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This month we’re shining the spotlight on our friends at PALA Pickleball, the largest indoor pickleball club in Texas and a DUPR Platinum Club member!

PALA Pickleball has something for everyone, offering leagues, open play, clinics, drills, pickleball tournaments, and special events. With 11 indoor state-of-the-art courts with fixed (permanent) professional nets, and 8 outdoor courts for sunny days, suffice it to say players are able to get plenty of pickle time.

A club by and for the community

Besides state-of-the-art facilities, PALA prides itself on having a vibrant community of players of all ages and walks of life. The club’s founders understand what pickleball is all about: community.

As club founder Kaitlyn Myers says: “One of the great things about pickleball is that it brings people together from all different walks of life. Our goal is to provide a space where everyone is welcomed, and we will make sure everyone feels like they have a place here.”

That’s also why Kaitlyn and her friend and co-founder Gabby Angulo decided to establish a restaurant-bar at the core of the club. “You need food and drinks. Nothing starts a good conversation better than great food, delicious drinks,” she says.

PALA’s Impressive Growth

Under the leadership of senior partnerships manager Luke Williams, PALA Pickleball Club has seen some impressive growth in recent months, signing sponsorships with Michelob Ultra, Houston Methodist Hospital, and BMW.

The club now has a new full-time head of coaching and four new pro instructors, as well as a PPA and APP player (Ryan Skufca) to rank and continue building the community of pickleball in Houston.

As a DUPR-affiliated club, PALA has organized 500+ tournaments and over 2,000 matches, with ten new Waterfall fight clubs and over $25,000 in cash given away, turning them into the organizer of the largest pickleball tournaments in Houston, Texas!

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Crazy but totally rewarding

Still, starting a pickleball club from scratch is no walk in the park. From finding and purchasing the right land, to running logistics and growing the business, Kaitlyn and Gabby have had several ups and downs along their business journey.

“Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport, and to be part of that journey is crazy but totally rewarding. The hardest part is trying to meet everyone’s needs. We want to cater for everyone, and doing so can be sometimes challenging at times.”

As pickleball continues on its upward journey, clubs like PALA are helping to spread the popularity of the sport while making sure it stays true to its community roots.

To view PALA Pickleball Fight Club events with cash prizes, visit: DUPR Events

More information

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Pricing:

$60 early Membership (yearly)

$80 Month to Month

$20 Open play for 3 hours +

$40 Court Rental

$0 court rental for members

Contact Info:

Website: palapickleball.com

Instagram: @Palapickleball

Facebook: @Palapickleball

Interested in joining Pala Pickleball Club? Check out their website for further information.

DUPR Club Information

In order to become an official DUPR Platinum Club, your club must already be an existing club on our platform.

If you would like to become a club, please reach out to: support@mydupr.com

We caught up with Chris Olson from Pickleball Studio to talk about how pickleball changed his life, why he loves playing at Life Time facilities in winter, and what he thinks of his DUPR rating.

How has the pickleball space evolved since you came into it?



One of the biggest changes is that the age demographic lowered drastically. Before, when I showed up to my local courts, I was the youngest one by about 10, 15 years, and I'm 27. Now when I go to the courts, there's a bunch of people younger than me. There are these two kids that are probably about nine and ten that are always there, and there's a lot more college kids and whatnot.

The second change would probably be seeing how much more attention pickleball gets and how much the media presence has grown. Now, you always see pickleball, it's always in the news somewhere. I swear, every one of my friends knows what it is now. Even within pickleball, the production quality of events or channels has gotten so much better than when I first got into it. Coming from a video background, the commercials felt like they were something from the early 2000s. Social media felt nonexistent. Stuff like that was baffling to me. And now we've just seen all of the numbers go way up in terms of follower count. But also, people have just gotten smarter about how they produce content.

How important is your DUPR rating to you?



For me, it's a good ballpark to check whether I'm generally trending in the right direction. I'm probably not going down, but I don't agonize over it or anything. I just look at the big picture: is it going up over time, or am I going down over time? I don't want to go down, that would bother me.

What are your thoughts on Life Time facilities for Pickleball?

