JOOLA pickleball equipment is now common on recreational courts and professional tours, but the brand’s story began decades earlier in table tennis. This article is for players and enthusiasts who want to understand how JOOLA entered pickleball, how its paddle designs affect play, and what may shape the company’s next stage.
Key Takeaways
- JOOLA began in Germany in 1952 as a table tennis equipment company.
- The brand name combines references to the Jooss department store and Landau, the city where the sports division began.
- Sport Squad acquired JOOLA in 2019 and helped broaden the company’s direction.
- JOOLA entered pickleball in 2022 and gained immediate visibility through its partnership with Ben Johns.
- Its Pro IV paddles use different shapes and core thicknesses to emphasize control, maneuverability, reach, or faster response.
- JOOLA's 2026 Pro V pickleball paddle line adds KineticFrame technology and introduces the Kosmos hybrid shape alongside the Perseus, Scorpeus, Hyperion and Agassi.
- The Gen3 certification dispute showed how equipment approval and testing standards can directly affect players and manufacturers.
- JOOLA’s table tennis background, professional athlete feedback, and international reach continue to shape its pickleball strategy.
Roots in Table Tennis: Where It All Began
JOOLA's story starts way back in 1952 in the German town of Landau. This was a time when table tennis was starting to really take off across Europe. The company's name JOOLA is actually a blend of Jooss, the local department store where the sports section got started, and Landau, the town that was at the heart of JOOLA's early years.
By the time the 1960s rolled around, JOOLA had packed up and moved to Godramstein, where they started expanding on the production of table tennis tables, paddles and accessories. This gave them a head start on building up their equipment-building skills that would eventually come in handy when they started working on pickleball paddles.
JOOLA served as the official table tennis table sponsor for the 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and teaming up with organizations like USA Table Tennis helped them gain a foothold in the US. By the 2000s, the brand had become synonymous with high-quality, precise gear that professionals loved to use.
You can still see the table tennis legacy in JOOLA's products today. They have all sorts of equipment that meets ITTF standards, like the tables used in tournaments by their partner clubs. One of their popular lines is the Infinity series, which is actually for table tennis rackets, not pickleball paddles. For example, the Infinity GL model is designed to give players a good balance of speed, spin, and control.
The Big Shift to Pickleball: What Brought JOOLA Across
In 2019, the US company Sport Squad, Inc. (founded back in 2006 by Richard Lee) snapped up JOOLA, giving the brand a fresh new direction. A revamped logo followed in 2020.
So, in 2022, when JOOLA launched into pickleball, it wasn't just a wild-goose chase into a new market. No, their table tennis know-how gave them a solid foundation in how to make paddles that would actually work. Things like materials, build quality, balance and what the players were actually saying they wanted.
Signing a deal with Ben Johns (then the world’s No.1 player) was a gamechanger for JOOLA - and that wasn't all they did. They went on to add Collin Johns and Anna Bright to the team, plus put the pedal to the metal with partnerships with Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf in 2024 (which is a pretty big deal). And to top it all off, JOOLA relocated to North Bethesda, Maryland that same year.
A Bumpy Ride: Lessons Learned Along the Way
JOOLA's transition into pickleball wasn't without its challenges. In 2024 they ran into a spot of trouble with a couple of paddle models - the Gen3 series in particular came under fire for certification issues. Eventually this led to paddles being pulled from the approved list, and before long there was a whole big mess about testing procedures and power limits.
The upshot for players was a hard lesson about just how important tournament eligibility is. If you're competing, you need to make sure your gear is up to scratch - and that means sticking with gear that's been properly vetted.
JOOLA's taken this on the chin, updating their product lines and putting a lot more emphasis on getting things done right from the get-go. And the whole pickleball community came away with a better understanding of just how delicate the balance can be between new, innovative tech and the rules that keep the game fair and competitive.
What JOOLA's Got Going on Today
JOOLA's got itself firmly established as a force to be reckoned with in pickleball - and their gear is popular with players at all levels, from beginners to pros. Their paddle designs really focus on getting the most out of the ball - with textured carbon fiber surfaces, special cores, and clever weight distribution that all work together to make for a smoother ride and better control.
Out on the court, you can see how these design elements work together to help with spin, control, power and forgiveness. The textured surface helps with putting topspin and slices together, while the core construction affects how the ball responds and how much feel you get from it. And weight distribution affects your hand speed, how stable you are when you hit an off-center shot, and just how much you get fatigued during long matches.
What's So Different About the Pro IV Pickleball Paddle?
The Ben Johns Hyperion Pro IV 16 mm is a great example of this. With its sleek, aerodynamic shape and textured carbon fiber surface teamed up with a Propulsion Core, it's ideal for players who like to up their game with spin, power and forgiveness.
