Pickleball Buzz Beyond the Kitchen 4/26

IAPPF - Dinkmate - The Dink - Pickletile - OnCourt OffCourt - Fit Pickler - Pickleheads - Fun

Author

Rich Neher
March 31, 2026

Table of Contents

IAPPF Conference 2026


IAPPF Conference 2026

March 13-15 in conjunction with RacquetX, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

IAPPF’s Chief Marketing and Member Officer Josh Kerns writes on LinkedIn:

“A huge thank you to everyone who made the International Association of Pickleball and Padel Facilities inaugural conference and expo a home run! There isn't enough allowable space to name our hundreds of sponsors, partners, and members who all contributed to such an exceptional week.

But a special shoutout to our entire team, all of whom worked countless hours on little sleep, traveling from all over the country, to pull it off. We're small, but we're scrappy hashtag#punchingaboveourweight
David Johnson Chris Klein Steve Milano, MSJ, CPRW Chelsea Donovan Courtney Jenkins Anna Copley Lisa Kerns

I am honored and humbled to serve with you all, and look forward to continuing in our mission to nurture the sports we all love....just not anymore this week so we can at least get home and do laundry.”

The organization’s LinkedIn page also posted:

That’s a Wrap!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first IAPPF Conference and Expo in Fort Lauderdale. From the kickoff party at The Fort to three days of expert programming and expo, it was a resounding success!
·       220+ registered attendees
·       35 sessions on meaningful and actionable topics
·       80+ speakers from leading facilities and industry leaders
·       30 booths sharing the RacquetX expo floor

Attendees networked, noshed, and played pickleball at the IAPPF conference kickoff at The Fort sponsored by Pickleball Bella. Stunning facility, great event!

Thanks to all attendees, speakers and exhibitors who made the event such a success.
We look forward to an expanded conference in 2027. Stay tuned for more information.

*Next stop: Philadelphia! Save the date for the IAPPF Regional Meetup Friday, June 12 at Ballers. Details soon.

Dinkmate: The Future of Pickleball Analytics and Rating

As pickleball continues its rapid ascent from recreational pastime to organized global sport, clubs and leagues are facing a familiar but increasingly urgent challenge: how to fairly, efficiently, and consistently assess player skill. Into this gap steps Dinkmate, an AI-powered analytics and rating platform that is quietly redefining how performance is measured and managed at the club level.

What sets Dinkmate apart is not simply its use of technology, but the measurable outcomes it delivers. After extensive testing and benchmarking against existing rating platforms, the system has demonstrated a level of accuracy that positions it among the most reliable player rating solutions currently available. By removing subjectivity and replacing manual evaluation with automated video analysis, Dinkmate achieves something the industry has long struggled with—trustworthy, scalable ratings that work for both new and experienced players.

This matters because inaccurate or inconsistent ratings sit at the root of many operational inefficiencies in club environments. Poor matchmaking leads to unbalanced games, frustrated players, and ultimately lower retention. Dinkmate addresses this directly, using AI to analyze match footage and generate objective ratings within minutes. The result is a more structured playing environment where players are grouped appropriately, competition feels fair, and engagement naturally increases.

Dinkmate Founders Sandor Vitez and Marcell Balogh

The platform’s simplicity is another key factor in its growing adoption. Clubs and players upload match videos, and the system handles the rest—delivering performance analytics, skill ratings, and even AI-generated coaching insights. What would traditionally require hours of human evaluation is compressed into an automated process that is not only faster, but also significantly more cost-effective than relying on trained raters.

For coaches, this shift is particularly impactful. Rather than spending valuable time assessing baseline skill levels, they can focus on development. Dinkmate’s analytics highlight strengths, identify areas for improvement, and track progress over time, turning data into a practical coaching tool. As a result, the platform is increasingly being used not just as an operational backbone for clubs, but as an additional service layer within coaching programs.

Dinkmate System Flow

From a business perspective, Dinkmate also introduces a compelling commercial dimension. Clubs are beginning to integrate the platform into premium offerings, using it to upsell performance analysis, structured ratings, and player development insights. In an industry where monetization opportunities are often limited to court time and memberships, this creates a new revenue stream aligned directly with player improvement.

The company’s positioning within the broader pickleball ecosystem further reinforces its credibility. Dinkmate is the official technology partner of the National Pickleball League, a relationship that signals both trust and performance at a competitive level. Its integration with Sporfie adds another layer of functionality, enabling seamless video capture and enhancing the quality of analytical output.

