Search results

In the largest collegiate regional to date, Clemson rose as a formidable contender to claim victory and secure the crown for themselves. They went through both the #1 UVA and #2 UNC in the playoffs - both of the past National Champions. This win makes them undefeated in both of their attended Regionals (won the 2023 Georgia Regional), and the second school with multiple Regional wins (Utah Tech is first with 4).

In total, there were 177 players from 20 different schools from Maine to Miami at the Virginia Super Regional. Penn State University, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Maine, and Robert Morris University all made their DUPR Collegiate Pickleball debut at the event. The 30-team challenger bracket was also the largest ever for a Regional, with Colter Cox and Luke Moretz from NC State winning it. On Sunday, there were back-to-back Dreambreakers on the livestream, with #1 UVA escaping #8 Miami in the Quarterfinals, and then #3 Clemson closing the door on #2 UNC in the Semifinals. 

Clemson, UVA, and UF obtained 3 out of the 4 bids to the 2024 Collegiate National Championship by advancing to the semifinals. UNC, who also made the semifinals, already secured a bid at the Townebank College Cup in February.

There was a Battle for the Bid between Miami and JMU to decide the owner of the last bid, as they were the only two eligible Quarterfinalists. JMU claimed the bid with a 3-0 performance, and have locked in their spot for Nationals in November. 

A special thanks to Performance Pickleball in Richmond, VA for hosting the first ever Virginia Super Regional! Another thanks goes to our DUPR Collegiate Pickleball partners: JOOLA, HEAD, GAMMA, Rally Republic, Total Pickleball, and OOFOS.

In competitive pickleball, stress is a given. But stress doesn’t have to debilitate your performance. It can actually facilitate it.

Winning between the ears starts with the mindset you cultivate.

Winning matters. Being your best matters. Otherwise, you wouldn’t feel stressed. The problem is many pickleball players view stress as the enemy. It’s not the enemy. It’s the gateway to growth!

When you adopt the right mindset, you can overcome fear, embrace challenges, and unlock your potential. But you must pass through stress to achieve what you want.

There are four stress mindsets, each with its own challenges and opportunities. But there is one that, if you adopt it, will empower you to embrace challenges and overcome fear. Let’s dig in.

Stress Mindset #1: Stress is Debilitating.

Does that ring a bell? This is where we view stress as our mortal enemy, something to escape from at any cost.

But what if we told you stress is just your body preparing you for a challenge?

Instead of fleeing from stress, see it as a signal that you're about to do something effortful. Let’s get real for a moment. Nothing great has ever been accomplished without facing significant difficulty.

To take on difficult challenges, your body has a hard-wired stress response that prepares you for action. Lean into it, embrace it. Because uncomfortable thoughts, emotions, and feelings are often what you need to rise to the occasion.

Stress Mindset #2: Stress is to be Willed Through.

This mindset views stress as something that can be overcome by sheer willpower.

Have you ever heard of David Goggins? Yep, the former Navy Seal who runs bare-chested and calls out your weaknesses. Yeah, that guy.

People with this mindset tend to push through stress just fine, but they oftentimes don’t make great teammates. This is not who you want with you in a competitive doubles match.

While resilience is important, it shouldn’t come at the expense of others. Understand that not everyone may be able to handle stress the same way you do. Try to balance your willpower with understanding and empathy for others.

Stress Mindset #3: Stress is a Learning Opportunity.

This mindset views stress as life’s classroom. This is not ideal.

People with this mindset often focus on the worst possible outcome and rationalize why failing would be OK. This can be detrimental to performance.

In the final moments of a competitive match, you don’t want your teammate to think like this.

Michael Jordan wasn’t looking to learn from failure in the Finals. Rather, he wanted the ball in his hands. He trusted his skills and confidentially took action even in the face of adversity.

While learning from failure is beneficial, you shouldn’t focus on failure during a stressful moment. Instead, shift your attention to what you can control and take confident action.

Stress Mindset #4: Stress is Enhancing.

This is the ideal mindset—viewing stress as a challenge that can enhance one's performance.

This is the optimal mindset where stress is viewed as a challenge or an opportunity. It involves seeing stress as a source of energy that can enhance performance. Remember, stress is your brain and body preparing you to do something effortful.

Stress can either debilitate or facilitate performance and by leveraging this mindset, you can use the extra energy generated by stress to perform to your potential.

