USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will teach you about the approved pickleball paddles, approved pickleballs, and approved apparel. What can you bring to a pickleball court, and what can and can’t you wear?
Rules of the pickleball ball (Rule 2.D.)
For outdoor play, the design of the ball shall have a minimum of 26 to a maximum of 40 circular holes (Rule 2.D.1.).
The spacing of the holes and the overall design of the ball should conform to flight characteristics and have the manufacturer’s or supplier’s name printed or embossed on the surface of the ball (Rule 2.D.1.).
The ball should be made of a durable material molded with a smooth surface and free of texturing (Rule 2.D.3.).
The ball should be one uniform color, except for identification markings (Rule 2.D.3.).
Pickleball paddle rules (Rule 2.E.)
The paddle should be made of rigid, non-compressible material (Rule 2.E.1.).
The hitting surface of the pickleball paddle shouldl not contain delamination, holes, cracks, rough textures, or indentations that break the paddle skin or surface (Rule 2.E.2.).
The hitting surface also should not have any features “that allow a player to impart excessive spin on the ball” (Rule 2.E.2.).
The paddle should not have anything reflective on the surface (Rule 2.E.2.a.).
The combined length and width should not exceed 24 inches, or 60.96 cm, and the paddle length should not exceed 17 inches, or 43.18 cm. (Rule 2.E.3.).
There are no rules on how thick a paddle can be (Rule 2.E.3.).
There are no rules on how light or heavy a paddle can be (Rule 2.E.4.).
If you alter a pickleball paddle in any way, it must still meet all specifications (Rule 2.E.5.).
You can find a list of all USAPA-approved pickleball paddles here.
Pickleball clothing rules (Rule 2.G.)
In official game or tournament situations, a player may be asked to change for inappropriate clothing, including apparel that approximates to the color of the tournament ball.
If you would like to learn more details about these rules refer to the official rulebook at USAPickleball.org.
Maddie Toren is a pro pickleball official and the first-ever teen-certified referee. This is Episode 7 of “10 Rules All Beginner Pickleball Players Should Know: Part 1.”