APP vs PPA vs MLP: Which Pickleball Players Association is Right for You?

Pickleball has come a long way from being a backyard game to a competitive sport. Due to its continuous growth, there are now governing bodies for the sport: the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) for global regulation and USA Pickleball (USAP or USAPA) for the USA. Major pickleball tournaments also arose for serious players to compete professionally. 

Since pickleball has become so appealing, many players keep joining the sport. Some play pickleball as a social sport, while some play competitively. If you’re interested in taking your game to the next level, there are pickleball tours you can join. Pickleball tours are governing bodies that promote that sport and their members. They are called a tour because they normally host multiple tournaments from different places. The most prominent pickleball tours in the USA are APP, PPA, and MLP.

Check out our comprehensive guide about the pickleball tours below.

• Carvana PPA Tour
• PPA Pickleball Tournaments
• Main Draw
• Qualifying Draw
• Junior PPA
• MLP by Margaritaville
• MLP Pickleball Tournaments
• Premier Level
• Challenger Level
• PPA Tour and MLP Merger
• APP Tour
• Amateur Tournament Format
• Ratings
• Frequently Asked Questions

Carvana PPA Tour

The Carvana Professional Pickleball Association Tour is one of the pioneers of the pickleball tours being founded in 2019 by a parent company, Pickleball.com. PPA pickleball is currently sponsored by Carvana, a company that buys and sells used cars, hence the organization’s name. 

At PPA pickleball you “play where the pros play”. Although inclusive and welcomes all types of players, the PPA Tour focuses more on professional players, usually signing them to exclusive contracts. 

PPA Pickleball Tournaments

The PPA Tour usually hosts singles and doubles games for amateur and professional players. For the 2024 tour, PPA pickleball includes 26 tournaments and each tournament is categorized by Slam (2000), Cup (1500), or Open (1000). The numbers represent the number of points awarded to the category’s winner. The tournaments will be held in 16 different states.

The PPA Tour has both professional and amateur brackets. The amateur bracket is for those who are still improving their skills or have lower pickleball ratings. This bracket hosts all ages and skill levels and is played alongside the professional brackets each day of the tournament.

Main Draw

There are 48 spots available in the main draw, 40 are determined by the following and 8 are to be determined.

• Top 10 in ranking during the 52-week period.
• PPA touring players in singles and those who play with other PPA touring players.
• For doubles, PPA touring players who are playing with non-touring players.
• Committee seed - the committee will select who will be included.
• PPA points - the remaining slots that are still not taken will be determined by PPA points.

Qualifying Draw

8 winners of the qualifying draw will be placed in the main draw.

Junior PPA

The Junior PPA pickleball campaign is for young picklers aged 16 and below around the world. The PPA Tour aims to encourage young players to join, enjoy, and improve their skills through competition events, development opportunities, and social activities. There are junior competitions that are hosted alongside other regular PPA pickleball tournaments.

MLP by Margaritaville

The Major League Pickleball by Margaritaville is another one of the pickleball tours in the USA. It’s relatively new compared to the other pickleball tours, being founded in 2021 by Steve Kuhn and being sponsored by Margaritaville, a chain of luxurious hotels and restaurants.

What sets MLP pickleball apart from the other pickleball tours is its team-based format. 

MLP Pickleball Tournaments

The MLP only hosts doubles tournaments, and not singles. MLP pickleball typically has 2 main and 2 extra seasons.

The MLP pickleball 2024 season will mostly consist of regular season events that are spread throughout the country. The events will be composed of 20 teams.

Premier Level

This is where teams with professional players like Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters compete. It has 48 teams in all, 12 of which will compete for the 2024 season. 

Challenger Level

Players aspiring to become professionals compete during the MLP pickleball challenger level. The challenger level has 10 teams, consisting of 40 players in all. These 10 teams will compete during the 2024 season and only 6 can qualify to the playoffs.

PPA Tour and MLP Merger

In 2023, it was announced that the PPA Tour and MLP would merge as one company. The new combined organization will combine the existing players and teams. Their goal is to provide a streamlined schedule and have just one organization to oversee the two still-distinct brands.

APP Tour

The Association of Pickleball Players is another one of the pickleball tours in the USA. It was founded in 2019 and is the first and only pickleball tour sanctioned by USA Pickleball (USAPA). Unlike the PPA Tour, APP pickleball is more inclusive to amateur players. If you’re a new player looking to improve your game and build connections, APP pickleball is for you. 

Just like the other pickleball tours, the 2024 APP pickleball tournaments also take place in different places in the USA. 

Amateur Tournament Format

The APP tour created a new format that guarantees more game time for everyone. The players or teams will play a round-robin portion and a minimum of 4 players or teams will advance to the playoffs. The points are to 15, win by 2. This new format was implemented at the start of the 2024 tournaments. 

Ratings

A pickleball rating is different from a ranking. Rating is your level in the sport. Amateur players typically have lower scores while professional players have higher scores. There are different pickleball ratings used by organizations. The most popular one and the world's most accurate is the DUPR, which is used by PPA and MLP. The APP pickleball tour uses the UTR, a popular rating system for tennis and pickleball. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the major pickleball tours in the USA?

The three most prominent pickleball tours in the USA are:

• Carvana PPA Tour (PPA)
• Major League Pickleball by Margaritaville (MLP)
• Association of Pickleball Players (APP Tour)
• What are the key differences between PPA and MLP tours?
• Focus: PPA focuses more on professional players, while MLP features a team-based format.
• Events: PPA hosts both singles and doubles tournaments, while MLP only hosts doubles tournaments.
• Professional levels: PPA offers a single professional bracket, while MLP has Premier and Challenger levels.
• Is the PPA Tour merging with MLP?

Yes, the PPA Tour and MLP announced a merger in 2023. The new organization aims to streamline the schedule and create a single governing body for both brands.

• Which tour is better for beginners, PPA or APP?

The APP Tour is generally considered more beginner-friendly. It offers a more inclusive environment and a new format that guarantees more playing time for new players.

• What are the different tournament levels within the APP Tour?

The APP Tour doesn't have separate professional and amateur brackets like PPA. However, players are categorized based on their skill level using a rating system (UTR) during tournament registration.

• What is the difference between a pickleball rating and ranking?
• Rating: Represents your skill level (e.g., beginner, intermediate, professional).
• Ranking: Represents your position compared to other players within a specific tour or organization.
• What are the most popular pickleball rating systems?
• DUPR (used by PPA and MLP)
• UTR (used by APP Tour)

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the different pickleball tours. If you're thinking of joining one, assess them all carefully to figure out which one suits you best. Just remember that the MLP is focused on teams, while the PPA and APP welcome both singles and doubles. If you're a newbie, the APP may be more suitable for you.