Life Time is huge in my area because the founder actually lives in Minnesota, so I see him pretty regularly and we’ll have a conversation. In Minnesota, it gets so cold in the winter that you can't play outside for at least six or seven months of the year. So for me, I always end up going to a Life Time in the winter because they have a bunch of different venues in my area and they keep expanding them. So in the winter, it's huge for me. And then, as a content creator, being able to bring my laptop and camera, get my stuff done on the court, and then get off, get some food, and work in a lounge is really nice for me. That way, if I want to work a little bit before I play pickleball, I can do that, pack up my stuff, get on the court, and then do a little bit after. So there's a lot of flexibility and then obviously having a gym is really nice.

What is your favorite paddle at the moment?

Right now, I keep going back to the Six Zero Double Black Diamond. If I use a paddle for probably three-plus months, that's probably a good sign because I hit every single paddle that comes out. Prototypes are constantly coming through my doorway, so if something lasts me that long, it's probably a pretty good paddle.

What is your favorite venue?



Indian Wells, it’s such an iconic tennis center; it was just amazing out there. You've got mountains in the background. It's hard to beat that.

What got you into pickleball, and how did it become a core part of your life and career?

My friend and I went to play pickleball one day, and he had no racquet sports background. He's never played tennis, he's never played ping pong, nothing. And he smoked me. I'm pretty sure I got pickled 11 to 1. It was so embarrassing to me how badly I got beat, especially as a former tennis player. So after that, I decided to buy a paddle and play until I could beat him. I got hooked and immediately went and told my wife and my siblings, and they got into it too.

How was the Pickleball Studio channel born?



I was looking at all the videos on pickleball at the time and thought that I could probably make videos that people find more beneficial. I started by making some commercials and social media stuff for some local companies here in Minnesota. Then, I remembered that I had an extensive bunch of background on YouTube and thought I could try making some videos about pickleball, now that I kind of knew the game.

My first video had about 40,000 views within two weeks, which surprised me. People clearly liked this content. That's when I thought, I should figure out how to make this my full-time thing. That didn't happen for many more months. But I was playing so much pickleball, and it was so hard to focus on my actual client work that I realized that if I didn’t make this my job, I’m going to drop the ball on my real work and that was going to be a problem!  

Special thanks to Chris Olson for taking the time to catch up with DUPR and stay tuned for more stories like this soon!

Chris Olson

Instagram: @thepickleballstudio

YouTube: @PickleballStudio

Website: pickleballstudio.com

My Pickleball Coach provides players a DUPR driven 1-1 coaching experience right through their phone anytime and anywhere

DUPR has partnered with MyJourney Technologies which provides elite, one-on-one Pickleball coaching to anyone, anywhere right on their phone. The mobile phone app called My Pickleball Coach provides customized 1-1 coaching based on best-proven methodologies so players improve fast.

Tito Machado, CEO of DUPR, “Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US with players expected to surpass 10 million by 2024. The growth is fantastic but we’re at an inflection point and the sport needs some organizing principles. The first step was creating a consistent rating system to provide a foundation for the most competitive and fun play. Step two is ensuring player improvement. Connecting My Pickleball Coach to DUPR provides players with a personal coach to grow their skills”

Martina Kochli, CEO of MyJourney and a world-class coach says, “My Pickleball Coach provides the world's best Pickleball coaches to players to improve their skills and measure their DUPR progress. When players get better, they play more pickleball, they influence their friends to play, and the sport grows. The “DUPR challenge” is built inside of My Pickleball Coach  and enables players to work on skills that grow their skills and their DUPR.”

Pickleball players from beginners to advanced can download the My Pickleball coach app and run the DUPR Challenge to receive a custom report on their game. They then can activate personalized 1-1 coaching via their phones from top-ranked professional players and coaches like: Collin Johns, Martina Kochli, Jordan Briones, Zane Navratil, and John Cincolaright.

Pickleball players from beginners to advanced can download the My Pickleball coach app now:

• IOS/Apple Download
• Google Play Download
  

About DUPR

DUPR is the gold standard in Pickleball ratings and event management and is the official rating system for MLP and PPA. In November of 2022, DUPR successfully launched a collegiate pickleball national championship in which 16 co-ed teams participated using the same unique team format used in MLP.