Ultimately, Dinkmate’s value proposition extends beyond efficiency or innovation in isolation. It speaks to a broader shift in racket sports—one where data, automation, and accessibility converge to elevate the entire playing experience. Clubs become more organized, coaches become more effective, and players benefit from clearer progression pathways and more competitive games.

As the company enters its next phase of growth, Dinkmate is actively seeking investment to scale its technology and expand its reach. With a validated product, strong early adoption, and a clear solution to one of the sport’s most persistent challenges, it represents a notable entrant in the evolving landscape of sports technology.

In a market where growth is accelerating but structure often lags behind, Dinkmate is not just keeping pace—it is helping define what comes next.

From The Dink Newsletter

  • so much more…..

PICKLETILE? PICKLEGLASS? Decoding the Buzz…


We heard a lot about Pickletile lately, the “official court builder of USA Pickleball,” and thought we’d get some answers, especially concerning their Pickleglass product and its acoustic properties.

We asked Pickletile VP of Sales Matt Rineberg for clarification, and here are the answers to our questions.

What are the acoustic benefits of Pickleglass?

PICKLEGLASS™ is the Official Acoustic Solution of USA Pickleball. The system carries a verified STC rating of 36 (Sound Transmission Class), delivering up to 50% sound reduction compared to an unenclosed court.

Independent acoustic modeling by Trinity Consultants / Cerami Longman Lindsey (September 2025), conducted using CadnaA software to ISO 9613-2 standards, quantifies attenuation by barrier height:

  • 8 ft system: 10 dBA reduction at typical setback distances

  • 10 ft system (default specification): 11–13 dBA reduction

  • 13 ft system: 13–16 dBA reduction

A 10 dBA reduction is generally perceived as half as loud. The 13 feet system is recommended for noise-sensitive environments — residential proximity, municipal parks, HOA communities, and urban rooftop applications.

Chain-link and windscreen systems provide no meaningful acoustic mitigation. PICKLEGLASS achieves attenuation through tempered glass panel mass, 3M adhesive tape joinery that eliminates framing gaps, and full-height enclosure geometry that interrupts sound propagation at the source.

Where is the product manufactured?

PICKLEGLASS™ is manufactured using a combination of domestic and international fabrication. Structural steel framing is produced to ASTM A500 Grade B specifications. Glass panels and finishing components are sourced and fabricated to meet applicable IBC structural and AAMA glazing standards. Component sourcing is determined by material performance requirements — not convenience — to ensure every element of the system meets PICKLETILE's engineering specifications.

What is the approximate price per court?

Pricing depends on the scope of the project: court dimensions, enclosure height, foundation type, and whether the facility includes integrated lighting and access control. A single-court PICKLEGLASS™ enclosure system typically starts in the range of $45,000, but most facility projects involve variables that affect the final investment. We provide detailed proposals after a consultation to ensure the scope and budget are aligned.

What is the current delivery time?

A standard PICKLETILE project runs approximately 12–17 weeks from initial inquiry to installation completion, broken into four stages:

Stage 1 — Discovery (1 week): Initial assessment and project goals defined.

Stage 2 — Consultation (1–2 weeks): Site requirements reviewed by the PICKLETILE engineering team.

Stage 3 — Design Submission (1–2 weeks): In-house engineering produces 3D models and detailed shop drawings for every dimension and design element.

Stage 4 — Fabrication and Installation (9–12 weeks): Components fabricated and installed by certified installation teams to specification. Timeline is subject to site availability and slab readiness.

What are typical shipping costs?

Freight is included in your project proposal. Costs are calculated based on total shipment weight and delivery location and are itemized as a line item in the project quote. Typically $3,500-$7,500.

OnCourt OffCourt

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Pickleball Shorts

  • OutLoud Sports is back for Memorial Day with their 2nd annual Sapphic Games Tournament in San Diego! The tournament includes Pickleball, Kickball, Dodgeball, Billiards, and Cornhole. Information

  • The Fort, Fort Lauderdale’s great Pickleball Club, features a bunch of innovative events, including Summer Camps, Pilates & Pickle, Ola Beach Tennis Saturdays, Sundown Socials with live music, and…. Speed Dinking!

Pickleball Fun

Me on days I can’t play pickleball (click on image to play video)