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By DUPR Referee Tom Whitson

Foot faults are one of the most common (and confusing) pickleball rules, especially during non-officiated matches, where there’s no referee on court.

DUPR Referee Tom Whitson breaks down exactly what happens when a foot fault is called, and more importantly, how players should handle it fairly and by the rules.

First: What Is a Foot Fault?

A foot fault can occur in two main situations:

• During the serve:
  Stepping on or over the baseline (serving line) before making contact with the ball.
  
  
• During a volley:
  Stepping on or into the non-volley zone (kitchen) while hitting the ball out of the air.

In officiated matches, a referee makes the call. But most recreational play, leagues, and open plays are non-officiated, which means players must resolve the call themselves.

What Happens When a Foot Fault Is Called?

According to Tom Whitson, there are only two possible outcomes when your opponent calls a foot fault on you in a non-officiated match:

Scenario 1: You Agree With the Call

If you agree that you committed the foot fault:

“If you agree with your opponent’s call, then you lose the point.”

Simple and clean. Agreement means the fault stands, and the point goes to your opponent.

Scenario 2: You Disagree With the Call

If you do not agree that a foot fault occurred:

“If you disagree with your opponent’s call, then it’s a replay.”

No point is awarded to either side. The rally is replayed.

One Important Detail Most Players Miss

Here’s a key clarification from Tom Whitson that many players don’t realize:

“Only one player needs to agree that there was a foot fault for either of these scenarios to happen.”

That means:

• If you agree → you lose the point
  
  
• If you don’t agree → automatic replay
  

There’s no debating, no majority vote, and no arguing over angles or visibility.

Why This Pickleball Rule Matters

This rule exists to:

• Prevent arguments on court
• Keep play moving
• Encourage honesty and sportsmanship
  
  

In non-officiated pickleball, fair play depends on mutual respect. Pickleball rules are designed to protect both players when there’s uncertainty.

Understanding rules like this not only avoids conflict, but it helps everyone enjoy the game more.

To learn all the pickleball rules in seconds, click here.

At the 2025 The Dink Minor League Pickleball National Championship, history was made when MiLP Nationals became the first-ever DUPR Verified Event, setting a new standard for competitive amateur pickleball and how ratings, fairness, and credibility show up on the national stage.

What Does “DUPR Verified” Actually Mean?

A DUPR Verified Event represents the highest standard of competitive pickleball.

These events are designed for players and organizers who want fair matchups, trusted results, and real competitive credibility. Clubs and tours that run DUPR Verified events meet elevated quality standards and go through an approval process to ensure match integrity at every level.

To compete in a Verified Event, all players must complete a validation process, including:

• An active DUPR+ subscription
• An authenticated phone number

This added layer of verification helps protect the integrity of ratings and ensures that every match played is legitimate, accountable, and meaningful.

Because Verified Events are held to higher standards, they are reviewed and approved by the DUPR Fairplay Committee. Organizers who fail to uphold these standards are removed from the program, reinforcing trust for players who rely on their DUPR to reflect their true level.

At a Verified Event:

• Matches are run using official DUPR standards
• Player ratings are trusted and actively protected
• Results carry 50% more weight toward a player’s DUPR
• Competitive integrity, transparency, and fairness are prioritized

MiLP Nationals becoming the first event to earn this designation signaled something important: amateur pickleball is evolving, and accuracy now matters as much as atmosphere.

Why MiLP Nationals Was the Perfect First

If any event was going to set the bar, it was MiLP Nationals.

The 2025 championship brought together:

• 1,000 players
• 318 teams
• 35 U.S. states
• 23 countries
• $100,000 prize purse

Players ranged from 10 to 76 years old, across dozens of DUPR-based divisions, all competing under one unified rating system.

From juniors winning open-age divisions to 50+ brackets delivering some of the most competitive matches of the week, MiLP Nationals showed what happens when ratings are applied correctly and consistently.

DreamBreakers Everywhere And That’s the Point

One of the biggest indicators that the DUPR system was doing its job?

DreamBreakers. Lots of them.

This year’s Nationals set a record for the most DreamBreakers ever played at a MiLP event. That doesn’t happen when teams are mismatched or where there is too much sandbagging. It happens when ratings are tight, divisions are accurate, and every lineup belongs on the same court.

One unforgettable moment came in the DUPR 14 division, when the Cranky Pickle Opossums erased a 12–20 DreamBreaker deficit to win 23–21, a comeback that had the entire venue buzzing. Watch it here.

