?

Well, the rules state that for tournaments, players must use paddles that are approved. 

So, there was some drama in late December, 2024 and into early January, 2025.

In fact, at the time I was using the Joola MOD TA-15. Unfortunately, it was not on the approved list as of late December, 2024.

I quickly changed paddles, because I was playing tournaments and didn't want to practice with a paddle I couldn't use in tournaments.

Some people say the officials never check the paddles in tournaments.

Well, I played in a tournament within the past two weeks, and they definitely checked each participant's paddles.

In fact, one player was not allowed to use his paddle and had to use a friend's paddle.

However, that stink in late December and early January died down until just recently.

The UPA-A issued new paddle testing parameters which paddles had to meet to be UPA-A approved. 

The deadline by which they had to meet those standards was September 1, 2025!

If paddles did not meet the UPA-A standards, they were not listed on the approved "list."

Therefore, they could not be used in tournament play.

That caused a major issue at the PPA Cincinnati Showcase tournament in early September.  

Several top pro player's paddles were not on the approved list, so they had to use a different paddle.

Among the high-profile issues were the Proton paddle used by Andre Daescu, CJ Klinger, and others.

Another was the PIKKL paddle normally used by Tyra Black and Gabe Tardio. 

What about your paddle?

Is it on the list?

When you check the list, be sure to look at every feature, because some paddles of the same name are approved for one thickness and not another.

For example, very few of the 12.7 mm thickness Paddletek paddles are on the list, but the 14.3 mm Paddletek paddles are. And Anna Leigh Waters uses a 13 mm Paddletek paddle which is on the approved list.

Also, the Joola Scorpeus Pro IV 16 mm is not on the list although the Joola Scorpeus 3S 16 mm  is on the list.

So, check the approved list very carefully!

Here is the link for the list:

https://upaa.unitedpickleball.com/approved-paddles/


Now, you also need to know that there are two governing bodies. 

The USAP and the UPA-A.

The USAP standards are different from the UPA-A's standards.

So, a paddle may be USAP-approved but not be approved by UPA-A.

UPA-A only governs the Pro PPA tour and the Pro MLP tour.

What does all of that mean for you?

Well, if you play tournaments as an amateur, you only need to be sure you are using a USAP-approved paddle.

Even if you play in a PPA tournament as an amateur, your USAP-approved paddle is accepted, even if it is not on the UPA-A approved list.

So, here are my recommendations:

 1. If your paddle is not on the USAP or the UPA-A approved lists, get a new paddle that is at least USAP-approved.

 2. If your paddle is on the USAP list but not the UPA-A list, and if you are an amateur, and if you really like your paddle, you don't need to change your paddle.  

 3.  If you don't like your paddle and have been considering purchasing a new one, be sure to at least purchase a paddle that is USAP-approved.  If you can, buy one that is both USAP and UPA-A approved.

 4.  If you are turning pro or want to turn pro, be sure you are using a paddle which is on the UPA-A approved list.

Good luck!!


Ben Holt
​CEO, Pickleball Living