Paddle Technology Crackdown Continues: PPA Bans JOOLA Gen3s at Texas Open

In an email late Tuesday night, the PPA Tour notified pro players that the JOOLA Gen3 paddle ban was in effect for the CIBC Texas Open.

The contents of the email:

Please note that a decision was made last night that the Gen3 JOOLA paddles are not approved for play at the CIBC Texas Open due to a discrepancy with USAP. We’re excited about the new process with UPA to help mitigate these changes in the future. Paddles need to be listed on USAP and pass PPA testing protocols tested by the independent laboratory PPL. Thank you for your understanding. 

The JOOLA Gen3 Paddle Ban and the Bigger Picture

This seems to be part of the bigger picture in the growth of pickleball between the UPA, PPA, and the newly formed UPA of America.

Major League Pickleball & PPA Tour Announce USA Pickleball Competitor, New Governing Body

The United Pickleball Association announced that it has severed ties with USA Pickleball and will create its own governing body, which will oversee rules, regulations and equipment standards, among other things.

The Dink PickleballJason Flamm

In the last two days alone, the UPA-A, through the MLP and PPA, has put its foot down on paddle issues. Just Tuesday, UPA announced a $50k fine and a 60-day suspension for Andrei Daescu. Less than 24 hours later, the PPA confirmed the JOOLA Gen3 paddle ban from competition.

When the UPA-A was formed, newly appointed president Jason Aspes was quoted as saying, "The growth of pickleball is amazing to see, but it necessitates a steward to champion the evolution of the sport in such a way that allows its players at all levels to enjoy pickleball in a safe and fair manner. The UPA of America is that steward. We will collaborate with the most respected and influential voices in the industry to guide what is best for the sport and all who value its growth to continue its meteoric rise."

Paddle technology is the biggest topic in pickleball in 2024 and the overwhelming majority of players, media, and fans all think the paddles are becoming too powerful. As Sports Illustrated has documented in its deep coverage of pickleball's meteoric rise, the sport is still navigating the growing pains that come with rapid expansion, including the governance of equipment standards.

Here is a list of the paddles involved, directly from the USAP website:

How the JOOLA Gen3 Paddle Ban Could Affect Outcomes This Weekend

Current JOOLA pros basically have two options at the Texas Open:

Use a Gen2 paddle of their choosing (Perseus, Scorpeus, Alpha, Hyperion, etc.) or use a different paddle brand altogether (if JOOLA allows this).

Tyson McGuffin and Anna Bright are playing together for the first time in a PPA Tournament and now they are both going to be playing with new paddles. In an interesting storyline, if they make it to the quarterfinals, they could face Dekel Bar and Tina Pisnik.

Bar and McGuffin have been playing men's doubles together for much of the year. If that matchup happens, three of the four players (McGuffin, Bar, and Bright) will be playing with a different paddle than they're used to.

Federico Staksrud has now made it 10 for 10 in singles finals this year. Can he make it 11 for 11 with a new paddle? We will see. He also has the fifth-best average finish on tour this year in men's doubles and is playing with James Ignatowich this week in Dallas.

Lea Jansen is the No. 3 seed in women's singles and she plays with a Gen3. She is also playing mixed doubles with Hayden Patriquin and women's with Alix Truong.

Etta Wright is only playing women’s doubles this weekend in Texas. Christian Alshon had to withdraw from the tournament for medical reasons. Etta shouldn’t have any problem with a new paddle, as she has all the power in the world.

You may be asking why Ben and Collin Johns aren't impacted by this decision. Well, Ben still plays with his Gen2 paddle and Collin usually only plays with the Gen3 paddle in mixed doubles, so it shouldn't be a huge issue going back to the Gen2 for this tournament.

Pro Qualifiers Not Included in the JOOLA Gen3 Paddle Ban

In an unconfirmed post on X, pro qualifier Grayson Goldin stated, "2 minutes before qualies start they announce the paddles are allowed to be used for all events today (Wednesday)."

If this is true, the PPA may have felt that the communication didn't get to the players playing in pro qualifiers and thought it wasn't right to stop them from playing with the newly banned paddles. It looks like the JOOLA Gen3 paddle ban will be in full effect for singles on Thursday.

Understandably, this is uncharted territory for players, tournament organizers, and the paddle manufacturers themselves. It's good to see that the industry is quickly realizing that there may be a developing issue with the integrity of the sport and is working to help create a set of standards everyone can abide by. If you're curious how pickleball equipment regulations work at the recreational level, our pickleball paddle buying guide breaks down what certifications actually mean for everyday players.