That kind of drama doesn’t exist without balance.

Global, Inclusive, Competitive: All at Once

MiLP Nationals 2025 wasn’t just verified. It was global.

Players traveled from Romania, Israel, Japan, Puerto Rico, Argentina, India, Australia, Italy, the Philippines, and beyond turning Dallas into a true international championship.

At 76 years old, Rochelle Martinez earned a bronze medal in the Women’s DUPR 9 V3 division. At 11, Carsen Ngo captured gold in both Men’s DUPR 11 V3 and DUPR 14 Open Age.

That’s what a verified system allows: everyone competing where they belong, regardless of age or background.

A New Standard for Amateur Pickleball

This first-ever DUPR Verified Event wasn’t just about one tournament. Leading pickleball tours, leagues, and clubs including National Pickleball, World of Pickleball, The Dink Minor League Pickleball, Triple Team Pickleball League, Pickleball Is Great, The Picklr, Performance Pickleball, and The Flying Pickle have confirmed to host DUPR Verified Events in 2026, so check out their schedule or find them in the DUPR app. 

📸 Want to relive the moments? Check out the full photo gallery and highlight clips from MiLP Nationals 2025 here. 

The Spring 2026 Collegiate Pickleball Tour schedule is official. Super Regionals will run from February through March, followed by the Collegiate National Championship in April.

These events determine which teams qualify for Nationals and play a major role in shaping the collegiate season.

Below is the full spring schedule.

Feb 7–8 — Virginia Super Regional

📍 Performance Pickleball RVA

Virginia opens the spring season. This event typically draws a mix of returning contenders and new programs looking to establish themselves early.

Register here

Feb 21–22 — Indiana Super Regional

📍 The Picklr Noblesville

The Indiana Super Regional takes place two weeks later at The Picklr in Noblesville. This stop is often a key qualifier for Midwest teams.

Register here

March 7–8 — California Super Regional

📍 The Hub Silicon Valley

California hosts the West Coast Super Regional in early March. Expect a deep field and competitive brackets throughout the weekend.

Register here

March 28–29 — Georgia Super Regional

📍 Atlanta National Pickleball Club
📝 Registration link coming soon

Georgia is the final Super Regional of the spring and the last chance for teams to secure qualification before Nationals.

April 9-12: Collegiate National Championship (CNC)

📍Life Time Peach Tree Corners

The Collegiate National Championship will take place in April. Additional information on location, dates, and registration will be released soon.

Teams planning to compete this spring should review the schedule early and prepare travel and registration accordingly. More updates, including registration links and event details, will be shared as they become available.

For the newest updates on collegiate pickleball, make sure to join The Collegiate News Channel on Instagram by clicking here.

DUPR today announced a partnership with Pickleball Vision AI (PB Vision) to help players better understand their skill level, improve more effectively, and enter the pickleball ecosystem with greater confidence. The partnership explores how AI-powered video analysis can responsibly support player ratings.

Through this collaboration, DUPR is formally exploring how AI-powered video analysis can complement match results rating. The immediate goal is to create a clearer, faster, and more confident on-ramp for new players, while maintaining DUPR as the official source of truth for pickleball ratings.

“This collaboration allows us to explore how video and AI can responsibly support player onboarding and rating accuracy, without fragmenting the sport,” said Tito Machado, CEO at DUPR. “Our priority remains the same: a single, accurate, and fair rating system for players everywhere.”

Mike Arney, Co-founder at Pickleball Vision AI, added: “By aligning with DUPR as the official rating system, we can focus on what we do best—video-based performance insights—while supporting a unified rating standard for the sport.”

Players can begin benefiting from this partnership immediately.

Players are now able to upload their gameplay videos directly to PB Vision for an objective DUPR AI rating. In the near future, new players will be able to submit videos directly from the DUPR app and receive a DUPR AI-rating powered by PB Vision, along with a detailed breakdown of their gameplay. All new users receive one free video analysis, making it easy to understand where they stand and what to work on next.

For players with an existing DUPR rating, PB Vision offers immediate value by highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and specific areas of the game that influence performance. From day one, players can see what aspects of their play are helping or holding back their results and focus improvement efforts on the factors most likely to move their DUPR rating up over time. 

By aligning with DUPR as its official and exclusive pickleball rating system, PB Vision focuses on delivering video-based performance insights that support players while reinforcing a unified rating standard in the sport. As the collaboration evolves, this creates a pathway to responsibly support DUPR AI Ratings.

