Major League Pickleball Shifts to Traditional Scoring: The Major League Pickleball (MLP) has decided to shift from rally scoring to traditional side-out scoring. This change aims to make the game more accessible to the millions of casual players who find rally scoring complicated. The MLP, founded in 2021, has seen a surge in popularity, prompting this shift.
Understanding the Scoring Shift
According to San, a representative of MLP, “99.9% of players play one way,” indicating that traditional scoring aligns better with the majority of players. The league initially adopted rally scoring to attract a broader audience, but now, with the sport’s rapid growth, traditional scoring is deemed more suitable for the current player base. The increasing conversion of tennis courts into pickleball courts highlights this growth.
The change addresses a significant barrier to entry for new players unfamiliar with rally scoring. While traditional scoring can be complex, it is familiar to most players. San acknowledged that understanding scoring is crucial for attracting viewers and growing the sport. The MLP aims to provide a clearer and more engaging experience for casual fans while ensuring that the game’s competitive nature is preserved.
Future of Scoring in MLP
As MLP develops technology to support the sport, including live score tracking and sports betting, the shift to traditional scoring will simplify these integrations. The representative mentioned that while rally scoring is not dead, the current focus is on engaging a large audience and refining the viewing experience.
Fans have expressed mixed feelings about the scoring change. Some believe that rally scoring creates excitement by allowing a point to be scored on every rally, making matches seem closer. However, others, including San, highlighted flaws in the previous rally scoring format, particularly the freeze rule, where only one team could score at the end of a game.
Looking forward, the MLP plans to continue evaluating scoring systems as the sport evolves. As the audience grows, the league might reconsider the implementation of rally scoring in the future.
In summary, the shift to traditional scoring aims to enhance the viewing experience for casual fans and support the ongoing growth of pickleball. This change reflects the league’s commitment to making the game more accessible and engaging while also keeping an eye on potential future adjustments.
News in Brief: Major League Pickleball Shifts to Traditional Scoring
Major League Pickleball has shifted from rally scoring to traditional side-out scoring to better engage casual players. The decision aims to simplify the game for newcomers and align with the preferences of the growing player base as pickleball gains popularity.
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