Ben Hildreth has lived in Taiwan for over 10 years and works as an international school PE teacher and account manager for DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) presented by Delaware Life. An avid traveler, he has visited more than 75 countries. Ben enjoys all sports, with a particular passion for pickleball, running, scuba diving, and fitness. He has a small addiction to K-dramas, counting calories, and beach days. Whether exploring a new country or running a round-robin, Ben embraces life with enthusiasm and a zest for discovery.

How did you get involved with DUPR?

A colleague already involved in pickleball reached out when he heard I was playing internationally and teaching pickleball as a PE teacher. He made a few introductions to people in the industry, and now I work for DUPR. It’s been exciting to see pickleball and DUPR grow throughout Asia.

Can you explain what DUPR is and is it only for elite and competition players?

DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is pickleball’s most accurate and widely adopted global rating system. It gives players a rating based on match results and helps them find more opportunities to play. Everyone can use DUPR – whether you’re a recreational player, club warrior, or a pro. It’s free to use and makes pickleball even more fun.

DUPR’s rating system is based on match results, so it provides the most reliable assessment of player level in an easy-to-understand way. All players, regardless of their age, gender, location, or skill, are rated on the same scale between 2.000-8.000. Here’s what the rating looks at: The algorithm considers four factors:

1. Points – If you win 11-3, you go up more than if you win 11-9. Competing against similar-level players will have a greater impact on your rating.
2. Recency – When entering matches, more recent matches will move you more than old matches.
3. Total Match Count – If you’ve played in a lot of matches, your rating will fluctuate less compared to a player with a lower match count.
4. Every Match Matters – Every match counts toward your rating, even if you are playing against someone who is unrated or new to DUPR.

When players have a rating, it makes playing even more fun. Players can find more opportunities to play with others at their level and track their progress, and clubs and tournaments use DUPR to create better competition. It’s a language that unifies the game across age, gender, skill level, and location. If you have a rating on DUPR, you can find fun pickleball play wherever you are.  

When people first signed up for DUPR, we saw some very strange ratings (e.g., a beginner with just one or two games getting a strangely high ranking). Why does that happen? And how long is it before a typical DUPR rating is “accurate?”

Just like any system, the more information (i.e. match results) that DUPR has, the better the system is at evaluating a player’s skill level because it has a bigger pool of results to analyze. A player who is just starting may see their rating fluctuate a bit before it levels out to offer a more reliable assessment of their skill level. DUPR recently introduced a Reliability Score, which is a percentage that indicates a player’s progress toward achieving a reliable rating to help players understand their rating.

Players who have more results in DUPR will have higher reliability scores because there are more match results to analyze, offering a more in-depth view of their ability. A player who is just starting will have a lower reliability score because DUPR does not have as many results to analyze. As players play more and share their results with DUPR, their ratings become more and more reliable, and their reliability scores will go up.

A player’s Reliability Score reflects a few things – how many match results are in our system, how recently they’ve played, and the variety of players they’ve played against. A higher Reliability Score means the player is consistently uploading match results to the system, while a lower score indicates that there is some catching up (i.e., more playing!) to be done.

There isn’t necessarily a set time frame that a player can follow to achieve a reliable rating. Instead, DUPR recommends focusing on the following:

• Play with various partners and opponents.
• Play against similarly rated opponents.
• Play club/tournament matches.
• Play against highly reliable players.

These are the key factors in ensuring a player has a reliable rating. .

What are DUPR’s main aims/mission? And how are they playing out in Asia?

DUPR’s mission is to unify pickleball across age, gender, and location with a simple rating system while fostering a sense of fairness and competition for pickleball players across the globe. The players in Asia are fantastic, and the numbers are growing.  Pickleball clubs are sprouting up at an amazing rate. You can find a club to play in almost every country in Asia. Tourists from all over the globe have added pickleball to their travel itinerary as a fun way to meet locals and log some games in different countries (like a digital souvenir!).  Asia also has many high-level players playing in the PPA, MLP, & Major League Pickleball Australia.

Which are the most active DUPR countries around Asia right now?

The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei have been very active lately.  These countries are uploading scores through tournaments, leagues, team formats, and open play.  

If you meet a player and they say, “Why should I bother signing up for DUPR?” what are the main reasons you give them?

1. DUPR makes sure that games are fair, which leads to more interesting matches and gameplay.
2. You can keep track of your progress and see where you’re doing well and where you need to improve, which is very important for getting better at the game.
3. The ratings help event organizers set the seeds, which makes tournaments more competitive and well-organized.
4. DUPR’s universal method promotes inclusion by not caring about age or gender, making the facility a friendly place for all pickleball fans.
5. It is an international benchmark for assessing pickleball skills as the sport gains global popularity, crucial for international tournaments and monitoring players’ proficiency worldwide.
6. When players are rated on DUPR, they can find fun, competitive opportunities to play wherever they are in the world.

Outside of ratings is there anything DUPR and the DUPR app can be used for?

Yes!  You can use the platform to find players of similar skill levels in your area so that you can play with them!  You can also see where you rank inside the digital club that you have joined this helps fan the flames of friendly competition. You can also DM players directly through the app to stay connected!  The app also can be used for DUPR Feeds, which allow you to:

Follow Friends: Stay in the loop with your pickleball pals! With the new Feeds feature, you can now follow your friends and catch up on their latest pickleball adventures, victories, and more.

Post Text or Images to Feed: Share your pickleball journey with the community! Whether it’s a stunning action shot or a post-game reflection, you can now post text or images directly to your feed for everyone to enjoy.

Highlight Top Matches: Showcase your best plays and give fellow players a front-row seat to your pickleball progress.

Comment on Players’ Matches: Celebrate victories, share tips, or simply cheer on your fellow players. Feeds allows you to engage in lively discussions by commenting on the matches posted by others.

Comment on Players’ Posts: Connect with players through comments on their posts and keep the post-match buzz alive off the court.

Tag Players: With Feeds, you can tag your friends and fellow players in your posts, ensuring they never miss a moment of the action.

Tag Clubs and Events: Stay connected with the broader pickleball community. Tag your favorite clubs and events that you’re registered for in your posts to share the excitement.

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Published from Pickleball News Asia and written by Andrew: Group Publisher at Asia Online Publishing Group & IPTPA Level 1 certified pickleball coach