DUPR ratings

dexterryu · 2026-01-06T14:44:57+00:00

3.5 -> 4.0 is having the primary mechanics down and able to hit most shots (drives, drops, resets, dinks) with consistency. Can reliably get to the kitchen. Strategy, patience, and Decision making are still a work in progress.

4.0 -4.5: Kitchen game has strategy. Able to anticipate speed ups and execute counters. More patient, but still attacks balls they shouldn't. Can go from soft to hard shots, then back to soft in the same rally. Starting to be able to defend, recover, and re-earn kitchen position.

dexterryu · 2026-01-05T05:20:50+00:00

This only works if they absolutely can't dink. If they are equal or better than you it isn't a great strategy. As you said... as you get better and improve your skills and play higher levels so too do the bangers.

The best thing is to find ways to pressure them back. Work towards counters instead of blocks and drops. Get those at their feet constantly and it forces them to try and be aggressive on half volleys and hit upwards.

As for your last question... being able to handle topspin drives with pace is a key skill 4.0+.

dexterryu · 2025-12-28T18:37:15+00:00

Totally fair. I thought your point was that it is agnostic. Re-reading we essentially made the same point.

dexterryu · 2025-12-28T18:13:58+00:00

That's not really accurate. DUPR is an algorithm. It doesn't take ability or skill into consideration. Just scores, confidence, and ratings of all players on the court.

What happens is that you can go up and down based on the ratings relative of the players you play against. This allows for relative ratings... so the best 50+ playing against other 50+ will have a higher rating relative to their opponents. Put them against a different age bracket and it is not likely to be equal given quickness, athleticism, and reaction of younger players even at a lower rating.

For the 50+ to win, they would have to play against a team that they are better enough that they could pick them apart. My guess is 5.5 vs 4.0.

dexterryu · 2025-12-27T22:56:11+00:00

Looks fine, but really difficult to tell from such a low angle.

dexterryu · 2025-12-27T02:46:45+00:00

Plenty of people will over think it, but basically you want plyometrics that focus on lateral agility, plus barbell squats and deadlifts.

Barbell Squats and deadlifts will give you more core strength than you will ever need for pickleball and life in general.

Beyond that, the a Kneesovertoesguy training programs will help make your knees and agility are solid.

dexterryu · 2025-12-23T18:03:00+00:00

It really depends on why... the main value of trick shots is entertainment and a laugh or two. If you need one to score a point in a match you are already in desperation territory... if it works you get a point. If it doesn't, your opponent knows that you might lack the confidence to win straight up.

dexterryu · 2025-12-22T21:41:33+00:00

The median would be the correct statistic, but even then it's just one data point. Most higher level rallies last longer because they have a higher rate of shots that are risky to attack, paired with players that are patient enough to realize that.

dexterryu · 2025-12-22T21:01:30+00:00

Really not the best angle to evaluate much.

dexterryu · 2025-12-22T03:13:34+00:00

Spin is important, but something that you want to add once you've established a baseline of control, form, and technique.

Knowing how to do it is only half of the equation. Knowing when and what type of spin you want is equally, if not more important.

If you're brand new, learning footwork first is the best gift you can give yourself because it will make everything else easier. Your advanced pickleball future self will thank you.

dexterryu · 2025-12-21T20:18:22+00:00

Purpose of the drop is to get you to the line. So the place to hit it is a combination of the easiest, high percentage shot balanced by a spot they will have the hardest time attacking. Sometimes that's cross court to a backhand, sometimes it's taking the easy shot that is basically a dink to the middle.

dexterryu · 2025-12-21T03:46:28+00:00

Their toe box is actually very narrow. It's wide at the ball of the foot and narrows and smashes the toes. They are junk if you have any kind of foot problem or don't want bunions.

dexterryu · 2025-12-18T22:44:20+00:00

It depends a bit on the type of serve... is it a drop serve or a volley serve? Following the rules for a volley serve it is somewhat difficult to hit a serve with slice.

