Paddle Policy
1. Purpose
Central Highlands Pickleball Club Inc (CHP) is committed to providing fair, safe and enjoyable pickleball activities.
This policy establishes reasonable expectations regarding paddles and other playing equipment used during CHP activities.
2. Scope
This policy applies to players participating in CHP organised:
social and structured sessions;
competitions and tournaments;
King of the Court and similar formats;
Rumbles and inter-club events; and
other organised pickleball activities.
3. General Paddle Requirements
Players are responsible for ensuring that their paddle is safe and suitable for play.
Paddles must not be deliberately altered or modified in a way intended to provide an unfair playing advantage or cause them to no longer comply with rules applicable to the activity.
Normal wear and tear does not, by itself, make a paddle unsuitable for club play.
4. Social and Club Play
For ordinary CHP social and club sessions, the Club does not routinely inspect, test or certify players' paddles.
However, a Session Manager, event organiser or Committee member may ask a player to discontinue using a paddle where there is a reasonable concern that it:
has been materially altered or modified;
is significantly damaged or unsafe;
may provide an unfair advantage due to deterioration, alteration or modification; or
is otherwise unsuitable for the activity being conducted.
Any such decision is an operational decision intended to allow play to continue safely and fairly and is not a formal determination that the paddle is compliant or non-compliant with any governing body's technical standards.
5. Competitions and Sanctioned Events
Where a CHP competition, tournament, Rumble or other event is conducted under Pickleball Australia, Pickleball Victoria or other specified competition rules, paddles must comply with the equipment requirements applicable to that event.
The event conditions may require paddles to appear on an applicable approved-paddle list or satisfy other equipment requirements.
Players are responsible for confirming that their equipment complies before participating.
6. Paddle Concerns and Disputes
Players should not confront, accuse or attempt to independently police another player's equipment during CHP activities.
Any concern about a paddle should be raised discreetly with the Session Manager, Tournament Director, event organiser or a Committee member.
The responsible official may determine the appropriate action for that session or event, including requesting that an alternative paddle be used.
Where compliance cannot reasonably be determined at the venue, CHP may take a precautionary approach without making a finding that the paddle is illegal or deliberately modified.
7. Paddle Testing
CHP does not represent that it can formally certify whether a paddle complies with technical standards unless appropriate testing equipment, procedures and suitably authorised personnel are available.
Where formal paddle testing is conducted as part of a particular competition or event, the testing requirements and consequences will be communicated as part of the event conditions.
8. Other Equipment
Players are responsible for using footwear, clothing and other equipment appropriate for safe participation.
CHP may specify particular balls or other playing equipment for sessions, competitions or events to promote consistency, safety and appropriate playing conditions.
9. Player Responsibility
Players remain responsible for the condition and compliance of their own equipment.
Where a player is asked by an authorised CHP official to discontinue using a particular paddle or item of equipment during a CHP activity, the player is expected to comply with that direction.
Failure to follow a reasonable direction may be addressed under CHP's Code of Conduct or other applicable policies.
10. Review
The Committee may review and update this policy as equipment technology, governing-body requirements and accepted pickleball practices evolve.
Where this policy conflicts with mandatory rules applying to a sanctioned competition or event, those rules will take precedence for that competition or event.
Version: 1.0
Effective Date: August 2026
Last Review Date: August 2026
Responsible Body: CHP Committee
Approved by: CHP Committee
Review: Annually or as required