Understanding Ranking Types in PL
The Ranking Type setting in your league session controls how players move up and down the ladder after each game day. Choosing the right ranking type determines how competitive and skill-accurate your ladder stays over time. This article explains each available option so you can choose the best fit for your league.
Where to find the Ranking Type setting
- From the League Menu, click Edit Current Session or open All Sessions to edit a specific session.
- Scroll to Part 4 — Session Operation Parameters.
- Locate the Ranking Type dropdown and select your preferred option.
The Ranking Type can be changed at any time during an active session, but changes take effect on the next game day — not retroactively. If you change ranking types mid-session, communicate the change to your players.
Ranking Type options
Standard (Default)
Players move up or down the ladder based on where they finish within their round robin group each game day. The player who finishes first in their group moves up; the player who finishes last moves down. This is the most common ranking type and works well for most leagues.
Win/Loss
Players are ranked by their cumulative win/loss record across all game days in the session. Players with more wins rank higher. Ties are broken by point differential. This type is better suited for Traditional Leagues where head-to-head records are meaningful.
Points
Players are ranked by the total number of points they've scored across all game days. This rewards consistent offensive play and works well when matches are close and win/loss records don't fully reflect performance differences.
Club Rating Ranking Type
Players are ranked based on their club rating — a rating calculated exclusively from match results played within your club's leagues on Pickleball.com. Club ratings are separate from DUPR and self-rating and only reflect performance within your specific club ecosystem.
This is the most skill-accurate ranking type for established clubs, because it reflects how players actually perform against each other in your specific format and court conditions — not against the broader DUPR population.
NoteClub Rating Ranking Type requires two things to function correctly: Count Games Toward Club Ratings must be turned on in your session settings, and an additional fee applies for club rating tracking. See How to Create Your First League Session in PL for the Count Games Toward Club Ratings setting.
DUPR
Players are ranked by their DUPR rating. This is most appropriate for competitive leagues where players have established and accurate DUPR ratings and you want the ladder to reflect verified skill levels from the start of the session.
WarningDUPR rankings only work well when all players in the session have active DUPR accounts linked to Pickleball.com. Players with NR (No Rating) in DUPR will not rank correctly under this type.
Choosing the right ranking type
| If your league is... | Recommended ranking type |
|---|---|
| New with no prior rating data | Standard — most straightforward for new groups |
| Established club with history on Pickleball.com | Club Rating — most accurate for your specific player pool |
| Competitive with verified DUPR players | DUPR — reflects verified external skill level |
| Traditional format (round-robin, head-to-head records) | Win/Loss — rewards consistent results over the season |
| High-scoring format where margins matter | Points — rewards offensive performance |
Frequently asked questions
What is a club rating and how is it different from DUPR?
Club ratings are built from match results played within your Pickleball.com club's leagues. They require Count Games Toward Club Ratings to be enabled and an additional fee applies. They are entirely separate from DUPR and self-rating.
Can I use Club Rating Ranking Type from my very first session?
Club Rating requires at least a few sessions of data to be meaningful. For a brand new league with no prior game history, start with Standard ranking type. Switch to Club Rating once players have enough game history for the ratings to be meaningful.
Can I switch ranking types mid-session?
Yes. You can change the Ranking Type in Edit Current Session at any time. Changes take effect on the next game day, not retroactively. Always let your players know if you're changing the ranking system mid-session.
I selected Club Rating but the ladder isn't updating correctly — what should I check?
Count Games Toward Club Ratings must be turned on in your session settings, and an additional fee applies. If either of these isn't in place, club ratings won't calculate correctly and the ranking type won't function as expected.
Related articles
- How to Create Your First League Session in PL
- Getting Started with Pickleball Leagues (PL): Complete Setup Overview
- Game Day — Ladder League in PL
Questions about ranking types? Email support@pickleball.com.