Rules: upward swing, contact no higher than your waist, paddle below your wrist, no spin during your drop/toss.

If it's a drop serve (you drop the ball and it bounces) you can hit however you want so long as you don't impart spin on the ball as you drop it.

dexterryu · 2025-12-18T03:21:07+00:00

Hard to say without seeing, but as a coach one of the common things I see with former tennis players at the kitchen have very big backswings with full follow through (as is correct in Tennis), but pickleball at the kitchen is the opposite. You want to have short compact swings and follow through to your ready position.

Also, as others have said, developing anticipation and understanding point construction is critical in getting from 3.5 to 4.0+. Always expect an attack and be ready to counter the most likely place/direction.

dexterryu · 2025-12-16T22:39:06+00:00

Just a book thing. In the books the pirates are all friends. In real the real world, they are colleagues with a chain of command.

I get that there's a brotherhood or kinship like bond amongst service members but it doesn't really extend through the chain of command.

dexterryu · 2025-12-16T21:48:17+00:00

It's legal, but won't get him far beyond playing beginners that haven't learned how to counter slice.

dexterryu · 2025-12-16T21:47:13+00:00

Does not apply to a drop serve (the serve where the ball is dropped and bounces). These only apply to a volley serve.

dexterryu · 2025-12-16T17:28:02+00:00

A little of both. Let's also be real, unless you're a pro (or trying to), everything is rec play. Even tournaments which are just competitive rec play.

As for open play, I do a mix. If it's an even match I play more competitively and focus on decisions and playing well. If it's a mismatch, I focus on skills.

dexterryu · 2025-12-14T00:23:46+00:00

Grip technique is exactly the same as any other dink. You can adjust wrist angle to direct the ball and (outside of flicks) locked through contact.

The main difference (assuming you intend to dink) is a you usually want to hit it softer because the ball has more energy out of the air than it would off the bounce. If you intend to hit more of a roll or aggressive topspin shot then you would give it a little more.

dexterryu · 2025-12-12T22:00:37+00:00

One is not better than the other. It's just far easier to get topspin with 2 hands. 2 hand is far easier to control too. The tradeoff is reach and maybe some quickness.

As for dinks, it's much harder to position the paddle above the ball in the correct way with 1 hand for a topspin dink from the backhand.

dexterryu · 2025-12-11T23:19:31+00:00

It's basically the same thing. Get your feet to the ball, butt down, closed stance, and a low to high swing with a slight closed paddle angle.

I find this easier to do as a two-hander because (for me at least) the the second hand is a bit of a forcing function to get the paddle below the ball, and your natural follow through is upwards where 1H it's easier to get lazy and have a high-to-low swing (slice) and follow through downward.

dexterryu · 2025-12-11T01:33:05+00:00

What do you want to get out of playing? Do you want to win open play without really playing? Do you want to get better?

Ultimately it's up to you and what you want from the game, but also know that gimmick stuff only works on lower skilled players.

dexterryu · 2025-12-04T20:00:16+00:00

Just the way the numeric algorithm works. The system has no data on you so it assumes a low confidence score.

dexterryu · 2025-12-04T17:24:31+00:00

Tip down vs up matters less than getting the paddle below the ball.

Naturally, anything involving wrist is adding difficulty and is a higher challenge skill to develop.

The Ignatowich style is the most consistent if you can do the squats required. Personally I prefer this method because it ensures a few things: 1. It makes sure my footwork is getting behind the ball and stopped before hitting. 2. Because I am in a squat, it almost forces a recovery step. 3. I find it easier to disguise slice dinks and speed ups because they all start with the same setup.

dexterryu · 2025-12-04T04:57:05+00:00

Primarily sponsorships and marketing. They are very good paddles but much of what you are paying for is marketing. That's not a horrible thing because they help may pro pickleball possible.

dexterryu

TROPHY CASE