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