To build a winning stress mindset, you need to reframe stress as enhancing. That means seeing stress as:

• A sign you care
• Excitement
• Determination
• A challenge or opportunity

So, take a moment and think about how you approach stress. If you aren’t in the right mindset, just know that mindsets aren’t fixed. With practice and awareness, your perspective can change.

Ready to Take Action?

Ready to take your mental game to the next level? Check out AIM7, the ultimate pickleball trainer, and its masterclass library of content on developing mental fitness, developed by world-class performance psychologists.

Don't let stress hold you back any longer. Embrace it, harness it, and unleash your full potential on the pickleball court. Start your journey towards a winning stress mindset today with AIM7!

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. Players and operators can visit www.dupr.com to sign up and learn more.

Written By: Alex Auerbach, PhD, and Erik Korem, PhD.

Honcho Pickleball League, the premier national amateur pickleball league, and DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), today announced a partnership to drive growth and local skill-based playing opportunities for players across the country. 

Honcho Pickleball League is one of the largest amateur leagues in the country with capacity to support up to 3,200 players across 12 states with 20 venue partners for this upcoming round of seasons taking place from late April through June, and has established itself as a leader in the grassroots growth of pickleball. As part of the partnership, Honcho will adopt DUPR as the official rating system of the league, and DUPR will support Honcho as it looks to enter into new markets and add new venue partners to offer even more opportunities for players to compete. 

“We are excited to dive into this relationship with DUPR,” said Chris Mott, Chief Revenue Officer, Honcho Pickleball League. “Their support not only provides us with one of the largest, most detailed player databases in the sport, but also aligns with our mission to provide exceptional pickleball experiences and development opportunities for our players. We look forward to a fruitful relationship that brings added excitement and competition to our communities across the nation.”

DUPR’s solution provides organizers with the ability to showcase their events to the most active and engaged community in pickleball, and enables players to find more opportunities to play at their level wherever they are. The foundation of DUPR is its industry-leading rating, which analyzes match results to provide an accurate, reliable evaluation of a players skill level across age, gender and location. With DUPR, organizers can create more competitive opportunities for players by organizing events and matches by player ratings, and players can know their level to find better, more fun competition. 

“DUPR is committed to democratizing pickleball, collaborating with teams, leagues and operators everywhere to give them access to technology that supports even better pickleball experiences,” said Tito Machado, DUPR CEO.  “We are excited to showcase Honcho Pickleball League to our community, support their players with a dynamic, accurate rating system, and aid their expansion into new markets to grow the game we all love.”

DUPR supports players, organizers and operators in pickleball with free-to-use tools to make the pickleball experience even more fun and ultimately driving the growth of the game. From its global rating system to its dynamic digital community where players can find and connect with matches, leagues, clubs and tournaments, DUPR is providing the fast-growing sport with the foundational framework to ensure enjoyment and fun for generations to come. 

###

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. Players and operators can visit www.dupr.com to sign up and learn more. 

About Honcho Pickleball League 

Honcho Pickleball League is the premier destination for pickleball enthusiasts who crave the perfect blend of competition, community and fun. Our league exudes confidence and swagger, providing consistent, fully administered game play on a weekly basis. We are the epitome of high-energy, fostering an electrifying atmosphere both on and off the court. Ranging from mid-season happy hours to championship gatherings to league merch to big winners pots and packages, this is not your standard local league and community!

We embody a winning spirit, striving to create an innovative and inclusive environment to continue to support in the greater effort of growing the sport of pickleball. Our league offers consistent weekly match play with multiple skill set divisions to choose from to ensure that players can excel in their passion for pickleball, week over week!. We proudly associate with top pickleball brands, ensuring an unparalleled experience for all. Visit www.honchopickle.com for more.

AI’s Pickleball Potential

Sports aren’t typically the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution. However, AI in sports is now synonymous with big business. Estimates value the sports AI market at more than $2 billion, and research suggests that it may reach more than $7 billion by 2027. Currently, AI is being used for everything from training NFL players to shaving time off their 40-yard dash to predicting and preventing injuries on the basketball court. And it’s poised to have a significant impact on the sport of pickleball.

