International 'Tour Wars' Heat Up: Australia, India, and Asia Become New Battlegrounds for Pro Pickleball
The global landscape of professional pickleball is undergoing a dramatic shift as "Tour Wars" extend beyond the United States, with Australia, India, and Asia emerging as new battlegrounds. These regions are witnessing intense competition between rival leagues vying for players and dominance, mirroring the earlier conflicts seen in the U.S.
In Australia, the PPA Tour Australia, partnered with the UPA, is competing against the National Pickleball League (NPL). The PPA Tour Australia and MLP Australia are offering a combined $1 million in prize money, attracting top players, while the NPL is focusing on developing local Australian talent, with a smaller prize pool of $250,000. This mirrors the US tour wars of 2023.
India is also seeing its own conflicts with Pickleball World Rankings (PWR), Global Sports, and the World Pickleball League (WPBL) all vying for dominance. PWR is offering lucrative contracts and a $4.5 million world tour, attracting both international and Indian players, but faces scheduling challenges. Global Sports is also hosting a pro pickleball league with a unique team format and player payout structure. The WPBL has partnered with the All India Pickleball Association and is working to grow the sport from the ground up.
In Asia, the UPA is expanding with PPA/MLP Asia, while PWR is also establishing a presence with multiple events. The real conflict is between the US-based UPA and the PWR. These international “tour wars” are creating more opportunities for players, giving them more options, negotiating power, and viability to make pickleball a full-time career.
Pickleball in Antarctica: Air Force Veteran Brings the Sport to the Most Remote Locations
In an extraordinary display of the sport's growing reach, pickleball has made its way to Antarctica, thanks to Air Force veteran Lieutenant Colonel Jared Wood. Stationed near Tacoma, Washington, Wood's pickleball journey began with a simple Father's Day gift in 2024. This casual introduction quickly turned into a passion, leading him to become an unlikely pickleball ambassador in one of Earth's most remote locations.
As Director of Operations for the Air Force's Antarctica mission supporting the National Science Foundation, Wood coordinates flights from Christchurch, New Zealand, to Antarctica, transporting personnel and equipment to the research station. In a spontaneous moment, Wood and a fellow service member ventured onto the packed snow and ice of a parking apron at McMurdo Station, where they rallied back and forth despite the freezing temperatures around five degrees Fahrenheit and the absence of a net.
The extreme conditions required careful preparation with multiple layers of specialized cold-weather gear, and goggles to protect their eyes from freezing open in the cold. Wood noted that "there wasn't much dinking involved – mostly lobs".
Beyond his Antarctic adventure, Wood found a pickleball community in Christchurch, New Zealand, where the owner of his hotel converted his tennis court into two pickleball courts. This allowed Wood and his team to play almost daily. He also discovered a local group with indoor and outdoor sessions, further demonstrating the sport's growing popularity.
Wood believes in pickleball's potential to unite service members and veterans, citing the sport's accessibility and social nature. He envisions a veterans-based pickleball league and partnerships between organizations like DUPR and Military Welfare and Recreation programs. He also points out the natural fit between military values and pickleball culture: fitness, competition, and camaraderie.
Wood's story highlights that whether on a professional court or the Antarctic ice, pickleball's true value lies in its power to bring people together.
Net Faults Predict Pickleball Game Outcomes: Data Analysis Shows Minimizing Errors is Key to Victory
Pickleball players often find net faults to be among the most frustrating errors, and new data analysis confirms that these errors are indeed strong indicators of a team's likelihood of losing a match. A study of 32 games from the 2024 PPA CIBC tournament in San Clemente, California, reveals that teams that commit fewer net faults are significantly more likely to win.
The analysis, which included semifinal and final matches across women’s, men’s, and mixed doubles, found that the winning team had fewer net faults than the losing team in 72% of the games. Furthermore, in 88% of the combined games, the winning team committed the same or fewer net faults. This indicates a strong correlation between minimizing net faults and achieving victory. In the remaining games, the winning team only had one more net fault than the losing team.
The data also showed that, on average, losing teams commit about one-third more net faults than winning teams. For example, in women's doubles, winning teams averaged 6.1 net faults per game compared to 9.7 for losing teams. Similarly, in men's doubles, winning teams averaged 4.5 net faults, while losing teams averaged 7.9. These statistics highlight the significance of reducing errors around the net.
