Red Light, Green Light: Pro-Level Paddle Testing Is Coming to Amateur Pickleball Tournaments

The new Go-No-Go Machine weighs just 12 pounds and can test a paddle in under 60 seconds, enabling quick and intuitive on-site paddle testing at thousands of events nationwide.

We've all felt the pit in our stomachs when playing against someone with an objectively hot paddle.

It can be annoying in rec play. But come tournament time, it could mean the difference between copping some shiny new hardware or going home empty-handed.

Until now.

Enter the Go-No-Go (GNG) Machine, a more portable and high-tech on-site paddle deflection testing device that's the new official choice for three major platforms:

• The United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A)
• Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR)
• Pickleballtournaments.com

“Partnering with GNG Enterprises represents a major leap forward in our mission to ensure fairness and integrity for competitive play in pickleball,” said Jason Aspes, President of UPA-A.

The Go-No-Go Machine weighs just 12 pounds and can test a paddle in under 60 seconds.

How the GNG Machine works

The GNG Machine is a compact, on-site paddle deflection tester developed using the same standards set by UPA-A.

PPA and MLP events currently use what's called the Pickle Press for on-site testing. In simple terms, a paddle is loaded into the machine then tested to see how many pounds of force are required to compress the core 1/16 of an inch.

A paddle passes if the force is above the established threshold. It fails if it's below. This is commonly referred to as the "trampoline effect." Generally speaking, the easier it is to compress a paddle's core, the faster a ball can deflect off its face.

The GNG Machine can test a paddle in under 60 seconds. A green light means it passed. A red light indicates it failed.

The Pickle Press is housed inside a large black case and weighs nearly 200 pounds. The GNG Machine, on the other hand, is considerably smaller and weighs just 12 pounds.

Where you'll see it in action

UPA-A, the governing body for the United Pickleball Association, which runs the Carvana PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball, will be rolling out the GNG Machine across its premier events, including:

• The Amateur State Championship Series
• The PPA Challenger Series
• MLP + PPA US, Australia, Asia
• The Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships (Dallas, TX)

But it's not just for pro play.

DUPR will implement the GNG Machine at its top-tier clubs and sanctioned amateur tournaments, a major advancement in a facility's willingness and ability to quickly and accurately ensure every paddle on the court meets deflection standards.

“We’re proud to announce the GNG Machine as the official and exclusive on-site testing device for DUPR-sanctioned tournaments,” said Tito Machado, CEO of DUPR.

Lastly, Pickleballtournaments.com hosts thousands of amateur events around the country and has also designated the GNG Machine as its official and exclusive paddle deflection testing partner.

This integration empowers tournament directors to proactively enforce compliance, ensuring all participants are playing with standardized equipment.

On-site implementation for pro and amateur play is expected to commence this month, expanding across the U.S. and internationally to countries like Australia, India, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, China, and Canada.

A full list of participating tournaments and clubs will be announced in the coming weeks.