Can You Play with Pickleball Paddles That Are Not Approved by USA Pickleball?

As pickleball is a relatively new game, at least outside of USA, there is a lack of clarity when it comes to some of the rules involved, especially pertaining to the equipment that is allowed. We don't see such a problem with other racket sports such as badminton, tennis and squash because they have been around for ages. However, due to the fact that pickleball is comparatively unpopular or unknown until recent years, there is a more pressing need for a standard guideline on what kind of pickleball paddles are suitable. Due to this, everyone needs an authority to turn to and what better organization than USA Pickleball, which has been in existence for many years. As the name suggest, USA Pickleball is a US organization, and not an international body like BWF (badminton), ATP (tennis) or PSA (squash). However, it is recognized widely as the informal authority in pickleball due to their long history and experience in the sports.

How Do You Get A Paddle Certified by USA Pickleball?

 All pickleball manufacturers who wish to have their paddles certified by USA Pickleball, need to apply by registering via USAPA website. There is an Equipment Standards Manual that will list out all the specifications that these manufacturers need to follow in producing their paddles. Once the paddles have been made according to the specs, they will be submitted to USA Pickleball for testing. USAPA have engaged the National Testing Systems (NTS) to test and review every piece of equipment in their testing labs. This stringent testing is to ensure that all equipment will promote fair play and enhance the growth of the game. Each application requires an initial fee of USD1500 per model, and subsequent fee will be charged annually. Therefore, this can be a costly process. Hence, some manufacturers choose not apply for USAPA approval while others only send their top models for approval.

Does it Matter If a Paddle Is Not Approved By USA Pickleball?

We have to bear in mind the main purpose of this approval in the first place. It is to ensure that no one brings in a paddle to the court that is so different from the standard equipment, to the extent that it gives them a competitive advantage. This is especially crucial for balls as the feature of a ball can affect its bounce rate and ease of play. What about paddles? If you buy a paddle that does not have the approval of USAPA, does that mean it is not allowed on court? The answer is No. You can bring in any brand of pickleball paddle to the court, as long as it is a standard one. 

Can You Play in a Competition Without a USAPA-approved Pickleball Paddle?

Yes and No. Well, if you are in the US, you can't. The rule over there is such that you can only play in a USAPA-sanctioned tournament with a USAPA-approved paddle. There is no way around it. The answer is Yes, if the competition is outside of US or is not a professional competition sanctioned by USAPA. In fact, most, if not all competitions, outside of the US are not sanctioned by USAPA; since USAPA is only a US authority, and not worldwide. This means if you own a non-USAPA approved paddle, you can still play in all competitions in Malaysia and in Asia. However, the organizing committee retains the authority to disallow a participant from using an abnormal equipment that gives it a competitive advantage or that is not suitable for the sports. 

In other racket sports, for instance badminton, tennis and squash, there is no such rule that you can only use certain brands or models of rackets. For balls, yes, there is an official ball and other balls cannot be used. But, apart from that, everything else is legal. Imagine every brand of badminton racket has to be approved by BWF before it can be allowed in any competition at all, be it at local or international level. BWF will have so much work to do, and even make so much money (imagine charging USD1500 per model). Moreover, it will not be good for the market. Prices of rackets will go up as well.

So, What is The Final Verdict Then?

Based on the above, it is fair to say that you don't need to buy a USAPA-approved paddle if you are just starting to learn the game or if you have no intention to compete in the United States. In fact, when the sports have become very popular in future, we perceive that there will be less need for such an approval.