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  • JOOLA’s Patent Lawsuit Is Shaking the Entire Pickleball Industry

    Pickleball has always been a sport defined by rapid innovation. In just a few short years, paddle technology has evolved from simple composite faces to sophisticated engineered cores designed to squeeze every last ounce of power from a player’s swing. But innovation, it turns out, has a price and JOOLA has decided it’s time to collect.

    On April 7, 2026, JOOLA filed patent infringement litigation with the International Trade Commission (ITC) against 11 paddle brands for the unauthorized use of its proprietary Propulsion Core technology. The move sent shockwaves through the pickleball community and has implications that reach from weekend warriors to the sport’s top professionals.

    What Is the Propulsion Core?

    To understand what’s at stake, you first need to understand what JOOLA is claiming to own.

    JOOLA is credited with creating the “Gen 3” category of pickleball paddles, featuring an EVA foam perimeter around a polypropylene honeycomb core, a new innovation that led to a noticeable increase in power. But the specific technology at the center of this lawsuit is more precise than the broader “Gen 3” design.

    The Propulsion Core adds a specific type of flex to the interior of the paddle, creating a responsive, spring-like effect on contact letting players generate more pace on drives, counters, and speed-ups without swinging harder. The design is often described as a foam horseshoe or diving board shape. Critically, it does not extend all the way around the paddle’s perimeter just the top half or so.

    JOOLA spent years investing in the research, development, and rigorous testing behind this technology, which is protected through a portfolio of patents and has become the standard in competitive pickleball.

    Who Is Being Sued?

    The list of defendants reads like a who’s who of the paddle industry. The defendants include Franklin Sports, Proton Sports, RPM Pickleball, Engage Pickleball, Friday Labs, Diadem Sports, Facolos, ProXR Pickleball, Paddletek, Adidas Pickleball, and Volair.

    That’s a remarkably wide net spanning legacy manufacturers, newer upstarts, and even a major global sports brand in Adidas. The lawsuit appears to apply specifically to paddles featuring the “U”-shaped perimeter foam. Paddles where the foam runs all the way around the core like the Selkirk Era Power are not included in the lawsuit.

    JOOLA’s Argument: Protect Innovation, Not Market Share

    JOOLA has been careful to frame this lawsuit as a matter of principle rather than competitive self-interest.

    “This is a principled decision, not a reactive one,” said Richard Lee, CEO of JOOLA. “We take our responsibility to defend what we’ve built seriously. Our goal is to protect our innovation and encourage others to innovate as well.” The Dink

    The company was even more direct in its official statement.

    “Protecting our innovation is not about limiting what others can do it’s about ensuring the investment, creativity and engineering required to advance this sport are rewarded,” JOOLA Lee said.

    The implication is clear: if companies can copy winning technology without consequence, the incentive to innovate disappears entirely.

    JOOLA added that when innovations are imitated without authorization, it

    “undermines the integrity of competition and ultimately slows the sport’s progress.”

    The Bigger Context: JOOLA Has Been Here Before

    This patent filing doesn’t exist in a vacuum. JOOLA has been at the center of pickleball’s legal battles for years now.

    In 2024, JOOLA filed a lawsuit against USA Pickleball, asserting that the governing body had de-listed its Gen 3 paddles without following its own guidelines, specifically by not honoring a 180-day “sunsetting period” that allows manufacturers to continue selling approved paddles before they are removed from the list.

    That dispute grew contentious. USA Pickleball filed a countersuit, alleging that the paddles available for public purchase contained two to three times more foam around the edges than the prototypes originally submitted for approval.

    Separately, Sport Squad (JOOLA’s parent company) agreed to settle two class action lawsuits claiming the company had falsely advertised that its Gen 3 paddles were approved by USA Pickleball ClassAction.org, though the company denied any wrongdoing.

    The current ITC filing marks a new and more aggressive chapter: rather than playing defense, JOOLA is now taking the fight directly to its competitors.

    What Happens Next?

    The International Trade Commission is a powerful venue for this kind of complaint. ITC cases can result in import bans on infringing products, which would be devastating for any paddle manufacturer relying on overseas production, which is essentially the entire industry.

    For consumers, the lawsuit raises real questions about the future availability of some of the most popular paddles on the market. If JOOLA prevails, brands could be forced to redesign their paddle cores from scratch, leading to product discontinuations and potential supply shortages.

    For the broader sport, the case may force a reckoning about how quickly the pickleball industry, which has largely operated in a freewheeling, fast-moving mode, will need to mature into one that takes intellectual property seriously.

