MLP's HUGE Rule Changes for 2025! | Zane's Takes

What do you think of the sweeping rule changes for 2025's Major League Pickleball season? I'm not a fan of most of them, here's why...
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[@turbohand9349]

Rally scoring was one of the best parts of MLP.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Some people love it, some people hate it! What do you think of the other changes? Will these make MLP better or worse?

[@lukemortensen801]

@@ZaneNavratilPickleball I agree, I love ppa and mlp both and love their differences.

[@LeanneSchultz-x3y]

@@ZaneNavratilPickleball I've been playing in a MLP style league and I am sick to death of the scoring format. Being stuck on one side the entire game.

[@tricia3114]

@@LeanneSchultz-x3y my partner and I have added more poaching to our game during rally games.

[@MeepMeep88]

vball player here, I love it lol

[@twoleftcleats]

I understand the stability that Rally scoring brings to the game. I have never liked how it affects the serve flow though and have notice a difference in the amount of risk taken there was lowered. I am also not a fan of a type of scoring that lets the down team catch up and freezes a team from what would have been points won.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

It will be interesting to see how play changes with sideout scoring. Do you think players will settle into it quickly or will take some time to adjust?

[@sai600]

yes I don't think a team should be penalized for being ahead. whatever lead exists was earned. if a team doesn't want to be behind, don't fall behind.

[@BenjaminAndersonPickleball]

- Sucks that it's UPA only. I'm not a fan of this change. - As a viewer I've always preferred side out scoring for doubles. Time is a concern, though. I'm glad they are mixing things up at least. It's hard for me to get invested in MLP but I really want to because on paper the format seems awesome. In practice I end up feeling out of touch with what is going on. Maybe this year will be different.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

UPA only will have a big impact for sure. What do you think of the 6 team rosters? Are the 2 extra people likely to even get to play?

[@BenjaminAndersonPickleball]

@@ZaneNavratilPickleball I like that it gives more options. I guess it depends on how matchup based pickleball is. Maybe we'll see more team experimentation early on in the season.

[@PatesProjects]

Me being a lefty, I have wanted rally scoring to take over traditional scoring so I can play rec games with strangers and stay on the right side without having to ask the other player to stack and unstack. It would be nice to see a hybrid scoring system where you can only score on serve like traditional scoring but you stay on your preferred sides and each person takes turn serving until a sideout like in rally scoring. Best of both worlds.

[@lukemortensen801]

I love rally scoring for mlp but I thought the freeze rules were bad. The six players thing is confusing. Does that mean we are playing more games per match or will some players sit out?

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

2 players sit out.

[@galaxy_mosaic3587]

I kind of went through the video when half asleep. so am still processing. but the change for MLP from rally to side out scoring is kind of a bummer. I'm still trying to think of the cons of rally scoring. were the games running too long (when the teams were really close)? I felt like the pro of rally scoring was that players seemed to play a little more loose and a little more risky (maybe more in my mind bc when they talk during pickleball tutorial videos, majority of pros generally say to play low risk pickleball) and I found the style to be more fun to watch (or maybe it's more true to my philosophy). I kind of think paddles should be regulated more and the game a little less (unless it is something extreme and bad for both players/viewers)... when beach vball switched from side out to rally scoring there were pros/cons and it really impacted the sport (which teams were favored and the style of play) so I feel it makes sense for there to be an impact in pickleball but haven't reflected about all of the aspects...

[@StylinOnHaters]

Zane, I think you have a good read on the required UPA contracts and 6 player roster. Yes, 2025 might be brutal with top heavy teams but I think in the long term it will help the sport. UPA basically required themselves to hand out more contracts to up and comers so I would say it doesn't take away that aspect of MLP completely. Now, with decent contracts, these players will get to quit their jobs and focus on training, as well as getting more reps in MLP vs top talent whereas in PPA they might just lose to a top seed 1st or 2nd round.

