For players who care about ratings, DUPR just made waves. The algorithm behind the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating was updated this summer, sparking plenty of chatter—and some confusion—across the pickleball world. To clear the air, Forbes sat down with DUPR CEO Tito Machado and Chief Data Scientist Sarah Carpenter for a deep dive into what’s changed, why it matters, and how the system continues to evolve.

Their conversation reveals not just the logic behind DUPR’s tweaks, but also what it says about the future of competitive pickleball. Curious how the new math could affect your number? The full Q&A has the answers.

Q: What’s the Best Way to Handle Windy Conditions When Playing Outdoors?

A: If you’ve ever stepped on an outdoor pickleball court on a breezy day, you know how quickly the game can feel out of control. A ball that looked perfect off your paddle suddenly floats long, or a dink you’ve practiced for weeks dies short.

That’s the reality of pickleball: the ball is light, full of holes, and extremely sensitive to wind. Even a modest breeze can change the game. The key isn’t to fight the wind, but to adapt to it with smart shot choices, balanced footwork, and a calm mindset.

Wind at Your Back

When the breeze is pushing the ball forward, depth control becomes harder.

When the wind is blowing against you, it slows everything down.

Crosswinds are the trickiest because they push balls sideways unpredictably.

Wind doesn’t just affect the ball—it affects how you play.

The most underrated part of windy pickleball is attitude. Too many players get frustrated and lose discipline. Remember: both sides are playing in the same conditions.

Often, the team that adapts mentally outlasts the one that gets annoyed.

Wind will always be part of the outdoor game. Instead of letting it frustrate you, treat it as a challenge: tighten your targets, adjust your strokes, and stay balanced.

Handled well, the wind isn’t just an obstacle—it’s a weapon. If you adapt faster than your opponents, you’ll find yourself winning rallies they’re still blaming on the breeze.

🏓 Ballers to the Bloc: Pickleball Kitchens Replaces Perfume Counters

What do you do with 100,000+ square feet of dead department store in DTLA? If you're Ballers, you turn it into a pickleball-and-cocktails paradise.

The athlete-backed sports club — with investors like Andre Agassi, Kim Clijsters, and David Blitzer — is taking over the old Macy’s at The Bloc, opening in mid-2026.

Inside:
🎾 18 pickleball courts
⛳ 5 golf simulators
⚽ 2 soccer fields
🍸 2 bars + a lounge + a store
💸 $99–$499/month memberships

Retail’s Out, Rec Is In and it may just be worth a road trip north!

DTLA’s retail vacancy is nearly 10%. Ballers wants to flip the script — swapping escalators for espresso martinis and cardio.

And there’s more coming: if a proposed 41-story apartment tower over The Bloc gets approved, that’s 466 new residents and a lot of potential doubles partners.

🛠️ Palm Springs Is Getting 10 New Pickleball Courts

After two years of planning (and a few busted budgets), Palm Springs is finally moving forward with a major upgrade to its only public pickleball complex.

On July 22, the City Council unanimously approved a $5.1 million contract with Deark E&C Inc. to expand the Demuth Park facility from 12 to 22 courts 🏓 — nearly doubling capacity.

Here’s what’s happening:

📆 8-month construction timeline 💥 Full demo of the current courts + tennis court 💡 Lighting reduced from 24 → 19 courts 🌳 Shade structures cut in half (to save $$) 💧 New seating, fountains, drainage & landscaping

Temporary courts will go up at the College of the Desert site during the build.

💬 Why It Took So Long

Earlier bids came in way over budget (up to $7M), forcing the city to scale back plans. The new version delivers more courts, fewer extras — and stays under the voter-approved Measure J funding cap.

Mayor Pro Tem Naomi Soto called it “an incredible amount of work in a tight timeline.”

🦂 Scorpions Go 2-2 in Austin, Stay in the Hunt for NPL Title

The Coachella Valley Scorpions held their ground in Austin last weekend, going 2-2 in a packed National Pickle League event that brought all 12 teams together for the first time this season.

Despite the split, they’re still tied for second in the overall standings — with the championship race heating up.

🧪 Paddle Tests & Pod Play

The weekend marked the debut of official paddle testing (hello, OWL controversy 👀), plus a new “Select Series” pod system bringing more players into the league.

Here’s the recap:
✅ W 8-4 vs. Princeton Bruisers
✅ W vs. Naples JBB United (highlight: a wild comeback win by Rozpedski & Guillebeaux)
❌ L 8-4 vs. OKC Punishers
❌ L 7-5 vs. Austin Ignite

Mixed success, but plenty of standout moments — especially in Sunday’s battle with Naples, where the Scorpions erased a 1-9 deficit twice to pull out back-to-back wins.

📊 Where They Stand

Weekend Record: 2-2 (7th place for the weekend)
Overall Standings: Tied for 2nd place with Columbus
Seattle holds the top spot, going 4-0

🏆 What’s Next?

The Scorpions head to Indianapolis Sept. 20–21 for the final regular season event. First-round bye in the playoffs? Still very much in play.
Then it’s off to Seattle Oct. 17–19 for the NPL Championships and a shot at $150,000 in prize money.

🎾 Bonus Play

Want to train with the pros? Scorpions players Scott Burr and Kim Jagd are hosting clinics Oct. 10–11 and Nov. 7–8 at Sunrise Country Club.

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Until next time,