Pickleball! Nationals 3.5, 50+ Gold Medal Match! One Of The Best Played Matches You Will Ever See!

You have got to see this incredible match at Nationals 2023. It is one of the best I have ever seen. Great play and super competitive. One that goes the distance.
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[@mountaintop0616]

Top to bottom or bottom to top an exceptional match to watch while listening to Rory's comments. Well done to all.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

They are awesome players! Thanks for watching.

[@cynthiamacdonald9885]

What a joy to watch this matchup - truly beautiful pickleball! This is the type of pickleball I aspire towards!

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

You should! That's the most enjoyable there is. Thanks for watching.

[@contourman6692]

Yes. this pickleball style is for seniors. was fun.

[@christopherbeaty641]

best instructional videos on the web learned so much watching thx rory

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Wow. That's a nice compliment. I hope they are helping.

[@debbies2003]

Love your channel! This was a great match to watch. I'm a beginner so learning a lot.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

As a beginner, you should aspire to play like this. Best of luck and thanks for watching.

[@user-nx9jo5gp8w]

I agree that their short game is very good. That said, a lot of missed chances for speed ups and put aways. Most points would have been shorter with some well-placed aggression. Only watched for a bit, but I could feel you almost saying "put it away" several times. Do prefer this style of play over banging out a quick game though.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I prefer this type of game as well. I think it just makes the overall pickleball experience more fun. The problem is, most players nowadays, do not play like this. It was really refreshing to see that teams like these were competing for the gold medal at Nationals. Thanks for watching.

[@frankgonzales8340]

Great finesse play, but too slow for my taste. I think a good driving 4.0 team would beat them. They look very fragile and slow. Especially the near team.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

There were 60 teams in this bracket. I'm sure they faced some driving teams along the way. They beat them all.

[@Cacheola]

Exactly what I said all along - put away! I think Rory restrained and just allowed us to take it in

[@matthewschaefer108]

The slower speed and power of the serves and returns allow a considerably easier reset. I don’t take away from any of the skill demonstrated here, but they dont have nearly the topspin of the higher levels. However, Iwould say they are the best 3.5 ever!

[@imperabo]

Really masterful. I wish all pickleball was like this. This is the best demonstration I've seen of what the average athlete or 50+ should emulate and aspire to. Lady in pink/orange is OG Lindsay Newman.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

If everyone played pickleball like this it would be a better sport. Thanks for watching.

[@glennmccullough572]

A true clinic !! Sad how few people were there to see it. Anyone of these four would be a interesting interview.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

That's a good way to describe it. Thanks for watching. It was the last match of the entire tournament. I guess most people had left.

[@danhotel5961]

Great players, all of them. Tremendous patience shown by all

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes. You just don't see points lasting as long at this level as some of these points lasted. I was very surprised. Thanks for watching.

[@odinapprentice]

Love this new commentary format of not stopping the games, but rather commenting and replaying when necessary. I enjoyed your content before, but now i find it so much more consumable.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Thank you for that. I'll keep in mind why you liked it. Thanks for watching.

[@itssojulie]

@@pickleballpick-apart9787 I like when you slow the game down and show paddle position, court position etc ... I learn so much!!

[@kevmarcol780]

That was a great game. I picked the underdogs from the beginning. By far the best 3.5 playing I've seen.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Any reason why? They were evenly matched.

[@hconf]

Soooo amazing! Proud of that team for winning it all

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes! It's too bad one team had to walk off the court with a silver medal. Not that asilver medal is bad, but they were so good! Thanks for watching.

[@anneoconnor757]

Awesome play!

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yep! Thanks for watching.

[@marcus102361]

Fun to watch

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes, it was! And, thank you for watching.

[@user-gf4wv2ji6x]

I really enjoyed watching these players. Definitely higher than 3.5. Well done to all!

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes, well done! Thanks for watching.

[@picklerun361]

So glad you posted all 3 of these games. I had seen the final on Team Hanlon a couple of days ago and thought I should send for you to "pick apart" --though not much to pick apart here. I recognized them instantly--what fantastic games. I saved the final video for future reference. As you mentioned, I'll be looking at the lady in orange for defense pointers.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

She was so good at that. But, I kind of realized she and her partner, at times, had an issue getting to the NVZ. That's why she spent so much time defending. If she didn't defend as well as she did, the other team would have won easily. Thanks for watching.