Harnessing the Power of AI for Pickleball

AI systems use mathematical algorithms that generate highly accurate analysis in real time. For pickleball, data can be collected via wearable sensors and high-definition motion capture cameras to record players' footwork, paddle angles, and shot choices. This data can be transformed into a format processed by an algorithm and can be used to train the AI model, allowing it to learn patterns and relationships. The model is then integrated into an application or program and is the basis for making predictions on new data that is collected. The more data it acquires, the more the algorithm adapts and the better its ability to simulate human intelligent processes. Coaches can then reference the data and immediately adjust a player’s mechanics and techniques, repeat the drill or session, and compare results.

But AI isn’t just for pickleball pros. Recreational players are already enjoying the benefits of AI. Training tools like SwingVision and PB Vision bring the power of AI to local courts without the need for high-end equipment or professional-grade video. By uploading footage shot on a smartphone, these systems can analyze player movements, pinpoint problems in swing speed and follow through, and provide suggestions for improvement. In addition, AI is becoming an integral part of emerging pickleball virtual reality (VR) simulations that produce engaging immersive, customized training programs.

In addition, the recent partnership between leading global pickleball rating system DUPR and sport and AI analytics technology pioneers Playsight has opened up new possibilities. PlaySight’s AI automated highlights also allow players to relive their best moments in a match instantly. The collaboration promises to redefine how players experience and interact with the sport.

Preventing Injury and Speeding Recovery

Off the court, AI is showing great benefits in improving player health and conditioning. Systems can evaluate heart rate and joint stress and alert players to potential injury. Next-generation pulse oximeters incorporate AI into handheld devices that measure respiratory rate, temperature, and blood saturation levels. 

AI can also help accelerate recovery times from injuries. Trainers and physical therapists are increasingly relying on AI-generated results to create personalized rehab programs to get players back on the court faster and prevent re-injury.

In addition, manufacturers of pickleball equipment, especially paddle companies, are using AI-powered systems to determine material specifications and performance metrics for the design of their newest products. Because of its ability to perform analysis on a microscopic level, AI can identify the optimal materials for improved power, control, and durability and give manufacturers next-level customization options to develop paddles suited for a variety of playing styles. These advancements are poised to propel paddle sales, which are projected to reach $253.8 million by 2028 and are currently more than $125 million in the US alone.

It's an exciting time for pickleball and AI will continue to play an ever-expanding role in the sport’s future. As more players tap into AI’s ability to achieve better results on the court, it’s likely there’ll be a corresponding increase in their DUPR ratings.

‍

[Austin, TX] – DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), the leading global rating system in Pickleball, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with PlaySight, a pioneer in sports AI and analytics technology. This collaboration aims to elevate the pickleball experience for players, clubs, tournaments, and leagues worldwide.

DUPR, renowned for its unparalleled accuracy and global scale, assigns players a rating between 2.000-8.000 based on match results, regardless of age, gender, location, or skill level. Leveraging this expertise, the partnership will integrate DUPR ratings seamlessly into PlaySight's innovative platform, offering players increased access to advanced AI technology to gain a better understanding of their game play, and unlock advanced analytics and insights into their performance. 

The integration enables players to easily view their DUPR rating alongside their match footage, providing valuable insights into their performance and progression. It also introduces  "DUPR Moments" through PlaySight's AI automated highlights for pickleball. Players can relive their best moments of the match instantly, empowering them to analyze and improve their game efficiently.

"This partnership marks a significant milestone in the evolution of pickleball," said Tito Machado, CEO at DUPR. "By combining DUPR's accurate, global rating system with PlaySight's cutting-edge AI technology, we're delivering an all-encompassing solution that enhances the pickleball experience for players, organizers, and fans alike."

Chen Shachar, CEO of PlaySight, shared his enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, "We are excited to collaborate with DUPR to persistently introduce cutting-edge technology and innovation to the pickleball community. The integration of DUPR ratings into our platform not only provides players with invaluable insights but also amplifies their overall engagement with the sport."

This partnership between DUPR and PlaySight represents a significant step forward in the pickleball landscape. With the integration of DUPR ratings, statistics, and more into PlaySight's AI platform, the collaboration promises to redefine how players experience and interact with the game.

For more information about DUPR and PlaySight, visit www.dupr.com and [PlaySight website] respectively.

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. Players and operators can visit www.dupr.com to sign up and learn more. 

About PlaySight 

PlaySight is a global sports technology company that is pioneering the next generation of sports AI and analytics. Its innovative technology enhances the sports experience for players, coaches, and fans across various sports, including pickleball.

‍

At DUPR, we're committed to providing accurate ratings and a fair playing field for all pickleball players. That's why we've recently made changes to our match validation process for recreational games. In this blog post, we'll explore the significance of validating your matches and how these changes enhance the integrity of our rating system.

