MLP rule, India clash, RTA sync, how to go pickleball viral & more
Good morning, pickleballers!
Firstly, I hope you were not sitting there waiting for the World Pickleball Podcast yesterday. If you were, apologies - we had to put recording back one day. Gordo and I will be in the studio later covering all kinds of things from the last seven days.
We are also beavering away, pulling together the May issue of the World Pickleball Magazine - watch this space.
Plenty has happened in the last 24 hours, so let's crack on with today's world pickleball news - and if you want to dive deeper into each article, we have a dedicated global pickleball news page you might want to check out.
Ahmedabad's Courts Ignite: Intermediate Picklers Clash for Bragging Rights on April 25th
Ahmedabad, India – Paddleplay’s Hall of Fame group is set to host the ‘Clash of Picklers’ event, a special pickleball tournament designed exclusively for intermediate players. The competition will take place on April 25, 2025, at the Tiki Taka Sports Arena in Ahmedabad.
Scheduled for two hours of intense action, the event kicks off at 9:30 PM. Intermediate players are invited to showcase their skills and strategies, vying to claim bragging rights among their peers. Participation is open only to members of Paddleplay’s Hall of Fame group, with an entry fee starting at ₹400. Amenities like parking and changing rooms will be available.
‘Clash of Picklers’ underscores the increasing popularity of pickleball in India, particularly within the competitive scene. Events such as this not only bolster the local community but also encourage players to reach higher levels of play. Paddleplay plans to host more events in the future, further propelling the sport's growth across Gujarat and beyond.
RTA Ranking Alert: Players MUST Connect DUPR to Sync Points on New Platform NOW
RTA Pickleball Tour Headquarters, Switzerland – Players competing on the RTA Pickleball Tour are being urged to take immediate action to migrate their rankings. To facilitate the transfer of current RTA rankings, all players are required to create an account on the tour's new tournament platform, located at play.rtapickleballtour.com. This new system is powered by Tournated.com, meaning players with existing Tournated accounts do not need to sign up again; they just need to provide the email linked to that account.
Once registered on the platform, players must complete essential steps: setting personal information like birthdate, country, and gender. Crucially, they are required to connect their DUPR account, a step that is mandatory for participation in all RTA tournaments. After successfully linking their DUPR, players become eligible to register for RTA events on the new platform. To finalise the ranking transfer, players must send their account email address to info@rtapickleballtour.com so their RTA 2024 & 2025 ranking points can be synced to their profile. This process is vital preparation for an exciting RTA season ahead.
MLP's Hidden Edge: New 'Home Court Advantage' Rule Lets Teams See Opponent Lineups Before Play
Orlando, Florida – The 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) season is set to introduce a strategic twist with a new rule that could significantly influence matches before they begin. Termed the 'Home Court Advantage Rule' by one source, this change gives the designated "Home" team a distinct edge.
For each match, the "Home" team is responsible for submitting their lineup the night before. The critical difference in 2025 is that the "Home" team will be able to see their opponent's lineups for gender doubles, mixed doubles, and the DreamBreaker. This allows the home team to react to those specific lineups. In 2024, this reaction ability was determined by a coin toss for mixed doubles and DreamBreaker.
Granting the home team the power to react to both mixed doubles and DreamBreaker matchups provides a huge advantage even before players step onto the court. This new rule makes the distribution of home and away matches, which will be unequal for teams playing 25 regular-season matches, a key factor for the 2025 season. The MLP season is scheduled to begin today at MLP Orlando.
From Zero to Hero: Inside Chicago Slice's A+ Draft Masterclass Building a Contender from Scratch
Chicago, USA – After an impressive 2024 Challenger season victory, the newly promoted Chicago Slice faced a significant hurdle heading into the 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) draft: they were unable to retain any players, essentially starting from scratch. For General Manager Ron Saslow, the task was to build a competitive roster from the ground up using the waiver pool.
Saslow's team employed a strategy born from extensive planning, blending analytics with scouting and what he termed "educated gut feel". Realising talent was available as the draft progressed, they adopted an aggressive approach. Key picks included James Ignatowich (5th overall, $90,000), Vivienne David (9th overall, $80,000), Callie Smith (12th overall, $70,000), and Max Freeman (10th overall, $80,000). This starting four was assembled for a total of $320,000, a figure notably lower than what some Premier teams had spent previously. Beyond just talent, the team considered chemistry and matchup analysis. Their preparation and strategic flexibility earned them A+ post-draft grades. Saslow is optimistic, believing their deep player knowledge positions the Slice for a strong playoff run in 2025.
RTA Tour Crowns New Star: How Bakó Bálint Gergő Rose to Pickler Stardom 'Overnight'
Malmö, Sweden – The RTA Pickleball Tour recently highlighted the rapid ascent of player Bakó Bálint Gergő, who is described as a new star born "basically over night" on the circuit. Competing in RTA tournaments offers players the chance to face Europe’s best, and winning against these top competitors can lead to quick recognition.
According to an interview conducted by Gustaf Geterud, Bakó Bálint Gergő's rise occurred at the first RTA tournament of the year, the NYP on Tour event, which took place at the Malmö Pickleball Centre. The interview delves into Gergő's journey into pickleball, his path to competing in Malmö, and most importantly, his swift transition to stardom on the courts. This event underscores the RTA Tour's role in discovering and promoting new talent within the European pickleball scene.
The Dink & PodPlay Launch 'ClipTHAT': Your Everyday Pickleball Highlight Could Be America's Next Viral Moment
New York, USA – A new initiative is set to put the spotlight on recreational pickleball players across the United States. The Dink and PodPlay have teamed up to launch 'ClipTHAT', a content series designed to showcase the most exciting plays, intense rallies, and memorable moments created by everyday players.
The program allows players at PodPlay-equipped facilities to use in-venue replay technology to capture their best points and submit them. The most outstanding clips will then be featured across the social media channels of both The Dink and PodPlay.
According to Max Kogler, CEO of PodPlay, the collaboration provides a platform for the incredible talent within the community and highlights the fun players are having. Thomas Shields, Founder & CEO of The Dink, noted that combining PodPlay's technology and distribution with The Dink's reach offers a unique opportunity to spotlight amateur players as the level of play rises. This collaboration aims to celebrate the vibrant community and its unsung heroes, potentially turning everyday highlights into viral moments.
Malaysia's Pickleball Boom: Founder Edward Chen Reveals Why 'Addictive' Sport Is Set to 'Go Far' with Schools
Malaysia, Southeast Asia – Pickleball is experiencing a rapid surge in popularity across Malaysia, according to Edward Chen, Founder of Pickleball Malaysia and an International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association instructor. Chen believes the sport "will go far" in the country, citing several compelling reasons for its meteoric rise.
Key factors driving the boom include the sport's accessibility, its relative ease for people of all ages to learn, and social media helping to spread awareness. Chen describes pickleball as "addictive," contributing to players engaging frequently and improving rapidly. The community has grown significantly, with increasing numbers of tournaments being organised and hundreds of courts built within a short span.
Looking ahead, Chen sees involving schools as the next critical step for growth. He emphasises that with available coaches, schools should embrace the opportunity to introduce the sport to younger generations, as starting them young is key to elevating pickleball to new heights in Malaysia.