Your Open Play OPTIONS
Your Open Play Options
Open Play sessions are essential for practicing your skills and building a vibrant Pickle Place Community. Traditionally, players with varying skill levels come together for informal match play, rotating in and out of games with and against various partners and opponents. While this is a popular format, it can sometimes be intimidating or frustrating for players that find themselves teamed up with or playing against players with vastly different skills from their own. Keeping this in mind, Pickle Place offers three different options for Open Play.
Player rotation is handled two ways at Pickle Place. Busier Open Play Sessions (8 + ppl) are run incorporating a four on four off rotation, meaning that at the end of each open play match all the players on the court are replaced by four new players. During smaller Open Play Sessions ( less than 8 ppl) the losing team exits, the winning team splits, two new players enter and each joins a winning player. This dynamic format ensures multiple changes in partners and opponents and plenty of playing time for everyone!
Beginner Open Play
For Pickle Place Members only that are Beginners or have played casually once or twice. Paddles will be available for use at no extra charge
New players experiment and get the feeling for the game. Players switch partners and rotate through informal matches, while receiving general guidance from an instructor or staff member. The atmosphere is fun and non-competitive, with an emphasis on learning through play and meeting and sharing the experience with other new players.
Rated Open Play
Skill based sessions based on players DUPR* or Pickle Place Rating
If you are a player with a DUPR or Pickle Place rating registered in our system and are looking to practice with others with similar skills, you’ll love our Rated Open Play Sessions. Players are grouped based on their skill ratings to maintain fair competition and encourage growth. You’ll rotate partners, allowing you to adapt to different playing styles and strategies. This open play session is a great way to stay active, refine your skills, and build a community of competitive players to play with and against!
*To sign up for a Rated Open Play, a player’s DUPR score or Pickle Place Skill Rating Score must be entered on their registration.
DUPR Scores and Pickle Place Ratings for Rated Open Play and Tournaments ( racing sans one, PPO)
What’s a DUPR score? ( Racing sans one, PPG)
Currently, DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), is the most widely used and accepted pickleball rating system. To find out more about DUPR please visit www. dupr.com
Don’t Have a DUPR score? No Problem! ( Racing sans one, PPG)
For players who do not have a DUPR score, Pickle Place offers several Wild Card Open Play sessions during which coaches will be available to conduct informal evaluations and can provide a score based on a player’s current level of skill. The criteria for these scores is the same as the DUPR system.
Players should identify themselves as needing an evaluation when checking in at the beginning of these Special Wild Card Open Plays. Players will then add their rating to their registration in order to sign up for Rated Open Play
What happens if a player is in the wrong skill group? ( Racing sans one, PPG)
If for any reason there is a discrepancy between a player’s reported DUPR and their level of play, Pickle Place has the right to remove the player from a rated Open Play Session or Tournament.
The player can then request an evaluation from one of our Elite Coaches to confirm that the reported DUPR is accurate. Once the player’s score is confirmed or corrected, they will be able to sign up for the appropriate Rated Open Play Session or Tournament.