[@DannyBPlays]

People like rally scoring when they're ahead, hate it when they're behind. Traditional scoring always gives a chance, you always have a reason to hope. But a team up big with rally scoring means you can turn off your tv, no chance the other team will comeback. And the "win on serve" rule is an admission that it's better to make the team serving earn their point rather than just get a point off returning serves

[@QuinnVaughn-f6m]

what? you got it backward. There is no freeze in traditional scoring. Catching up is much easier in rally scoring, hands down.

[@robaina1]

i think you have it backwards

[@byudrew16]

​@@QuinnVaughn-f6mThe reason they can come back is because during the freeze, one team is playing traditional scoring and the other team is playing rally scoring. Comebacks are near impossible if you're both playing rally. Comebacks are possible if you're both playing traditional - and have to be earned. Comebacks are cheap and easy if one team is playing with a different scoring system than the other.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

So do you think the move to sideout scoring is for the better?

[@cardinals5516]

I am going to miss rally scoring. 6 players on a team seems fine, or at least interesting. I'd like to see how it plays out over a season before I make up my mind.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Do you think the extra 2 players on each team will get much chance to play?

[@cardinals5516]

@@ZaneNavratilPickleball I don't think so. Although, it could depend on how teams can use those extra players. Do you know what those rules will be? For example: could a team's 3rd man or woman be used as a singles specialist who only plays during DreamBreakers?

[@jeffricciardi2821]

My Rex group has gone to MLP scoring and we love it. Sorry to see it go in MLP.

[@russ2991]

Glad they made all of these changes. Gonna be good for Pickleball in general, and MLP specifically. Get rid of the whole dreambreaker crap, and it's good to go.

[@PickleballMani]

Really scouring makes the MLP interesting and more even matches . Regular scoring will many time makes one sided matches!

[@r42522]

I think they should keep rally scoring across the board with no freeze except in the dream breaker.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

That could be interesting!

[@LandonPWilson]

I could take or leave rally scoring. it always seemed to be which team could actually close out a match. that said I hate the idea of one game to 11 win by 2. the sweet spot I believe it should be 1 game to 15 win by 2 side out scoring. if not that then best 2 out of 3 to 11 win by 2.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

I think 1 game to 15 is likely. That's what they did for the very first MLP event in 2021.

[@bryandbaker]

Is that a 1st grade picture day filter? Fun stuff!

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Every day is 1st grade picture day for me!

[@btreese7]

Hate rally scoring. This is good. Rally scoring with freeze is just a gimmick to force games to be close.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Do you think the switch to sideout scoring could make it less exciting to watch?

[@btreese7]

@ IDK But I prefer traditional scoring where you have to try to score when you are disadvantaged and have to fight for that point. For me, rally scoring comes down to who has the better 3rd’s that day.

[@johnclikeman5041]

​@@btreese7 Side-out scoring also comes down to who has the better thirds on the day. If you win fewer points on your serve than the other team, you lose regardless of how the score is kept. Well, except for the freeze. That's the only way to actually win a game while scoring fewer points. But there are plenty of ways to make rally scoring work without that flaw, MLP just chose the worst version of it.

[@brianrichards9536]

I do think the rally scoring and team format really set MLP apart. Ipen to the change, tho, so we will see!

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

These are some pretty big changes! Only time will tell if they are for the better or worse!

[@byudrew16]

A freeze on 1 team definitely had to go as they're trying to develop this into a legitimate competitive sports league. It made for fake drama. But plain rally scoring is very boring. The only options were to freeze both teams' scores or to just play traditional scoring. I like the decision, and I think it will work out well for the league. Going to rosters of 6 is great. But they need to add a twist where you can switch out players between gender, mixed, and singles matches. Let the whole roster play in a match if it helps your team.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Freezing both teams' scores is definitely a way to make rally scoring work better.

[@donnacollins6698]

I agree with you

[@HM-gm1kn]

Was this recorded on a toaster?

