On Saturday, September 12, 2026, the Capital Area Pickleball Association (CAPA) hosted a DUPR Rating Skills & Drills Clinic at Pickleball Kingdom in Sun Prairie. DUPR refers to the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating system that is widely used by clubs and tournament directors across the U.S. as a common point of comparison for player skill level. Thirteen CAPA members participated in the two-hour session, and within a few hours afterward, every participant had received an initial coach-assigned DUPR rating and a brief report detailing ways in which their rating could be improved in the future.
The clinic enabled participants who did not yet have an established doubles DUPR rating to receive an initial rating based on a professional evaluation and overall assessment of their skills by a certified DUPR coach while they played games of doubles. The coach assessed players across eight key skill areas: serve, return, non-bounce volley, dinking, third-shot drop, kitchen readiness, court position, and partner chemistry. The goal was not to judge a player based on one great shot or one mistake but to instead look for patterns across their overall game. The evaluation and rating portion lasted about 1.5 hours, and participants were able to spend the last half-hour enjoying open play.
For players new to DUPR, a coach-assigned rating provides a starting point for understanding their current skill level and can make it easier to find appropriately matched games, leagues, tournaments, clinics, and other playing opportunities. The rating assigned to clinic attendees was only an initial rating. Once players begin recording results from DUPR-rated matches, the DUPR algorithm will take over, allowing their rating to change (and hopefully improve!) as they continue to play.
A DUPR coach cannot fix an incorrect DUPR rating. They can only assign initial ratings to unrated players. If you do not already have a DUPR rating but would like one, click here to find a DUPR coach in your area.
