UPA-A Will Publish Correlative Paddle Data
Beginning in 2027, UPA-A will publish the official Average Deflection Force (ADF) and Starrett Surface Roughness measurements for every certified paddle. These numbers help protect the integrity of competition. They are not performance ratings. They are simply identity markers. This is an important distinction.
Performance vs. Identity
Every paddle submitted to UPA-A goes through a comprehensive certification process. During that process, our independent laboratory, Pickle Pro Labs, measures the characteristics that actually determine performance, including power (PEF) and spin (RPM). Those are the measurements that determine whether a paddle earns certification. ADF and Surface Roughness serve a different purpose. They help answer a completely different question:
Is the paddle being used in competition the same paddle that was originally certified?
Think of ADF and surface roughness as a fingerprint, not a report card.
Why ADF Isn’t a Measure of Power
While ADF and power are still closely correlated for many paddles, not all paddles follow this trend, especially as paddle manufacturers introduce novel paddle materials and designs into the market. For onsite testing, most paddles meet UPA-A’s minimum ADF requirement. However, if a paddle was certified in the lab with an ADF below that threshold while still passing PEF testing, its approved onsite ADF value is the certified value established during laboratory testing.
Said another way, two paddles can produce nearly identical power while having dramatically different ADF readings. One certified paddle might measure in the 20s while another measures in the 80s. Both can be perfectly legal. That’s why UPA-A certifies paddles based on direct performance testing, not ADF.
ADF is not used to determine how powerful a paddle is. It is used for onsite testing to identify whether it remains consistent with the certified version. It would be easy to have drawn a line in the sand and require manufacturers to build to a deflection limit, but that would prohibit exploration of new materials and construction types. We want to encourage and facilitate innovation. This is why we have chosen against taking the easy path. Our testing methodology must continue to evolve, which requires constant research and better engineering, but ultimately will lead to longer lasting, more consistent, and higher performing equipment.
Surface Roughness Works the Same Way
The same principle applies to Surface Roughness. It was once assumed that a rougher paddle automatically created more spin. It can in some cases, but when compared across all paddles, more grit does not always mean more spin. UPA-A measures spin directly during certification. Surface Roughness is simply another identifying characteristic that helps confirm the paddle being used is consistent with the one that passed certification.
Like ADF, it is a proxy measure used for identification, not a performance metric.
Why Publish These Numbers?
The reality is that ADF and Surface Roughness measurements are already being collected throughout the industry. Retailers, reviewers, manufacturers, and consumers have access to the same testing equipment (or similar versions) used for these measurements.
The problem is consistency. Different equipment, different procedures, and different testing environments can all produce varying results. By publishing the official certification values, UPA-A establishes a single reference point for everyone. Players, manufacturers, tournament operators, retailers, and reviewers will all be working from the same baseline.
That improves transparency and eliminates unnecessary confusion.
Protecting the Integrity of Competition
During onsite paddle testing, officials are not trying to estimate a paddle’s power or spin using ADF or Surface Roughness. Those questions were already answered during certification. Instead, officials compare the paddle’s measurements to the official certification values to determine whether it still presents as the same paddle that earned UPA-A certification.
If the measurements remain consistent, the paddle continues to match its certified profile. If they differ significantly, it may indicate the paddle has been modified, damaged, manufactured differently, or is even counterfeit. Additional evaluation can then determine the cause. This process helps ensure that every player is competing with the same equipment that was approved for competition, creating a fair and level playing field.
Looking Ahead
Publishing correlative data is another step toward modernizing equipment enforcement. As testing devices enter the marketplace and standardized testing becomes commonplace, we envision a future where every certified paddle can be quickly identified by its unique fingerprint. Tournament operators will be able to verify equipment rapidly, objectively, and consistently.
That benefits everyone, from players, manufacturers, retailers, and the sport itself. ADF and Surface Roughness are not measures of power or spin. They are simply identifiers.
And by making those identifiers transparent, UPA-A is providing better tools to protect competitive integrity today while building the foundation for an even more reliable and automated equipment verification system in the future.