Pickleball Revolution in Germany: When Jason Perez, Director of Conejo Valley Pickleball in Southern California, visited Germany, he didn’t plan to help grow the sport there. But after meeting a group of passionate players in Munich, he introduced them to the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), leading to the creation of a new German club and an international bond between two pickleball communities.
Playing Wherever They Can
In Munich, Germany, there are no official pickleball courts. Still, players make do. They chalk lines on pavement, play in parking lots, and even set up games under bridges when the river is low.
“They play as much as they can. Sometimes the police come and kick them out, but they’re out there whenever possible.” – (Jason)
Many of these players were former tennis fans trying to make the switch to pickleball. But they had no system to guide or organize their efforts.
DUPR Brings Order and Excitement
Jason Perez showed the Munich players how DUPR works. They had only seen it before in pro matches online. With DUPR, they could now track their progress and bring structure to their games.
The group quickly responded. Within hours, they created a DUPR digital club called “Pickleball Crew Germany.” They also asked Jason for help to run it like his group in California.
Forming a New Friendship
What started as a casual play session turned into a lasting connection.
“It turns out to be somebody that I would say is a friend—or friends—in Germany. They now have their DUPR club and they’re asking how we do things. It’s a fun community.” – (Jason)
His group in Southern California and the new German club now act as sister clubs. They share ideas, support, and ratings help with each other.
Getting Creative With Court Spaces
Without real courts, German players have found new ways to play. They rent gyms, use rubber mats, and turn concrete areas into courts. Some even found pickleball while traveling in the United States and brought back paddles and nets.
Now, they’re doing more than just playing. They are hosting games, growing their club, and tracking player ratings through DUPR. More cities nearby are also showing interest.
DUPR’s Global Impact
This story shows how DUPR is more than just a ratings system. It helps people build strong pickleball communities across the world. Players in places like California and Cologne can:
- Join verified pickleball clubs
- Track and improve their game
- Connect with players worldwide
- Grow local interest in the sport
As interest spreads and clubs form, DUPR helps bring structure and friendship to new pickleball scenes everywhere.
News in Brief: Pickleball Revolution in Germany
Jason Perez helped pickleball grow in Germany after showing players in Munich how to use DUPR. This led to the creation of Pickleball Crew Germany and a sister club bond with his California group. Despite having no real courts, German players are now organizing matches and building a growing community.