What the Pros Are Saying About the Pickleball Paddle Controversy

Many pros and talking heads have commented on the Daescu ruling and the JOOLA Gen3 paddle ban.

Zane is wondering how Andrei's paddle fail is different from any other. Even though he said "Legitimate question," I am not so sure he was serious.

Rafa Hewitt took the opportunity to inject a little humor into the conversation.

Rafa wasn't done and asked this question, even though no governing body would ever ban an Adidas paddle for any reason.

Christian Alshon said the Joola Gen3s are ruining pickleball 10 days ago.You can see the full history of Alshon's tournament activity and his throwback tweener highlights to understand just how tuned in he is to paddle feel and performance.

Johnny5pointOH did an X poll earlier in the week asking if rec players should be allowed to play with the Joola Gen3 paddles. The poll underscores how far-reaching the pickleball equipment debate has become, extending well beyond the pro tour and into the recreational community.

The PPA Tour's stricter cheating penalties for repeat offenders are yet another signal that the league is serious about cleaning up equipment and conduct issues across the board. The sport is no longer in a phase where these things can be brushed under the rug.

For those wondering what Andrei Daescu might do next, you can follow updates on his equipment choices through coverage like Andrei Daescu seen play-testing new CRBN pickleball paddle. The evolution of professional pickleball equipment is moving fast, and tracking all the new pro paddle deals in 2026 shows just how quickly sponsorship and equipment decisions ripple through the tour.

With the governing bodies now aligned on holding manufacturers accountable, the UPA's $150-200M capital raise plans suggest this infrastructure investment is meant to support exactly the kind of independent testing and enforcement we're seeing in action this week. And if you want to understand the full performance debate, the piece on dwell time as a pickleball myth offers fascinating high-speed footage context for why paddle power has become such a contentious issue. The referees saw paddle in half mid-match moment earlier this season is another example of just how seriously the officiating world is taking equipment integrity.

The paddle technology arms race that has defined professional pickleball in 2024 may have just hit its first major turning point. Whether the JOOLA Gen3 paddle ban ultimately protects the integrity of the sport or simply reshuffles the competitive field remains to be seen. What is clear is that new USAP pickleball rules for 2026 signal that equipment regulation is here to stay, and the pickleball governing body crackdown on overpowered equipment has real teeth.

As CBS Sports noted in its coverage of advanced pickleball paddles, the power and performance gap between premium paddles and standard equipment has become significant, which is precisely why the governing bodies feel compelled to step in before the competitive imbalance grows further.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the JOOLA Gen3 paddle ban and why did it happen?

The JOOLA Gen3 paddle ban refers to the PPA Tour's decision to prohibit the use of JOOLA's entire Gen3 paddle lineup at the CIBC Texas Open. The ban was triggered by a discrepancy between the paddles that JOOLA submitted for USAP certification and the paddles that were actually sold to consumers and professionals.

Which players were most affected by the JOOLA Gen3 paddle ban at the Texas Open?

JOOLA-sponsored pros including Tyson McGuffin, Anna Bright, Federico Staksrud, and Lea Jansen were among the most impacted players. Each had to switch to either a Gen2 JOOLA model or a completely different brand, potentially affecting their performance heading into competition.

Can recreational players still use JOOLA Gen3 paddles after this ban?

The ban applied specifically to PPA Tour competition at the Texas Open, not to general recreational play. However, in any USA Pickleball-sanctioned amateur tournament, players cannot legally use paddles that are not on the USAP approved list, which currently excludes the Gen3 series.

What role does the United Pickleball Association play in enforcing the pickleball equipment ban?

The UPA-A, formed by the MLP and PPA, is actively building its own equipment testing and governance infrastructure. The Texas Open ban signals that the UPA-A is serious about enforcing paddle standards independent of USAP, and is working with an independent laboratory called Pickle Pro Labs (PPL) to validate equipment.

What happens to JOOLA's Gen3 paddles going forward?

JOOLA resubmitted its Gen3 paddles for USAP testing, but the governing body announced that the resubmitted paddles did not meet approved equipment standards. Until the paddles are relisted on the USAP approved equipment list and pass PPA's independent testing protocols, they will remain ineligible for use in sanctioned professional and amateur events.