Facolos EliteX Becomes First Vietnamese Paddle with Dual USAPA and UPA-A Professional Certification
What's the Score?
Facolos, a pickleball equipment manufacturer based in Vietnam, has announced that its Facolos EliteX paddle has achieved dual professional certifications from both USA Pickleball (USAPA) and UPA-A 2025. This achievement marks a significant milestone, making the EliteX the first pickleball paddle from Vietnam to be internationally recognised for professional play.
Hit it deeper!
Facolos has officially entered the professional pickleball equipment market with the announcement that its Facolos EliteX paddle has received dual international certifications. The paddle has successfully gained approval from two prominent bodies: USAPA (USA Pickleball) and UPA-A 2025. This dual certification is particularly noteworthy as it establishes the Facolos EliteX as the first pickleball paddle originating from Vietnam to achieve international recognition for use in professional-level competition.
Jessica Vo, a co-founder of Facolos, shared the news, emphasising the extensive effort that went into developing the EliteX. She stated that the paddle underwent months of innovation, rigorous testing, and fine-tuning to ensure it met stringent international standards. The development process included significant work and attention to detail in every aspect of the paddle.
The Facolos EliteX successfully passed the rigorous testing protocols required by UPA-A 2025. These tests included RPM (Rotations Per Minute) testing, PEF (Performance Enhancement Factor) evaluation, and artificial break-in simulations. By passing these comprehensive tests, the Facolos EliteX has demonstrated its compliance with the technical standards necessary for competitive play at the highest levels of the sport.
Meeting both USAPA standards for tournament play and the demanding UPA-A 2025 protocols means that the Facolos EliteX now possesses all the required technical qualifications to be used in major professional pickleball tournaments. This includes prominent professional tours such as the PPA (Professional Pickleball Association) and MLP (Major League Pickleball). The source notes that this certification is described as permanent.
Jessica Vo expressed immense pride in this accomplishment. She viewed this milestone not just as an achievement for the Facolos EliteX paddle itself, but as the beginning of a broader effort to bring Vietnamese-made professional pickleball gear to a global stage. The article notes that while USAPA certification has been the primary standard and often easier to find printed on paddles compared to IPF certification, dual certification might signal a change in the landscape of paddle approval. The announcement from Facolos follows a similar move by JOOLA just a month prior, suggesting a trend towards seeking multiple certifications. Vo concluded her announcement with the statement, "This is just the beginning. From Vietnam to the world—let’s play pro, let’s play Facolos".
The World Pickleball Verdict
The Facolos EliteX paddle becoming the first from Vietnam to earn dual USAPA and UPA-A professional certifications is a significant event that highlights the global expansion of pickleball manufacturing and innovation. This achievement signals that high-quality, professional-grade pickleball equipment is now emerging from new regions beyond the sport's traditional manufacturing hubs. Earning certification from two prominent bodies like USAPA and UPA-A validates the paddle's compliance with rigorous technical standards, making it eligible for use in top professional leagues like the PPA and MLP. This milestone for Facolos and Vietnam underscores the growing international marketplace for pickleball gear and suggests increasing competition and diversification within the equipment industry. It represents Vietnam's entry into the highest tier of pickleball equipment providers, opening doors for future Vietnamese-made gear on the global stage.