The AI line calling situation in Virginia Beach mixed doubles is the worst one yet. Mari Humberg and Augie Ge had match point against Andrei and Megan Dizon. The ball was out. OwlAI called it in. Andrei and Megan won the match 12-10. That's not a bad call that changed a point.. that's an AI system literally deciding who advances to the semifinals.

Lea Jansen may have played her last pro pickleball event. She's been playing on a fractured patella since MLP and withdrew from the rest of the year. Whether you love her or hate her it's hard to argue she hasn't been good for the sport. Pickleball needs personalities.

Gabe and Hayden won men's doubles in Brisbane and debuted a new signature celebration. These two playing together full time would be must watch pickleball.

Anna Leigh skipped both events to promote Franklin in Asia and it backfired badly. VIP ticket holders were promised specific paddles, meet and greets, and seats. She did her part showing up. The organizers failed completely.

John Lucian Goins won his third PPA title in Virginia Beach. Catherine and Sofia won women's doubles which was Catherine's first doubles gold since the breakup with Anna Leigh. Tyra and Gabe are meshing and Tyra is playing elite ball right now.

Full recap on the channel. What's your take on the AI line calling situation?

...precede to target the weaker player no matter who they play. I have been playing for 4 years and sadly this is not uncommon at the numerous facilities in different states I have played. In fact, I find this is the norm for teams playing in open play under the guise of tournament prep.

Do you think that the subconscious desire to win an open play match simply overrides the benefit of getting better by targeting the better player?

I know when I get matched up against a better player the last thing I want to do is ice out that player. 1. They might get frustrated and leave. 2. The benefit of learning from them far out ways winning some meaningless open play.

Anyone else have the same experience?

Let me explain/gripe about what I see out there. A tournament gets posted as a 3.0 - 3.5 men's doubles on a given date. When you arrive you find out that they didn't have enough participants for the 4.0 - 4.5 men's doubles contest so they just combine both together. We end up getting stuffed by the upper guys and our DUPR's plummet. This also happened another time when my age bracket 65+ was condensed into the one contest, I played a 16 year old and a 20 year old in my first match. If someone decided not to participate, well too bad they have your money and there's no refund. At this point in time, I'm no longer going to join tournaments and I feel that others will also based on the conversations of a lot of the players. My county is 100,000 population and I'm assuming this doesn't happen in larger cites and counties.

This was posted on LinkedIn a few weeks ago.

Gilberto (Tito) Machado

DUPR has never been stronger.

We have more users than ever, more matches than ever, more usage than ever, and we are breaking records every week.

We have the best partners in the world across tours, federations, clubs, booking platforms, tournament software, media, equipment, and basically every part of pickleball. We will go to war for our partners, and they will go to war with us. I wake up every day and work with a world-class team that is completely obsessed with this sport, alongside partners who care just as much as we do.

People have no idea how much time and money we have invested in growing pickleball. We have invested in nonprofits, federations, players, juniors, colleges, clubs, events, technology, and markets around the world. We have supported this sport at every level, not because everything had an immediate return, but because pickleball needed people willing to build the infrastructure for what it can become.

DUPR is the only truly agnostic company working across every part of the sport.
We work with everyone. Different tours. Different federations. Different software companies. Different clubs. Different countries. We are not trying to control where people play or who they play with. We want every player, every club, and every organization to be able to participate in one connected global system.

That is why the idea that somebody can announce a new AI rating and suddenly replace DUPR makes no sense.We believe in AI and computer vision. We are building with both. They will help players understand their movement, positioning, shot selection, and exactly how to improve.

But analyzing someone's game and creating a rating that the entire sport can use are not the same thing. Anyone can create a number. Where can you use it? Who accepts it? Does it work at your club, in your league, at a tournament, or in another country? Someone can create a different credit score for me, but if no bank accepts it, what does it matter?

Someone can give me a different mile time, but if the Olympics do not recognize it, it is not getting me into the Olympics.

A rating is only as good as the data behind it and the network that uses it.
DUPR has years of data and a global network connecting players, clubs, tours, federations, tournaments, and technology platforms. You do not create that by announcing a new algorithm. This is bigger than a rating. We have spent years helping build the sport, and we are going to keep investing in it from the grassroots all the way to the professional level.

And by the way, you will not have to wait long to see what we have been building.

We have some massive announcements coming around AI and the player experience. I cannot wait for everyone to see this.

LFG.

I'm looking for a pair of good lensless eye protection. I specifically want to avoid lenses since I sweat a ton when playing and don't want to deal with the sweat/fog. I know Kitchen Blockers are the most well known lensless option, but I'm curious if anyone has experience with these other two pairs of glasses, and if so, how much of your field of view gets blocked by the frames? Do you ever lose sight of the ball due to the thick frames?

DINK Shield - https://www.dinkeyewear.com/products/shield

STRATE DEFENDER - https://stratepickleball.com/products/defender

speeding up out of the air 🙅‍♂️🚫
speeding up off the bounce 🤢🤮
lifting dead dinks middle and sitting on my backhand 🕺🤩

i mean at 3.5 it is all fun, pops, drives , smashes laughs. i m looking at more advance level it is all composed bodies, with dinks and dinks and back hand dinks and same strategies over and over again, i mean i respect the higher level it takes so much hard work and talent but from dostance it looks quite boring, now you can stone me :)

Three of us are opening an indoor pickleball club in a former furniture store outside Raleigh. Eight courts, memberships plus open play, a pro shop corner, leagues four nights a week and a couple of coaches who'll run clinics. Doors open in February if the flooring shows up on time.

