Now that you have been playing pickleball for a while, you may have heard many people talking about tournaments. Between all the different leagues and costs involved, is playing in a pickleball tournament worth it? Let’s take a look at what to consider.
Why Playing In A Pickleball Tournament Is Worth It
Pickleball tournaments bring out players from all over the country. Especially when they’re hosted by big leagues such as the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) and the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA). So if you’re confined to an area where you feel like you’ve outperformed the talent pool, a pickleball tournament is a great way to push yourself.
If you’re playing with the same groups of people with a certain style, playing in a tournament will also expose your strengths and weaknesses. While most people enter tournaments hoping to win, losing can be a great learning experience.
Tournaments also provide a great way to network with other pickleball lovers. You can learn where the best courts are to play when you’re traveling. Many even become acquaintances and friends to play with if you’re visiting their cities. If you don’t have a partner to play doubles with at other upcoming tournaments, you can meet people that are in the same boat.
In between matches, you can also watch other players, including the pros. You can pick up tips from watching how high-level players play their games.
Lastly, you will learn that tournament play is so different from playing in your comfort zone. Unless you’re used to playing competitive sports growing up, you will find the mental aspect of playing in a tournament to be as challenging as the physical. While you may hear it said many times, you will be able to experience it for yourself.
Read Next: Entering A Pickleball Tournament? What You Should Know Before Signing Up
Why Playing In A Pickleball Tournament Is NOT Worth It
Why pickleball tournaments may not be worth it for many people is the costs involved with entering the tournament. This includes other travel costs such as lodging, transportation, and food if you’re entering a tournament that is out of town.
Entering an APP tournament may cost $80 to $85 for registration and an additional $35 for each event. Each event means each competition. So if you’re entering in a men’s single and a mixed double, it will be an additional $70 on top of the registration fee. The PPA tournaments may cost $70 to $75 for registration with the same additional cost for each event.
So if you’re not well prepared both physically and mentally, you will only get two chances. If you get knocked out in the first round, you and your partner get moved to the loser’s bracket where you will get one more chance to redeem yourselves. If you and your partner lose that match, that’s a lot of money in tournament fees just to play those two matches.
There are also no monetary prizes for most tournaments unless you’re at a pro level. The most you will get is a medal and bragging rights back home. For many people that are playing for fun, that may not be enough for the high entry fees to play.
Last Tips
The main thing when you’re considering whether it would be worth it to enter a pickleball tournament is to clearly define what you expect out of the outcome. You may expect to win but there is a chance you may not. You may expect to perform at a certain level but what if you don’t?
Managing your expectations for yourself and your partner is key. And also to have fun, no matter the outcome. If you’ve decided that you will want to try at least once, check out pickleballtournaments.com for upcoming tournaments. And check out the next article for tips to set yourself up for success.
Read Also: Playing In Your First Pickleball Tournament? 8 Tips To Set Yourself Up For Success