JOOLA HC-40 Becomes the DUPR Event Ball

The JOOLA HC-40 DUPR ball standard takes effect for DUPR-sanctioned competitions on September 1, 2026. The change means sanctioned events will use one official ball rather than leaving equipment conditions to each tournament. It is a competition-standard announcement, not a claim that one ball improves every player’s game.

What changes on September 1?

The JOOLA HC-40 is scheduled to become mandatory at DUPR-sanctioned events, including Minor League Pickleball competitions, collegiate and high-school championships, and outside tournaments seeking DUPR sanctioning. The stated purpose is comparability: results from one event should be easier to read alongside results from another when the ball is not changing.

The announcement also describes a broad network, with more than two million registered DUPR players across 183 countries and about 350 DUPR-operated events during 2026. Those are reported network figures, not a prediction of attendance at any individual tournament.

How should players prepare?

Check the event notice first. A local recreational session may follow a different equipment rule from a DUPR-sanctioned bracket, so the word “DUPR” on a rating profile does not by itself tell you which ball will be used. Tournament organizers should state the ball in the player information.

For a simple practice comparison, use the same paddle and drill with two balls, then record landing depth rather than relying on feel alone. If 16 of 20 controlled returns land beyond your chosen depth marker, the practice rate is 80%; that number describes your drill, not a universal ball-performance score.

Does this apply to every pickleball game?

No. The requirement concerns DUPR-sanctioned events.

When does the standard begin?

The announcement gives September 1, 2026.