PB Vision provides a secure video analysis experience through its mobile apps and website. Future integration paths will enable players to upload gameplay videos directly from the DUPR app for processing and analysis. Players will continue to receive their official rating through DUPR, while PB Vision will deliver complementary performance analytics powered by its proprietary AI technology. 

In addition, DUPR is exploring a potential composite rating model that incorporates additional performance inputs alongside match results, including AI-powered video analysis. These inputs provided by PB Vision could provide deeper context such as whether a player was being targeted, carrying the team, or impacting play beyond the final score. Over time, this added insight may enhance rating accuracy while preserving the foundational role of match results.

About DUPR

DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is the premier global pickleball rating system and technology platform, trusted by the world's leading clubs, tournaments, leagues, and players. DUPR's dynamic rating system unifies pickleball across age, gender, and location by analyzing match results to accurately evaluate all players across a 2.000 - 8.000 scale. DUPR is the official pickleball rating of leagues, tournaments and clubs around the world, including USA Pickleball (USAP), United Pickleball Association (UPA), Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), Major League Pickleball (MLP), Pickleball.com, Life Time, The Picklr, National Team Pickleball League, National Pickleball League. It also owns and operates Minor League Pickleball and Collegiate Pickleball, two of the biggest amateur leagues in the sport. Players and operators can visit www.dupr.com to sign up and learn more.

About Pickleball Vision AI‍

Pickleball Vision AI is a technology company focused on video-based analysis and performance insights for pickleball players. Using gameplay video, PB Vision helps players objectively understand their level of play, identify areas for improvement, and track progress over time through actionable analytics and performance metrics.

When to Drive Your Third Shot (And When the Drop Is the Better Call)

Let’s clear something up right away:

You don’t have to drop every third shot.
But you also don’t want to drive just because you’re feeling spicy.

The real skill is knowing which ball deserves a drive… and which ball is basically asking you to drop shot it.

So here’s the simplest way to think about it:

The “Green Light” for a Third-Shot Drive

If you’re going to drive your third, you’re usually looking for a return that’s:

✅ Higher

A ball that sits up gives you margin. You can hit through it without launching it.

✅ Shorter

Short return = you’re closer to the kitchen when you hit. Better angle, less time for them to react.

✅ Slower

If the ball is coming in fast and deep, your drive isn’t going to do damage. Your opponent will be set, balanced, and ready to volley it. But when the ball comes slow, it gives you time to position yourself and accelerate towards your target. 

Higher + shorter + slower is basically the pickleball version of a green light for a drive.

If the return checks those boxes, driving the third can be a great play, because it can:

• force a pop-up
• set up an easier fifth shot
• speed the point up before they’re fully settled

When You Shouldn’t Drive (Even If You Can)

Now the other side.

If the return is deep, low, and fast, driving is usually risky.

Because what happens?

• They block it back easily
• You’re still back / in transition
• Now you have to hit a tougher fifth shot while moving

So if you’re driving third shots off good, deep returns, and wondering why you’re always on defense… that’s probably the reason.

Here are some tips from pro pickleball player Bobbi Oshiro on how to stop getting stuck in transition. 

Here’s the Part Everyone Misses: Your Drop Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect

A lot of players drive too much because they feel like their third-shot drop has to land on a dime.

It doesn’t.

A successful drop is basically any ball that lands within about 0 to 2 feet from the kitchen line (that “2-foot zone”). Why?

Because if it lands in that range, your opponent will be reaching for the ball below the net and be consequently forced to hit up, and that’s the whole point of the drop:
Take away their attack and earn your way forward.

Even if they volley it out of the air sometimes, it’s usually still fine because they’re still hitting up.

Want an Easier Drop? Go Crosscourt.

This is one of those things that’s simple but changes everything:

Crosscourt drops give you more margin.

When you hit crosscourt, the ball travels on an angle, and that angle gives you more “landing zone” to work with (roughly 10% to 25% more room, depending on the angle).

Down-the-line drops are harder because:

• The net is slightly higher near the sideline
• You have less landing zone
• It’s easier to miss long or clip the net

So if you’re struggling with drops, stop trying to paint the down-the-line one. Go crosscourt or middle more often.

Where to Aim Your Drop (So It Actually Helps You)

Two easy targets that make your drop more effective:

Aim crosscourt… and lean toward the backhand

Most players are:

• less comfortable attacking off the backhand
• less likely to speed up cleanly from there

So even if your drop is “just decent,” aiming it to the backhand buys you time.

