New UPA-A 2025 Paddle Rules: The United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A) has officially announced its 2025 Paddle Certification Rollout Plan, designed to raise the bar on paddle performance and ensure fairness in professional pickleball competitions. This initiative outlines critical steps for paddle manufacturers, pickleball players, and event organizers, establishing clear guidelines to maintain the integrity of the sport and standardizing the paddles used in high-level play.
Key Dates for Certification
The rollout plan features important compliance deadlines. Starting October 1 through November 15, 2024, manufacturers with paddles already approved by the USAP can apply for UPA-A Provisional Status. This application costs $2,000, which will count toward the 2025 full certification fee.
Manufacturers submitting after November 15 will incur an additional $1,000 late fee, which will not apply toward the certification cost. As part of the provisional process, manufacturers must submit five paddles per model or variant for evaluation.
On January 1, 2025, the UPA-A will begin testing paddles for full certification. All paddles used in professional events like PPA and MLP must either have provisional or interim certification by this date to be eligible for use until March 31, 2025. After that, on April 1, 2025, only paddles with full UPA-A certification will be allowed in professional play.
Paddle Testing Standards
The certification process involves thorough testing to assess key paddle performance metrics, particularly spin and deflection. For a paddle to receive provisional approval, it must meet a spin limit of under 2200 RPM and an average deflection force of 42 lbs.
The deflection standard is an adjustment from the earlier interim documentation, which listed 46 lbs. These strict standards are part of the UPA-A’s commitment to ensuring equipment quality and maintaining a fair competition environment for athletes.
In addition to performance metrics, the certification process will involve destructive testing to evaluate a paddle’s durability over its entire lifecycle. This thorough approach ensures that paddles continue to meet official standards long after they enter competitive play. The UPA-A’s testing procedures aim to foster innovation while maintaining a level playing field for all competitors.
Ensuring Compliance and Fair Play
The UPA-A sees the 2025 Paddle Certification Rollout Plan as essential to preserving the integrity of professional pickleball. By laying out a transparent and rigorous process for certification, the organization seeks to give paddle manufacturers a clear path toward compliance while ensuring players compete with paddles that meet the highest performance standards.
“The 2025 certification process is vital to the continued growth of professional pickleball. We want to give manufacturers a clear roadmap for compliance while ensuring that players at the highest levels of the pickleball sport are competing with paddles that meet the highest standards for performance and fairness.” – (Jason Aspes, UPA-A President)
Manufacturers are strongly encouraged to apply for UPA-A Provisional Approval before the November 15, 2024 deadline to avoid additional fees and to ensure their paddles meet the necessary standards for 2025. Those who submit their paddles after the deadline will face a higher cost, with $3,000 per paddle, only $2,000 of which will be applied to the 2025 certification.
Certification Fees and Licensing
The UPA-A’s 2025 certification process comes with substantial costs. A flat fee of $20,000 will be charged for certification, with additional costs of $5,000 per model and $1,000 per variant. These fees help cover the UPA-A’s expenses in building a state-of-the-art laboratory for testing, outfitted with cutting-edge machinery, engineering resources, and a detailed set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
This certification also extends to on-site testing at every PPA tournament and MLP event in 2025, ensuring compliance throughout the year. Additionally, paddle manufacturers will need to pay a licensing fee to have their paddle brands compete at the professional level. Manufacturers are encouraged to visit the UPA-A website to register for email updates and stay informed about ongoing certification developments.
News in Brief: New UPA-A 2025 Paddle Rules
The United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A) has launched its 2025 Paddle Certification Rollout Plan to set new standards for professional pickleball paddles. Key dates include an application window for provisional approval between October 1 and November 15, 2024, with testing for full certification beginning on January 1, 2025.
By April 1, 2025, only fully certified paddles will be permitted in professional pickleball events. The certification process includes spin and deflection testing, destructive testing, and substantial fees for paddle manufacturers. For more details, visit the UPA-A website.
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