For more information on DUPR, visit the official website and follow DUPR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

About My Journey

MyJourney is the developer of My Pickleball Coach and is the inventor of Coaching as-a-service technology that provides one-on-one and scalable coaching. Their technology powers the digital coaching platform with TaylorMade and Alex Morgan’s MyJourney Soccer.

Pickleball with a Heart began as a tiny tournament to raise enough money to make 40 generous candy bags for underprivileged kids in our community.

Since that first event in October 2021, they hosted various fundraising tournaments and ladder leagues and raised over $10,000 for small local charities.

They became interested in DUPR because they wanted their events to be competitive and fair, encouraging new players to enter competitions and have a positive tournament experience.

Their club is "virtual," meaning they play at various local courts. Most events are played on six courts at the Greentree Sportsplex, though they have hosted events at Glen Creek Tennis Club, Peters Township Tennis Center, and South Park Tennis Courts.

Their club has grown to over 520 members! They are proud to be making a difference in these small charities with little to no dedicated fundraising volunteers and are thrilled that DUPR is a part of their journey.

To find out more about Pickleball with a Heart, visit their club page: HERE

_{Provided By: Laurie Lawrence, Founder of Pickleball with a Heart}

In a monumental stride for pickleball enthusiasts across Europe, the recent English Open witnessed the remarkable influence of DUPR. The event unfolded as a pivotal platform for pickleball's growth on the continent, and DUPR couldn't be prouder to be a part of it.

DUPR's presence at the English Open was a testament to its status as the world's most accurate rating system. With an unwavering commitment to user input, transparency and precision, DUPR showcased its undeniable role in shaping the global future of the sport.

Not only did it educate existing players and clubs about the nuances of its rating system, but it also warmly embraced newcomers to the pickleball community, introducing them to the intricacies of accurate player ratings.

Alvaro Menendez, Senior Product Manager of DUPR, describes the event as the "Best European pickleball event so far!"

The English Open brought into focus the pivotal role that rating systems play in fostering fair competition and enhancing player experience. The event marked a watershed moment for both the sport and DUPR, by highlighting the importance of relying on an accurate rating system for the broader growth of pickleball on a worldwide scale.

"I was thrilled to see the massive number of athletes playing at such an elevated level at the English Open in Telford. Even more exciting was confirming that what we largely consider 4.5 DUPR level of play in The United States was right on par with 4.5 level play in Britain," said Dave McCune, Director of Activation.  

As the crowd's cheers during the English Open continue to reverberate, it is abundantly clear that DUPR's positive influence has left its mark on the pickleball landscape in Europe. The event represents a gateway to an exciting future - one where precision, transparency, and the passion for pickleball converge to elevate the sport to new heights.

_{Recap provided by: Ryan Maher, Head of Commercial at DUPR}

“Pickleball changed my life. It gave me the chance to compete again at the highest level of the sport.”

It’s not every day that a qualifier makes it to a pro singles final, whether it’s in pickleball or any other sport — and yet that’s exactly what 23-year-old Collin Shick managed to pull off at the PPA’s Red Clay Hot Sauce Florida Open earlier this year.

Yet meteoric as his rise may appear, it didn’t come completely out of the blue. Shick is a former collegiate tennis player specialized in doubles who considers Rafael Nadal his role model. Suffice it to say he’s no stranger to racquet sports.

After deciding against a pro tennis career, Collin started playing pickleball for the same reason all of us do — for fun. Yet what started as a fun pastime quickly evolved into an obsession. Ultimately, it was the team spirit that drew him to pickleball the most.

“In my experience with college tennis, team events have always been my favorite thing,” says Collin. “Whether it was juniors or college, I love playing for a team and having your teammates grinding with you day in and day out."

A med student at the University of North Carolina, Collin was playing pickleball at a local park with a friend one day when the UNC Pickleball Club president walked up and encouraged him to join the club.

That’s when Collin discovered DUPR Collegiate tournaments. “My favorite memory is winning the first-ever DUPR Collegiate National Championship,” he says. “That was pretty special, it was the first real professional pickleball event I ever played in.”

After a little over a year of perfecting his pickleball skills, Collin decided to go pro in 2023, with a sponsorship from Selkirk and joined DUPR as a DUPR athlete in July 2023.