[@jmcloughlin]

​@@pickleballpick-apart9787 Rory, Couldnt agree with you more. The player in orange had no offense. So many opportunities to put away, Solid dinks and resets but hits directly to opponent every time, never tries to move her dinks strategically to get opponents off balance. The opponents were not mobile but they were not often tested by having them return while moving and I think they would have been susceptible to this. Her partner had some speed ups. They are all very impressive and congrats to all 4.

[@AnnMitt]

This was a fun video to watch. I rarely ever play or watch long dinking games at the rec center because of pop-ups, smashers, and bangers and because of the random match-ups in open play. Kudos to the older couple for their skills and strategies. 👏

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes. They are really, really good. Thanks for watching.

[@jerroidrixon]

Great games. Thank you for posting and commentating. According to these ratings I am barely a 2.0.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I know how you feel! Thanks for watching.

[@borispiatski8790]

Fantastic game. Pleasure to watch.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

It was. Glad you got to see it.

[@banks1944]

That 3.5 at national’s was a great match. I really enjoy watching your channel. Still out with knee surgery. Gaining a lot of information I hope to be a much better when I get back on the court

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

When I first started playing pickleball, I had no idea what I was doing. Two weeks later, I pulled a calf muscle and was out for three weeks. I spent hours and hours watching KZbin videos and reading how to properly play pickleball. If I wouldn't have done that, I might have quit. Best of luck with your recovery.

[@Hawkin.H]

Love your commentaries. Great feedback and lessons to learn. Would you think it's better to train with those around your age or at higher skill levels. Questioning if being body-bagged by stronger players decades younger than you.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I think it depends on what you're trying to accomplish. If you're just playing for fun, exercise, and socialization, play with players of your ability. If you want to get better, play against higher level players. Playing against better players will make you better. Thanks for watching.

[@seegarsmkr]

Cory, I used to think I was a 3.5 player. If these players are 3.5 then I am a 1.5. The guy who jumped the net has the softest hands I have ever seen. His dinks and resets are insane, purposeful and they always got them up to the net. The lady in orange is unbelievable with her ability to keep the ball in play.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Very nice, spot-on comments. Believe it or not, some comments were that these players are really not all that.

[@nchambers007]

Most people who podium'd in 3.5 at national (all age groups) were DUPR 4.4 - 5.2. Just FYI.

[@PickleballBatman]

@@nchambers007 sandbaggers everywhere in Pickleball tournaments

[@MikeS-uh9mq]

Agree, very soft hands. I thought I was a 3.0 player but now, I don't know.

[@toddwoodhouse3952]

For what it’s worth, this bracket had about 60 teams in it. Play started at 8:00 AM and this gold medal match concluded about 11:30 PM! They were all tired. Thanks for all the comments.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

It's even more impressive that they played as well as they did. I knew it was the very last match of the entire tournament. Thanks for watching.

[@pickleballer1729]

Wow, that is amazing.

[@sonographers]

Fantastic game to watch! Definitely they are at least 4.5 or higher.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes they are! THanks for watching!

[@carllungwitz5171]

Very good play by all

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Absolutely! Thanks for watching.

[@tomhesemann3680]

Very good dinkers. 4 to 4.5 on their dinks and drops. They miss a number of put aways. So in my opinion they a 4.0 overall.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

The players on one team are dupr rated 4.5 and 5.0. The other 4.5 and 4.9. Thanks for watching.

[@jgreg56]

Yes

[@jimmansi9046]

These players are deceivingly good, they know how to play the game, where to be where to be on the court at all times, it looks like very smart play to me. I have no idea how to rank someone, but I agree with you. They should definitely be higher than a 3.5 very enjoyable to watch.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

These players are awesome! Thanks for watching.

[@paulparker7750]

superb strategy, touch, technique, positioning, footwork, patience, etc all top of the top fun to watch elite play by players not at all avatar mutant physical specimens either but still elite

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Good point. I think they are incredible.

[@pickleball_tomorrow]

Incredible pickleball!!! That's my friend Woody and Michelle.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

They are very, very good. It was fun reviewing that match. Thanks for watching.

[@dondouglas3431]

Amazing!

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I think they are. Thanks for watching.