The Collin Johns Scorpeus Pro IV 16 mm, on the other hand, has a wider, more stable shape that's perfect for players who like to dig in with controlled dinks, blocks and resets - but who still want the ability to put the pedal to the metal when they need to.
The Anna Bright Scorpeus Pro IV 14 mm teams up the wider Scorpeus shape with a thinner core for super snappy, quick response. This one's for players who like a bit of extra pop to their shots.
And last but not least, there's the Tyson McGuffin Magnus Pro IV 14 mm - with its elongated shape and super spin and pop. This one's for the aggressive players out there who like to take risks and really push their shots.
How the JOOLA Pro V Pickleball Paddle Line Differs
JOOLA brought their Pro V pickleball collection to market in March 2026, with a pretty solid lineup at launch. The Pro V line ups includes the Perseus, Scorpeus, Hyperion and Agassi shapes, plus something new from JOOLA, the Kosmos Pro V. You've got the JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus Pro V paddle available in 14 mm and 16 mm versions, while the Simone Jardim version has a slightly smaller grip. The JOOLA Anna Bright Scorpeus Pro V comes in 14 mm and 16 mm versions themselves, and the Scorpeus Pro V 16mm Pickleball Paddleis part of the bigger, more forgiving shape family.
The JOOLA Hyperion Pro V has some seriously aerodynamic design going on, trying to blend speed, reach and precision all at once. Then there's the Agassi Pro V, designed for reliable performance all over the court. And if you've got your eye on the Kosmos Pro V, it brings together the reach of the Perseus with the agility and bigger sweet spot of the Scorpeus. The JOOLA Tyson McGuffin Kosmos Pro V is 14 mm, and Federico Staksrud's version is 16 mm.
Across the board, JOOLA's got their patent-pending KineticFrame technology built into the paddle throat, not anything to do with the way your body moves, which is actually described as the kinetic chain. KineticFrame is meant to flex, store or redirect energy, and make it easier to hit the right spot, while proper body mechanics can actually help you hit more accurate shots and reduce your risk of injury.
Identifying JOOLA Pro V & Pro IV Paddles in Product Images
When you look at a product photo of the JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus Pro V on a white background, you'll usually see a black paddle with some red detailing - think a black paddle face, red rim and white handle on a white background. Or to put it another way, a paddle with a black face, a red edge guard and a white handle. The Simone Jardim version is a bit different, with a blue edge guard and white handle. Close-up shots tend to focus on the edge guard tape, handle or the visible brand logo, rather than showing the full paddle with a ball.
Product photos of the JOOLA Hyperion Pro V Pickleball Paddle usually show a black paddle with a blue and white edge guard and a white handle on a white background. That blue and black combo is pretty easy to spot. Photos of the JOOLA Agassi Pro V show up with a white handle and dark blue edge guard. The JOOLA Kosmos Pro V is a paddle with some nice white and green detailing on it - white handle, green edge guard, that kind of thing. Meanwhile the JOOLA Pro Anna Bright shows her Joola Scorpeus Pro V with some bright yellow detailing.
Older Pro IV paddles like the Ben Johns Perseus Pro 14mm and 16mm are easy to pick out from old product photos, with a black paddle, white edge guard and white handle. The same is true for the Anna Bright Scorpeus Pro IV Pickleball Paddle. Official Pro V packaging has the paddle in a box with the brand logo on it, and some visible edge guard tape and grip tape. So don't assume a pickleball is included - they don't show the paddle with a ball in the pictures.
JOOLA also makes balls, nets, apparel and loads of accessories - and as part of the Professional Pickleball Association, they're involved in the competitive and recreational side of the game too.
What Makes JOOLA So Special?
So, what really sets JOOLA apart from the pack? Well, it's that they've got a background in racquet sports - table tennis to be exact. All those years of making equipment for that game gave them a solid foundation in materials, ergonomics, manufacturing and international distribution. That doesn't mean every paddle is right for every player, but it does mean they've got a deep well of technical know-how to draw on. The brand designs its paddles to cater to a wide range of skills out there. Whether it's foam around the edges of the paddle, textured surfaces, all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes or varying core thickness, it all boils down to making the game easier and more fun for the player holding it. The players who use JOOLA's paddles can expect differences in stability, spin, speed, reach, control and comfort depending on the model they choose.
Word from the pros is also an important source of feedback - take Ben Johns for instance, the flagship player who helps set the tone for the rest of the crew. We've got other pros too, each bringing their own unique style to the table. JOOLA's got a pretty strong international network too, setting up tours and events in developing markets and supporting clubs, campuses and pros competing at the top level.
