Automated line calls coming to PPA Tour, Major League Pickleball events in 2026
Last Edited
Jul 08 2025
Category
News
In addition to shifting to a new prize-money structure next year, the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball will also be implementing an automated line call system in partnership with PlayReplay, a sports technology company specializing in AI-powered line calling and performance analytics.
The two big changes in 2026 for the United Pickleball Association -- the governing body of the PPA Tour and MLP -- go hand-in-hand, as there was a growing concern that line call disputes and outright cheating could become a bigger issue with big prize money on the line in pro matches.
Under the new partnership with PlayReplay, Pickleball Inc. will serve as the exclusive worldwide distributor of PlayReplay’s technology for the sport of pickleball -- from pro tournaments to recreational clubs and public facilities across the U.S.
“We’re thrilled to work with the PPA — not only because they’re the most prominent league in the world, but also because they’re an incredible group of people to collaborate with,” Hans Lundstam, CEO and Co-founder of PlayReplay, said in a Pickleball.com article. “This will be a fantastic partnership that will help propel the sport of pickleball to even greater heights.”
The PlayReplay system uses four cameras mounted on the net posts that work to detect events like line calls, foot faults and kitchen violations.
“Our goal is to reduce tension and human error in officiating,” said Lundstam. “In tennis, our AI-driven systems have transformed line calling — and we’re excited to bring the same clarity and fairness to pickleball.”
The system can even announce calls live on the court, replicating any "out" or "fault" calls from players or refs.
“We offer two main modes: a Review mode where players can challenge calls and see animated replays, and a Live mode where the system makes real-time announcements,” said Lundstam.
The tech, already proven and certified for tennis, will be adapted specifically for pickleball. PlayReplay is the only company to earn ITF Silver Classification for indoor and outdoor accuracy, making it the most reliable officiating tech of its kind.
PlayReplay system will also track analytics
In addition to the line-calling capabilities, the PlayReplay system is also a performance tracking platform. The cameras capture everything from shot type (forehands, backhands, volleys) to ball speed, spin rate and shot placement.
“We’re digesting the most essential information from every frame and using AI to interpret what’s happening,” said Lundstam. “Over time, the system gets smarter as we feed it more data — creating deeper insights for players at all levels.”
To date, PlayReplay has logged over 100 million line calls across 250,000+ matches, making its dataset one of the largest in racquet sports.
Implementing line-call tech at the amateur level
While the technology will initially be used on the PPA Tour and in MLP matches, Pickleball Inc. said it plans to bring the technology to players nationwide. The vision is a fully connected ecosystem where rec players, clubs and facilities can use the same tools the pros have — whether for automated officiating, training or competitive insights.
“This isn’t just about pro events,” said Lundstam. “We believe in democratizing access to performance data. Our partnership with Pickleball Inc. will help bring that vision to life — giving amateur players access to elite-level insights and fair play.”
Recreational players will eventually be able to review their own match data and track progress over time. Clubs and facilities will also be able to adopt PlayReplay’s camera system without disrupting play or requiring a complicated setup.
For a preview of what the technology looks like in action, visit the PlayReplay website.
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