The analysis suggests that a team accumulating five or fewer net faults is likely to win, while a team accumulating nine or more is likely to lose. Moreover, a team that commits two or more net faults than its opponent will likely lose the game. These findings emphasize the importance of focusing on consistent play and avoiding unforced errors during a match.
Ultimately, the key takeaway is that minimizing net faults is crucial for success in pickleball. Players and teams should prioritize reducing these errors to improve their performance and increase their chances of winning.
The Sound of Silence: Can Quieter Pickleball Equipment Solve the Noise Problem?
Pickleball's rapid growth has brought both excitement and challenges, particularly concerning noise. Communities are grappling with the signature "pop" of the ball hitting the paddle, leading to increased complaints and the search for effective solutions. While the idea of quieter equipment is appealing, strategic court placement emerges as the most effective way to mitigate noise issues. According to experts, a distance of at least 250 feet between pickleball courts and residential areas is crucial to minimize noise complaints.
Acoustics engineer Phil Hipol explains that the primary source of pickleball noise comes from the paddle striking the ball, not the ball hitting the ground. He adds that the sound reverberates off hard court surfaces, amplifying the effect. While manufacturers have explored noise-dampening paddles and balls, these have limitations. Quieter paddles may reduce high-frequency noise up close, but they fail to address the low-frequency thumping, and they are often not USAPA-approved for tournaments. Players also find that these paddles can change the "feel" of the game, affecting their ability to judge directionality and spin.
Therefore, while experimenting with quieter gear like whisper pads and sound dampening balls may be useful for casual play, proper court placement offers a more robust solution. As Phil Hipol notes, "You gain the most benefit in the first 80 meters (which corresponds to about 250 feet)", where the sound attenuates significantly due to spreading losses and atmospheric attenuation. At this distance, the noise level can drop to about 60 dB, which is comparable to the sound level of normal conversation.
Beyond distance, orienting courts so that the noise projects away from residential zones and towards non-residential areas like airports, highways, or industrial zones can also help.
In conclusion, while innovations in quieter equipment might eventually play a role in noise reduction, communities must prioritize proactive planning, particularly court placement, to minimize conflict. By ensuring courts are at least 250 feet away from residences, municipalities can significantly reduce noise complaints and allow the sport to thrive without negatively impacting nearby residents.
PPA Tour Cancels Veolia Southern California Open Amidst Devastating Wildfires
The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour has announced the cancellation of the Veolia Southern California Open, scheduled for January 21-26 at Los Cab Sports Village in Fountain City. The decision comes as a series of wildfires continue to burn in the Los Angeles area, prompting local authorities to prioritize emergency response and public safety.
The PPA Tour released a statement on Thursday, citing "guidance from local authorities regarding the threat of fires in the region and allocation of emergency personnel to areas impacted by fires" as the reasons for the cancellation. The tour emphasized that the cancellation was made "out of an abundance of caution," prioritizing the safety of players, fans, and the broader community.
In place of the canceled event, the PPA Tour has made arrangements to automatically transfer all ticket sales and registrations to the nearby Select Medical Orange County Cup. This will allow players and fans to participate in a similar event in the region without additional action.
For those who prefer a refund, the PPA has provided contact information:
- Amateur players seeking a registration refund can contact californiaopen2025@ppatour.com.
- Fans requesting a refund for their tickets can contact ticketing@ppatour.com.
Several organizations are offering aid:
- The LA Fire Department Foundation is accepting donations to support firefighters battling the blazes.
- World Central Kitchen is providing food and water to those affected by the fires.
- The American Red Cross is offering shelter, medical care, and food to those in need.
- The Animal Wellness Foundation and Pasadena Humane are providing care for pets and wildlife impacted by the fires.
This cancellation underscores the significant impact that natural disasters can have on sporting events and the importance of prioritizing safety. It also highlights the interconnectedness of communities and the need for solidarity during challenging times. The PPA Tour's decision to cancel the Veolia Southern California Open demonstrates its commitment to the well-being of its participants and the community as a whole.