How to Identify a Fake JOOLA Paddle

Counterfeit pickleball paddles are a growing problem, and as JOOLA Australia, we want to address it directly. As we've grown to become one of the most trusted names in the sport - with professionals like Ben Johns, Anna Bright, Federico Staksrud, Tyson McGuffin, Andre Agassi and Simone Jardim competing with our paddles, we've also become a target for counterfeiters.

Fake JOOLA paddles are being sold online and in unofficial retail channels, and some are making their way onto our courts.

This matters for more than just our brand. A counterfeit paddle may not meet UPA-A or USA Pickleball specifications, giving an unfair performance advantage or, conversely, underperforming significantly compared to what a player expects. For referees and tournament directors, spotting a fake is now part of maintaining a level playing field.

Here is everything you need to know.

The First Rule: Look for the JOOLA Name

Every authentic JOOLA paddle clearly displays our brand name. This will appear either on the face of the paddle or, at minimum, on the edge guard. If you pick up a paddle and cannot find the JOOLA name printed anywhere on it, that paddle is not one of ours - full stop.

This is the quickest check you can perform. We prominently display our name on our products because we stand behind them. The absence of that branding is an immediate red flag.

Beyond the brand name check, here are the key visual and physical indicators to look for:

Five Signs You May Be Looking at a Fake

• No brand name on the face or edge guard. As mentioned, this is the most definitive sign. Our paddles are never unmarked. The cap at the end of the paddle will also not have a JOOLA triangle logo at the base. 
• Low-quality print or design errors. Blurry graphics, misaligned text, inconsistent colours, or incorrect logos are all red flags. We manufacture our products to a high standard; poor print quality is a strong indicator of a replica.
• Missing or incorrect text. Our authentic paddles include specific text such as UPA-A or USA Pickleball certification marks and model information. If text looks incomplete, garbled, or missing entirely, investigate further.
• Odd-shaped or off-brand grip. The handle shape and grip wrap on a genuine JOOLA paddle will look and feel intentional and consistent. A grip that feels unusually thin, poorly wrapped, or shaped differently than expected is worth flagging.
• Unusually lightweight feel. Counterfeit paddles are often made from inferior materials, which can make them feel lighter or flimsier than the real thing. If something feels off in your hand, trust that instinct and look more closely.

Spotting Fakes That Do Carry the JOOLA Logo

Some counterfeiters have become more sophisticated and do print our name on their products. For these cases, you need to look at the details more carefully.

The Tech Flex Window

On select JOOLA paddles, a key authenticity marker is the tech flex window. A white, translucent window visible at the base of the handle throat.

On fake paddles, this window is often replaced with a plain grey rectangle. If the window looks opaque, grey, or like a flat sticker rather than an actual translucent component, the paddle is not one of ours.

Logo Placement at the Throat

On models such as our Hyperion C2 series, the JOOLA logo and model name should be clearly visible in the upper throat area of the paddle face. Fake versions of these paddles often leave this area blank or render the logo and text in lower quality. When examining a paddle, look at the throat closely for our branding in the correct position with crisp, clean printing.

Edge Guard Branding

On models like our Agassi Pro series, the edge guard will display the JOOLA name on the handle side. Counterfeit versions may leave the edge guard completely blank. Always check the edge guard as a secondary verification point. 

Know Our Authentic Paddle Families

Familiarising yourself with our product lines makes it much easier to spot a fake. There are three core families of JOOLA paddles currently in common use:

• Pro IV Paddles. Available in multiple colourways, including a signature Guava Rush edition. These paddles have a distinctive logo column on the face and carry our branding on both the face and edge guard.
• 3S & 3s Dual Paddles. Available in a range of vibrant colours (blue, green, orange, pink, and yellow), these paddles feature the JOOLA logo prominently on the face along the upper shoulder of the paddle. The 3S dual has it prominently on the base and edge guard. 
• Gen 1 & 2 Paddles. Includes our CFS and C2 series (associated with Ben Johns and Simone Jardim) and the Scorpeus line. These high-end paddles have detailed branding across the face, and the JOOLA logo appears clearly at the throat. 

What Common Fakes Look Like

Counterfeit JOOLA paddles circulating in the market tend to share a few common traits:

• They often mimic the general shape and colourway of our most popular models (Hyperion C2, Agassi Pro, Ben Johns editions) without replicating the fine details.
• Some use generic model names like "T700" or "Pro USA" rather than our actual model names.
• They carry UPA-A & USA Pickleball certification marks that are not genuine - the certification text is often blurry or incorrectly formatted.
• The paddle face is typically flat black with design elements that look similar to ours at a distance, but don't hold up under close inspection.

A Referee's Quick-Check Protocol

Referees are in a unique position to help keep counterfeit equipment off the tournament courts. If you suspect a paddle may not be authentic, here is a straightforward approach:

1. Step 1 — Ask the player what brand their paddle is.
   If the player is unsure or says it came with no brand name, that is a significant indicator.
2. Step 2 — Physically locate the JOOLA name on the paddle.
   It should be on the face or edge guard. No branding means it is not a genuine JOOLA product.
3. Step 3 — Check print quality.
   Look for crisp, clean text and logo. Blurry, misaligned, or missing text is a red flag.
4. Step 4 — Inspect the tech flex window (if applicable).
   For paddles where this feature applies, the window should be white and translucent, not a grey rectangle.
5. Step 5 — Ask where the paddle was purchased.
   Our paddles are sold through authorised retailers and joola.com.au. A paddle purchased through an unofficial listing at an unusually low price warrants scrutiny.

How to Make Sure You're Buying the Real Thing

The simplest way to avoid a counterfeit is to buy from authorised sources. Our paddles are available through joola.com.au and our official retail partners. If a deal online seems significantly cheaper than the recommended retail price, that is a warning sign worth paying attention to.

If you already own a JOOLA paddle and are unsure of its authenticity, use the visual checks in this guide or reach out to us directly at info@joola.com.au. The whole community benefits when everyone is playing with equipment that meets the standard.