Zane Navratil Proposes 10 Bold Rule Changes to Evolve Pickleball
What's the Score?
Zane Navratil, a prominent professional pickleball player and co-host of the leading pickleball podcast, PicklePod, has unveiled ten significant rule changes he believes are essential for the sport's continued evolution and growth, particularly as it sets its sights on collegiate and Olympic recognition. His comprehensive set of suggestions addresses various aspects of the game, including accelerating the pace of play, enhancing fairness, combating cheating, and improving the overall spectator experience. Navratil asserts that these proposed reforms are crucial for making pickleball "even better," irrespective of the practical or administrative hurdles they might face in implementation.
Hit it deeper!
Since Zane Navratil first picked up a paddle in 2013, pickleball has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a casual recreational activity into a dynamic, fast-paced professional sport. Navratil contends that for the sport to continue its upward trajectory, particularly towards collegiate and Olympic integration, fundamental changes are necessary.
Firstly, Navratil strongly advocates for the elimination of the "let rule". He argues that this rule contributes nothing positive to the game and frequently disrupts its flow without sufficient justification. He notes that USA Pickleball (USAP) has already removed the rule from its sanctioned play, making its removal from the professional circuit a logical "no-brainer".
Secondly, to mitigate the significant and often unfair impact of wind on gameplay, he proposes fairer side switching. Currently, sides are typically only switched at six points in the third game. Navratil suggests more frequent switches, such as halfway through games one and two. Ideally, he believes pickleball should emulate tennis by switching sides based on a predetermined number of rallies rather than arbitrary point totals, thereby balancing the wind's advantage.
Thirdly, Navratil highlights the urgent need to address cheating, describing it as a "growing problem". If he were commissioner, his top priority would be to implement escalating penalties—such as fines, suspensions, or other sanctions—to unequivocally communicate that cheating will not be tolerated, thereby preserving the integrity of the professional game. This is particularly pertinent given recent incidents regarding line calls in professional matches.
A crucial area for reform, according to Navratil, is paddle regulation. He observes a frequent occurrence of "new paddle scandals" and suggests adjusting regulations to reduce power and increase spin in the professional game. His reasoning is that this would foster more "extended hands battles"—the thrilling, protracted exchanges that are a fan favourite, rather than the current prevalence of quick attacks and counterattacks. Additionally, increasing spin would help keep "speed-ups" (aggressive, fast shots) in play longer, making these exchanges more dynamic and entertaining while maintaining ball control.
Navratil also calls for the complete elimination of timeouts. He views timeouts as an artificial interruption of momentum, arguing they are unnecessary in sports like pickleball and tennis that do not have a running clock. He posits that momentum swings are an integral and exciting element of the game that should be allowed to unfold naturally. As an alternative, he suggests limiting teams to a single timeout per game at the pro level.
Regarding the hindrance rule, Navratil expresses that it is "too confusing," particularly concerning player communication during a point. He advocates for allowing pickleball players to "talk some smack" during a point and even suggests mic’ing them up to enhance the spectator experience, drawing parallels to other sports where player banter is an accepted part of the game.
In an effort to cultivate a more vibrant atmosphere, he proposes that pickleball should embrace fan rowdiness. He believes that a continuous roar from the crowd, rather than isolated shouts during quiet moments, becomes part of the game's overall atmosphere, which players can adapt to, ultimately creating a more engaging experience for both players and fans.
For Major League Pickleball (MLP), Navratil suggests making the Dreambreaker format "even more electric". Currently, each player plays four points in a game to 21, win by two. His innovative idea, credited to Joe Saslow from ProXR, is to stagger players—for example, the first player for the away team plays two points, while the home team's first player plays four. This "Saslow SuperDreambreaker" would guarantee at least two male vs. female matchups, adding a dynamic layer to the format.
Finally, Navratil argues for standardising to drop serves only. He contends that any spin achievable with a traditional serve can also be generated with a drop serve, and it visually resembles the underhand serve already present in the game. His primary argument for this change is enforceability: drop serves are "completely enforceable," unlike the current serve rules, which often lead to confusion. He is "all for weaponising the serve" but emphasises the importance of clear, enforceable rules. Additionally, he suggests allowing substitutions in MLP. With six players on a team, he finds it illogical that substitutions cannot be made if a player is struggling, arguing that this would provide teams with greater flexibility to turn a match around.
The World Pickleball Verdict
Zane Navratil's comprehensive set of proposed rule changes underscores the ongoing maturation of professional pickleball. His suggestions reveal a sport actively grappling with its identity as it rapidly scales, seeking to balance its accessible, recreational roots with the demands of high-stakes competition and enhanced spectator entertainment. The emphasis on fairness (regarding wind and cheating), accelerating pace (through the "let rule" and timeouts), and fostering dynamic play (via paddle regulations and the Dreambreaker format) reflects a strategic foresight vital for a sport aspiring to collegiate and Olympic recognition. While some ideas, such as encouraging "trash talk" or stricter paddle regulations, might initially seem controversial, they are crucial for sparking dialogue about pickleball's future trajectory. Implementing these, or similar, reforms could significantly solidify pickleball's position as a globally recognised, exciting, and transparent professional sport, ensuring its evolution aligns with its ambitious growth objectives.