Understanding Pickleball Player Ratings

Pickleball’s rapid growth has brought a need for standardized player ratings to ensure fair competition and help players track their progress. Ratings serve as a benchmark for skill level, guiding tournament placement, league play, and even casual matchups. Here’s an overview of the main systems and what they mean.

Why Ratings Matter

Ratings prevent mismatched games by grouping players of similar ability. They also provide a roadmap for improvement, allowing players to set goals and measure progress objectively.

Common Rating Systems

1. Self-Rating (1.0–5.5+)
   • Based on USA Pickleball skill definitions.
   • Players assess themselves using checklists (e.g., consistency in dinks, third-shot drops, court positioning).
   • Ideal for beginners and recreational play.
2. UTPR (USA Pickleball Tournament Player Rating)
   • Official system for USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournaments.
   • Uses match results from sanctioned events.
   • Scale: roughly 1.0 to 6.0+.
   • Focused on tournament performance rather than casual play.
3. DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating)
   • The most widely adopted global system.
   • Scale: 2.00 to 8.00, covering beginners to elite professionals.
   • Algorithm considers:
     • Match outcomes and score differentials.
     • Opponent strength.
     • Recency and frequency of play.
   • Includes recreational, league, and tournament matches.
   • Recognized internationally and used by major tours.

Skill Level Breakdown

• 1.0–2.5: Learning rules, basic strokes, short rallies.
• 3.0–3.5: Developing strategy, consistent serves, basic resets.
• 4.0–4.5: Confident execution, strategic shot selection, teamwork.
• 5.0+: Tournament-level play, advanced spins, minimal unforced errors.
• 6.0–8.0 (DUPR): Professional and elite competitors.

How to Get Rated

• Self-Rate: Use USA Pickleball’s skill checklist.
• DUPR: Download the app, log match results, or play in DUPR-tracked events.
• UTPR: Participate in USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournaments.

Bottom Line: Whether you’re a casual player or aiming for pro-level competition, understanding your rating helps you find the right opponents and improve your game. For most players, starting with self-rating and moving to DUPR for verified results is the best path forward. [dupr.com], [pickletip.com], [pickleheads.com], [pickleballunion.com]

How Pickleball Scoring Works: A Complete Guide

1. The Basics of Pickleball Scoring
• Games are played to 11 points (sometimes 15 or 21 in tournaments).
• You must win by 2 points (e.g., 11–9 is a win, but 11–10 is not).
• Only the serving team can score points. If you’re receiving, you cannot earn
points—only the right to serve.
2. The Three-Number Score
• Pickleball uses a three-number format when announcing the score:
• Server’s Score – Receiver’s Score – Server Number
• Example: “5–3–2”
• 5 = Serving team’s score
• 3 = Receiving team’s score
• 2 = Second server in the serving team’s rotation
3. Serving Rotation
• Each team has two servers per turn (except at the start of the game).
• The first server serves until they lose a rally, then the second server serves.
• When both servers lose their serve, the ball goes to the other team—this is called a
side out.
4. Starting the Game
• At the beginning of the game, the serving team only gets one server (the second
server).
• So the first score call will end with “2” (e.g., “0–0–2”).
5. How Points Are Won
• If the serving team wins a rally, they earn a point and the same server continues
serving.
• If they lose a rally, the serve passes to the next server on their team (or to the other
team if both servers have served).
6. Common Scoring Example
• Imagine Team A starts serving:
• Score: 0–0–2 (start of game)
• Team A wins rally ® Score becomes 1–0–2
• Team A loses rally ® Side out, Team B serves
• Team B starts with 0–1–1 (first server)
• And so on…
7. Winning the Game
• First team to 11 points, win by 2, wins the game.
• In tournaments, games may go to 15 or 21 points, but the “win by 2” rule always
applies.
Quick Tips for Beginners
• Always call the score before serving.
• Remember: Only the serving team scores points.
• Learn the three-number format—it’s the most confusing part for new players!

Serving Rotation: Server 1 ® Server 2 ® Side Out ® Opponent Server 1 ® Opponent Server 2

The Founder’s Cup at SaddleBrooke Ranch is a 2-day golf event that is a 36-hole individual low net tournament.

