Tackling Sandbagging in Pickleball: Our Community Approach

Sandbagging is the deliberate act of playing below your true skill level to gain an unfair advantage in tournaments, often by competing against lower‑rated players. Unfortunately, some advanced players use this tactic to secure easy wins and rewards.

At the Bangalore Pickleball Community (BPC) DUPR Club, we believe in fair play and equal opportunity. That’s why we’ve taken active steps to curb sandbagging and ensure our Intermediate and Intermediate+ players enjoy a level playing field.

🚫 No Duplicate DUPR Profiles

We’ve banned players with multiple DUPR profiles from participating in our games and tournaments. While some admitted this was a common practice, we’ve taken a firm stand to protect our community from manipulation and maintain integrity in competition.

🎯 One Unified DUPR Category

Our tournaments now operate under a single DUPR category, determined by the average DUPR rating of a doubles team. This approach prevents higher‑rated players from disguising themselves as “below 3.5” or “below 3.0.”

Thanks to recent updates in the DUPR algorithm, advanced players no longer benefit from competing in lower categories. This change levels the ground for everyone, especially the Intermediate players who form the heart of our community.

Why It Matters

Pickleball is more than just a sport—it’s a lifestyle that’s growing rapidly worldwide, and especially in India. Our goal is to create competitive yet enjoyable tournaments where every player has a fair shot at success.

Some may view these measures as limiting advanced players. In reality, they open up new opportunities: advanced players can mentor and partner with lower‑rated teammates, helping them grow while still competing meaningfully.

With the average DUPR rating system, it’s now common to see doubles teams made up of one advanced player and one intermediate player. This reflects our vision: a community where players lift each other up and rise together.

Our Call to Action

We encourage advanced players to embrace this model—partner with lower‑rated teammates, share your skills, and aim to win tournaments together. That’s the true spirit of community: collaboration, mentorship, and collective growth.