Time to put those rocket launchers away -- paddle testing is coming to amateur pickleball

Alex Lantz

Director of Content

Last Edited

Aug 08 2025

Category

News

There has been a lot of chatter over the years about paddle testing at the pro level, but if you've been paying attention you've probably noticed a lot less talk this year on that subject.

That's because for the most part the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball have gotten a handle on power levels and have learned how to better detect paddles that have "broken in" to the point of being illegal.

But the problem has still existed at the amateur level -- until now.

The Go-No-Go (GNG) Machine was recently named the exclusive on-site paddle deflection testing device for professional and amateur pickleball by three major organizations: DUPR, the United Pickleball Association and PickleballTournaments.com.

This marks a pivotal advancement in competitive integrity and data collection at the amateur level.

DUPR will implement the GNG Machine at its top-tier clubs and sanctioned amateur tournaments, according to a news release. Deflection data gathered will feed into advanced analytics tools, supporting the creation of loyalty and trust scores for both players and paddle manufacturers.

“This partnership is about more than just technology, it’s about protecting the integrity of amateur pickleball," said Tito Machado, CEO of DUPR. "With the GNG Machine, we can quickly and accurately ensure every paddle on the court meets deflection standards. Our goal is to create a level playing field where skill, not equipment, determines the outcome.”

Read next: What pickleball paddles are the pros using right now? Breaking down the numbers

UPA-A, the governing body for the United Pickleball Association, which runs the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball, will deploy the GNG Machine across its premier events, including:

-The Amateur State Championship Series
-The PPA Challenger Series
-MLP + PPA US, Australia, Asia
-The Pickleball World Championships (Dallas, TX)

“Partnering with GNG Enterprises represents a major leap forward in our mission to ensure fairness and integrity for competitive play in pickleball,” said Jason Aspes, President of UPA-A. “By deploying the GNG Machine for on-site paddle testing, we’re giving players, tournament directors and fans the confidence that every paddle meets strict performance standards.”

PickleballTournaments.com is the leading tournament software and registration platform for thousands of amateur events and has also designated the GNG Machine as its official and exclusive paddle deflection testing partner. This will enable tournament directors to enforce compliance consistently and efficiently, further strengthening the credibility of their events.

On-site implementation will begin at tournaments this month and expand across the U.S. and internationally to countries including Australia, India, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, China and Canada.

A full list of participating tournaments and clubs will be announced in the coming weeks.

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