There are 1,991 pickleball players in the U.S. with a DUPR rating of 5.0 or higher. Florida is home to 277 of them. Alaska has one.

We pulled DUPR data as of October 6, 2026 to map where the country’s top-rated players live. Here’s the full breakdown of 5.0 pickleball players by state, plus what the numbers say about where competitive pickleball runs deepest.

What a 5.0 DUPR rating means

DUPR ratings run on a scale from 2.000 to 8.000. A 5.0 is where advanced players start to separate themselves from the pack. These are the players winning medals in top amateur brackets, and many of them compete on pro and semi-pro circuits. 

Nobody self-rates into this group. Every rating comes from real, verified match results, so a 5.0 has to be earned on the court and held there. 

The top 10 states for 5.0+ pickleball players

1. Florida: 277
2. California: 238
3. Utah: 110
4. Texas: 108
5. New York: 76
6. Washington: 73
7. North Carolina: 71 (tie)
8. Ohio: 71 (tie)
9. Georgia: 61 (tie)
10. Illinois: 61 (tie)

Florida and California sit in a tier of their own. Together they account for 515 players, about 26% of every 5.0+ player in the country. Year-round outdoor play and dense club scenes make a strong case for why.

The top 10 states hold 58% of the nation’s 5.0+ players. The other 41 (counting D.C.) split the rest.

Utah plays above its size

Utah is the standout on this list. With 110 players rated 5.0 or higher, it edges out Texas for third place.

Texas has roughly nine times Utah’s population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2026). Per resident, Utah has more than twice as many 5.0+ players as Florida. If you’re looking for a tough game, Salt Lake City courts won’t disappoint.

Every state has a 5.0+ player

Here’s a stat we like: all 50 states and Washington, D.C. have at least one player rated 5.0 or above. Mississippi, North Dakota, and Alaska each have exactly one. Those players know their local competition well.

The Midwest also shows up strong. Ohio ties North Carolina at 71, and Michigan (60), Minnesota (54), and Indiana (48) all land in the top 16. Hawaii holds its own too, matching Nevada and Kentucky with 19 players each.

Full list: 5.0 pickleball players by state

Data as of October 6, 2026

Ratings move after every verified match, so these numbers will shift as the season goes on. Want to see who’s leading your state, or how close you are to 5.0? Check the latest rankings, search players near you, or open the DUPR app and keep logging matches.

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