Understanding Match Validation

Validating matches is vital for maintaining the credibility of player ratings. By requiring validation from all players involved, we ensure that only legitimate results contribute to ratings, fostering fairness and accuracy across the platform.

How Match Validation Works

Upon entering a recreational match on the DUPR platform, all participants receive a notification via the app, alerting them to the logged match awaiting validation. For the match to be validated and impact player ratings, all participants must affirm the match outcome. This consensus approach ensures that the match results are accepted by everyone involved, reflecting a true and fair outcome.

Improved Validation Process

With our updated validation process, a recreational match is considered validated only when all players involved have confirmed the results. This change eliminates any ambiguity and ensures that matches are accurately recorded on our platform. If you notice that your match hasn't been validated yet, it simply means that one or more players still need to confirm the results.

Managing Validation Status

If only one participant validates the match, it remains in a "pending validation" state. During this period, the match does not affect any player ratings and waits for further action from other participants. In cases where a participant disagrees with the match entry, they have the option to reject the match. Upon rejection by any participant, the match is automatically removed from the platform to ensure that only consensus-approved matches impact player ratings.

Streamlining Communication

To streamline the validation process and expedite communication with other players, we've introduced a convenient group chat feature within the app. Initiating a group chat allows you to easily coordinate with your fellow players and confirm match results. 

Simply follow these steps to start a group chat:

1. Tap on "My DUPR" at the bottom right corner of the app.
2. Click on the chat icon located at the top right, next to the settings icon.
3. Add up to four players to the chat and discuss the match results.

By validating your matches and participating in our updated validation process, you're contributing to the accuracy and reliability of our rating system. Together, we can uphold the integrity of pickleball competition and ensure fair play for all players.

If you have any questions or need assistance with match validation, don't hesitate to reach out to our support team. We're here to help and ensure that your pickleball experience on DUPR is seamless and enjoyable.

David McCune says the India pickleball market is ‘poised to go boom’ and that the nation’s technically adept players pose a real threat to the USA’s hegemony in the sport.

DUPR Executive Director David McCune was "blown away" by the level of play and scale of pickleball participation on a recent overseas activation at the Indian Open in the vast, vibrant city of Mumbai.

February's Indian Open, organized by Global Sports, boasted a $150,000 prize purse, making it the most lucrative pickleball tournament ever played outside North America. 

David's observations highlight that players from sub-continental and Southeast Asian regions bring exciting new skill sets to the court that are set to provide a stern challenge to the USA's hegemony in the sport. What was even starker is that when a nation of 1.4 billion people gets a taste for a new sport, it can create high volumes of participation quickly!

"The region is poised to go 'boom!'" smiled David after meeting with partners, athletes, sponsors, club owners, local dignitaries and celebrities in Mumbai to raise awareness of the benefits of DUPR (or "humanizing the algorithm," as he neatly calls it).

David added: "The best question about the level of play in India is not to ask how far they are behind the States, but how far along they are. Let me tell you, these guys are doing very well indeed!

The tournament was a real eye-opener for some of the US pros. When they got into those rapid hand battles, it wasn't a series of blocks and speedups — the Indian athletes were actually redirecting their attacks with spin on the ball. These guys are used to badminton where a shuttlecock reaches speeds of nearly 500 km/h, so pickleball is virtually in slow motion for them."

David was particularly taken by the current Indian No. 1 Harsh Mehta: "Until he hits it, you just don't know whether he's going to roll it, cut it or flick it. I watched him break the ankles of one of our top 10 pros numerous times! This guy is incredible."

Brian Omwando was another competitor in the Indian Open draw. An ex-tennis player turned pickleball fanatic, he opened Nairobi Pickleball Club last May and has helped embed DUPR as the go-to system in tournaments in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Brian led a squad of five players to Mumbai (it was his first-ever plane flight).

"It was a totally new experience for us - seeing how players warm up, the different drills they do, and tactics like stacking, which we are now including in our practice sessions. The standard was a different level but we were amazed how well we played against players who have been playing for many more years than us."

British player Louis Laville reached the round of 16 in the men's singles where he fell to India’s Rohit Patil. He was also bowled over by the host nation's rising stature in the sport.

“Pickleball in India is absolutely exploding," he said. "They have coaching programs, investment, sponsorships, and financial backers.