    JOOLA has encouraged every brand to “bring their own ideas, their own engineering, and their own creativity”

    a message that sounds collaborative on the surface, but in the context of a lawsuit against 11 companies, lands more like a warning shot.

    The pickleball paddle industry will never look quite the same again.

    This story is developing. Responses from the named defendants are expected in the coming weeks as the ITC process gets underway.

  • Is the singles court in Pickleball getting smaller?

    Is the singles court in Pickleball getting smaller?

    The PPA Tour is experimenting with a notable change to professional singles pickleball. As per this announcement, at upcoming Challenger-level events, Pro Singles matches will be played on a narrower court, reducing the width from the standard 20 feet to 17 feet.

    The adjustment, announced midweek, is part of a broader effort to make singles play more dynamic while highlighting the athletic range of top professionals. By moving the sidelines inward by a total of three feet, the PPA hopes to generate longer rallies and more engaging point construction for both players and spectators.

    The change will be tested across four Challenger tournaments: Houston, Harbour Island, Newport Beach, and Opelika.

    What’s Driving the Change?

    Singles pickleball has evolved quickly over the past two years. As paddle technology has advanced, players have gained easier access to pace, spin, and depth from the baseline. The result has been a clear stylistic shift: fewer net approaches, more passing-shot attempts, and shorter points decided from deep in the court.

    While this baseline-oriented style has proven effective, it has also reduced the tactical variety that once defined singles play. Players are now far more selective about coming forward, knowing that even a well-timed approach can be punished by a high-quality passing shot.

    By narrowing the court, those passing angles shrink. In theory, this makes the transition game more rewarding and reduces the risk associated with moving to the net.

    How a Narrower Court Could Change Singles Strategy

    From a strategic standpoint, a 17-foot-wide singles court alters several key dynamics:

    • Passing shots require more precision, especially down the line
    • Net approaches become safer, encouraging offensive positioning
    • Point construction matters more than outright power
    • Defensive scrambling and hands skills are emphasized at the kitchen

    This approach aligns more closely with how singles pickleball was played two to three years ago, when forward movement, soft resets, and quick exchanges were central to winning points.

    What Players and Fans Might Notice

    For spectators, the most noticeable change could be longer rallies and more visual variety. Instead of repeated baseline exchanges, points may feature transitions, dinks, counter-volley battles, and athletic recoveries.

    For players, adaptation will be key. Singles specialists who rely heavily on power passing may need to adjust shot selection, while athletes comfortable at the net could find the narrower court playing to their strengths.

    Why the PPA Is Testing This at Challenger Events

    The decision to roll out the change at Challenger-level tournaments allows the PPA to gather meaningful feedback without immediately disrupting main-tour competition. These events serve as a controlled environment to assess:

    • Match length and rally duration
    • Player movement patterns
    • Injury risk and physical demand
    • Overall entertainment value

    If the data and player response are positive, the concept could eventually influence higher-tier events or spark further experimentation in singles formats.

    A Sign of Bigger Conversations in Pickleball

    This court-width test reflects a larger conversation happening across professional pickleball: how to balance technology, athleticism, and watchability as the sport continues to grow.

    Rather than restricting paddle innovation, the PPA appears to be exploring structural adjustments that preserve competitive depth while enhancing the on-court product.

    Whether the narrower singles court becomes a long-term solution remains to be seen, but for now, it represents one of the most intriguing rule experiments in recent pro pickleball history.

    Also Read: Official Pickleball net dimensions

    FAQ’s

    Why is the PPA Tour narrowing the singles court?

    The PPA Tour is testing a narrower singles court to encourage longer rallies, increase net play, and reduce the dominance of baseline passing shots caused by modern paddle technology.

    How wide is the new singles pickleball court?

    The test court will be 17 feet wide, with the sidelines moved in by a total of three feet from the standard 20-foot court used in pickleball.

    Will doubles pickleball use a narrower court?

    No. The court-width change applies only to Pro Singles matches at select PPA Challenger events. Doubles play will continue using standard court dimensions.

    Which tournaments will use the narrower singles court?

    The experiment will take place at four PPA Challenger events: Houston, Harbour Island, Newport Beach, and Opelika.

    How could a narrower court affect singles strategy?

    A narrower court limits passing angles, making net approaches safer and encouraging more transition play, volley exchanges, and tactical point construction.

    Is this rule change permanent?

    No. This is a trial experiment. The PPA Tour will evaluate player feedback and match data before deciding whether to expand or modify the rule in future events.