Which Event Is Better? APP vs PPA Tournaments Compared

If you’re interested in pickleball tournaments, the APP and PPA are the two most popular leagues to compete in. But you may wonder which association holds its tournaments better. To find out, we traveled to Arizona where both associations held their events in the same exact location a month apart. Here’s our unbiased review of the APP vs PPA tournaments and who did a better job of putting on an event.

APP vs PPA Tournaments

Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) and the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) are the two most popular leagues in pickleball. As fellow pickleball enthusiasts, we decided to venture to Arizona back to back to give a good comparison.

Considering both tournaments were held in the same venue at Legacy Sports stadium only a month apart, it was a fair comparison for how both associations held their tournaments. The APP tournament we attended was the APP Mesa Open and the PPA event was the PPA Foot Solutions Arizona Grand Slam.

While these two tournaments are specific events for both the APP and PPA, it gives great insight into what you can expect as a tournament goer or supporter. This review and comparison are limited to the average pickleball amateur who’s competing at a non-pro level.

Registration

Let’s start off with the number of people that were registered for both events. The number of players that were registered for the $75k Mesa Open was 495. With PPA drawing in more market share, there were 1303 registered players for the PPA Foot Solutions Arizona Grand Slam.

As a player or eventgoer, here is a breakdown of the costs for each tournament.

Costs for APP Vs PPA Tournaments in Mesa, AZ	APP	PPA
Cost for registration	$85	$70
Cost per event	$35	$35
Grounds pass for players	$5	$0
Grounds pass for guests“	$5	$25
USA Pickleball membership required?	Yes	No

Since the APP is a USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournament, you are required to have a membership with them. This is an additional one-time cost, in addition to the fees related to each specific APP tournament. You will have to go to USApickleball.org and pay for a plan. The USA Pickleball membership is not required to play at a PPA tournament.

What The PPA Did Well Over The APP

Coming fresh off of the PPA Foot Solutions Arizona Grand Slam tournament, we find that the PPA did an overall better job of planning and running the event. These are specific points that the APP did not do or did as well on.

Players Orientation Before Event

One of the most helpful things that the PPA did for those that are new to tournaments is the players’ orientation before each event. This was a quick five-minute orientation, letting players know what to do, and how to get in contact for their matches.

They do a quick roll call and will include the following information. You will receive a text with the court number for your next match and your opponent’s name. Each player or team will pick up a tournament ball then the other player or team will pick up the basket with a score sheet and an extra ball.

While it was very simple and quick, it was helpful for many of those that are participating in a large tournament for the first time.

Gift Shop

Once guests and players go through registration, everyone is funneled through a gift shop very much like an airport. This is great for those looking to hold a paddle that they’ve been eyeing in person. The gift shop is full of pickleball gear, clothing, and accessories.

There are also vendors and small businesses promoting pickleball-related products. You are able to browse and shop around. If you forgot to pack a visor or sunglasses, you’re able to buy them on sight.

Water Stations

Water is no doubt the most important thing when it comes to playing any sport. While the bathrooms have refill stations, it was a lifesaver in Arizona’s heat to have a WaterMonster refill station in the center of the courts.

While this seems like a small detail, it makes a HUGE difference when it comes to staying hydrated. The APP Mesa Open did not have this. Instead, we would have to take a long walk and fill our water one person at a time.

Food Trucks

There were two food trucks located opposite the main entrance. There are also tables and bean bags set up where you can enjoy your meal before going back to the courts.

The tables and seating arrangement were a nice convenience. You can even watch nearby matches while eating your breakfast or lunch.

Grounds Pass For Non-Playing Days

If you’re a registered player for the PPA Foot Solutions event, it includes a ground pass for non-playing days.

The APP Mesa Open charged a $5 entrance fee on non-playing days, even if you’re a registered player. While the $5 is not a significant fee, the registration was $85 as opposed to PPA’s $70. So it was a pesky surprise to go support friends and find out that you had to fork over an extra fee.

The PPA’s ground pass for guests was significantly more expensive at $25 a day or $70 for all five days. This is the only drawback to the PPA’s event because that is a big sum for non-playing friends and family. However, it was nice for players to not have to pay anything extra on non-playing days.

Medals

The global supply chain issue is understandable for many businesses worldwide. However, some events plan better than others to account for delays. The PPA was able to hand out winners’ medals on the day of each event.

The APP Mesa Open did not have any medals to give out. Instead, you had to give them your information. Then two weeks later, they emailed you again to pick the medal or fill out a form to have the medals mailed to you.

Juniors Events

The beauty of pickleball is that it attracts every age group. There are many upcoming talented players as young as seven years old. The PPA Foot Solutions held junior events along with the main event that allowed junior players to compete in both tournaments.

It was a treat and extremely inspiring to see the level of talent that is seen in such young players.

Overall Thoughts

The PPA was a clear winner when it came to putting on a tournament. From how the grounds are set up to handling small details that end up making a huge difference to the overall event. Hopefully, the APP will be able to take notes and offer a great experience for their event-goers.