The Ultimate Guide to Professional Pickleball Tours
Confused about the different professional pickleball tours? You’re not alone. Let’s break down everything you need to know about the APP and PPA tours, from their unique rating systems to player compensation models.
Tournament Structure
How professional pickleball tournaments are organized and played
Main Draw
Initial bracket where all players begin their tournament journey
Back Draw
Second chance bracket for early-round losses
APP Tournaments
- Back draw available for first/second round losses
- Prize money for back draw winners
- Qualifying rounds: One set to 15 points
PPA Tournaments
- No back draws – elimination after first loss
- Single elimination format
- Qualifying rounds: Best of 3 sets to 11
Professional Pickleball Structure
The professional pickleball landscape is divided between two major tours – the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) and the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA). Each tour has its own unique rating system, governing body, and player compensation structure.
Two Dominant Tours (0:39)
The APP Tour and the PPA Tour are the two dominant tours in professional pickleball. Both tours have their own unique characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.
Rating Systems (0:55)
The APP Tour uses Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), an established company in tennis that recently expanded into pickleball. The PPA Tour uses Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), which focuses exclusively on pickleball. Both systems rate players, but data sharing between them remains unclear. Each tour also maintains separate rankings for singles, doubles, and mixed doubles competitions.
Governing Bodies (2:26)
The APP Tour partners with USA Pickleball (USAP) for rules, regulations, and paddle testing. The PPA Tour created their own governing body, the United Pickleball Association (UPA).
Equipment Standards (3:33)
This division can create practical challenges – a paddle approved by UPA for PPA tournaments might not be on USA Pickleball’s approved list for APP events, forcing players to switch paddles mid-tournament.
Player Treatment (4:10)
The tours have fundamentally different approaches to player compensation and tournament structure. The APP offers a pay-per-round system with opportunities to earn from both main draw and back draw competitions, while the PPA focuses on contracted players with guaranteed salaries.
Membership Requirements (5:04)
The APP requires players to maintain a yearly USA Pickleball membership, while the PPA has no membership requirement, reflecting their different organizational structures and approaches to professional pickleball.
APP Tour Features
- Partners with USA Pickleball
- Universal Tennis Rating (UTR)
- Pay-per-round system
PPA Tour Features
- Independent UPA Governance
- DUPR Rating System
- Contracted Player Model
The Future of Professional Pickleball
As professional pickleball continues to grow, the relationship between tours, rating systems, and governing bodies will likely evolve. The competition between organizations drives innovation in tournament formats, player development, and fan engagement.
Pro Tip: Stay updated with both tours to maximize your professional pickleball opportunities.
UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) and DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) are two competing rating systems:
- UTR is used by the APP Tour and has extensive experience from tennis ratings
- DUPR is pickleball-specific and used by the PPA Tour
- Both systems rate players but operate independently
- Data sharing between systems is limited
The two main governing bodies have different alignments and responsibilities:
- USA Pickleball partners with the APP Tour for rules and regulations
- UPA was created by the PPA Tour as their independent governing body
- Each has its own paddle testing standards and approved equipment lists
- Players may need different equipment for different tours
The APP and PPA Tours have different compensation models:
- APP Tour: Pay-per-round system starting from third round
- PPA Tour: Player contracts with guaranteed income
- APP offers backdraw earnings opportunities
- PPA focuses on contracted top players
Membership requirements vary between tours:
- APP Tour requires USA Pickleball membership
- PPA Tour has no membership requirement
- USA Pickleball membership includes annual dues
- Membership benefits include tournament eligibility and insurance
Different equipment standards between governing bodies can create challenges:
- USA Pickleball and UPA maintain separate approved paddle lists
- Testing procedures may differ between organizations
- Players may need multiple paddles for different tours
- Equipment standards continue to evolve independently
Tour partnerships have significant implications:
- APP’s partnership with USA Pickleball provides traditional legitimacy
- PPA’s independent approach allows more flexibility
- Different partnerships create distinct ecosystems
- Players must navigate multiple organizational relationships