New rules for pickleball racket certification: different views from USAP and UPA-A

As the sport of pickleball continues to grow, the quality and performance of the rackets have become a hot topic as more and more brands enter the market. In order to ensure fair and enjoyable competition, the USA Pickleball Association (USAP) and the United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A) have introduced their own racket certification standards. This article will take a closer look at the similarities and differences between these two organizations in racket certification and their potential impact on the sport of pickleball.

USAP's Racket Certification Standards
As the oldest pickleball governing body in the United States, USAP has been focusing on material-based racket testing for many years. They work with Element U.S. Space & Defense to use independent third-party testing facilities to test racket materials. USAP emphasizes that their certification process is open and transparent, and all manufacturers can understand the complete testing standards when registering for testing.

Key Tests:
Exit Velocity: USAP recently introduced a test for exit velocity, especially for new "power" rackets.
Spin Test: USAP is developing a direct spin test method to improve the current test method.
Acoustic Testing: From summer 2023, USAP began to conduct acoustic testing to ensure that the sound made by the racket when hitting the ball does not have an unfair impact on the game.

UPA-A's Racket Certification Standards
As an emerging force, UPA-A focuses on the performance certification of professional competition rackets. Their tests include three main aspects: hitting speed, spin, and audio pitch. UPA-A emphasizes that their tests will be more stringent, covering destructive tests of materials and service life to ensure that the racket performs consistently throughout its life cycle.

Key Test Items:
Exit Velocity: Simulates racket wear through destructive testing to ensure that the racket's maximum force is not too high.
Spin Test (RPMs): Tests not only the roughness of the material, but also the overall spin ability of the racket.
Audio Tone: Ensures that the sound produced by the racket when hitting the ball does not provide an unfair advantage.

Comparison of the two certification standards
While USAP and UPA-A share common goals in certifying rackets, their methods and emphases differ. USAP focuses more on material testing and long-standing industry standards, while UPA-A focuses more on the actual performance of the racket, especially in professional competitions.

Certification fees and fairness
UPA-A is studying the rationality of its certification fees to ensure that small and medium-sized brands can also participate in the certification fairly. However, UPA-A believes that the certification process should not be too easy and only brands that are truly committed to innovation can pass their certification standards.

Conclusion
As the sport of pickleball continues to develop, the certification standards of the rackets will have an important impact on the fairness and enjoyment of the game. The certification standards of USAP and UPA-A have different focuses, providing different options for racket manufacturers and athletes. In the future, whether the two organizations can coexist and how their certification standards will affect the game are issues that deserve our continued attention.