Super DUPR Ratings at Patch Reef

The Patch Reef Park Tennis Center is making it easier for Boca Raton pickleball players to determine how they match up with fellow competitors and friends.

In recent weeks teaching pro Jane Wadsworth began conducting hour-long pickleball clinics that include providing participants with a rating.

The goal is to pair players of the same skill level in ladders, tournaments and even open play, thereby making a pickleball outing more enjoyable for everyone.

Using a standard objective rating system rather than a self-reporting system generally produces more accurate analysis and competitive matches.

“If a 2.5 [rated] player thought they were a 3.5, and they play in a 3.5-4.0 tournament, they're not going to have fun because they're going to get slammed - and we don't want that,” Wadsworth said. “That's no good for anybody. And so for tournaments, it's just a better experience.”

Certified as a Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) instructor, Wadsworth estimates she's rated more than 100 players since the beginning of the year.

“(DUPR's) the standard for rating systems for pickleball,” Wadsworth said.

DUPR ratings range from 2.0-8.0.

“Really, nobody is at the 8.0 level,” Wadsworth said. “Even the high-level pros, they're mostly in the low sixes. So I'm not really sure what the 8.0 is for, but 2.0 is pretty much a novice - just started playing, maybe doesn't really know how to score, doesn't really understand what to do - but they can strike at the ball and have some fun. And then most players fall between 2.5 and 3.5. When you get above 3.5 you're putting in some time and effort to make that happen.”

Wadsworth currently hosts five clinics per week:

• Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.
• Friday, 6:30 p.m.
• Friday 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, 10:30 a.m.

The days and times for those clinics are subject to change, so Wadsworth encourages interested players to confirm reservations with the Patch Reef Tennis Center. The clinics cost $30 for District residents, $37.50 for non-residents.

During the clinics, which usually contain eight to 10 participants, Wadsworth has players participate in various drills and even some play, while constantly swapping partners. She'll also sprinkle in some tips for participants when the occasion arises. She encourages players to have fun during the hour-long session.

Wadsworth considers eight different aspects of play when calculating a player's rating. Five are technical aspects of play.

1. Dinking
2. Volleying 
3. Resets and Drops 
4. Serves 
5. Returns 

“I'm looking for consistency on those,” Wadsworth said. “I'm looking for how well people play with different people. So you'll see in my clinic tonight, I rotate people around constantly so that everybody has a different experience out there. And that gives me a feel for how well they can adjust to the different players.” 

She also considers three game-related strategic categories.

1. Movement and Anticipation
2. Partner Chemistry
3. Shot Selection

Wadsworth's DUPR rating offers players an objective assessment of their current skill level.

“Patch Reef has always done skill-based events - they would have ladders, they might have tournaments, etc. - but it was always based on the participant self-rating,” Wadsworth said. “And the struggle with that is people really don't understand the ratings, so it's hard for them to even come up with a good number for it, because pickleball actually has so many nuances to the game.”

Following the clinic, Wadsworth heads home to compile her results. Often that same evening participants receive an email containing their rating, along with a detailed explanation of how the number was calculated.

“I think it's excellent - a great idea,” said Kathy Raczyk shortly before an early February Friday night clinic. “A few of our friends told us about it. They said it's a very accurate, detailed rating.”

Wadsworth stresses that her rating serves as a baseline. As players enter ladders and tournaments, and the results are entered into each player's DUPR account, those rankings can rise or fall depending on the player's success.

The Patch Reef Tennis Center intends to increasingly rely more on a player's DUPR ranking, and may soon require them when planning ladders and tournaments. Creating separate open play courts for different DUPR ratings is also under consideration.

“Let's try to give everybody a better experience,” Wadsworth said. “And when you have people that are equal skill, there's super great competition that goes on, and nobody gets targeted, nobody goes home mad. And so that's the goal, to kind of get people into the right bucket so that they can have a good experience.”