Quick Drop Checklist (So You Stop Overthinking)

If you’re dropping, don’t try to think about 14 things at once.

Pick one reference point and live with it:

• either focus on where the ball lands 
• or focus on how high it crosses the net

Aim “about a foot over the net” and try to land it in that 0–2 ft zone.

That’s enough to level up fast.

So… Drive or Drop?

Here’s the simple rule that works:

If the return is high + short + slow → Drive it.

You’re closer, you have angle, they have less time.

If the return is deep + low + fast → Drop it.

Get it into that 0–2 ft zone and make them hit up.

And if you’re not sure?
Default to the drop because it gets you to the kitchen, and that’s where most points get won.

Your third shot isn’t about being “a drop person” or “a drive person.” It’s about making the smart play based on the ball you’re given.

Drive the ball that deserves it.
Drop the ball that doesn’t.
And if you start using crosscourt + backhand targets, you’ll suddenly feel like you have way more time and way fewer panic shots.

For more pickleball tips, take a look at DUPR’s blogs page here.

A Year of Alignment: Ratings, Growth, and the Bigger Picture

The recent partnership announcements between USA Pickleball and DUPR, along with the APP Tour, feel like a major step toward something the sport has needed for a long time: true alignment.

From my perspective, both as a competitor and through my part-time work with DUPR, having more match data living in one place matters. When players are consistently matched against their true peers, competition becomes fairer, results feel more meaningful, and trust in the system grows. Increased data, transparency, and cooperation across organizations are exactly what’s needed to make ratings more accurate and more useful, for both pros and amateurs, long term.

Pickleball Went Global in 2025 and It’s Just Getting Started

One of the most exciting parts of 2025 was witnessing pickleball’s international growth firsthand. From PPA Asia hosting seven tournaments between July and December, to the continued success of MLP Australia, and the emergence of high-level pro events in India, Vietnam, Malaysia, and beyond, it’s clear this sport is no longer just growing, it’s accelerating.

Competing internationally gave me a new appreciation for how passionate these communities are and how quickly the level of play is rising. I’d love to see similar momentum build in Europe, because nothing speeds up development like American players mixing with top international talent and pushing each other to a higher standard.

Watching the Top of DUPR Heading Into 2026

As we move into 2026, I’m especially curious to see whether we’ll get any shake-ups in the Top 5 of the DUPR rankings. Right now, those spots are held by some of the most dominant and consistent players in the game:

Men’s Doubles

• Ben Johns
• Andrei Daescu
• JW Johnson
• Gabriel Tardio
• Hayden Patriquin
  
  

Men’s Singles

• Hunter Johnson
• Chris Haworth
• Christian Alshon
• Quang Duong 
• Federico Staksrud
  
  

Women’s Doubles

• Anna Leigh Waters
• Anna Bright
• Jorja Johnson
• Hurricane Tyra Black
• Jade Kawamoto
  
  

Women’s Singles

• Anna Leigh Waters
• Kate Fahey
• Parris Todd
• Brooke Buckner
• Catherine Parenteau

On the men’s side, I’m putting my bets on Will Howells or Eric Oncins in doubles, and Roscoe Bellamy in singles. All three closed out 2025 strong, and if they can keep building consistency and turning deep runs into regular podium finishes, I think they have a real shot at cracking the Top 5.

On the women’s side, it’s a tougher call given how dominant and consistent the current Top 3 have been. There wasn’t much movement at the top in 2025, but heading into 2026, my picks would be Catherine Parenteau in doubles and Lea Jansen in singles to push into that No.4 or No.5 spots in the rankings. Both are elite players in their own right, and I’m predicting a more consistent year for each, especially when it comes to regular podium finishes.

2025 Recap: A Year That Shaped Me

2025 was a year of firsts, growth, and perseverance both professionally and personally. The pro pickleball world was nothing short of wild, and while I entered the season with clear goals, some were achieved and others now carry directly into 2026.

On a personal note, I got married in February at home, surrounded by family and friends. Planning it was stressful, but it was easily one of the most meaningful moments of my life. Having a supportive partner truly makes all the difference.

This year also pushed me to think beyond competition and what life after pickleball could look like. I expanded my off-court experiences through clinics, exhibitions, pro-ams, community events, and part-time work with DUPR, while becoming even more involved in the broader pickleball community. In a social-media-driven world, I made a conscious effort to share the real me, through instructional content, match highlights, and day-in-the-life moments, with a goal of providing consistent, genuine value on a weekly basis in 2026.