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

No literally

[@pickleMEpaddle]

They’re taking away the fun from MLP, it’s just gonna be an extension of PPA tour with no new/different players.

[@matthewalfonso2154]

Having to unwind a stack should always be part of any scoring system, either side out or rally for the teams that want to stack. There should be some sort of risk for having someone always playing the left. The way MLP implemented it, always serving from the same side, never having to unwind, always having to win the game on the right side players serve was just not pickleball. To me it was just not enjoyable to watch. Just seemed like a gimmick. I think most of these changes you mentioned are all for the better.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

It will definitely be interesting seeing stacking be a big part of MLP now!

[@mattyice3194]

Zane is slowly transforming into Altaf Merchant 😂

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

The truth comes out!

[@DanCerveny]

I'm bummed that Will Howells will not be playing for the 5s again this year.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

You and me both!

[@tricia3114]

I don’t care what kind of scoring system. Just play hard every point. Adversity is good for your game. Jmo. ❤❤❤

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

I like that take! Do you enjoy watching PPA or MLP more?

[@tricia3114]

@ both. Love the traditional type of games but also love team competitions. Adds different strategies. I think there will be room for both. I understand most want quick success and simplicity is a great way to get there but stretching yourself (playing up, not down and playing singles, doubles and mixed) will force you to add to your game. This will take you longer but imo your foundation gets wider and stronger. # chase your losses until they are hard to find.

[@r42522]

I don't understand why not have two separate ppa and mlp seasons, not mixing them and operating both leagues like smaller versions of other professional leagues with a salary cap, roster limits, free agent periods up to a point in a season so as to eliminate adding players during playoffs. It's crazy to me that the loaner player was ever a thing. It was literal collusion lol.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Do you think the 6 player teams was a good way to eliminate the loaner problem? Or is there a better way?

[@fireman4him275]

Zane, I’m so happy that rally scoring is going away - especially the freeze out. I think it was ruining the game. I’m more interested in watching MLP with that gone.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Wow that's a strong opinion! What do you think of the other changes?

[@danieli411]

I prefer traditional scoring - watching and playing. But I can see the benefit of a rally scoring system.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Rally scoring is very controversial! The people who hate it aren't afraid to let the world know, that's for sure!

[@danieli411]

@@ZaneNavratilPickleball I appreciate the pressure it can put on the pros to balance aggressive play vs consistent play. Traditional system allows serving team to be more aggressive without real penalty, which can be fun to watch. Rally scoring can punish that style of play if they can't pull it off. Which is good for pros like yourself. Thanks for the great info and content.

[@greysonbennett6788]

I like the side out scoring because that way you can be sure the better team wins. Rally scoring kind of feels like it can give more opportunities for the weaker team to win.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Interesting take! Do you think doing 1 game to 15 sideout scoring will work well?

[@MartyNES1]

I used to think the same way until I started playing with a group that does rally scoring. Even if you keep going back and forth which team serves at the end of the game the better team has to score points on their serve.

[@Coach_A22]

Unless PPA and APP players are on the boards in the form of player panels like WTA, ATP, ITF, pickleball pros are at the mercy of the owners and pickleball organizations.

[@briancook3187]

I personally hate rally scoring. Glad it’s gone.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

A lot of people seem to agree with you! Do you think traditional scoring will make MLP more or less exciting to watch?

[@briancook3187]

For me the excitement from MLP comes from the matchups and the team format, not the rally scoring. All rec play is tradition scoring and that’s what fans are used to seeing. With traditional scoring you get a sense a team has earned a point rather than like in rally scoring where one mistake costs you a point. At times an MLP match feels like an NBA game where all of the excitement comes at the end if the score is close. I could miss 95% of the match and still see how it finishes.

[@dalevoigt8612]

@@ZaneNavratilPickleball I think it depends on if you rather seeing offence, or defense. I like to see strong defenses come from behind. Side outs allow a strong defensive team to hold a team, and to steadily creep back into the game. It seems to me that the freeze was just a way to put a portion of that back into the game; so as to not have blowouts.