[@Hawkin.H]

Thank you so much.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

You're welcome!

[@jjonz50]

Really enjoyed that video. I watched all the way to the end where you discussed their DUPR numbers. I'd be interested if you could describe how the tournament gave them a 3.5 rating but the DUPR numbers were 4.5 or more. You gave a very brief explanation saying that was what the tournament required or came up with.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Sure. Levels at Nationals are not based on DUPR ratings. They are based on what is known as a UTPR rating. USA pickleball tournament player ratings. In order to get that rating, a player has to play in USA pickleball sanctioned tournaments. That's all I really know. Thanks for watching.

[@jgreg56]

So what do you do to your rating to get in the right .right competitive category ie 3.5 etc

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

That's a good question. I think to get a UTPR rating a player has to play in specific tournaments. I have no clue as to which tournaments those are.

[@cmorales3373]

Great to watch and learn. Question...Why do you think the team with the lady in red chose to stack with her on the left instead of right for the 2nd and 3rd games??

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I guess because her forehand is better than her backhand. Thanks for asking and thanks for watching.

[@thomaspanno3515]

really incredible

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

It is! Thanks for watching.

[@user-bh1ij8vk9v]

These teams play so much alike. I see very little drives to get them out of rhythm. All are excellent players. Lady in red is awesome and all over the court.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes, very similar. Can hardly tell them apart. Thanks for watching.

[@anna.scheffer]

I agree I like that 2handed returns from that player that is a first for me wow it works great

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I've messed around with a two-handed backhand. Sometimes I hit it. Sometimes I don't. Thanks for watching

[@highlife7241]

FAB match!✅👊👍

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

It definitely was. Thanks for watching.

[@jeffwood2845]

Amazing

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

It really was. Thanks for watching.

[@Hawkin.H]

Is it a different strategy on longer dinking rallies or tricky speed ups?

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

They weren't that many speed ups because it never presented the opportunity. They kept the ball low when dinking. Thanks for watching.

[@Bee-of5xz]

Yes, this is great game!

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I thought it was as well. Thanks for watching.

[@keithchasteen8593]

What a match!!!

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

It definitely was. Thanks for watching.

[@brianbanks3044]

all players are truly fundamentally sound....these would be fun games to play

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

They are and the games sure would be fun. Thanks for watching.

[@sylvainmillaire7271]

Very good players!

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes they are. Thanks for watching.

[@MustangGT715]

Great play by both teams and that guy jumping over the net was amazing! What happened to the other team meeting at the net and saying good match?

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Well. Good point. I didn't really notice that. The video ended as the guy who jumped over the net was running to the stands to hug someone else. I think the losing team did not get to congratulate the winning team because he did that. Thanks for watching till the end.

[@alanmclaughlin3475]

They didn't have strong drives or put -a -ways but had strong drops and dinks and played very consistently with very few unforced errors. I agree with you, at least 4.0 . Most players I see at 4.0 can't drop and are more like 3.5. To answer your question, no, I could not beat them!

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Haha! Thanks!

[@stanlipnowski7749]

Wow! These are not 3.5 players. Easily 4-4.5 players. An absolute pleasure to watch!!!!!

[@Hawkin.H]

What is your opinion on my questions above?

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes it was. I'm glad you got to see it.

[@okayest_amateur]

Very solid play, few unforced errors. Technically very solid form. Definitely better than 3.5. But not the most interesting to watch. I'd prefer more fireworks, ATPs, Ernies, body bags, overhead smashes. faster topspin drives, shake and bakes. But that is a preference thing I guess.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

It is. This is the type of play that worked for them. They did not have to rely on the things you mentioned to win at Nationals. Thanks for watching.

[@frankgonzales8340]

Totally agree

[@garyjohnson1199]

4.5 plus I would like to know the amount of time they drill weekly

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I can promise you, it's more than the average player. Thanks for watching.

[@walterjarrett152]

Most other sports, when you play that much over level for an event that you sign up for you would get disqualified, but not Pickleball. I agree the match was amazing. This is the perfect example of how Pickleball is such a poorly handicap sport that the sandbagging runs rampant.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

You may not have read some of the other comments. After posting the video, I found out the player's duprs are 4.5 4.9 4.5 5.0. Nationals does not recognize dupr ratings. They go by a player's UTPR ratings. These players were forced to play at the 3.5 level even though they are much higher in duper ratings. Thanks for watching.

