Want to Play Competitive Pickleball?

Here’s how to take your game from rec play to tournaments

Once you’ve got some pickleball skills and a little strategy under your belt, you might crave a bit more competition than just-for-fun games can offer. Turns out, you don’t have to perfect your ATP or snag a super-high rating before you dip your paddle into the world of tournament play. All you need is a little curiosity and determination. That’s what led Los Angeles–based pickleball player Sarah Duncan to go from “just messing around” on the court to open play with the Santa Monica Pickleball Club to winning her first gold medal in a local competition. Here’s our guide to becoming a tournament player, with insider tips from someone who did it.

Get Rated

Tournaments are structured so that players are matched with similarly skilled opponents. One of the first things you’ll want to do is understand your playing level. You can do this through self-assessment, but if you’re serious about getting into tournament play, consider getting a DUPR—Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (learn more about ratings and how to get one here). “This will give you a sense of where you are competitively so that you can accurately bracket yourself into the right group,” Duncan says.

Pick a Partner—or Not

Though Duncan entered her first tournament with a partner, it’s not required. Many tournaments give you the option of signing up solo. Just keep in mind you’ll be paired with a stranger, which means starting from scratch in terms of knowing how to play together. If your sense of competition is driving your desire for tournament play more than simple curiosity, going in with a partner is much more likely to put you on the winner’s podium.

So how do you choose one? “It's definitely a fun little dance to find yourself a partner,” Duncan says. “When you’re playing clinics or just going to open play, you find the people that you like to play with naturally and organically.” She suggests keeping a mental list of those folks, and don’t be afraid to ask for someone’s phone number! Then look for some local tournaments and text your favorite pickleball friends to see who’s interested and available.

Try Some Round Robins

If you tend to play with the same group of people, you’ll want to challenge yourself by changing it up. “So often, most of my play on a weekly basis comes from the same group of 15 or 20 people. I know their strengths, I know their weaknesses,” Duncan says. “You’re like, Am I actually good or do I just always know what my friend Kevin is going to do?” She suggests signing up “for an event that has a capped number of players with an organized schedule,” like a round robin at a local club or facility, to give you the chance to play opposite strangers. “That's a halfway step to a tournament,” she says.

Mark Your Cal

Take a look online and scout all the tournaments in your area for the coming months. Some are more serious than others, so try to get a sense of the tournament’s vibe and decide what you’re comfortable with. (A tournament with taped-down courts is going to be more relaxed than one that’s part of a PPA tour stop.) Mark your calendar with the ones you’re interested in. “It's better to be informed about what's coming up so you have time to find a partner that you like and practice if you want to take it seriously,” Duncan says. “Or you can just be like, ‘Hey, if I don't have any other plans come up this weekend, then I'll just text someone and we'll sign up and we'll play.’”

Have a Good Time and Get Better Too

“The tournament atmosphere is really fun,” Duncan says. There’s camaraderie, good-natured competition, and new players to meet. “It's a fun social way to get more involved in the sport.” It’s also a surefire way to hone your skills. You may know how your own pickleball partner plays, but your opponents are unknown quantities. “You have to adapt immediately and come up with a counter strategy. You also need to assess your own ability versus theirs, all while actively playing,” Duncan says. “It forces you to mentally engage with the game in a different way, and I think it’s impossible to do that and not become a better player.”