The year 2024 marked a significant turning point in the world of professional pickleball, largely driven by the newly formed United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A). Born from the merger of the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and Major League Pickleball (MLP) into the umbrella organization, the United Pickleball Association (UPA), the UPA-A emerged as a self-proclaimed global governing body aiming to regulate and standardize aspects of the sport, particularly equipment. While some speculated its creation stemmed from frustrations with the USA Pickleball Association’s (USAP) handling of paddle technology and its ban on certain brands, the UPA-A’s emergence ultimately represented the UPA’s desire for greater control over the professional game. The UPA-A’s actions throughout 2024, including the introduction of paddle certification and a world championship event, sparked both excitement and controversy within the rapidly evolving pickleball landscape.
The UPA-A’s first major announcement was the launch of its brand and its intention to oversee the newly rebranded UPA State Championship Series, culminating in a national tournament positioned as a direct competitor to the USAP Nationals. This strategic move, announced in March 2024, signaled the UPA-A’s intent to establish a parallel governance structure within the sport. The organization further solidified its presence in May by announcing its leadership, including Jason Aspes as President, and unveiling its Equipment Advisory Council and Player Advisory Board. Comprised of industry leaders and influential figures in the sport, these boards highlighted the UPA-A’s commitment to engaging key stakeholders in its decision-making processes, while simultaneously drawing a clear line in the sand against the established USAP, who responded with its own press release.
May 2024 also saw the announcement of the UPA Nationals, an ambitious 11-day event later renamed the UPA Worlds after securing a title sponsor. Scheduled for November in Dallas, the event would encompass various competitions, including collegiate championships, celebrity showdowns, and a business forum, solidifying the UPA’s intent to create a comprehensive and high-profile event to rival the existing USAP Nationals, which was scheduled for the same time period. This scheduling conflict further underscored the growing rift between the two organizations and laid the groundwork for a potential power struggle within professional pickleball.
Controversy erupted in June with leaked information regarding the UPA-A’s proposed paddle certification fees. The rumored figures of $100,000 per company annually and $5,000 per paddle model sparked significant online backlash and prompted a denial from Jason Aspes. Despite the initial denial, the eventually announced fees remained substantial, forcing manufacturers to consider the financial implications of participating in the UPA-A’s certification program. Simultaneously, the UPA-A announced its partnership with Pickle Pro Labs (PPL) to develop the certification program, a move that would later be questioned by some manufacturers concerned about PPL’s competency and the UPA-A’s overall transparency.
The UPA-A’s interim paddle certification process, announced in August, further ignited tensions within the industry. Selkirk, a prominent paddle manufacturer, publicly criticized the announcement, alleging a lack of communication with the Equipment Advisory Panel. Leaked correspondence between Selkirk and the UPA leadership in late August revealed deeper concerns regarding transparency, the competence of PPL, and the potential influence of certain brands within the UPA-A’s decision-making process. These revelations highlighted the challenges of a privately-run governing body tasked with regulating a sport with significant financial stakes and competing interests among its participants.
In October, the UPA-A officially unveiled its 2025 paddle certification program, confirming the substantial fees previously rumored. While manufacturers expressed concerns about the cost, the requirement for certification to allow sponsored players to use their paddles in UPA events effectively compelled participation. The UPA’s inaugural World Championships in November proved a resounding success, boasting record attendance and garnering mainstream media attention, including a feature in the New York Times. This successful event further solidified the UPA’s position as a major force in professional pickleball.
The UPA-A’s release of details regarding its paddle testing methodology in late November, specifically its focus on exit velocity and coefficient of restitution, addressed concerns about escalating paddle power. However, the industry’s response remained divided. In December, a leaked letter signed by several prominent manufacturers, including Selkirk, Head, Engage, and Gearbox, called for a reduction in fees and a shift towards independent, non-profit testing, citing concerns about transparency and the UPA-A’s testing procedures. Notably absent from the letter were major UPA tour sponsors like Joola, Paddletek, Vulcan, and CRBN, highlighting the complex web of relationships and competing interests within the sport.
The year concluded with a leaked list of preliminarily approved paddles for the 2025 season, revealing that several major brands, including some signatories of the December letter, were not yet approved. This omission underscored the potential consequences for manufacturers choosing not to participate in the UPA-A’s certification program, effectively barring their sponsored players from using their equipment in UPA events. The UPA-A’s actions throughout 2024, while aimed at establishing a standardized and regulated professional pickleball landscape, also generated significant controversy and highlighted the challenges of navigating the complex relationships and competing interests within the rapidly growing sport. The stage was set for continued debate and potential power struggles in the years to come.