Looking Ahead: JOOLA's Plans for the Future
By 2025 JOOLA was taking its first steps to get bigger around the world - and that included setting up the Pickleball Legends Tour in Asia, which was a real big deal and brought in some big names like Agassi and Graf as well as some of JOOLA's own pros. The brand also started working with Agassi Sports Entertainment on the side, and it turned up some pretty exciting opportunities around events, training and getting involved.
In the US meanwhile, JOOLA was building up its support for colleges, clubs and dedicated facilities - it all points to a continued surge in popularity for the sport. When it came to paddle development, the company knew durability, performance and testing were all going to be pretty key.
The pickleball market was looking like it was going to keep on growing right on through 2032 - so for JOOLA the challenge now is to take all that table tennis know-how and merge it with the new and exciting world of pickleball while still following all the rules.
Final Thoughts: What's Next for JOOLA
Moving from table tennis to pickleball might seem like a big leap, but for JOOLA it's just smart business - after all, they've got decades of experience in racquet sports. As a player, you shouldn't be getting too hung up on what pros are using - take a hard look at what you really need from a paddle and compare the specs - shape, thickness, surface, balance and approval status all matter a lot more than the fancy names and fancy branding.
FAQs About JOOLA's Pickleball Evolution
When Was JOOLA Founded?
JOOLA was founded in 1952 in Landau, Germany. The company began by producing table tennis equipment and later expanded its manufacturing operations in Godramstein.
What Did JOOLA Make Before Pickleball?
JOOLA built its reputation through table tennis tables, rackets and accessories. The company served as the official table tennis table sponsor for the 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
When Did JOOLA Enter Pickleball?
JOOLA entered the pickleball market in 2022 after Sport Squad acquired the company and expanded its direction beyond table tennis.
Why Was Signing Ben Johns Important?
Ben Johns was the world’s top-ranked player at the time, so the partnership gave JOOLA immediate credibility and visibility within competitive pickleball.
What Happened with the JOOLA Gen3 Paddles?
Certification issues caused Gen3 paddles to be removed from the USA Pickleball approved list. The dispute led to legal action and renewed attention to testing, compliance, and paddle power limits.
How Do JOOLA's Pro IV Models Differ?
The models differ in shape, core thickness, maneuverability, reach, stability, and response. Wider shapes emphasize stability, 16 mm cores generally favor control, and thinner or elongated designs usually provide quicker pop or added reach.
What Other Pickleball Equipment Does JOOLA Produce?
In addition to paddles, JOOLA produces pickleballs, nets, apparel, and accessories designed for recreational and competitive use.
Does JOOLA Make ITTF-Approved Table Tennis Equipment?
Yes. JOOLA's table tennis catalog includes ITTF-approved competition equipment, and its partner clubs use ITTF-approved JOOLA tournament tables, barriers and competition flooring.
What Is the JOOLA Infinity Series?
The Infinity series is a line of JOOLA table tennis rackets, not pickleball paddles. Models such as the Infinity GL are designed to balance speed, spin, stability and control, making them better described as all-around table tennis options than as part of the JOOLA pickleball lineup.
What Is JOOLA KineticFrame?
In JOOLA product terminology, KineticFrame is a Pro V paddle technology built into the throat of the paddle. It is designed to flex, store or redirect energy and help with precise ball placement. It should not be confused with the body's kinetic chain, which describes how movement is coordinated through the feet, legs, hips, torso, shoulder and arm.
How Do Body Mechanics Affect Directional Control?
Directional control affects where a pickleball shot is placed. Foot positioning and stepping toward the intended target help align the body and create forward momentum, while paddle-face angle and contact point remain central to direction. Controlled wrist movement can help on specialized shots such as flicks or lobs, but most basic groundstrokes and volleys are more consistent with a firm, stable wrist. Efficient kinetic-chain mechanics can improve accuracy and reduce unnecessary strain, although no technique eliminates injury risk.
How Do JOOLA Pro V Models Differ?
The Joola Perseus Pro V uses an elongated profile for reach, the Scorpeus Pro V uses the widest and most forgiving shape, the Hyperion Pro V uses an aerodynamic curved head, and the Agassi Pro V is designed for all-court play. The Kosmos Pro V Pickleball Paddle is the hybrid option, combining Perseus-style reach with Scorpeus-style maneuverability and forgiveness.
What Comes with a JOOLA Pro V Paddle?
Standard official product images show the Pro V paddle packaged with edge guard tape and grip tape. It is not presented as a paddle and ball set, so a pickleball should not be assumed to be included.
What May Shape JOOLA's Future?
Future growth is likely to depend on international expansion, community and facility partnerships, athlete collaborations, product durability, technological development, and continued compliance with equipment standards.
