UPA-A Suddenly Bans All Luzz Paddles: The United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A) has officially removed all paddles from the brand Luzz from its approved equipment list. The decision, announced earlier this week, follows a violation of UPA-A paddle certification rules.
Luzz’s Approval Revoked After Paddle Submission Issue
According to a joint news release from the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball, the UPA-A revoked Luzz’s provisional approval after discovering inconsistencies between submitted paddles and their approved models. Luzz, a relatively new paddle company, had gained temporary approval earlier this year under a provisional system for USA Pickleball-approved brands.
The UPA-A said the brand submitted the “Cannon” paddle as a simple design variation of the already approved “ZZ” model. However, officials found that the paddles were constructed differently and performed differently.
“The Cannon was submitted as a design variation, when it should have been submitted as an entirely new model,” the statement read. The Cannon model is marketed separately on the Luzz website and is described as having significantly more power than the “ZZ.”
Governing Body Emphasizes Fair Play and Paddle Integrity
Jason Aspes, president of the UPA-A, emphasized the importance of upholding clear and fair rules.
“Violating UPA-A rules has consequences. Our commitment to protecting the integrity of pickleball is absolute. Players, brands, and fans deserve a level playing field, and we will not tolerate actions that undermine that principle.” – (Jason Aspes)
The UPA-A reported that no Luzz paddles other than the “ZZ” had been used in pro-level events under their supervision. However, due to the rule violation, all Luzz paddles—including the previously approved “ZZ”—are now banned from UPA-A sanctioned play.
UPA-A Reinforces Strict Standards
The paddle issue arises ahead of the UPA-A’s full paddle certification system, which will go into effect on September 1. The current provisional system was intended to give brands time to comply with updated UPA-A standards while still participating in PPA Tour and MLP events.
The governing body says it acted quickly once the matter was reported and will continue to monitor all pickleball paddle models used in competition.
“UPA-A will continue to enforce its standards rigorously, ensuring that all UPA-A approved paddles align with the values and rules that govern UPA pickleball events.” – (statement)
News in Brief: UPA-A Suddenly Bans All Luzz Paddles
The UPA-A has removed all Luzz paddles from its approved list due to rule violations involving the “Cannon” model. Luzz’s provisional approval was revoked after officials found differences between the submitted paddles and their approved counterparts. All Luzz paddles are now banned from UPA-A sanctioned play.
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