After being blacklisted by the UPA-A for questionable paddle testing submissions, Luzz is back with three new models that are turning heads for their performance and value.
Back in April, we told you about the Luzz Cannon being blacklisted by the UPA-A from all professional play.
We don’t know exactly what happened – call it a technicality, or a loophole, or just an innocent oversight – but we do know this:
Whether intentionally or not, this comes down to one paddle (the Cannon) being submitted as a design variation of another (the ZZ), when in reality it should have been submitted as a separate model.
Basically, the Cannon passed paddle testing under questionable circumstances.
At the time, Luzz was an under-the-radar brand. And the Cannon came out of nowhere. More consequential still, it seemed to live up to its name, delivering a level of power the powers that be ultimately decided was too much.
💡
It felt like a bait-and-switch. And UPA-A President Jason Aspes wasn’t having any of it:
“Violating UPA-A rules has consequences. Our commitment to protecting the integrity of pickleball is absolute. Players, brands, and fans deserve a level playing field, and we will not tolerate actions that undermine that principle.”
The UPA-A responded swiftly and with force, banning all Luzz models from professional use. The paddle remained approved by USA Pickleball.
UPA-A Fires Back at ‘Cannon’ Paddle, Removes Entire Company from Approved List
The Cannon paddle from Luzz Pickleball was actually never approved by the UPA-A in the first place, but made the list due to a loophole.
The Cannon Returns Fire
Luzz went quiet for a few months, but came roaring back this fall, reintroducing the Cannon, plus two other models – the Inferno and the Tornazo – to critical praise.
The Cannon, in particular, is turning heads for its performance and its value, retailing for just $109.
All three models are now listed on the UPA-A Approved Paddle List.
Dissecting All the Paddle Drama at PPA Cincinnati
Many top pros are left wondering whether they can play their own paddles. It all comes down to the UPA-A’s new certification standards, and how paddle brands chose to play the game.
So How Do They Play?
Paddle reviewer John Kew took all three models for a spin in a new video series called “First Hits.”
He compared the Cannon favorably to the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV – lively, responsive, and fun. And capable of generating plenty of power.