USA Pickleball Adds Multiple New Models to Approved Paddle List

Who: USA Pickleball’s Equipment Evaluation Committee (EEC) maintains and publishes the official Approved Paddle List used by players and tournament organizers for compliance and equipment planning." USA Pickleball’s Approved Paddle List page shows a fresh update with multiple new paddle entries, with five models listed under the 03/03/2026 list date as "Pass" on the Equipment Usapickleball table.

The 03/03/2026 additions recorded in the Equipment Usapickleball excerpt are IMPACT by CASETiFY, BAIR 001 by CYCLOTRON, Sirocco by E6 Pickleball, FL-W-FOAM-M-N by Friday, and FL-H-FOAM-M-N by Friday; each row in the table shows Status = Pass and an Image column entry. The table header in the excerpt reads "List Date | Model Name | Status | Manufacturer | Image," indicating images are included on the official list even though the supplied excerpt only shows the word "Image" for each row.

The Equipment Usapickleball excerpt also shows a string of earlier February approvals with exact list dates and manufacturers. On 02/16/2026 the table records X/CEL_TOR (FRANC), TOVA (Ignite), PRO CONTROLE (Riposte), PRO FORCE (Riposte), S603192P (Skechers), FLEX-HYBRID (Spinex) and UI-990 (UVO) each with Status = Pass. The excerpt lists NXT II Vortex (AMA Sport Goods Co., Ltd) on 02/17/2026; S-8 Pro (iPickl) and Ascent Elongated 16mm (Rizen) on 02/19/2026; Protos (Mission First) and Q2 Elongated 14mm (RPM Pickleball) on 02/20/2026; HERCULES PRO (TENVINA) on 02/23/2026; and on 02/27/2026 SL-03 (ALL YOUNG), Coda (E) (Chorus), HYPER (CPX), DIVINA T700 16mm (DOTS PICKLEBALL), Mjolnir (Enflexy), EPP Turbo Widebody (Enhance Pickleball) and EPP Turbo Hybrid LH (Enhance Pickleball), all marked Pass.

Context on how the Approved Paddle List is used appears in Playpickleball’s procedural notes: "There are currently more than 2,500 different paddles on the list of USA Pickleball-approved paddles." Playpickleball also advises procedural steps and standards: "Once a pickleball paddle is approved by the EEC, it is added to their list of EEC-approved equipment. If you are considering a new pickleball paddle, you can search for the paddle on their list." The site records equipment labeling requirements verbatim: "Your pickleball paddle must also have a brand and model name or model number clearly marked on the paddle, as well as 'USA Pickleball Approved,' in seal or text form. If a paddle has a different core material, surface material, or other 'significant differences,' it must also have a unique name or number."

Tournament testing practices are captured in Thekitchenpickle’s equipment note: "On-site testing of paddles is still being conducted at all PPA Tour/MLP events. Only paddles with full UPA-A certification will be tested and allowed for play." Thekitchenpickle also contains an apparent contradiction about several major brands, presenting both of these verbatim: "Notable brands that have either not submitted paddles for testing or have not passed include: 11six24 Babolat Diadem Gearbox Gamma HEAD Honolulu Vulcan Wilson" and immediately following, "All of those paddle brands have paddles that are still approved for use by USA Pickleball and therefore can be used at the amateur level."

The Equipment Usapickleball rows provided here are a subset of a larger table, and verification remains outstanding on the total approved-paddle count and the official March 3, 2026 update. Confirming the EEC list date mapping, the "Image" files referenced in the table, and whether the Playpickleball "more than 2,500" figure is current will require a look at the full Approved Paddle List and communication with USA Pickleball’s EEC. The March 3 additions and the February approvals underscore a continuing pattern of incremental EEC certifications that affect tournament compliance and retail availability.