In November 2024, Chorus Pickleball submitted two new variations of the original Fire HX paddle: the EX and SX for certification.
Due to a communication misunderstanding between the third-party testing facility and USAP, on November 22, USAP understood the Fire EX and SX paddles had been PBCoR tested and passed. Therefore, the Fire EX and SX paddles were listed as USA Pickleball Approved. USAP subsequently learned that our testing facility had not fully PBCoR tested the Fire EX and SX.
We conducted the full suite of testing, including the required PBCoR test, on both the Fire EX and SX models. Both paddles failed to meet the PBCoR standards. To clarify, any delay or misunderstanding in this situation has nothing to do with the integrity of the PBCoR testing and Chorus Pickleball correctly followed the procedures. As of today, February 13, both paddles have been removed from the USA Pickleball Approved list. As a result, the Fire EX and SX paddles will no longer be permissible for tournament play, effective immediately. Additionally, the Chorus Fire HX paddle will be sunset as of July 1, 2025.
USA Pickleball remains committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and integrity in our equipment testing. We take this matter seriously and will continue to refine our processes to maintain the trust of the pickleball community.
Statement from USA Pickleball CEO, Mike Nealy
“At USA Pickleball, we are committed to continuous improvement to ensure that our testing processes remain rigorous and reliable. We recognize the importance of a clear approval process and are taking proactive steps to reinforce our testing protocols. Our priority is to uphold the integrity of the sport and the trust of our community. We will continue collaborating with Chorus Pickleball and we appreciate the open dialogue with Chorus throughout this process.”
Statement from Chorus Pickleball Founder, Matt Cox
“With the Fire EX, HX, and SX we wanted to make a power paddle line that respected the sport, and did not chase the most power we could engineer. We are passionate about serving our customers first and will be releasing details next week regarding refund options for returned Fire paddles purchased through our site. Additionally, we will coordinate with third-party retailers to ensure a smooth return process. Returned paddles will be donated to under-funded local schools and charitable causes. We at Chorus respect and wholeheartedly believe in USAP’s goal of regulating excessive paddle power and understand the challenges presented to protect the integrity of our sport.”
For any questions or clarifications, please contact mediarelations@usapickleball.org.