UPA-A Adds New Paddle Models in Late-March Certification Update

A USAP-certified paddle will not save a pro player from disqualification at a PPA Tour Asia stop. Only UPA-A certification will.

That line of separation grew sharper after UPA-A published its late-March certification update, adding new models from ElevenZero, 11SIX24, and Engage to a list that has grown to cover nearly 200 certified paddle models across roughly 40 brands in its 2025-2026 consolidation.

The newly certified models include the ElevenZero EZ Pro Origin H13, a 13mm thin-core build oriented toward high-speed transitions; the 11SIX24 Hurache-X Power 2 Pro, a 16mm power-focused paddle designed for aggressive baseline play; and the Engage ProFoam X2, the second iteration of Engage's 16mm foam core lineup. Li-Ning, the Chinese sportswear giant, also added new Hyperpower models, in both 14mm and 16mm configurations, to its certified roster, a development that will draw particular attention from retailers and national federation equipment staff across Asia.

The certification carries legal weight at a specific set of events. UPA-A approval is mandatory for all pro divisions at PPA Tour events, including the PPA Challenger Series, PPA Pro Qualifiers, and PPA Tour Asia, as well as all PPA and MLP events in Australia. Amateur competition accepts either UPA-A or USA Pickleball certification, but that flexibility disappears entirely once a player crosses into the pro draw.

The most predictable compliance failure is also the most avoidable: a paddle approved by USA Pickleball but not UPA-A. The two bodies maintain distinct lists, and a model that cleared USAP's review process does not automatically carry UPA-A certification. Testing for UPA-A approval is conducted at Pickle Pro Labs in south Florida and covers power, spin, and destructive testing to verify that a paddle's performance characteristics do not shift after sustained use. A paddle that passes USAP's separate process may never have entered that lab.

Asian retailers absorbed that distinction quickly after the March 30 update. Regional operations began aligning demo fleets and stocking decisions to the UPA-A list to reduce the risk of selling customers equipment that fails a tournament equipment check. For importers, UPA-A approval has become the first filter before a purchase order is placed.

Smaller manufacturers face a tighter window. Brands that secured UPA-A certification in this cycle can pursue sponsorship negotiations, event demos, and Asia distribution deals from a verified position. Those still working through lab testing carry a meaningful competitive disadvantage as the PPA Tour Asia schedule fills out.

For any player heading into a sanctioned pro event, the practical verification steps are straightforward. Confirm the specific paddle model and variant, not just the brand name, appears on the live UPA-A approved-paddle table. Check the Date Added field to confirm certification is complete rather than pending. Carry a second certified paddle to every event. And if a sponsor or national association supplies the paddle, verify that exact model cleared UPA-A review independently, since brand-level presence on the list does not extend to every variant in a manufacturer's catalog.

With the approved roster approaching 200 models, the UPA-A database has become the single most consequential equipment document in professional pickleball, and Asia's pro circuit is fully inside its jurisdiction.