[@georgemurphy126]

I loathe rally scoring so much that I've avoided MLP. Without rally scoring, now I'll watch.

[@attybong]

if rally scoring is dead, so should the no-let serve 😢😮

[@Natedavis4444]

I like rally scoring, but not to 25 points or whatever it was… the matches didn’t get exciting until the last 5 points…

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Do you think 21 was ok or should be even lower?

[@Natedavis4444]

@ That’s better if it’s rally scoring, but I think 15 is perfect. Should be to 11 with traditional scoring.

[@ONSETONE]

I’m fine without it

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Without what?

[@EddieDBama]

Rally is great. Also, what's up with the hair?

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Do you like the hair or hate it? Be honest!

[@theakountant907]

@@ZaneNavratilPickleball You need a haircut bro.

[@EddieDBama]

@ Does the wife like it?

[@TCW1977]

hair is good ​@@ZaneNavratilPickleball

[@MatthewLedford-n7k]

If the wife likes it, who cares what the rest of us say bro! ❤

[@B4inSF]

Really disappointed on the scoring change. Bad, bad move.

[@theakountant907]

Wish they would keep rally scoring and get rid of the silly dream-breaker. Singles is more or less a different sport. I'd rather they keep the overtime to a focus on doubles pickleball.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

What would be a good doubles tiebreaker format?

[@LeanneSchultz-x3y]

Doubles tiebreaker, have to put out different mixed pairings than played in the match. So, for example, Zane and Anna Leigh, and then Will and Mari would be the pairings. Home team stays out for first 2 points, then their second mixed team comes on, plays 4 points. Visitors start at 4 points for first pairings, then 4 for second. So that the pairings of each side are offset, play two of their points against one of the opponents pairs, then the second 2 of their points against the opponents second pair.

[@byudrew16]

​@@ZaneNavratilPickleball Same as singles DB. Rotating lineups for 4 or 5 pts at a time. Maybe have gender vs mixed matchups too.

[@jbmedia8882]

I got a feeling Tyra is leaving Dallas Flash. 😢

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Really hard to predict! Who do you think will try to pick her up if she's dropped?

[@zaf7819]

@@ZaneNavratilPickleball Anybody and everybody that has cap room. If Tyra plays like she did at Masters, she is top 5 and getting better by the tournament.

[@stymeron]

Sounds like some of the changes were made without thinking the whole thing through.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Which ones?

[@stymeron]

@@ZaneNavratilPickleball Well, first that only UPA players can be signed. Then the change away from rally scoring. It's potentially less interesting as it's a 'season' without championships each weekend like the PPA tournaments have. No salary cap will also potentially cause a lack of parity making the games less interesting if they aren't close.

[@nguyenvinhd]

Rally made MLP exciting. UPA sucks.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

A lot of people agree...a lot of people don't. I guess we'll see how exciting sideout MLP can be soon enough!

[@titaniumsandwedge]

Rally scoring is OK. The freeze is bad.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Do you think straight rally scoring and not having to win on serve is good for MLP though? They tried it for one event and it seemed universally hated...

[@titaniumsandwedge]

@@ZaneNavratilPickleball I think the freeze allows the trailing team to catch up. Without it, many matches would end at 25-20. I think playing rally scoring to 25 is the same as side-in scoring to 11. What will make a difference is spotting ALW 5 points to play singles against a male in dreambreakers. This will add excitement to the match.

[@duanehensley8835]

Rally scoring sucks! It's so boring to watch pickleball being scored that way, IMO.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Do you think they should do 1 game to 15 for each game? Or a best of 3 games to 11?

