USA Pickleball delisted JOOLA's Gen3 paddles. Photo: Jillian Braverman/X
USA Pickleball (USAP), the national governing body for the sport of pickleball in the United States, filed a countersuit against Sport Squad, Inc., the parent company of JOOLA, in the $200 million lawsuit.
The USAP delisted JOOLA's Gen3 paddles, hailed for their power, citing failed tests and making them illegal in the process.
In light of the action taken by the USAP, JOOLA filed a massive $200 million lawsuit on June 12, 2024.
In its April 18 countersuit against JOOLA, USAP asserted that JOOLA submitted prototype paddles in 2023 that passed the guidelines at the time and were approved by USAP. These paddles had a "thin layer of foam around the upper rim."
But in 2024, when JOOLA launched the Gen3 paddles, their marketing used the term “catapult effect,” prompting USAP to launch an investigation into the paddles that were available on the market.
"In short, the publicly available paddles were not the same as the paddles submitted for approval. Instead, JOOLA had doubled (or more) the amount of foam in the mass-produced paddles. The paddles were also lower quality based on the irregular, expanding foam around the rim," the USAP countersuit stated.
In the wake of the change in the paddles, USAP accused JOOLA of abusing USAP's approval process.
"On information and belief, JOOLA intentionally decided to abuse USAP’s approval process. Specifically, as explained below, JOOLA engaged in fraud to sell illegal paddles as 'USA Pickleball Approved' although those paddles had never received USAP’s approval," the USAP stated further.
It also accused JOOLA of indulging in fraudulent practices.
"JOOLA engaged in fraud by securing USAP’s approval for one set of paddles, while mass-producing and selling differently constructed paddles under the same name for a top-of-the-market price. JOOLA’s whole gambit was a misguided attempt to gain a competitive advantage and excessive profits by falsely deceiving consumers that USAP had 'approved' these illegal paddles when, in fact, USAP had not," the statement added.
The de-listing of JOOLA paddles by USA Pickleball caused ripples across the pickleball scene, with amateurs confused as to what was legal and illegal in USA Pickleball tournaments. Pro players were allowed to use them in certain tournaments, but not others.
Professional player Christian Alshon, however, said JOOLA's Gen3 paddles are ruining pickleball at the professional level.
"The Gen 3 JOOLA paddles are ruining pickleball at the professional (I say from experience) and recreational level (I hear constantly). It’s not JOOLA’s immediate fault but action must be taken. If I wanted trampoline effects on the court, I would’ve stuck with tennis," Alshon wrote last year in May.
USA Pickleball had delisted seven paddles in total. In addition to JOOLA's Gen3 paddles, the banned models included the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated, ProKennex Black Ace Pro, ProKennex Black Ace Ovation, ProKennex Black Ace LG, and ProKennex Black Ace XF.
Timeline Of The Event
June 12, 2024 - JOOLA filed suit against USAP
June 13, 2024 - Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan was assigned to the case
July 3, 2024 - USAP filed a motion for Extension of Time to File Answer Move
July 8, 2024 - The Court awarded the motion for Extension of Time for USAP
July 9, 2024 - The case was reassigned to Judge Paula Xinis
July 22, 2024 - USAP filed a motion to dismiss the case
July 26, 2024 - JOOLA filed a motion for Extension of Time
August 19, 2024 - JOOLA filed a response to the motion to dismiss
August 30, 2024 - USAP filed a motion for Extension of Time to File Response
September 10, 2024 - USAP filed a response to JOOLA’s response
January 6, 2025 - A Motions Hearing meeting is scheduled for January 28, 2025
January 28, 2025 - Hearing took place to determine the USAP motion to dismiss
February 3, 2025 - The court denied the USAP motion for dismissal
March 27, 2025 - The court allowed USAP a Motion for Extension of Time to file a counterclaim - deadline was April 18th, 2025
April 18, 2025 - USAP files the counterclaim we are discussing in this article
Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Pickleball, Sports and around the world.
