DUPR Demystified
In the rapidly growing world of pickleball, having an effective rating system is absolutely crucial for fostering balanced play and enhancing the overall player experience. Boston Pickle Club subscribes to the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) system - the leading dynamic player rating platform that represents the most optimal solution for BPC and our membership. Understanding that any performance rating algorithm is imperfect and can be controversial, we wanted to ensure that our members were informed on what DUPR is, why we use it and most importantly how we are using your feedback to improve your experience at BPC.
WHAT IS DUPR?
DUPR uses proprietary ‘smart algorithms’ to analyze match data and give pickleball players an accurate, up-to-date rating based on their actual performance on the court…not opinions. This enables fair competition and helps players find opponents that match their skill level, ultimately making your pickleball experience more fun. DUPR is also dynamic and player data updates in real-time after each match, so ratings can change quickly as players improve and/ or face tougher opponents. As is the case with many performance based algorithms, the more you play the more accurate your DUPR becomes and the less it will fluctuate. This encourages players to keep pushing themselves and play more often against ‘appropriate’ competition.
Interestingly, just this week DUPR announced an update to their algorithm that will help BPC organize more balanced and competitive play. Specifically, this improvement will put greater emphasis on how players perform in every point and ratings will now update based on your expected performance against a rated opponent:
When you score more points than expected > your DUPR goes UP
When you score less points than expected > your DUPR rating goes DOWN
WHY DUPR?
There are a myriad of reasons as to why we think DUPR is the best choice for BPC:
DUPR Levels the Playing Field: DUPR creates objective parity, ensuring you face opponents who match your skill level. Say goodbye to mismatches and hello to competitive fun.
You Can Trust the Numbers: DUPR’s objective, data-driven approach eliminates human error. The algorithm assesses your performance against a variety of opponents and regardless of age or gender, so you can focus on getting better without the guesswork. With DUPR's introduction of the Reliability Score, this generalization has been put to rest as this score will tell you just how much you can trust that your rating is accurate (and the more you play, the higher your score will be). Additionally, DUPR provides detailed statistics and analytics, helping players track their performance over time, identify areas for improvement and set specific goals. BPC can also leverage these insights to tailor instruction and events that cater to our members' needs.
It Works For Everyone: For those that opt in, DUPR is designed to accommodate players of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned pros. This intentional inclusivity allows BPC (and you!) to create balanced matches, tournaments and leagues, ensuring that everyone can participate and enjoy the game regardless of their experience. It promotes a welcoming environment where players can grow together.
DUPR can Elevate Your Game: More accurate player ratings lead to better tournaments, leagues, and events at BPC. With DUPR, we can tailor our offerings to each players' skills, creating a more enjoyable experience regardless of your rating.
Like it or Not: Whether on a Pro Tour, at a tournament or in a club, DUPR is the most trusted and widely used rating system in the sport of pickleball.
DUPR Feedback
Per our recentNPS membership survey, there was a lot of buzz about DUPR (and the in-club acoustics, which we’re also working on!) Some of you raised concerns about how accurate the platform is, its strictness, and how it can affect your fun when playing with friends or joining certain events. Here are a few suggestions we heard:
Make the system a bit more flexible
Offer in-house ratings from pros
Provide clearer info on how to boost your ratings
Host/offer more events that aren’t DUPR-reliant
We appreciate your feedback and totally understand where you’re coming from and here’s what we’re doing about it:
DUPR Rigidity
We get that the strictness can be frustrating, but we see it as necessary to keep the integrity of the system intact. If we didn’t stick to the rules, it wouldn’t be fair to treat everyone differently by letting some play without the right rating. We hope you can see where we’re coming from on this one!
DUPR Education
We’re taking steps to help everyone understand how to get and improve their DUPR. We’ve updated our website to make it easier to find programming options, and we’ll soon be rolling out a new ‘Member Brochure’ that’ll serve as a handy guide for your on-court experience at BPC. It’ll include details on which events can help you optimize your DUPR.
Non-DUPR Programs
Don’t forget, we have tons of opportunities that don’t require a DUPR rating! Check these out:
Open Plays (for Beginners, Intermediate, Masters (55+), and Women)
Drop-ins
Emerging Pickler Clinic Series
Socials
Spot Clinic for Beginners
Volley Machine
Book a court with your friends!
To wrap it up, we know that DUPR might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but we believe it’s the best rating system for BPC and ultimately it will enhance your pickleball experience. If you want to chat more about any specific questions or ideas, feel free to reach out to Johan, Stevie, or Nick anytime—either over the phone or at the club.
Happy Summer!
