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Compliance · 7 min read

USAP and UPA-A: two approval routes, one buying decision

They are not the same list, and quoting the wrong one is a commercial risk rather than a copywriting slip.

Two organisations publish approved paddle lists, and they do not always overlap. Before you print "approved" on a box, know which list your market actually checks.

USA Pickleball (USAP)

The older route. Equipment is tested against the USA Pickleball specification and, if it passes, appears on the public paddle list. Most amateur and club play references this list.

UPA-A

The route introduced with the professional tour. Some professional events require it. Paddle models approved under one scheme are not automatically approved under the other.

What this means for a purchase order

  • Ask which list the buyer's market checks, in writing
  • Quote the model number you can actually evidence, not the category
  • If a model is not yet approved, say "in certification" — never "approved"

We publish our approved model numbers on the certification page and link to the public lists so a buyer can verify before ordering. If a model is not on a list, we say so.

Keep reading

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