[@walterjarrett152]

I saw those comments and I have no doubt for this to be true. I love your candid comments too! It's just hard to watch and awesome to watch at the same time. I have not played in a tournament for a while but when I did there was always at least one team that definitely belonged in a higher bracket that just dominated the event. I also want to say that I love this channel and the gear in pickleball printables is just awesome and I will be buying some very soon. Thank you for all the great videos you post!

[@dinajones7573]

something to aspire to.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

They are very, very good. Thanks for watching.

[@mikebellamy4760]

I think quite a few opportunities for putaways were not taken by both teams which I can understand after what must have been a very very long day with lots of play. Great hands all around. The guy on the winning team was not real strong with overheads and putaways but wow, he has hands of silk, just perfect. Great play all around, enjoyable to watch, and uh, c'mon Pickleball, do something about these ratings please. Thanks for posting.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes, the ratings system is flawed. Thanks for watching.

[@Mark-wp8zz]

Fantastic play from both groups. They may be rated 3.5 but the way they play is much higher imo

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

They are. Their duprs are 5.0, 4.5, 4.9 and 4.5. They were forced to play at this level due to the tournament using UTPR ratings.

[@pickleballstudent8523]

Yes, I agree that this was a great match. The fact that the both teams were very adapt at the soft game and embraced it, made it so I think. But I do think if one team was more aggressively "banging", it would've changed the narrative. The fact is the sport is moving towards speed. We either accept that or we keep to the yesteryears.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I understand that. There were 64 teams in this bracket. I'm sure somewhere along the way, both of these teams faced opponents who had more of a power game. They still were the last two teams remaining. Thanks for watching.

[@Hawkin.H]

Great public service announcement regarding eyewear guards. I saw two accidents last week.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Thanks! I'm surprised more players don't wear them.

[@Hawkin.H]

@@pickleballpick-apart9787 Would it be possible glare to contend with?

[@Ke875]

Wow great pickleball to watch ever ! Love it ! Tennis players are ruining Pickelball every one driving the ball so hard ! Nothing like this been played anymore !

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

The way they play is the reason they got to the gold medal match. There were 60 teams in this bracket. Thanks for watching.

[@MikeS-uh9mq]

The short game is awesome but, all aspects of the game are needed to win.1

[@Jack-yx2zh]

I think they are excellent players and fun to watch. But one thing I noticed was that they didn't smack the ball a few times when it was up high, and they could put it away.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

There were 60 teams in their bracket. The games started at 8:30 in the morning on the final day. This game ended at 11:30 at night. Perhaps they were a little tired. Considering they played quite a few games during the day, it's really more impressive how well they played. Thanks for watching.

[@elyseburden8149]

Total sandbagging they are all 4.0+. Never see this type of play anywhere

[@jamesf1525]

Well above 3.5. Dinks are very good. Only the smashes seem a bit slower than expected. Good ones don't get returned. Nice recovery on the lobs.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

They are very good. Their DUPRs are much higher than 3.5. Thanks for watching.

[@anna.scheffer]

I ditto I like this form 😊

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Awesome1 Thanks for watching.

[@almcgarity1318]

Would be nice to know what their DUPR ratings are.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Thanks for asking. 4.5 4.9 4.5 5.0. I did not find out until after posting the video. Thanks for watching.

[@christopherbeaty641]

good adjective for rating maybe: scatter shot

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

That sounds appropriate. Thanks for watching.

[@stuartfoster3067]

Playing down a level or two...or three, is seen in local tournaments. Many strong league players avoid tournaments for that reason.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

They're being forced to play down because of the Nationals system. Their skill level is based on their utpr rating and not their DUPR rating. Thanks for watching.

[@stuartfoster3067]

Ya, I understand Nationals situation. I only point out that "playing down" is a local frustration.

[@user-cj7cd1zz6y]

USA pickleball does not recognize DUPR rating system.

[@callees8790]

are the rankings off DUPR or Pickleball Brackets? In Australia these guys would be 2.9 maybe.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Neither. 3.5 is there UTPR rating. Their duprs are, 4.4, 4.9, 4.5 and 5.0. No way they are as low as 2.9 in Australia.

