The UPA, the error apparent to the USAPA and scion of exclusively pro pickleball interests has chosen that it's equipment will be tested by a lab of questionable credibility. This lab PPL as far as we know is exclusively pickleball testing which is a red flag from the start. It sounds like they were made for the job though!
Quite a bit can be found online about the history of this lab. What we found is not promising. It's clear they've worked with MLP and PPA before on coefficient of restitution. That wasn't a very successful project and it won't be. It's also strange that they are discontinuing the trend of working with NTS Chesapeake. This was lab that the USAP worked with and by all accounts no one ever had any trouble with. They test other industries which are much more complex and seem to be rock solid. The move away from Chesapeake is bizarre. They were very much a disinterested third party and a very successful standards lab. They certainly had the capacity to test pickleball paddles successfully. This was time proven actually.
The physics involved here aren't unique. This isn't quantum physics where at a certain level normal physics begins to break down it's pickleball. We would have loved see a continuement of the relationship with NTS Chesapeake as they are arguably the testing experts in the world for pickleball paddles. Also standards labs are usually very reliable. Having the level of expertise and disinterest that was present already would have been fine. We've also found some indications that PPL has done data collection work which will be used to develop rules which prospectively they will enforce.
The move away from NTS Chesapeake is telling and we believe may indicate something about the future trajectory of the USAPA. We would expect any successor organization to continue a relationship with this lab as the lab has never been the source of any controversy. Undoubtedly in any legal cases this lab will be used as they will be considered the authority on testing and appealed to.
So we won't be submitting our equipment to be tested by the UPA at their tailored lab by their tailored tests. People should understand from the start that this organization takes no interest in recreational pickleball. They have no interest in anything like an equitable start even among their own shareholders. We literally can't imagine being a part of a mess like that.
