“This alteration underscores the affiliation’s core mission: to make sure pickleball stays truthful, enjoyable, and aggressive for all individuals.”
With the paddle craziness of PPA Cincinnati simply out of the rearview mirror, the UPA-A has introduced modifications to its paddle certification pricing construction.
The modifications, efficient beginning in 2026, goal to make the method “extra accessible and encourage broader model participation.”
Full UPA-A certification went into efficient September 1, 2025. As of this writing, 91 fashions from 22 manufacturers had been represented.
Dissecting All of the Paddle Drama at PPA Cincinnati
Many prime execs are left questioning whether or not they can play their very own paddles. All of it comes right down to the UPA-A’s new certification requirements, and the way paddle manufacturers selected to play the sport.
Going ahead, the annual payment can be lower in half, based on a UPA-A weblog publish:
- Annual Price: Diminished from $20,000 (2025) to $10,000
- Per Paddle Certification: $3,000 (customary 8 week turnaround)
- Expedited Service (4 weeks): $2,500 further
- Tremendous Expedited Service (2 weeks): $7,500 further
- Retest after failure: $2,000
“For years, pickleball paddle certification relied on outdated and inconsistent testing strategies that didn’t maintain tempo with the speedy evolution of paddle know-how,” UPA-A mentioned within the publish.
“Recognizing this hole on the skilled stage of play each at PPA and MLP, UPA-A was established… to construct the world’s most superior pickleball paddle testing facility.”
A Transition to Non-Revenue Standing
The weblog publish additionally, albeit briefly, addressed one other hot-button matter pertaining to the UPA-A: its standing as a for-profit entity.
“As a part of its continued evolution, UPA-A is within the transition section, going from an LLC underneath the broader UPA umbrella into a completely unbiased 501(c)(6) not-for-profit group,” it mentioned.
“This alteration, which can be accomplished shortly, underscores the affiliation’s core mission: to make sure pickleball stays truthful, enjoyable, and aggressive for all individuals, whereas reinvesting within the development of the sport.”
In March, six trade leaders, together with UPA-A President Jason Aspes, convened at RacquetX in Miami for a dialogue across the sport’s strategy to tools requirements and paddle regulation.
Different panelists included:
- Tom Barnes – Co-Proprietor & Director of R&D and LABS – Selkirk Sport
- Nick Bicanic – CEO – Reload Pickleball
- Rafael Filippini – Founder & CEO – Gearbox Sports activities
- Gordon Kaye – Chief Expertise Officer – JOOLA
- Carl Schmits – Chief Know-how Officer & Director of Manufacturing and Paddle Testing – USA Pickleball
One Sport, Two Requirements: The Battle for Management of Pickleball
Six trade leaders convened at RacquetX in Miami for a dialogue across the present fragmented state of regulation within the sport.
Through the panel, the subject of the UPA-A’s non-profit standing got here up, and was addressed by Aspes instantly.
“I feel that it is vital that we’re unbiased. I really feel excellent about the way in which we act internally,” he mentioned.
“I acknowledge that we have to transfer in direction of an independence and being a non-profit, and I feel that may deliver a number of confidence within the system. We’re completely satisfied to maneuver in direction of that. We mentioned that we’d try this this yr, and we’re actively taking steps to take action.”
You’ll be able to view the UPA-A Authorized Paddles listing right here; registration for paddle manufacturers may be discovered right here.