[@petercoughlan7127]

Seasoned players no matter their age. Great patience,shots, and strategies. 4.5

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I agree. Very well played. Thanks for watching.

[@PickleballPeon]

I like everyone’s positivity but I wonder why no one mentions the problem we are having today in the tournament scene and that’s absolutely no judges and referees stepping in and not allowing these 4.5+ players to participate. Sand bagging(purposely playing at a lower level) is rampant. It’s more like who can sandbag harder at this point. Hopefully at least these players are recorded down somewhere with a score reflecting their true abilities and are prevented from joining future 3.5 tournaments.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

The problem is, the tournament forced them to play at the 3.5 level. That's because nationals goes off of a player's UTPR rating and not dupr rating. These players DUPR ratings are 4.5, 4.9, 4.5, and 5.0. Again, it is not their fault. Nationals force them to play at the 3.5 level. Thanks for watching.

[@CWK090]

Rory, You usually criticize lobs and pity pats. "Oh no, WHY is he/she doing that?" I like that you didn't criticize the effective use of lobs from the NVZ. The one where the player, on the near court, ran off camera for the lob and then lobs it back to give him or her time to get back in a defensive position was beautiful and exactly how it should be done. I like that you didn't criticize the guy with the white hat pity patting and dropping the ball over the net when his opponent was too far back to get to it. That shot is very effective. The 30 dink rallies are great but, at high levels, will end with an aggressive speed up or better yet a firefight not the inevitable unforced dinking error. Did anyone get tagged (Nasty Nelson) the entire match? These players are very good at their slow game, resets and dinks. They are very good a defending relatively slow balls landing at their feet which is hard to do consistently. It's much more difficult with more pace on the ball. I'd love to see how they would do against opponents with a more aggressive game. Forcing aggressive players to play your game and being able to reset a hard hit drive is a high level skill. Being able to reset a ball hit hard at your feet is a high level skill.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Thanks for your lengthy post. Considering their age and this was the last match played in the tournament, I think it's incredible how well they played. The game ended at 11:00 at night. There were 60 teams in this bracket. I'm sure somewhere along the line, these teams defeated teams that had more of a power game. Thanks for watching.

[@CWK090]

@@pickleballpick-apart9787 I learned long ago not to pre-judge my opponent’s ability based on their age or anything else. I’ve seen awesome players in their 80s and college age tennis players with more confidence than ability. If you can find a game with either of these teams against more aggressive players, I’d love to see it. I am not criticizing either team. Both have similar playing styles and are very good at it.

[@dkipu266]

So funny with ranking…I’ve watched many of these online matches and these four seem so much more disciplined with their play than many 4.0 and 4.5 level tournament matches posted to youtube.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Exactly! Thanks for watching.

[@peterhellmuth7384]

Their DUPR ratings are all over 4

[@briankearley2244]

I just watched another video of yours going over 5.0 play; the players in this video seem MUCH better than the players in the other video.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

They probably are. That's why the rating system is so messed up. Nationals used UTPR ratings. These players dupr ratings are 4.5, 4.9, 4.5, and 5.0. Thanks for watching.

[@itssojulie]

4.5 for sure!!

[@itssojulie]

the more I watch .. maybe higher!! Great play :)

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yep! Thanks for watching.

[@RobertBucchianeri--Author]

Great play. That's got to be 5.0 or better. It's really not fair to others in the tournament who actually are playing at their stated level.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

They all are right at or just below the 5.0 level. They were forced to play at the 3.5 due to the Nationals rating system. Is it fair? I don't think it is.

[@lobstercrostini]

well, when you look up their names in the bracket, then check DUPR, it's no surprise

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes! Nationals really needs to do something.

[@Bugsybugs]

The lady in black is very skilled!

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Thanks for watching.

[@phil7033]

They all show great patience, especially as they must have been playing for 12 hours + that day For the curious, the DUPR record of this "3.5" match: Michelle Annett (4.5) & Todd Woodhouse (5.2) bt. Kristen Chandler (4.9) & Michael Moon (4.4) 🤨

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I knew it was something like that. To play as long as they did that day and still be able to play like they did after 10:00 at night is pretty impressive. Thanks for watching.

