USAPA/IFP
RULE REVISIONS
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 31, 2018
By Christine Barksdale, USAPA Managing Director of Athletic Competition
To help players recognize and understand significant rule changes,
the USAPA has created the below guide. The 2018 Official Tournament
Rulebook is available at ifpickleball.org
/// SECTION 1 – THE GAME
NEW/REVISED RULE OLD RULE
The court is divided into right/even and left/odd
service courts. Previously the service courts were only referenced
as right and left.
/// SECTION 2 – COURT AND EQUIPMENT
NEW/REVISED RULE OLD RULE
2.E.6.e. Removable Parts. No removable parts except
for paddle grip adjustments and/or grip wraps and lead
tape on the paddle edge. There was no previous rule regarding removable parts.
2.E.7. Model Designation. The manufacturer must have
a clearly marked brand and model name or model
number on the paddle. Paddles with different core
material, surface material, or other significant
differences must have a unique name or number. 2.E.8. Included a statement that paddles must
have been offered for sale to the general public.
This statement has been removed.
No rule regarding clothing color has been established. 2.F.1. Clothing may be of any color.
2.F.2. Manufacturers are subject to annual and/or blind
testing to ensure that products as produced and sold
are compliant with all requirements. There was no previous rule regarding blind or annual
testing.
2.F.3. Players are responsible for confirming that the
paddle they are using for match play is listed as Pass
on the USAPA/IFP Approved Paddle List. See 2.F.3.a.
for violation penalties. There was no previous rule regarding player confirma-
tion of paddles approved for use in sanctioned play.
/// SECTION 3 – DEFINITIONS
48
NEW/REVISED RULE OLD RULE
3.A.36. Underhand - The player’s arm must be mov-
ing in a forward and upward arc with the palm turned
upward or downward. The old rule did not specify that the palm could be
down. NOTE: The service motion rules have not
changed, the addition of the “palm down” was to clarify
that a backhand serve is legal.
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