MLP and DUPR | Coach explains draft, team building, and rating cap mechanics

DUPR isn't just for casual players. In fact, it plays a significant role in professional team competitions. A prime example of this is the team-based league, MLP.

I'm Coach Yoshi. I played tennis for 15 years and discovered pickleball in 2026. In this article, I'll explain how DUPR is used in Major League Pickleball (MLP), detailing the behind-the-scenes aspects of drafting and team formation. If you're unfamiliar with MLP, please start by reading What are MLP and the PPA Tour?

※League rules and numerical values are subject to rapid changes. This article provides a general explanation as of the time of writing. For the latest and most accurate rules, please refer to the official information from each league.

MLP and DUPR are deeply connected

MLP and DUPR actually share a common origin: both were founded by Steve Kuhn (The DUPR Origin Story). Therefore, it was a natural progression for DUPR to be utilized in professional team competitions.

MLP is a team league where mixed-gender teams compete. DUPR serves as the foundation, providing a common, objective measure of player skill.

Player Evaluation in the Draft

In team sports, if the strength of teams is too uneven, the league becomes uninteresting. This is where team formation based on players' DUPR ratings comes into play.

• Evaluate each player's skill using DUPR (especially for doubles)
• Use this as a decision-making tool for drafting and team formation
• Balance teams to prevent too many strong players from accumulating on one team

Having a common language of "numbers" makes it easier to create fair and convincing teams.

The Rating Cap System

Especially crucial for amateur and minor leagues (such as Minor League Pickleball) is the rating cap. This is a "constraint" designed to prevent an imbalance in team strength.

• Team Total Rating Cap: The sum of team members' DUPR ratings must not exceed a predetermined limit.
• Individual Rating Cap: Prevents teams from being stacked with only exceptionally strong players.

This cap makes it impossible to "collect all the strong players." That's why I believe it leads to more competitive and exciting matches throughout the league.

And this cap system plays another important role—deterring sandbagging (illegitimately lowering one's perceived skill). The DUPR system and Verified prevent players from faking their skill to fit within the cap (DUPR Verified and the Sandbagging Problem).

💡 Coach Yoshi's Point It's helpful to think of the cap system as the rating version of the "salary cap" in professional baseball or basketball. Balanced teams equal a more exciting league. DUPR forms the foundation for that.

Professional Usage Extends to General Players

As professionals and leagues began using DUPR as a "common standard," it gradually permeated the world of general players. The reassurance that "the top players use a reliable metric" likely propelled its global standardization.

It's also interesting to see the trends in paddles used by professional players.

Summary