[@howardwunderlich6323]

I would like to know how old the player is who hopped the net after winning (with matches lasting as long as they did). We need some of what he has been taking. I believe the winning team was much older by about ten years and despite the age gap had better technique. Agree the lady in orange was a tremendous defender. Both teams were easily 4.5 players. They exemplify what Cory has been pointing out.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Thanks. I have to be careful with ages, because some people get upset if I point out that players on one team maybe older than players on another. What's even more impressive is this game ended at 11:30 at night. They had been playing all day. Thanks for watching.

[@Bill-fv7wy]

I would say because they have all the shots. 4.5/5.0

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

You're exactly right. Nice job. Thanks for watching.

[@johnclevett3425]

Great match, if this is 3.5, I have a long way to go.😂

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I think we all do. Thanks for watching.

[@dondigutierrez379]

I see a lot of transition position hitting, when a team is at the baseline-opposite team is banging instead of dinking the ball back in the kitchen, Please show us a 4.5-5.0, 50+ game.to compare whether these players intentionally played in a lower division to win a medal.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

They did not play in a lower division. Nationals ratings are based on UTPR ratings, not dupr. One team's dupr rating was 4.5 and 4.9. The other team was 4.5 and 5.0. the Nationals rules forced them to play at the 3.5 level. Thanks for watching.

[@myonlylov]

4.5

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

At least. Thanks for watching.

[@Prince_Gordon]

Keep a lookout for me at 1.0 nationals! 💪

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Haha! I hear you! Thanks for watching.

[@gregorygerlich6399]

Rating system is a joke

[@dannormand8908]

What people have to understand is that your rating is relative the opposition. If you put either of these teams in a higher bracket the shots coming at them will be faster, better placed and more consistent. They are solid 3.5 for their age but will struggle at higher levels unless they develop more power in their shots. Thnx for your reviews.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

You're more than welcome. In this case, I'm going to have to disagree. These players won Nationals at the 3.5 level. Their dupr ratings are 4.5, 4.9, 4.5, and 5.0. Very rarely do I see players play this well at that level in that age group. I really appreciate you watching and your comments.

[@bethswire1355]

The people I play with are all about smashing the ball all the time.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

That's too bad! Maybe find different people to play with! LOL!

[@CookinattheKitchen]

What's the best way to submit videos for you to review? There's no direct message feature but my most recent video from the PPA would be a good one to look at!

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

If you have a KZbin channel, send me a link to one of your games. I'll be happy to do it.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Is this the one you want me to do? PPA Men’s Doubles 4.5 match - Sam German/David Reeb vs Danny Petridis/Christian Tanner

[@CookinattheKitchen]

@@pickleballpick-apart9787 yes, that’s the one!

[@CookinattheKitchen]

@@pickleballpick-apart9787 it is, yes

[@CookinattheKitchen]

@@pickleballpick-apart9787 Yes! Not sure if my replies are appearing or not. I try to respond but my comments disappear

[@dpm6000]

I don’t care if it’s UTPR, DUPR, or a local tournament self declared…. Sandbagging in tournaments will be the death of it. Especially at 3.0-3.5! If you’re a legit 3.5 skilled player by the charts and you pay $60-$100 to enter and get wiped by these players in the first round what fun is that and why would you come back? We should embarrass and shame sandbaggers (and in this case the tournament for allowing/forcing it). They should receive no glory for winning 1.5 levels lower than their actual skills. Great play though, what I would definitely consider “real” pickleball.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yeah, I agree with you. The rating system is totally flawed. Anyone who plays at a tournament like this must know they are probably going to get crushed and it's going to cost them a of money. Thanks for watching.

[@ChrisHarrington-ux5gp]

They don't track previous gold medal winners and allow them to keep sandbagging. I asked. There needs to be more oversight and it's more like $150 bucks. Pros get bottled water but the peeons don't -- just sayin... oh, and no refs any longer until the medal matches. Greed will be their demise.

[@jerrywilliams8950]

This is an ongoing issue at Nationals and even other big tournaments. If you are a true 3.5 you will have no chance of winning if you play in your correct level.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I agree. No chance. Thanks for watching.

[@Hawkin.H]

Are some tournaments best of three?

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Some are. Usually in Round Robin, it''s one game to 15. It really all depends on the tournament. Thanks for watching and thanks for asking.

[@jaredkenyan2813]

Many tournaments are one game to 15 until the gold medal match which then becomes best of three.

