November 19, 2024
Statement from Ellie and Grace

To Our Play Henry Community,

We want to address an important update regarding our paddle labeling. Yesterday, we discovered that our paddles are not USAP approved. While our paddles adhere to all USAP guidelines, and we partner with a manufacturer that produces USAP-approved paddles and balls, we learned that brands must individually go through the USAP certification process.

This situation has been frustrating and unclear. Through this process, we have learned that other brands like Joola and CRBN have also faced similar confusion with the USAP approval process. Transparency is a core value for us, and we’re actively working to address this issue.

What does this mean for you?

Recreational players: You can continue enjoying your Play Henry paddle without any concerns if you do not play in USAP-sanctioned tournaments.

Tournament players: Please refrain from using Play Henry paddles in USAP-sanctioned events for now. If this impacts you, reach out to us at hello@playhenry.com—we’ll do everything we can to take care of you.

This situation affects professional tournament players, who represent 0.02% of all players, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.

As a small, female-founded brand, our mission is to create high-quality paddles that look and feel great on the court. However, the USAP approval process demands significant time, resources, and capital, which may limit our ability to focus on innovation and design for recreational players. The USAP recently increased its approval fee by 300%, a move we believe will result in a homogenous market dominated by a few large companies and drive up costs for players. Small manufacturers like us, who often bring visual design innovations and personal touches to their paddles, might be pushed out. We’re carefully considering whether to pursue certification or remain dedicated to designing paddles for the broader pickleball community. If we decide to go through the process, we are confident our paddles would be approved swiftly.

We deeply appreciate your support and patience as we make this decision. Rest assured, our paddles are crafted for high performance and durability, making them one of the best choices for recreational players. Thank you for believing in Play Henry and continuing to play with our paddles as we move forward. Every paddle purchased allows us to continue living out our dream of bringing back that childhood joy of competition and play.

Warmly,
Team Play Henry

At this time, we offer domestic shipping only within the United States.

As soon as you purchase, we get to work! Please give us 5-7 business days to process and ship your order. Shipping may be subject to delay during national holidays.

Shipping is calculated during checkout based on your location.

All pickleball paddles are designed in the United States and manufactured in China. Our manufacturers are proud to be Fair Labor Association members. We partner closely with them to ensure good working conditions and livable wages.

Due to limited available inventory, we do not accept exchanges or returns. Once your order has been processed, we are unable to make any modifications. Your paddle is covered by a 6-month warranty against manufacturer defects, but not normal wear and tear, abuse, negligence, or user modification.

Please reach out to hello@playhenry.com with your order number, full name and shipping address.