by Joe James
What’s the Story?
DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) has partnered with TTC Clubs to establish Southern California’s first official DUPR Assessment Centre.
The collaboration will provide pickleball players of all abilities with skill and assessment ratings through a structured, technology-driven approach.
TTC’s premier facilities in Newport Beach and Southern Orange County will serve as a centre for DUPR Coach-Assigned Ratings, providing accurate ratings, guidance, and suitable competition for players.
Tito Machado, CEO of DUPR, said: “This partnership is a major step forward in making accurate pickleball ratings more accessible and actionable for players.
“TTC is a premier venue with a strong coaching team, and through DUPR Coach, we’re bringing a new level of structure and technology to skill development.”
In April, TTC will host a DUPR launch event, during which players will be invited to participate and experience the DUPR rating system firsthand.
Sean Bollettieri, TTC’s Founder, said: “We’ve followed DUPR since day one and watched them grow into the gold standard for pickleball ratings. Their database is the biggest, and their accuracy is unmatched.
“This partnership is something we’re incredibly excited about—it will help introduce even more new players to the game and support the broader pickleball community, including PPA, APP, MLP, and beyond.”
Going Deeper
DUPR and TTC’s partnership will establish Southern California’s first official DUPR Assessment Centre.
TTC will introduce coach-assigned DUPR ratings, meaning player skill evaluations will be accurate. DUPR coach technology, through data, tracks progress and skill development. The optional add-on of the WTP Combine Testing is a specialised assessment program which offers deeper insights into player potential and recruitment opportunities.
With nearly 100 regulation courts, including a stadium, and being showcased by the PPA, MLP, APP and APS, TTC promises to offer structured DUPR rating sessions, open play and accessible coaching support for all levels.
The DUPR is the premier global pickleball rating system and technology platform, trusted by the best players and competitions across the globe with the ability to accurately evaluate all players across a 2.000 – 8.000 scale.
According to the Association of Pickleball Players (APP), there were 48.3 million pickleball players across the US, and pickleball has been recognised as the fastest-growing sport in the country.
California as a state has embraced this trend with some key developments in the last couple of years.
In March 2024, the Craneway Pavillion opened in Richmond with 12 regulation-sized indoor pickleball courts which overlook the San Francisco Bay.
Last December, Pickleball Kingdom announced a major expansion into California, planning premier indoor facilities in Sacramento that had state-of-the-art indoor courts, professional and youth programmes, and competitive competitions.
Set to open in El Segundo this Spring, the California Smash will be a top-class indoor venue with nine indoor courts across a 30,000 sq. ft. former industrial space that will host national pickleball tournaments and make California a go-to destination.
Most recently, the PPA’s inaugural Veolia Cape Coral Open, which saw Anna Leigh Waters take the triple crown and Ben Johns knocked out by 16-year-old John Goins, also made significant headlines.
The World Pickleball Verdict
With the PPA’s recent foray into California, alongside the latest DUPR and TTC development, the state is becoming a major hub for pickleball in the United States.
California is positioned as a prime location for the game due to a favourable climate suitable for all-season playing and has many premier facilities like the upcoming Pickleball Kingdoms and El Segundo’s California Smash venue.
The state also boasts a rich sporting history and culture with iconic sides such as the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, LA Lakers and the LA Dodgers. This means that for a state that embraces sport so thoroughly, it was inevitable that pickleball would find a home due to its accessibility and future potential.
As seen with the latest PPA stop with the inaugural Veolia Cape Coral Open, the region can attract the best competitions and players that the sport has to offer and pairing that with the DUPR system at over 100 TTC clubs, there is a winning formula for the sport here.
It is estimated that California has over 3,600 courts, so there is no shortage of facilities, nor are there players, and adding another level of authenticity and accessible tools to further player development and potential, this number will continue to rise.
How could California not be at the forefront of the pickleball wave in America? It already has a rich sporting tapestry, and, paired with huge levels of tourism, beautiful scenery, consistent weather, and premier facilities, the state is one of the best places for pickleball.
Again, accessibility is key; cutting-edge data-driven systems to match players with appropriate skill levels while gaining insight into how they can improve will always be a major prevailing factor in pickleball continuing to grow, and the DUPR and TTC collaboration continues this commitment.