95% of These USAP-Approved Paddles Fail Its Own Surface Test

An independent test using USAP's surface roughness methodology found that 40 out of 42 approved paddles exceed their own certification limits

For the majority of rec pickleball players, USAP paddle certification is the reason you trust your paddle is legal.

But an independent test of 42 certified brands just produced a number that should put everyone in pickleball on notice: a 95% failure rate on USAP's own surface roughness standard.

A few weeks ago, USA Pickleball quietly updated its website with a new page listing paddles under investigation and recently delisted models.

Paddle reviewer and podcast host John Kew, known for his analytical and data-first approach to paddle technology, decided to take a closer look, putting one paddle from more than 40 brands in his personal collection through USAP's surface roughness methodology, using the same machine they do and their own guide for standards.

Forty-two brands, to be exact. All modern and well-known. All USAP-approved.

Forty of them failed. And it wasn't particularly close, either.

"We're at the point now where [USAP] needs to change their regulations. 100%," said John, adding, "None of these paddles that failed are so spinny that they're giving any player a distinct advantage on the court."

Excessive grit or spin potential isn't breaking the game like unchecked power used to. Nobody is complaining that your drive is dipping too much or your flick is just too deadly.

The line just needs to be redrawn. John's test clearly proves that. And USAP is reportedly working on establishing just where that new threshold should be, though an official release date for that is still unknown.

Right now, if one paddle is being delisted for excessive surface grit, it seems like dozens of others could potentially be as well.

Who knows? Perhaps that's coming next.

[Disclaimer: These tests were not performed in strict lab conditions. The findings are John Kew's and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Dink.]

Take a closer look at John's findings below:

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