United Pickleball Association of America Takes Another Step In Paddle Testing With Interim Certification Program

The summer of paddle testing standards continues.

Back in May, Major League Pickleball and the PPA Tour broke away from USA Pickleball – the governing body of pickleball since 1984 – and formed its own organization, the United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A).

Since that time, lawsuits have been filed, paddles have been banned, a professional player has been suspended, and reports of hefty fees coming for manufacturers in order to obtain certification were rumored.

In late June, the UPA-A announced a partnership with Pickle Pro Labs (PPL) to establish a UPA Certification Program for pickleball paddles and equipment. In that same announcement, it said that PPL will collaborate with the University of Massachusetts-Lowell's Baseball Research Center on its paddle certification initiative. That Research Center played a pivotal role in addressing Major League Baseball's "juiced" balls and bats era in the early 2000s.

Fast-forward to early August, and now comes word that the UPA-A has developed an Interim Certification Program, setting new benchmarks for paddle performance and consistency.

The program will apply standards and testing to ensure that paddles not only perform as intended, but maintain their performance characteristics over time.

From the UPA-A:

The Interim Certification Program utilizes deflection testing to assess paddle power, establishing an Acceptable Deflection Force (ADF) of 46. This is a significant increase from the current limits enforced at UPA events, meaning that paddles will generate less power than what is allowed for currently. Additionally, the program sets a maximum RPM threshold of 2200. All paddles applying for UPA Interim Certification must adhere to both these thresholds and sustain these limitations throughout the paddle’s playing life.

Taking a quick glance at Pickleball Studio's paddle table, none of the paddles they reviewed have an RPM of more than 2200. Suffice to say, if 2200 is the threshold (and Pickleball Studio's testing methods are accurate), not many paddles will fail because of that factor.

With this program, UPA-A is moving towards a more performance-focused regulation. This allows paddle brands to continue innovating while also preserving the integrity of the game.

"UPA-A is honored to be the first governing body to implement such a comprehensive certification program," said Jason Aspes, President of UPA-A. "We are committed to enhancing the quality and fairness of the game through improved equipment standards."

Detailed information about the 2025 UPA-A Professional Certification will be made public in mid-September. Starting in 2025, all professional pickleball players participating in UPA events, including those in the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and Major League Pickleball (MLP), will be required to use UPA-A certified paddles.

"By improving equipment certification, we aim to ensure a fair and level playing field, and to enhance the overall quality of equipment used in the sport," added Aspes. "This initiative reflects our dedication to the continuous improvement and integrity of pickleball."

The Dink will keep you apprised of the latest developments in the paddle testing and certification space, which will surely continue to evolve as we move forward. Sign up for our FREE newsletter for all of the latest reports and information as they happen.