UPA-A News

State of the Union: Paddles, Certification, & Fairness in Pickleball

Less than two years ago, pickleball was at a crossroads. Paddle performance was accelerating faster than the sport’s ability to regulate it. The introduction of the Joola Gen 3 era...

Soxter Unauthorized Use of the UPA-A Stamp

UPA-A takes its certification process, and the integrity of the UPA-A Stamp, with the utmost seriousness....

New Rule on Paddle Reflectivity

To ensure fair play and maintain clear, consistent equipment standards, UPA-A has established a defined limit on the allowable level of gloss, or reflectivity, on paddles. Please take note of...

UPA-A Paddle Submission Services

To ensure a consistent and efficient certification process, UPA-A requires that all paddles submitted for testing adhere to the following submission and labeling standards....

UPA-A Deflection (ADF) Measurement & Enforcement Onsite

This rule establishes how Deflection (Acceptable Deflection Force, “ADF”) is measured and enforced onsite at UPA-A sanctioned events. The intent is to preserve fair play, maintain consistency with certification testing,...

UPA-A vs. USAP: The Standards Are Not the Same

As paddle technology continues to evolve, the standards used to certify that equipment have become increasingly important to the integrity of pickleball. A close look at the data confirms that...