“What the tournament showed us is that the UK and Europe need to get on with developing pickleball facilities and getting more people playing very quickly, because the rest of the world is starting to motor ahead in terms of numbers and level of players and investment into the sport. I am very excited to watch the top Indian players take on some of the top pros at April’s US Open!"

^{Written By: Mike Dale}

Continued Momentum for DUPR Collegiate Pickleball As It Establishes Foothold as Leader in Collegiate Space

‍

Austin, TX and Dallas, TX (March 11, 2024) – DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) and Rally Republic, the first California-inspired pickleball lifestyle brand, are teaming up to enhance DUPR Collegiate Pickleball events and bring more resources and support to college pickleball overall. 

‍

The partnership marks another significant milestone for DUPR Collegiate Pickleball, the fastest-growing and largest collegiate pickleball tournament series. Pickleball’s growth continues to skyrocket, and the collegiate space is no different. With more and more colleges and universities developing pickleball club teams, DUPR’s Collegiate Pickleball tournament series offers the most regional and national opportunities for  individual and team collegiate competition, with the added bonus of competing for scholarship money. 

‍

“We are thrilled to support DUPR Collegiate Pickleball and partner with DUPR to offer more incentives, perks and opportunities for student athletes to compete in the world’s best game,” said Chad Phillips, president of Rally Republic. “DUPR Collegiate is the sport’s premier college series and we are looking forward to exposing our brand in front of student athletes and fans, and generating even more excitement and buzz for pickleball among this audience.” 

‍

Rally Republic’s line of licensed paddles featuring school and university names and mascots are incredibly popular with athletes, alumni and fans alike, not only for showcasing school pride but also for their high-quality handling and performance. As part of the partnership, Rally Republic will have an onsite presence at eight 2024 DUPR Collegiate Events, including the Super Regionals and both the Individual and Team Collegiate National Championships, to enable players and fans to engage with the brand and its paddles onsite.

‍

“Both our organizations are dedicated to growing the game and building a global community of passionate players. It’s a natural fit to welcome Rally Republic onboard as partners of DUPR Collegiate Pickleball,” said Tito Machado, DUPR CEO. “DUPR Collegiate events are incredibly fun, high energy and the competition is top-notch. We are excited to build out activation opportunities for our players and fans with some of the best names in pickleball that will create an even more exciting environment for players and fans alike.”

‍

DUPR has led the way in establishing competitive collegiate pickleball by creating compelling opportunities for players to compete, earn scholarship prize money and identify new pathways to continue to play. Since hosting its first college event in 2022, DUPR Collegiate Pickleball has hosted 16 events for 1300 athletes – including the largest collegiate pickleball tournament ever with over 350 players – and contributed over $250,000 in scholarship money and travel stipends for players.

‍

As the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. with more than 48.3 million Americans playing pickleball, San Diego-based Rally Republic launched in 2023 as the first California-inspired lifestyle brand created specifically for pickleball enthusiasts. Founded by a team of successful entrepreneurs in the e-commerce, apparel, and licensed sports sectors, they saw an opportunity to bring their expertise to the world of pickleball and create a brand that offers high-quality yet design-focused pickleball paddles, which are now available for sale online at www.RallyRepublic.com and on Amazon.com, and in-store at U.S. college bookstores and sporting goods retail stores including Rally House and Gameday Spirit. Rally Republic’s product lineup will soon expand with plans to unveil apparel, equipment, and accessory lines.

‍

For a full schedule of events, please visit dupr.com/collegiate 

‍

###

‍

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. Players and operators can visit www.dupr.com to sign up and learn more. 

‍

About Rally Republic

San Diego-based Rally Republic is the first California-inspired lifestyle brand created specifically for pickleball enthusiasts. With a mission to provide both top-quality and design-focused pickleball paddles, apparel, equipment, and accessories, Rally Republic’s product lineup embodies the vibrant culture and laid-back spirit of the West Coast. Rally Republic also has licensing partnerships with most major U.S. colleges and universities, sororities, and fraternities, enabling pickleball players to showcase their college, sports team, and/or Greek spirit while on the court. For more information, visit Rally Republic:

• Online at www.RallyRepublic.com
• On Instagram at www.instagram.com/rallyrepublicofficial/
• On Facebook at www.facebook.com/therallyrepublic
• On TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@rallyrepublic

‍

Media Contact

Erica Annon / DUPR / erica@mydupr.com