Dates:  November 6th & 7th
Entry Fees:  $25 entry
Payouts:  Payouts to follow MGA payout guidelines. If there is a tie for first place after day two, a 3-hole playoff will take place the following day. If still tied after 3-holes, the playoff will continue via sudden death to determine the Champion. All other ties remain.
Format:  Individual Net stroke play tournament played over two days.
Handicaps:  95% course handicap given per USGA guidelines
Flights:  None (full field competition).
Tees:   Player tees are determined by their weekly MGA preferred tee selection.
Rules:  This event will be conducted under the Stroke Play Rules posted on the SBR MGA website.

Golf in October 2025:

The course is open following prep for the winter season!  We are very excited about the health and density of the turf and expect great playing conditions this winter.  Stay in tune with the Forecaddie to keep up to date with everything Pro Shop and golf course related.  In the following sections, you will find all the information relating to this month in golf, as well as contact information for our golf associations and our Greens Committee.

Pro Shop Schedule Pro Shop Hours – Open thirty minutes before the first tee time and one hour before shotguns.  The pro shop closes at 5:30pm.   Pro shop staff will carry the pro shop cell phone (520-561-1196) until 6:30. Staff is available until one hour before sunset.

• First tee time:  October 1-14: 7:00am   October 15-31: 7:15am
• Last tee time:  September 1-30: 5:30pm Shotguns:  8:00/1:00 Rate Periods:  October 1-31:  Prime 7:00 – 11:52
• Midday 12:00 – 1:52
• Twilight 2:00 – 4:00
• Super Twilight 4:00 – Sunset

Golf Maintenance Schedule:

The Ranch Forecaddie A maintenance plan is put into place at the beginning of the year. Variance in weather and agronomic conditions may require changes to the schedule. October Maintenance Schedule The pro shop and golf course open October 4 following winter season preparation.  With the turf becoming dormant and losing its color, we will begin painting the course every three weeks. This will require a one-hour delay to tee times for two days the week we paint. The 2025 annual golf maintenance schedule is available on your Chelsea home page. We will continue closing one hole per nine to cart traffic to help maintain the quality of the turf.   Back Nine morning nine-hole times will not be available on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on a year-round basis to allow maintenance time to complete weekly tasks.

Free Monthly Golf Clinic:

Every month Mike and Ken will conduct a free golf clinic. All residents and their guests are welcome to attend, and there is no cost. Please sign up in the Pro Shop. The staff have a book behind the counter with all the scheduled clinics that you can sign up for. You are welcome to attend as often and as many as you like!  The clinics will cover basic techniques and mechanics of each topic. Our golf clinics are great for learning a new skill or brushing up on a skill that needs some work. The next clinic will be in October and will cover pitching. It will be held on Monday, October 27th at 2:00pm at the practice chipping green. Please see your Chelsea home page event calendar for the full clinic schedule.

Driving Range Tee With the overseed of the driving range tee complete, and the winter season upon us, we will begin cycling back and forth on a weekly basis between the turf and the mat to maintain the best turf possible. This practice also helped quite a bit with our transition from the overseed turf back to the Bermuda base.

2025 Mission Statement “The 2025 Board of Directors is dedicated to driving meaningful and positive progress in the upcoming year. Building on last year’s focus on growth and refinement, the Board is committed to strengthening the foundation for a thriving future. Together, we embrace the shared responsibility of creating opportunities that elevate the club experience for all. Through transparency, collaboration, and an unwavering dedication to the spirit of pickleball, we aim to deliver a rewarding and exceptional year for every member.”

2025 Board of Directors • Sheila K Muehling, President; president@sbrpickleball.club 480-239-0063 • Anthony Piraino Vice President; vicepresident@sbrpickleball.club (630) 890-4257 • Larry Schweitzer, Secretary: secretary@sbrpickleball.club (516) 554-3428 • Allan Hilchie, Treasurer: treasurer@sbrpickleball.club (206) 595-7544

“The Board President acts as the Chief Executive Officer, providing leadership and representing the club while collaborating with the Board to ensure accountability and effective governance. Additionally, the President serves as the primary liaison with the SBR HOA management team, fostering strong communication and partnerships to support the club’s success.”