After reaching the quarterfinals in the Boca Masters in January, Collin went on to compete in PPA’s Florida Open in Daytona, where he barely lost to Ben Johns in the finals.

Wondering how Collin manages to juggle med school, pro pickleball, and being a college athlete all at the same time?

“I like to stay busy. I can’t study all day, every day in medical school. I love getting out there, getting some exercise, and getting to be competitive again. Also, working on something new, that’s how I stay motivated.”

Clearly the future is looking bright for Collin. Here’s to his success and to many more matches where he keeps us at the edge of our seats!

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DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is thrilled to announce its expansion into China with the launch of its new club – DUPR China. This strategic move aims to standardize ratings in pickleball competitions across the country and promote the rapid growth of the sport among Chinese players. DUPR China will be led in collaboration with Yui See Lau, Co-Founder of the Canadian National Pickleball League.

China's deep-rooted passion for racquet sports has laid a solid foundation for the introduction and development of pickleball. With its unique blend of strategy, skill, and fun, pickleball promises to captivate Chinese tennis, badminton, and ping pong athletes and provide them with an exciting new opportunity to delve into the world’s fastest-growing sport.

DUPR China will revolutionize the pickleball landscape in China by implementing a standardized ranking system, ensuring fair and accurate evaluations of players' skills and achievements. By introducing consistent ratings, DUPR China will offer players a clear path to track their progress and compete against opponents of similar abilities. This initiative aims to foster healthy competition, inspire new players, and elevate the overall level of play in China's pickleball community.

Yui See Lau, Co-Founder of the Canadian National Pickleball League, will be partnering with DUPR to lead the charge in China. Yui See’s understanding of the industry’s dynamics combined with his passion for promoting pickleball make him an invaluable addition to the DUPR China team. Together, DUPR and Yui See will work to ensure the sport thrives and pickleball becomes a household name in China, enlisting the help of Full Send (Fu Xin) Pickleball’s Juan (Yuki) Chen and Han (Kevin) Chenas their liaisons in China to connect with the multitude of pickleball clubs that have started appearing and gaining momentum in the Guangdong Province in cities such as Hengqin, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, as well as in Beijing and Shanghai.

DUPR China is committed to supporting pickleball enthusiasts, players, and clubs across the country. By providing a standardized ranking system and fostering a sense of community, DUPR China aims to accelerate the sport's growth and build a vibrant pickleball ecosystem throughout China.

DUPR China invites all pickleball enthusiasts, players, and organizations to join them on this exciting journey. With the combined efforts of DUPR, Yui See Lau, and the pickleball community in China, this initiative is set to revolutionize the sport and create a legacy for future generations of Chinese pickleball players.

THE '23 DUPR CHINA SERIES TOUR

August 12 (Guangdong Province — Hengqin)

Our first stop takes us to Hengqin, located in the southern part of Zhuhai City and separated from Macao by a bridge, is a major platform for promoting the diversified development of Macao's economy.

August 19 (Shanghai)

Our second tournament of the series will be in Shanghai. Shanghai is the Oriental Fashion Capital, a city that is constantly being put in industry lights with Milan, Paris, London, New York and Tokyo. As Shanghai was opened as a commercial port in 1843, it became one of the first Chinese cities exposed to Western culture and customs.

August 26 (Beijing)

Beijing will play host to our third tournament. Beijing is a metropolis in northern China and the capital of the People's Republic of China (PRC). It is also known in English as Peking. Beijing is also one of the four municipalities of the PRC, which are equivalent to provinces in China's administrative structure and is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China.

August 27 (Chongqing)

Our fourth stop, Chongqing, is one of the four municipalities of the PRC, one of China's five major cities, and constitutes another metropolis made from a large city (Chongqing Downtown), and six regional central cities with populations of over one million each, and 25 other counties. The world map hanging in the halls of the United Nations marks only the names of four cities in China, one of which is Chongqing.

September 3 (Guangdong Province — Hengqin)

For the championship we come back to Hengqin (our first stop) where we will be inviting the top 3 teams/players from each city that participated in the series tournaments and divide them into two big group by age, 50+/50-, to compete in a final showdown for a high-stakes, winner-takes-all tournament!

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Yui See Lau, DUPR China Club Director