How can player X be rated higher than player Y? I have seen them play and player Y is clearly the better player.
The initial USAPA Pickleball Tournament Ratings are calculated based on tournament results data over the past 36 months. It is possible that a player has seen a dramatic improvement in their tournament play over the last few months. Their tournament rating may have a time lag to incorporate the immediate improvement into the results. The system is designed to self-correct over time.
Remember that the ratings are impacted by many variables:
- Rating of your opponent
- Rating of your partner
- Sanctioned or unsanctioned tournament participation