UPA-A’s Destructive Pickleball Paddle Testing: The United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A), under the leadership of President Jason Aspes, is embarking on a transformative journey for the future of professional pickleball paddle testing. Their recently disclosed 2025 Paddle Certification Rollout Plan aims to redefine the standards for paddle performance and ensure that all competitors face an even playing field before stepping onto the court.
Introducing Destructive Paddle Testing
Central to this initiative is the innovative method of destructive testing, which seeks to guarantee that pickleball paddles meet specific thresholds for spin and power before they are used in professional competitions.
“The problem is that these paddles change. We know that they all have break-in periods, some more than others, but some are really significant. We are going to replicate play on every paddle that gets certified to ensure that if they do change, they never go over a certain threshold.” – (Jason Aspes)
Starting April 1, 2025, every pickleball paddle utilized by professionals in PPA or MLP events will undergo this comprehensive testing protocol.
Understanding Destructive Testing
Contrary to what the term might imply, destructive testing does not involve physically dismantling paddles.
“We’re not forensic investigators.” – (Jason Aspes)
Instead, this testing process focuses on assessing a pickleball paddle’s performance and how it evolves over time.
“Destructive testing is the process of ‘breaking the paddle in’ through the testing process.” – (Jason Aspes)
The Mechanics of Pickleball Paddle Performance
The concept of “hotness,” or the speed at which a ball rebounds from a pickleball paddle, can vary significantly, often without any established benchmarks.
“Each paddle that’s being made right now is different, even if it’s the same model, same make, same everything. Our quality controls are just not there.” – (Jason Aspes)
Destructive testing marks the beginning of implementing rigorous quality control measures. By measuring deflection—how far a pickleball paddle bends upon impact—and the Paddle-Ball Coefficient of Restitution (PBCOR), this method will analyze pickleball paddle performance more thoroughly.
New pickleball paddles will be subjected to thousands of controlled shots under standardized lab conditions, helping to map out a pickleball paddle’s peak power throughout its lifecycle.
“We’re plotting out every data point in the lifecycle of a paddle under lab conditions, so we know exactly what it’s meant to do.” – (Jason Aspes)
Testing will be executed by Pickle Pro Labs, the UPA-A’s independent facility, with each pickleball paddle requiring several hours of analysis.
“It’s laborious. It takes a lot of machinery. It takes a lot of manpower. It’s a process.” – (Jason Aspes)
The Importance of Standardization
Jason Aspes envisions a future where players can measure an opponent’s pickleball paddle by merely glancing at it.
“All players are different, of course. But paddles should be uniform and consistent across the board. Right now, that’s far from the case.” – (Jason Aspes)
The implications of these changes are significant, especially in a professional landscape where athletes harbor Olympic aspirations and rely on the sport for their livelihoods.
“It’s not fair. At the rec level, you’ll start seeing people get hurt. But the real problem for us is that we’re playing professionally. This is a real sport. People have Olympic aspirations. People are making their livelihood off of this. We can’t have that kind of behavior.” – (Jason Aspes)
While the UPA-A’s regulations will govern professionals in the PPA and MLP, they will not extend to amateur players or the APP Tour, overseen by USA Pickleball. Brands eager to enter the professional space will face an annual $20,000 certification fee, $5,000 for each pickleball paddle model, and $1,000 for variations.
“That’s why you see 2,000 paddle manufacturers in the marketplace. Because nobody’s really looking after this and holding anyone responsible.” – (Jason Aspes)
Timeline for Implementation
Manufacturers with pickleball paddles currently approved by USA Pickleball can apply for UPA-A Provisional Status for a $2,000 fee until November 15, which will count towards the total certification cost. For provisional approval, pickleball paddles must maintain spin limits below 2200 RPM and achieve an average deflection force of at least 42 lbs.
“We’ll put them through the same test we did for interim testing but lower the threshold on deflection from 46 to 42. I assume everyone’s going to pass because we’re not trying to hold them to anything more rigid. We just want to understand what they’re putting in.” – (Jason Aspes)
Full UPA-A Certification, including destructive testing, will commence on January 1, 2025. Jason Aspes stressed the importance of accountability, stating,
“And now we have accountability. So in January, when people start playing with paddles, if it’s not the same thing that we saw, we can pull it, send it back to the lab, and there will be serious consequences for manipulating a paddle.” – (Jason Aspes)
Introducing the Pickleball Paddle Challenge System
As part of the 2025 changes, Jason Aspes revealed that a pickleball paddle challenge system will be implemented in PPA and MLP events.
“We’re putting the onus on the players, making them responsible for their own paddles because they know them better than anybody. If they’re playing with something that’s not behaving the way it’s supposed to, there will be consequences.” – (Jason Aspes)
This system will include penalties for challenged pickleball paddles that do not pass subsequent testing, as well as for incorrect challenges, with financial repercussions under consideration.
“Everything’s on the table.” – (Jason Aspes)
A Commitment to Quality and Innovation
As pickleball evolves, the need for standardization in pickleball paddle performance has never been more critical. Jason Aspes is confident that destructive testing will usher in a new era of quality control, creating a level playing field and shifting the focus back to player athleticism.
“This is to try to get the professional ranks a level playing field, to get manufacturers to worry about their quality control, and to make better paddles — better materials, more consistent, last longer, don’t heat up, don’t break down. If we can get there, we’ll be in a better place.” – (Jason Aspes)
News in Brief: UPA-A’s Destructive Pickleball Paddle Testing
The United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A) is set to implement a new ‘destructive testing’ method starting in 2025 to ensure all professional paddles meet standardized performance thresholds.
This initiative aims to level the playing field and enhance quality control in the sport. The new certification process will include a significant fee structure for pickleball paddle manufacturers and introduce a player paddle challenge system to maintain accountability.
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