This week, we released an update to the DUPR algorithm: ratings now adjust based on a player’s performance compared to the expected score. You can read the full update details here.
We’ve received a lot of good and thoughtful feedback — along with some great questions and concerns. Below, we’re addressing some of the most common comments to help explain the thinking behind the update and what it means for you.
“It doesn’t make sense to go down with a win.”
We know it’s never enjoyable to see your rating drop — especially after a win.
Our goal as a rating system is to most accurately measure skill and predict future performance. DUPR is not a reward system, it’s a rating system.
So while a win may earn you a trophy, a better seed, or advancement in a tournament, it doesn’t always mean your rating should go up. If you scored fewer points than expected, that’s a signal you underperformed relative to your current rating, and we adjust accordingly. The reverse is also true: if you lose but overperform, your rating can rise.
In all cases, your DUPR reflects performance, not just outcomes, because that’s what makes the system more accurate for everyone.
For more information, check out this blog.
“It makes sense to go up for overperforming in a loss — but not down with a win.”
That sounds nice in theory, but it doesn’t work in practice.
Each player’s rating exists within a larger ecosystem. While we aim to assign the most accurate rating to every individual, we also have to maintain the balance of the overall rating system.
If neither team goes down after a match, the entire distribution would drift upward over time. To keep the system stable and meaningful, one team’s rating goes up and the other’s goes down, based on how each performed relative to expectations, not just the result.
“Elements like net cords, wind, or fatigue make point-level granularity unfair.”
We get it — not every match is played in perfect conditions. Sometimes the wind, net cords, or fatigue work against you. But here’s the reality: those same factors can just as easily work for you in other matches.
Your DUPR is built from the full body of your results, not any single match. One unlucky day won’t define your rating, especially if it’s already well-established. There will always be some natural swings, but over time, your rating will reflect your true level as long as your performance does too.
“This hurts high-rated players — there’s no reason for them to play.”
In each match, both teams have the chance to move up or down based on how they perform compared to expectations.
Our goal as a rating system is to most accurately rate players according to their performance in match results, which is a consistent approach to all levels of players.
“Will this apply to past matches?”
No, this update is not being applied retroactively at this time.
This algorithm change is forward-looking. Player ratings will adjust gradually as new matches are played, just like they always have.
As you continue to play, the system will naturally reflect your performance under the new model, improving accuracy across the board.
“Isn’t this just the old DUPR algorithm?”
It might feel familiar, and that’s intentional. This update reintroduces the idea of performance vs. expectation, which was part of a previous version of DUPR. But it’s not a return to the old system.
DUPR has evolved over time, with updates focused on transparency, user experience, and rating accuracy. Since that earlier version, we’ve added features like near-instant rating updates and more visibility into how each match affects your rating.
This change builds on those improvements, not by going backward, but by combining proven ideas with the features players now expect. We’re committed to continually refining DUPR to best reflect player performance and the evolving game of pickleball.
For more information, check out our How It Works page.
