This past week, the PPA Tour brought out a new tournament format for the Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open. It was a modified traditional format, with singles, mixed doubles and gender doubles each on a separate day. But, the format was modified such that instead of each event progressing on its day to the finalists, the events would end after quarterfinals. Then, an extra day was added, such that Saturday becomes “Semifinal Saturday”, with the last day remaining “Champiosnhip Sunday”. Along with the progressive draw and the traditional draw, each format has its advantages.

 

 

The traditional draw has been around the longest, and was the exclusive format for PPA events for a long time. Under a traditional draw, singles is on Thursday, mixed doubles on Friday, and Saturday is gender doubles day. Each event is played until only two remain and those finalists come back for Championship Sunday (with the losers of each semifinal playing for bronze on Sunday as well).

 

The traditional draw has the advantage of needing the fewest days to complete, going from Wednesday to Sunday. For players being on the road so much, one less day away from home is nice. It does require players to play more matches each day. To make the finals requires winning at least four and sometimes five matches. That is a lot of pickleball, especially for players making finals in multiple events.

 

 

The first change made to the traditional draw was to introduce the progressive draw. Under a progressive draw, singles, mixed and gender doubles are all played on the same days, with players limited to playing just one match per day in each discipline. Progressive draws normally will start on a Tuesday, with the round of 64. Wednesday is round of 32, Thursday is round of 16, Friday is the quarterfinals, Saturday is the semifinals and Sunday remains the finals (and bronze). Under a progressive draw, a player will play no more than three matches in any one day. But, assuming they are winning, it does require them to play three matches many days in a row. An extra day is also required for a progressive draw. Further, draws keep getting bigger, as pickleball continues to explode, and more and more people join the PPA Tour. Some events already have a round of 128, and it will not be long before most events have that extra round.

 

Players like certain aspects of the progressive draw. It does allow them to leave the tournament if knocked out early in all events. Under a traditional draw, players have to play on three different days, so the out of town commitment is higher. The progressive draw also allows players to play different events in the same day, a variety some like.  For fans, the progressive draw creates a couple of very special days; Thursday is round of 16 day, and Friday is quarterfinal day. Those two days feature some of the best, most competitive, and exciting days of pickleball you will ever see. And with there being so many good matches, fans have a lot to choose from to watch.

 

 

The Black Desert Resort Red Rock Open featured the first use of the modified traditonal draw. Fans and players alike seem to appreciate the change of pace. It allows the tournament to start on Wednesday, but it does limit how many matches per day each player must play. With progress stopped after the quarterfinals each day, a player likely only has to play three matches each day, if winning. Setting aside Saturday for all semifinal matches creates a special day for fans. There are 10 matches, all on championship court, all super competitive.

 

Which do you prefer? Each format has its advantages. For me, I love the progressive format. Being able to see some singles, some mixed and some gender doubles all in the same day creates a nice variety. Further, Thursday and Friday as round of 16 and quarterfinal day are just great days for a pickleball fan. The tough part is figuring out how to see all the good matches going on at once!

 

Traditional, progressive, and modified tradtional, there is something to be said for each of them. Whichever format is used, as a fan, you are guaranteed to see great pickleball. Enjoy them all!

 

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