[@MrBrad777c]

Im 51 and just started playing in January. Consider myself a 3.25 range player. No way I could hang with these players. Just a bunch of pure WALLS especially lady in orange. I would rate her 4.5 and her partner 4.25. The other team the male at 4.5 and his partner at 4.25. I thought it was a mistake to target the lady in orange but it worked out.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

You are very close. Their duprs are, 4.5 4.9 4.5 5.0. Thanks for watching!

[@user-rl6su1tp1j]

exactly 3.5

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Sorry. They're much higher than that. They're dupr ratings are 4.5 4.9 4.5 5.0. Thanks for watching.

[@robrodgersse]

You just beathlessly said, "Look at this!" Talking about the defense of the woman in the orange shirt. True, she defended both put away attempts by the male player in black, but you completely neglected to point out that he hit two consecutive patty cake "put aways" right to her. So, yeah, is it really that impressive?

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Not if it was a patty cake. I'll have to go back and take a look. Thanks for watching.

[@y4ngel]

Can we get a counter on how many times you mention they are not 3.5?

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Just trying to make a point. Maybe I overemphasized it. Thanks for pointing that out. I'll try to do better.

[@Bugsybugs]

I feel sorry for the real 3.5 players who were knocked out earlier on.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

That's what happens at Nationals. Thanks for watching.

[@pickleballer1729]

These players didn't do any shots that my group and I don't do all the time. Two things made them really effective players. One was their consistency- very few unforced errors. The other was that they played smart. I am rated 3.9 on DUPR, and I win about 90% of the games I play because I am one of the few players that does resets, dinks and 3rd of 5th shot drops, and plays for placement instead of just power. A lot of much younger players lose to me because they just bang everything without any thought in their game. (I'm 69, and very athletic for my age, but I still can't match the 20 - 40 year old physicality of many opponents that I regularly beat.) Some people just don't seem to catch on to the strategy of the game.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

You're exactly right! That's the great thing about pickleball. Just because someone may be more athletic than you and half your age, you can still compete, because you can outsmart them. Thanks for watching.

[@carllungwitz5171]

Hi Roy

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Hello.

[@kathleenvitello6233]

Well this is impressive and all, but just discouraging for those of us who are REALLY 3.5. How do you have enjoyable matches when the ratings are so far off?

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

It's Nationals. UTPR ratings instead of DUPR rating is used. These players are much better than 3.5. Thanks for watching.

[@jgslade]

I would not rate this as 4.0, so 3.5 seems appropriate to me. Pretty consistent and reasonably sound technically, but really weak on speed-ups and put-aways.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

That's too bad. They are definitely better than 3.5. At the end of the video, I comment that it was posted on the original video. that one team is 4.5 and 4.9 dupr. The other team is 4.5 and 5.0 dupr. So, your analysis is way off. But, I do appreciate you watching.

[@neverdown222]

So what market do you live in that has 3.5 level 50 plus players playing at this high level? If this is 3.5 in your area I would imagine your 4.5-5.0 level players be more than capable of giving Ben John and ALW a run for their money!

[@Hawkin.H]

With all due respect, I think they are over 60.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

Yes. I know. I just have to be careful. Thanks for watching!

[@albertmendez5858]

These are not 3.5 players!! This is an excellent match😊

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

They are not and it is. Thanks for watching.

[@Hawkin.H]

Lady in red maybe higher than 4.5?

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

She could be. Definitely better than 3.5. Thanks for watching.

[@Hawkin.H]

When you say they are playing like pros I have heard that some folks that some better players play in lower DUPR competition? Will there be any body of authority who will oversee if there are disadvantages imposed?

[@Hawkin.H]

In another words, 4.0 level players competing in 3.5 level tournaments.

[@Hawkin.H]

In your opinion, what level are these players if they are not 3.5?

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

I think DUPR ratings are flawed. However, Nationals does not go by DUPR ratings. They go by UPTR ratings. I have no idea why.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

4.5-5.0

[@ninalaw6721]

They put on a clinic. Anybody here commenting that they are just 3.5 players would get wiped by them. However, the ratings seem to be meaningless.

[@pickleballpick-apart9787]

You are exactly right. Their actual duprs are 4.5 4.9 4.5 5.0.