USA Pickleball is the National Governing Body for the sport of pickleball in the U.S. If you play in tournaments, then you appreciate the importance of having a paddle that is “USA Pickleball-approved.” For a paddle to be approved by USA Pickleball, it has to meet certain specifications related to material, surface roughness, size, and weight. USA Pickleball approval of equipment is intended to ensure and preserve integrity and fairness for all players. The USA Pickleball seal of approval is so important that you will not be allowed to play in most tournaments if you do not have a paddle that is included on the USA Pickleball-approved equipment list.
This year, there has been a significant development that may impact some of you. Specifically, USA Pickleball has de-certified some new and very popular Joola paddles. These paddles include:
- Anna Bright Scorpeus 3 14mm
- Ben Johns Hyperion 3 16mm
- Ben Johns Hyperion 3 14mm
- Ben Johns Perseus 3 14mm
- Ben Johns Perseus 3 16mm
- Collin Johns Scorpeus 3 16mm
- Hyperion Alpha 2024 16mm
- Hyperion Alpha 2024 14mm
- Magnus Alpha 2024 16mm
- Magnus Alpha 2024 14mm
- Perseus Alpha 2024 16mm
- Perseus Alpha 2024 14mm
- Scorpeus Alpha 2024 16mm
- Scorpeus Alpha 2024 14mm
- Simone Jardim Hyperion 3 16mm
- Tyson McGuffin Magnus 3 14mm
- Tyson McGuffin Magnus 3 16mm
To read the official USA Pickleball statement about why it de-certified these paddles, as well as some FAQs on this topic, go to https://usapickleball.org/news/usa-pickleball-statement-on-decertified-joola-paddles-and-equipment-testing-standards/.
According to Joola’s website, if you purchased one of these paddles, you can return it by July 15, 2024, for a full refund. Instructions for doing so can be found at https://joolausa.com/frequently-asked-questions/ under “Gen3 Paddle Returns.”
If you are curious about whether your paddle is USA Pickleball-approved (whether it is a Joola or a non-Joola paddle), you can find out by going to www.equipment.usapickleball.org.