Professionally, I competed in my first international tournament at the Global Sports Grand Slam Pro League in India. While there’s still plenty of room for growth, the passion for pickleball there is undeniable, and Asia is clearly on the rise.

Competitively, I’m proud of the consistency I found this season: 20 medals across the APP Tour, the US Open, and USA Nationals (9 Gold, 7 Silver, 4 Bronze). I came close to multiple Triple Crowns and fell just short of singles gold more than once, being experiences that only fueled my motivation heading into 2026.

Looking back, 2025 challenged me, shaped me, and set the foundation for what’s next. And honestly, I’m just getting started.

To follow my journey, keep checking out DUPR’s blog page, where DUPR publishes many pickleball tips and blogs I share. 

A new year always brings fresh motivation. New tournaments, new leagues, new routines, and that familiar thought: “This year I will improve my DUPR rating.”

But if you’ve been playing pickleball for a while, you already know something important:
Motivation alone doesn’t last. Structure does.

Research across sports, psychology, and performance (Locke & Latham, 2002; Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006; Harkin et al., 2016) shows that players who define clear goals and track them the right way improve more consistently and stay motivated longer than those who rely on vibes and good intentions.

Let’s break down how to set pickleball goals for 2026 that actually work, and how to track them without burning out.

Why Goal-Setting Matters 

Decades of research in performance psychology shows that specific, challenging goals outperform vague goals like “play more” or “get better.”

One of the most cited frameworks, Goal-Setting Theory (Locke & Latham, 2002), found that:

• Specific goals lead to higher performance than “do your best” goals
• Challenging but realistic goals increase focus and persistence
• Feedback and progress tracking significantly improve results

In other words, “I want to improve my pickleball game” isn’t enough.
Your brain needs clarity to stay engaged.

Use SMART Goals for Pickleball

SMART goals are one of the simplest and most effective ways to turn motivation into action.

Here’s how they apply to pickleball:

S – Specific

Bad: “I want to win more games.”
Better: “I want to improve my third-shot drop consistency.”

M – Measurable

Bad: “I want to feel more confident at the kitchen.”
Better: “I want to reduce unforced errors at the kitchen during league play.”

A – Achievable

Set goals that challenge you without setting you up for frustration. If you’re a 3.5 player, “turn pro this year” probably isn’t the move.

A jump from 3.0 to 3.5 is very achievable with consistent work; going from 2.0 to 6.0 in one season is asking a bit too much.

R – Relevant‍

If your main goal is improving your DUPR rating, your time should reflect that:

• More tournament play
• More structured practice
• Fewer “random games with no purpose”

T – Time-bound

Goals without timelines fade fast.
Example: “By June 2026” or “by the end of the Collegiate National Championship”

Example SMART pickleball goal:
“By June 2026, I want to improve my DUPR rating by 0.25 by playing at least one DUPR Verified event per month and tracking my match results.”

The Missing Piece: How You Track Goals Matters

Tracking goals helps, but only if you do it the right way.

A large meta-analysis on goal progress monitoring (Harkin et al., 2016) found that tracking progress significantly improves goal achievement, as long as the tracking doesn’t become overwhelming or self-critical.

Here’s how to track without losing motivation:

Track Behaviors, Not Just Results

One of the biggest mistakes players make is tracking only outcomes:

• Wins and losses
• Ratings
• Medals

Those matter, but they’re not fully in your control.

Instead, track process goals, like:

• Number of matches played per month
• Practice sessions completed
• Events entered
• Specific habits (drops, resets, serve depth)

Research on self-concordant goals (Sheldon & Elliot, 1999) shows that people stay motivated longer when goals focus on actions they control, not just results.

Use Light, Consistent Check-Ins (Not Daily Pressure)

You don’t need a daily spreadsheet.

Research shows that weekly or biweekly check-ins work better than obsessive daily tracking, which often leads to burnout or avoidance. If your goal is to improve your DUPR Rating, there’s no need to check it every single day. Checking in every couple of weeks is usually enough to stay informed without getting frustrated. Trust the process.

Try this instead. Once per week, ask yourself:

• How many of my matches were logged into DUPR?
• How many practice sessions did I play?
• Did I work on my main focus area?
• What improved compared to last week?

Small, consistent reflection beats perfection every time.

Plan for Motivation Drops (Before They Happen)

Another powerful strategy comes from research on implementation intentions (Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006).

Instead of hoping motivation shows up, plan for when it doesn’t.

