Quick answer: USA Pickleball added 31 new approved paddles between September 1 and October 2, 2026, including 10 on October 1, the day its new spin-rate standard took effect. The new USA Pickleball approved paddles are overwhelmingly foam: 25 of the 31 list a foam material in the core, and 27 of the 31 are 16mm thick. Names include the JOOLA Perseus POWER FX, Proton Series One V2, Six Zero Coral Pro and HEAD Project RHEON.
The 30-second version
- 31 new approvals in a month. USA Pickleball’s list grew to 5,368 paddles, with 10 added on October 1 and one more on October 2.
- Foam won. 25 of 31 cores list a foam. Only 3 are honeycomb.
- 16mm is the default. 27 of 31 list 16mm.
- The list doesn’t say which spin standard applied. The 2,100 RPM cap covers paddles submitted from October 1.
- Check before you buy for a tournament. The search is free.
The USA Pickleball approved paddle list is the earliest public sign of what’s coming. A paddle can show up there before the brand has even announced it. October 1 was the day the new spin-rate standard started, so we read every new USA Pickleball approved paddle added from September 1 to October 2, 2026. Here’s what the list shows, and what it means if you play in New England.
Which new USA Pickleball approved paddles were added?
USA Pickleball added 31 paddles between September 1 and October 2, 2026, and 10 of them landed on October 1. The names most players will recognize:
- JOOLA Perseus POWER FX 16mm (added Oct 1). Foam core, carbon fiber face. JOOLA lists it at $179.95. Background in our JOOLA Power FX first look.
- Proton Series One V2 (Oct 1). Foam core, 15mm. The Kitchen Pickle reported in September that a new Series One core was coming. No price yet.
- Six Zero Coral Pro (Oct 1). EPP and TPE core, 16mm. Our Coral Pro breakdown has the specs and US price. Six Zero code REGAN6.0 takes 10% off.
- HEAD Project RHEON (Sept 3). “PP90 + TPE” core, 16mm, raw carbon face. We couldn’t find any public announcement from HEAD.
The rest are mostly foam too: Gearbox’s Pressure X 8M and 8E (carbon ribs filled with foam), three Diadem Edge Flex models, two Enhance MPP Turbo shapes, Luzz, GRÜVN, Monarch (the Dick’s Sporting Goods brand) and about a dozen smaller brands.
Why are almost all new paddles foam?
Almost all new paddles are foam because the whole market has moved to foam cores over the past year. Of the 31 cores:
- 25 name a foam: EPP, EVA, MPP, EEP, “foam” or “full foam.”
- 3 are honeycomb: Joysent Horizon S1 and BLENCAYZ CRONUS PRO list polypropylene honeycomb, and Juciao ULTRA II lists PP honeycomb plus TPE.
- 3 don’t say: HEAD’s “PP90 + TPE,” PICKLT’s “Gen 4 Dual Core” and Wika’s “composite materials.”
That matches our own catalog. In our 2026 paddle trends count, foam cores went from zero of 110 paddles released in 2024 to 71 of 94 released so far in 2026. To compare foam builds, see our best foam core paddles roundup.
Thickness is just as lopsided. 27 of the 31 list 16mm. The thinnest, the Joysent Horizon S1 at 12.2mm, is also the only one that lists a fiberglass face. Our 14mm vs 16mm comparison explains what the extra thickness changes.
Did these paddles pass the new spin test?
The approved list doesn’t say whether any of these paddles passed the new spin test. USA Pickleball’s spin-rate update made a 2,100 RPM limit mandatory for paddles submitted for certification from October 1, 2026. Entries show when a paddle was added, not which standard it was tested under. So we’re not claiming any of these passed the spin test. Our spin rate test explainer covers what changed for paddles you already own.
How do you check if a paddle is approved?
You check a paddle by searching USA Pickleball’s free online approved paddle list by brand and model name.
- Go to equipment.usapickleball.org/paddle-list.
- Search by brand and model, then click the model for core, depth and face details.
- Match the exact version. A 16mm approval doesn’t automatically cover the 14mm.
Approval matters for USA Pickleball sanctioned tournaments, including the ones on our New England tournament calendar. Open play at your town courts doesn’t require it (see our 2026 paddle rules guide). Shopping? Compare specs in our paddle database or try the Paddle Finder.
Frequently asked questions
How many paddles are on the USA Pickleball approved list?
The list showed 5,368 paddles on October 3, 2026. That includes 31 added between September 1 and October 2.
Is the JOOLA Perseus POWER FX USA Pickleball approved?
Yes. The Perseus POWER FX 16mm was added to the approved list on October 1, 2026, with a foam core and carbon fiber face. JOOLA’s store lists it at $179.95.
Are foam core paddles legal in pickleball?
Yes. Foam-core paddles are all over the approved list. 25 of the 31 paddles approved from September 1 to October 2, 2026 list a foam core.
Did the new paddles pass the 2,100 RPM spin test?
The approved list doesn’t say. It shows when each paddle was added, not which standard it was tested under. The spin limit applies to paddles submitted from October 1, 2026.
Do I need an approved paddle for rec play?
No. Approval is required for USA Pickleball sanctioned tournaments. Rec open play doesn’t require it, but some leagues set their own equipment rules, so check with yours.
Sources: USA Pickleball Approved Paddle List (31 entries added 9/1 to 10/2/2026, read October 3, 2026); USA Pickleball spin-rate update; JOOLA store; The Kitchen Pickle.