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Equipment Submissions FAQ

HOW DO I SUBMIT A PADDLE OR BALL FOR TESTING/APPROVAL?

First, create your new manufacturer account at https://equipment.usapickleball.org/. Click on “Manufacturer Sign-up” up at the top. Once the account submission is reviewed and accepted you can put in equipment sub

HOW MANY PADDLES/BALLS DO WE NEED TO SEND IN FOR TESTING/APPROVAL?

For NEW submissions we currently require SIX(6) paddles and ELEVEN(11) balls for inspection, testing, and archival. These are sent to FOUR(4) different addresses clearly detailed in the online instructions. For paddle SIMILARITY submissions, FOUR(4) paddles are required per online guidance. Different colorways are accepted across the recipients provided the paddle is otherwise identical (graphics, finishing process, etc.)

DO DIFFERENT COLOR BALLS NEED TO BE SUBMITTED AS A DIFFERENT PRODUCT??

Yes. Dyes will interact with the material chemistry and yield different properties. A differential naming convention of XXXXXX-Neon, XXXXXX-Yellow is acceptable.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR PADDLE/BALL SUBMISSIONS?

Please see the following fee schedule for Certified for Competition and Affiliate program equipment, as well as the prototyping services offered.

DO WE GET OUR PADDLES/BALLS RETURNED?

We do not return paddles or balls submitted for testing. We cannot guarantee non-destructive testing by the EEC and need to keep copies of the paddles for possible future reference. 

HOW LONG DOES TESTING TAKE?

Our certification testing is conducted by Chesapeake Labs, a National Technical Systems (NTS) entity. We do state that testing and documentation, and reporting of results may take up to 4-6 weeks to allow for varying workloads, and advise that this time frame be built into product launch planning. In the event that expedited service is needed, one and two-week turnarounds for testing and reporting are available per pricing schedule. Applications with less than 6 weeks prior to USA Pickleball’s National Championships and the US Open may not be completed beforehand unless an expedited service is requested prior to 2 weeks before the event.

MUST THE PADDLE BE PRODUCTION-READY OR CAN GRAPHICS BE INCOMPLETE?

We do require that your submission exhibit final graphics (manufacturer’s name and model name must be on the face), including the USA Pickleball licensed logo or text treatment. Please refer to this link for that information – https://equipment.usapickleball.org/product-licensing/

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NEW PADDLE SUBMISSION AND A SIMILARITY PADDLE SUBMISSION?

A Similarity submission is a paddle that uses identical materials, manufacturing, and surface finishing process as a previously approved paddle. Its model name will need to be differentiated from the basis paddle. 

NOTE: Similarity submissions may only be referenced to paddles that have been fully tested (not previous Similarity submissions) as of August 2020 or more recently to ensure the most complete and updated testing process has been performed on the origin paddle.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO TEST PRE-PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT USING THE SAME TEST FIXTURES AND PROCESS THAT USA PICKLEBALL / NTS USE?

Yes. Specific test platform fixtures, configurations, and profiles are available if you have compatible equipment to conduct internal testing. If not, we offer economical pre-production /prototype testing services – please see the pricing schedule.