Example:

• “If I feel frustrated after a bad match, then I’ll focus on one technical takeaway instead of judging the result.”
  
  
• “If I skip a week, then I’ll schedule my next session immediately.”
  
  

Players who use “if–then” plans are far more likely to stay consistent over time.

Your 2026 Pickleball Reset

As we start 2026, here’s the simple framework to keep in mind:

1. Define 1–3 SMART pickleball goals
   
   
2. Track habits and reps, not just results
   
   
3. Check in weekly, not obsessively
   
   
4. Plan for setbacks with if–then strategies
   
   
5. Focus on who you’re becoming, not just what you’re winning
   
   

Great pickleball improvement doesn’t come from one big resolution. It comes from clear goals, consistent action, and smart tracking over time.

If you do that, 2026 won’t just feel different; it’ll play different.

For more pickleball tips, check out our blogs page HERE.

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Recently named a DUPR Verified Club, Pad & Paddle Pickleball Club isn’t trying to squeeze pickleball into a retail box. Instead, the team set out to create something that feels bigger, more open, and more intentional for players of all levels.

“We wanted to give pickleball players an arena experience, not a retail experience,” the Pad & Paddle team shared. “High ceilings, full-size courts, and space to actually play the game the right way.”

Built Big, On Purpose

Pad & Paddle spans 26,000 square feet and sits right in the center of the DFW Metroplex, making it an easy meeting point for players coming from different parts of the city.

“One of the biggest things for us was accessibility,” they explained. “If you’re meeting friends who live in different areas around Dallas–Fort Worth, this is a place that works for everyone.”

All seven courts are full-size (60 x 30) and built with space in mind. No shortened courts. No tight corners.

“We didn’t want players to feel cramped,” they said. “Everyone deserves room to move, reset, and really enjoy the game.”

Who Is Pad & Paddle Built For?

The short answer? Everyone.

“We don’t try to force players into one category,” the team explained. “We’ve had beginners walk in for the first time, and we’ve had players with DUPR ratings of 4.5 and above playing here too.”

New players can take advantage of free beginner lessons, while recreational and advanced players enjoy the same high-quality courts and open layout.

“Our goal is simple,” they added. “Let people play how they want to play.”

More Than Just Courts

Pad & Paddle was designed as a social space, not just a place to hit balls.

The facility holds a liquor license, offers drinks and snacks, and has plans to expand with a lounge area and food trucks outside. Birthday parties, group events, and casual hangouts are all part of the long-term vision.

“You can come here to train seriously,” they said, “or you can come here to play, relax, and enjoy time with friends. We wanted both.”

Why Becoming a DUPR Verified Club Mattered

For Pad & Paddle, integrating DUPR early wasn’t an afterthought.

“We’re surrounded by strong pickleball communities,” they explained. “There are advanced players everywhere, and many clubs nearby are already full.”

By becoming a DUPR Verified Club, Pad & Paddle made sure competitive players could step in immediately and find meaningful matchups.

“If players care about their DUPR rating, they want fair games and real competition,” they said. “We wanted to offer that from day one.”

The result is better match quality, clearer skill separation, and an environment where competitive players feel confident bringing their game.

Memberships Designed Around How You Play

Pad & Paddle took a different approach to memberships.

Instead of a single flat option, memberships are built around time of day and frequency of play, keeping costs as accessible as possible.

“The idea is simple,” the team said. “The more you play, the less you pay.”

Options include:

• Time-based memberships
• Founder memberships with added value
• Family plans
• Senior and veteran discounts
• Promotional offers around the grand opening

Top-tier memberships will also include DUPR+ at no additional cost, supporting players who want deeper insights into their game and rating progression.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Now that Pad & Paddle is officially a DUPR Verified Club, the focus shifts to what’s next.

“Our vision for 2026 is to go all in on competition,” they shared. “DUPR nights, competitive events, and tournaments are all part of the plan.”

With ambassadors already involved and strong ties to the local pickleball community, the facility aims to become a hub for both competitive and recreational play.

A Place Built to Grow With the Sport

Pad & Paddle isn’t trying to reinvent pickleball. It’s trying to give it room to breathe. From full-size courts and high ceilings to flexible memberships and verified competition, everything about the facility was designed with the player experience in mind.

As a DUPR Verified Club, Pad & Paddle is now positioned to offer something that matters just as much as great courts: games that count, progress you can track, and a community built to grow together.

Interested in becoming a DUPR Verified Club? Apply here. 

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