The following is a list of all SaddlebrookeRanch Pickleball Club Committees. These committees are responsible for the day-to-day activities on the court.

Player Development • Franc Happ Committee Chair – (619) 341-0059 – playerdev@sbrpickleball.club • Dann Denny Co-Chair (812) 334-2691 • Tony Zoellner Newbies – newbies@sbrpickleball.club (936) 689 4499 • Rick Rogers Lead -2.0 Mentoring 2.0_mentoring@sbrpickleball.club (970) 3903543 • Marianna Roszkowskal (2.0 Mentoring) – mrmariamr@gmail.com – (815) 2549060 • Henry Mozolewski (2.0 Mentoring) – (520) 223-0190 – mhenrykm@gmail.com • Mark Pohler (2.0 Mentoring) – Akpolar@outlook.com (907) 307-2861ohn Beals (2.0 Mentoring) beals08520001@gmail.com (541) 480-7488  The Player Development committee will provide a structured format for interested players at the beginner level through advanced.

Pro Shop Pickleball Sales • Vicki Keller Co-Chairman proshop@sbrpickleball.club – (516) 770-1763 • Lynne Wescott (Co-Chairman) (425) 283-9898 Ø The Ramada will be used to stage an informal pro shop for sales or swaps of club apparel and equipment. The objective is to provide high visibility and ease of access for club members and vendors. Apparel • Linda Brown – apparel@sbrpickleball.club (503) 997-8914 • Kara Peterson – karapetersen11@gmail.com

Communications & Marketing • Anthony Piraino – vicepresident@sbrpickleball.club (630) 890-4257 • Mike McMahon (tournament results)– (510) 388-7003 Ø This group will keep members informed via web site postings, e-mails and Ranch Reminder articles. Photographs will be emphasized.

Our Operating Principles Our operating principles are the rules of the road that enable us to know what’s in-bounds – and what’s out-of-bounds. Our operating principles will serve as guides, helping us to make sound decisions, build trust and enable greater club member participation. • We owe it to one another to communicate to each other first – good news and bad. • We are careful not to make assumptions about each other – or our businesses. • We focus on big issues rather than on small issues. • We hold regular meetings, even if it’s just to share information. • We make clear the decision-making roles of the group and individuals. • We ask challenging questions because we need to understand each other’s priorities and portray each other in the best possible light. • We don’t assume that something is meant in a negative way – we check our assumptions. • It’s okay for us to say, “I don’t know – I’ll get back to you in twenty-four hours.”

 

 

September is underway and Aaron and crew are already preparing for the maintenance closure later this month.  Time is short to affect the turf as our days quickly shorten and the turf begins its decent into dormancy.  Please be patient with the extra activity as they do everything possible to ensure good conditions this winter season.   Stay in tune with the Forecaddie to keep up to date with everything Pro Shop and golf course related.  In the following sections, you will find all the information relating to this month in golf, as well as contact information for our golf associations and our Greens Committee.

Pro Shop Hours – Open thirty minutes before the first tee time and one hour before shotguns.  The pro shop closes at 5:30pm.   Pro shop staff will carry the pro shop cell phone (520-561-1196) until 6:30. Staff is available until one hour before sunset.

• First tee time: September 1-30: 7:00am
• Last tee time: September 1-30: 5:30pm
• Shotguns: 8:00/1:00
• Rate Periods: September 1-30:
• Prime 7:00 – 11:52
• Midday 12:00 – 1:52
• Twilight 2:00 – 4:00
• Super Twilight 4:00 – Sunset

Every month Mike and Ken will conduct a free golf clinic. All residents and their guests are welcome to attend, and there is no cost. Please sign up in the Pro Shop. The staff have a book behind the counter with all the scheduled clinics that you can sign up for. You are welcome to attend as often and as many as you like!  The clinics will cover basic techniques and mechanics of each topic. Our golf clinics are great for learning a new skill or brushing up a skill that needs some work. The next clinic will be in September and will cover chipping. It will be held on Monday, September 15th at 9:00am at the practice chipping green. Please see your Chelsea home page event calendar for the full clinic schedule.