Paddle Protocols Spark Pro Chaos at PPA Cincinnati Slam
Cincinnati, USA
What's the Score?
The PPA Cincinnati tournament, a critical late-season Slam, has been plunged into "paddle drama" as new UPA-A certification standards came into full effect on September 1, 2025. These regulations require all paddles used in professional play to appear on an official certified list, leaving many top pros, including Parris Todd, Anna Leigh Waters, and Tyra Black, unable to use their favoured, often signature, equipment. Manufacturers like Proton faced unexpected delays in the rigorous re-testing process, causing widespread frustration and confusion among players just days before the high-stakes event.
Hit it deeper!
The professional pickleball circuit is currently navigating significant turmoil at the PPA Cincinnati tournament, primarily due to the stringent new paddle testing standards mandated by the United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A), which became effective on September 1, 2025. These pivotal updates are designed to ensure "fairness and consistency in professional gameplay". The core requirement is that any paddle utilised in pro events must now be on an official certified list, bearing a unique model number that attests to its consistent construction, materials, and performance.
However, the transition has not been smooth, with numerous top-ranked pros arriving in Cincinnati only to discover their preferred paddles, some even signature models, were not approved. Notable omissions from the certified list include Parris Todd's Franklin Dynasty, several JOOLA models, most of Paddletek's 12.7mm models (including Anna Leigh Waters' signature), and the PIKKL signature paddles for Gabe Tardio and Hurricane Tyra Black. Selkirk also had limited models approved, and the popular Proton Flamingo paddle was conspicuously absent.
Hurricane Tyra Black openly expressed her "shock" and frustration on social media, revealing she found out her paddle wasn’t approved just days before the Slam, despite it having been tested "hundreds of times". She noted that other players were also without their usual equipment. This situation is particularly impactful given that PPA Cincinnati is a Slam event, offering 2,000 rankings points – double the traditional amount.
Charles Darling, founder and president of Proton, acknowledged misjudging the timeline for the re-testing process. He explained that each paddle model takes approximately four weeks to pass through UPA-A testing. If a model fails or requires material changes, it goes to the "back of the line," potentially extending the process to "two months or more". Darling admitted that Proton's initial strategy of submitting their highest-performing Flamingo paddle, which later tested slightly over the allowable grittiness limit, led to delays. Despite the current predicament, Darling commends the "Herculean effort" of the UPA-A and its lab partners, Pickle Pro Labs (PPL), for working to "preserve the fairness of the game".
The UPA-A, in collaboration with PPL and engineers from UMass-Lowell's Baseball Research Lab, developed rigorous standards focusing on spin (RPMs off the paddle face), power (Paddle Efficiency Factor, or PEF), and durability (Artificial Break-In Standard, ABI). These standards include a PEF limit of 0.385 for new paddles and a ceiling of 0.405 after a break-in procedure, with ABI designed to mimic paddle degradation over time. The UPA-A had communicated an eight-week testing and certification process, with the September 1st deadline being "widely publicised". The organisation affirmed that "September 1, 2025, marks the beginning of a new era of fairness and consistency in professional pickleball". Despite the challenges, players like Black, Andrei Daescu, CJ Klinger, and Meghan Dizon still managed to secure victories in their opening mixed doubles matches at the Cincinnati Slam.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The paddle drama at PPA Cincinnati, while creating immediate challenges for players and manufacturers, underscores a critical turning point for professional pickleball. The UPA-A's commitment to "fairness and consistency" through rigorous, third-party testing is a necessary step for the sport's maturation and credibility. While the current confusion and frustration are understandable, particularly for players facing high-stakes tournaments, this move reflects a broader effort to standardise equipment, prevent performance-enhancing modifications, and ensure a level playing field. The initial "rocky" implementation is a growing pain, but one that is essential for pickleball to solidify its professional status and appeal to a wider audience, ultimately safeguarding the integrity of the game for both athletes and fans.