Q. How much does it cost?

A. Joining MasterLeague is currently just $20 for network members for the entire 2025 series, with Q1 ladders all currently free. It is also free to join all the online platforms we are currently using.

Venues or participating clubs are free to charge based on their own needs, such as club membership, casual venue fees and/or event registration (pay-per-play). 

Q. Are there prizes?

A. Digital trophies are awarded to display on players' Global Pickleball Network profiles. Participating clubs are also able to award prizemoney or other prizes to their events as they like. As MasterLeague grows, we also anticipate adding additional prizes beyond each club's local round results. This may come from sponsorship or funds raised through any future ladder registration fees.

Q. Do I need to create an account or an existing Player Skill Rating?

A. If you don't already have an account with our partners, get a head start by registering with Global Pickleball Network and DUPR (links are also in the respective logos below).

Note: from 2025, some rounds may be marked as non-ratings fixtures. Look for this in the details when registering for an event. Administrators are also able to set ratings thresholds for fixtures, such as to avoid those without an existing rating participating and unduly affecting the points calculations, since MasterLeague points are based on the average DUPR rating on each court.

When you join GPN, you will be asked to give yourself an self-rating to get things started. This is based on the Player Skill Rating (PSR) system. Note: in determing your self rating, it is important to meet both the characteristics of the rating you believe closest matches your skill level as well as from all levels below it, and to assess yourself based on play against others of that same player rating.

Players will receive an initial rating once their first game is uploaded. However, for MasterLeague purposes these may be omitted from points calculations. From December 2024 points are now calculated based on pre-game player ratings: on one hand, as we hit the end of the year players will want to know their results sooner, while at the start of the new year there will be less consequence for an errant points tally given so many more opportunities ahead for everyone. 

Q. How quickly are results updated?

A. From Q4 2024, MasterLeague points can be calculated immediately they are entered by administrators, while games also provide updated Player Skill Ratings. These are updated 1) within hours in the case of DUPR ratings, and 2) daily in the case of Global Pickleball Network ratings.

Q. Why does MasterLeague use DUPR's Player Skill Ratings in the MasterLeague Points System and not GPN's?

A. With the pending change to using pre-game player ratings in the MasterLeague points formula, the primary reason now is that DUPR ratings are more widespread, enabling MasterLeague's expansion beyond integration with Global Pickleball Network. DUPR also now has an accuracy rating for each player's rating, just like GPN, so we can identify rogue ratings and, if necessary, fall back on that player's GPN rating or leave it out altogether when calculating the average on that court.

By feeding match results to both DUPR and GPN, MasterLeague provides invaluable data that improves the accuracy of Player Skill Ratings above tournament results, both due to the volume of matches we record as well as our rotating-partner format, which cross references player ratings better than regular doubles tournaments where players are tethered to the same partner. This mostly overcomes the reason GPN ratings have tended to be more accurate. 

With MasterLeague, you can look forward to obtaining an accurate PSR rating sooner than any other means.