The lease says we need insurance in place before the build out starts and that's as specific as it gets. My partners assumed that means one general liability policy and done. Then a friend who runs a tennis club told me most of his claims are people falling, and that he carries something separate for player injuries.

What does a pickleball facility actually need? General liability I get. Is an accident and health policy on the members a normal thing or an upsell? What about the coaches, tournaments, or the beer cooler we keep talking about?

If you own or manage a club tell me what you carry and roughly what it costs you for the year.

Thanks for the advice/criticism last time guys! I did 100 serves and 100 top spin drop practice today. I know I have to improve more!!!

How important is grip type (I see terms like semi, or western or stiff like that) for a beginner to pickleball?

I come from badminton and squash background. I honestly don't remember changing my grip in this sports (but maybe I did it unconsciously?)

But now I'm seeing these discussions about what grip to use and when (I didn't even know there were names for these grip types!)

But I have enough to learn so don't want to focus on something that would better be learned down the road and not now.

For those that own a wide body paddle, do generic paddle covers fit? I’m thinking of buying a wide body but all the the paddle covers seem generic and I don’t know if it will fit. The generic covers just barely fit my hybrid shape paddle.

PICKLR LEGAL UPDATE — OCTOBER 20, 2026
Newly surfaced bankruptcy disclosures specifically identify The Picklr Wheaton in a corporate lease-guarantee dispute. Additional court records reveal several landlord claims and lawsuits involving Picklr corporate.
1. Wheaton specifically named in bankruptcy disclosures
A litigation schedule filed October 15 and detailed in an October 19 bankruptcy report identifies Picklr Franchise, Inc. as a guarantor of the Wheaton facility’s lease.
This is significant because Picklr Franchise, Inc. has not filed for bankruptcy, unlike parent company Picklr, Inc.
The filing identifies Wheaton among landlord disputes, but it does not establish that Bobby Nelson or PB Wheaton LLC filed a lawsuit against corporate, nor does the available summary establish the amount allegedly owed for Wheaton.
2. Other corporate litigation disclosed
The bankruptcy’s litigation schedule identifies:
$337,510.27 demanded

Location / Landlord
Legal development
Amount reported
Villa Park, Illinois
Eviction lawsuit; Picklr, Inc. corporate guarantee
$138,029.99 demanded
Slink Holdings
Lawsuit against The Picklr, Inc. and others
$832,497.02 claimed
Vestavia Hills, Alabama
Landlord dispute; Picklr Franchise, Inc. guarantee
$428,009.97 claimed past due
Bluffdale, Utah
Landlord demand; Picklr Franchise, In

3. October 19 — Judge combines corporate bankruptcy administration
The Texas bankruptcy court entered Docket #35, ordering joint administration of the Picklr, Inc. and Picklr Clubs, Inc. Chapter 11 proceedings.
The court also extended the parent company’s financial-disclosure deadline to November 6, 2026. The financing request was still awaiting approval in the latest reviewed docket.
View Picklr corporate bankruptcy docket — Case 26-34687⁠

Hi so i just purchased it, I liked the overall feel with dinks but with my twoeys i keep missing it or hitting the net. I might not be getting the sweet spot yet. Should I add weights - I played two OP and it feels weird but one hand drives are okay. Just two handed dinks and drives are messing my game up.

What are you all using that plays similar to your main quiet paddle? Thinking a “loud” one might simulate real play better to help partner drill or play doubles better for those that rely on the sound.

Lookin for open plays in Naperville/Warrenville area, preferably in the AM but I am flexible. 60M 3.5 with years of experience. Where should I go? TIA

Hey guys,

Traveling for work again and got the night shift this time around starting at 6pm. Looking to find out where I can find some morning play for pickleball. I’m a 4.4 dupr but am good to play with any levels. What are the best places to go, whether it be outdoor or a facility for open play?

Edit: How busy do pickleball courts get here in California? California smash tries to make it sound like a selling point that they value time and you don’t have to wait long but it’s 8 people on one court. This is the only state I’ve ever seen more than 6 people for one court.

So, I am organizing an open play this friday, and I am still confuse or wondering what type of queuing app should I use. First app I have in my mind is pickleQ which common, but what type of matching mode should I use. I really want to be a good organizer since the open play includes novice to intermediate level. Any recommendations po for the best rotation for those levels.

Hey guys. M 21, trying to start Pickle ball in the sfl area. Any ideas on the best accessories I could get to be ready?

Guys there is this Halloween themed pickleball social event in Scarborough this Saturday. I like the theme they are planning and might go. is there anyone else going and want to tag along? I am a beginner btw !

Obviously the ideal scenario is that both players push together but sometimes you push too early or your teammate just gets stuck with a lot of deep hits. Do you step back to try and cover the cross court hit inbetween you two or simply stick to your guns on the kitchen line?

I am a 4.5 dupr from doubles only, but have practically never played singles before. Do I need to play 4.5 men’s singles as well? Or will it be frowned upon if I start lower at 3.0 or 3.5?