[@duanehensley8835]

@@ZaneNavratilPickleball Good question. I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. Seems to be more of a tactical game with normal scoring than with Rally scoring. It kind of reminds me of the difference between Texas Holdem poker vs regular 5 Card Draw poker. One seems to have more strategy involved (5 card) than the the other. Just a cursory observation. :)

[@duanehensley8835]

@@ZaneNavratilPickleball Someone on here made a comment about how the freeze made the rally scoring close and that is one of the main reasons I didn't like it. Too often the score was really close and didn't really do a good job of fleshing out who the superior team was.

[@russelllew1139]

Like rally scoring, game moves faster, just don’t like the freeze.

[@georgejoseph2601]

get a better camera Zane

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

I'd like to! What's popular these days?

[@georgejoseph2601]

@ You’re probably always on the move. Vloggers enjoy the Osmo Pocket 3 a lot 👌🏽

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Thanks!

[@MatthewLedford-n7k]

I have come to respect RALLY scoring as the least fault tolerant way to play pickleball! Every frikkin point counts! Does it cause players to be more conservative in their shot selection? Maybe! Six players makes sense to me too. Fielding some Minor League Pickleball Teams, I’ve come to see the value in having a deeper roster because shthufff happens!! Gosh, seems like the six could accommodate some up and coming ‘rookies’ and create both opportunity and excitement! 😊

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Do you think most teams will just always have their top 4 players play?

[@MatthewLedford-n7k]

Maybe so but Depends on who they are up against right?seems like some pairs might have a better chance of winning against some opponents so you pick the best team to beat whoever is on the other side that day?!? @@ZaneNavratilPickleballmaybe but

[@m0y0utub]

Disappointed about the removal of the rally scoring and the freeze in MLP. Seemed to make the matches quicker which is huge when playing multiple matches in a day. One match to 11 will not be interesting at all and 2 out 3 will be too long. We shall see how it goes.

[@adamheath4599]

Maybe 1 to 15 traditional scoring.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

It’ll be interesting to see how it affects the pacing of the matches! The very first MLP event in 2021 they did 1 game to 15 traditional scoring. Maybe they'll do that again.

[@adamheath4599]

@@ZaneNavratilPickleball how do you think that flowed? 1 to 15? My problem with rally scoring is every game ends in the 20s and it actually doesn’t really feel impactful imo. Kinda like in the incredible, when everyone is special, nobody is special.

[@m0y0utub]

I still think a match to 15 will cause lopsided matches, especially when one side is the better side due to weather. Lopsided matches aren’t that fun to watch. I loved the match between Zane/Mari vs Johnson siblings when Z/M came back during the freeze. That was fun to watch!

[@adamheath4599]

@ I mean yeah there will be lopsided matches if one team is playing better but that’s how it should be lol.

[@chrispaulsen5746]

I think it's a bummer they went away from rally scoring. I think they should bump it to 30, but besides that I thought rally was good. When you brought up it's a pay to win league, you could also say the same thing for MLB. They have no salary cap and the teams who spend the most tend to be the best. They may not win the WS, but they almost always make the playoffs.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Rally scoring to 30 could be interesting...how did you come up with that number?

[@chrispaulsen5746]

@ just went to the next multiple of 5 from 25 lol. My thoughts are rally scoring to 25 still didn't seem long enough for people to settle into the match some. I feel like so much of pickleball is finding patterns and in game adjustments that you need some time for that.

[@TCW1977]

rally scoring was one of the reasons I watched it.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

Interesting! Do you think rally scoring made it more exciting than PPA matches?

[@Bfordandafter]

All of pickleball needs to go to rally scoring.... it is superior to the standard way... volleyball got a lot better when it figured this out.....

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

There are definitely some arguments for it...but there are a lot of people who really HATE the idea.

[@douglasmurdoch7247]

Moving away from rally scoring is bizarre.

[@ZaneNavratilPickleball]

It's been the norm in MLP so long now...strange they're suddenly changing it. Who do you think proposed it and why?

[@douglasmurdoch7247]

@ well this comment section seems largely in favor of it. Maybe it’s less popular than we thought. But rally scoring to me is synonymous with the MLP brand.