Some players might feel intimidated by receiving a pickleball rating, but think of it like a golf handicap: with a rating, you can find others at your level (and feel confident they are at the same level), track your progress, and find more opportunities to play.

The main rating in pickleball is DUPR, or Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating.

Used by everyone from recreational players to the pros, DUPR connects everyone in pickleball with a common language and scale to understand skill level.

So, what exactly is DUPR, and how does it work? Let’s break it down.

How DUPR Works

Here’s how to get started:

• Download the free DUPR app and create an account
• Play and enter in your match results
• Get your initial rating - and keep playing!

The core of DUPR is its rating system, which is an algorithm-driven rating that evaluates a player’s performance on a scale of 2.000 - 8.000.

Professional pickleball players are higher on the rating scale, while newer players usually have lower ratings.

As you play more and share your match results, your rating automatically updates (it can move up or down depending on how you play) and overall becomes more reliable and reflective of your current skill level.

Here’s a breakdown of the factors that go into your rating:

• Points Matter: It’s not just about winning or losing—it’s how you win or lose. The closeness of a match significantly affects your rating. A tight 11-9 loss might improve your rating more than a blowout win.
• Recency Rules: Matches played today have a greater impact than matches played months ago. The more you play, the more up-to-date and accurate your rating is.
• Total Match Count: A larger match history means your rating stabilizes over time. New players will see their ratings fluctuate more until they’ve logged a significant number of games.
• Every Match Counts: Don’t worry if your opponent is unrated—every match you play influences your rating. Games against unrated players have less impact, but they still help shape your skill level. 

In tennis, we’ve seen how a 4.0 player in Florida could actually be at a very different skill level than a 4.0 player in Texas.

DUPR removes any subjectivity or favoritism from ratings and looks only at performance, which means your DUPR rating accurately reflects your level within the broader pickleball community.

With DUPR, the more you play and track your matches, the more accurate your rating becomes.

Recent DUPR Algorithm Updates & What They Mean for Your Game

DUPR's data scientists make sure the rating system is operating at peak performance.

April 2024 saw the introduction of the Reliability Score—a feature that lets you know how dependable your DUPR rating is.

The Reliability Score is a percentage next to your rating. A high reliability score means a player’s rating is “healthy;" that they are consistently sharing match results.

A low reliability score means the algorithm needs more information to ensure your rating is dependable. In that case, players need to play more and share their results to get their Reliability Score up.

DUPR introduced the Reliability Score to encourage continuous play and give tournament organizers a clearer understanding of participants’ skill levels.

Using It for Recreational AND Competitive Play

Whether you’re someone who just picked up a paddle or a seasoned tournament player, the app offers something for everyone.

Recreational Players: DUPR is designed to help you find players at your level for friendly games, track your matches, share your scores, and find level-based play wherever you are.

Competitive Players: For those seeking serious competition, your DUPR rating is an entry pass to pro events. If you're trying to make a name for yourself, your rating is the universal language that lets tournament organizers know where you stand.

The more you play and track your matches, the more accurate your rating becomes.

Most importantly: DUPR is integrated with most of the major tournament software (Pickleball.com, Pickleball brackets, Pickleball Tournaments, Swish, CourtReserve, etc.). 

That means all the data streaming in from those sources has an immediate impact on the rating algorithm; the most data in one place impacting the accuracy of rating scores.

Cybersecurity and Privacy

In an age where data security is more important than ever, DUPR has taken measures to ensure your information stays safe.

No Selling of Data: Unlike many apps that use your data for advertising, DUPR does not sell data to third parties.

Encryption and Security: Your information is protected through industry-standard data storage practices, including encrypted data at rest and salted and hashed passwords.

DUPR Growing Collegiate Pickleball

DUPR launched a collegiate program to connect college players and build a robust pickleball community on campuses nationwide.

Since its first event in 2022, the program has skyrocketed to over 250 collegiate clubs and 1,300 student athletes.

Collegiate players now have the opportunity to compete regionally and nationally, even sharing the court with pro players. 

College clubs can easily create their own pages on DUPR, track their players' progress, and attract new members—all for free.

More than that, these schools can earn national acclaim at events like the DUPR Collegiate National Championships, recently held at PPA Worlds. That event saw 500 players from 64 colleges and universities compete at a high level that would not have been seen in this age group a few years ago.

With sponsors like JOOLA and Osaka World backing the tour, college players have more opportunities than ever to compete for prize money and bring pickleball into the limelight at their campuses.

With nearly 5,000 pickleball clubs using the rating app and over 70 partner platforms integrating DUPR into their management software, no other system comes close to matching its impact.

Download DUPR here to start meeting players in your skill level.