Interview with Scott Mendelssohn, Head of DUPR Analytics

 

Unlocking the Future of Pickleball: An Exclusive Interview with Scott Mendelssohn, Head of DUPR Analytics In the world of sports, few pastimes have experienced the explosive growth seen in the sport of pickleball. This unique amalgamation of tennis, badminton, and ping pong has been gaining popularity across the United States and around the globe. One of the key drivers behind the evolution of this game is the innovative analytics system known as DUPR, which stands for "Data Unified Pickleball Ratings." To shed light on the future of pickleball and the role of DUPR, we sat down with Scott Mendelssohn, the Head of DUPR Analytics, in a recent interview conducted by Nick Puschak on his "Pickleball Is Life" platform. The interview with Scott Mendelssohn, lasting over an hour, delved deep into the intricacies of pickleball analytics, the challenges faced by the sport, and the potential for its growth. During this insightful conversation, Mendelssohn provided profound insights into the world of pickleball analytics, highlighting his vision for the sport's future. Here are some key takeaways: 1. Understanding Player Roles and Adaptability Mendelssohn touched upon the adaptability of players like Ben Johns, emphasizing that top-tier players have the ability to perform well with partners of varying skill levels. He stated, "A player like Ben Johns is very capable of playing with a partner who's just as good as him, but he's also very capable of playing with a partner who's much worse than him. He'll adapt and take more of the court." 2. The Nuance of Player Roles in Pickleball One of the central themes of the interview was the concept of player roles. Mendelssohn emphasized that the dynamics of how two players interact on the court are more generalizable than gender-specific roles in doubles play. He stated, "The nature of roles and how two players on a court interact is more generalizable than simply a particular phenomenon we're seeing with gender double or mixed doubles play." 3. Navigating the Challenges of Mixed Doubles Mendelssohn also discussed the challenges faced in mixed doubles, where players of varying skill levels and genders come together to compete. He noted, "We often see mixed doubles matches where players are equal weight, and it looks more like they're playing their style that they would in a gender doubles match." 4. The Potential for Growth in Pickleball When questioned about the potential separation of traditional doubles from mixed doubles, Mendelssohn expressed a desire for the sport to continue evolving. He stated, "Internally at DUPR, we feel pretty strongly that there are better ways of representing these problems rather than forcibly separating traditional doubles from the mixed doubles because we want to allow this sport to grow beyond that." 5. The Role of DUPR in Addressing Challenges Mendelssohn acknowledged the challenges faced by tournament directors in integrating DUPR with pickleball brackets and the possibility of duplicate player accounts. He assured that support was actively working on these issues and encouraged players to reach out for assistance. He stated, "Support will work as hard as we can to go through that. Hopefully, the support burden goes down as we make these changes and people get more familiar with what the algorithm is doing." 6. Modernizing the DUPR User Experience In response to concerns about the mobile app differing from the web version, Mendelssohn revealed plans to update the web version to align with the mobile interface. He emphasized the goal of modernizing the user experience, stating, "The website should be getting an update, though I can't speak exactly to when. It's going to start looking more like the phone interface going forward." 7. Community Involvement and Feedback Mendelssohn extended an invitation to the pickleball community to actively engage in shaping the future of the sport. He encouraged players and enthusiasts to provide feedback, stating, "The goal here is for everyone to believe in the direction we're going, understand the problems that we've had, and we understand the problems that we've had, and we're trying to address them." 8. A Collaborative Approach In the spirit of collaboration, Mendelssohn expressed his commitment to working closely with the pickleball community. He announced plans to conduct a Reddit AMA, welcoming questions and feedback from users, demonstrating a genuine desire to involve the community in decision-making processes. 9. DUPR's Role in Leveling the Playing Field Mendelssohn highlighted the potential for DUPR to level the playing field by addressing player roles and making necessary adjustments. He emphasized that it's essential to consider how much of the court a player is expected to cover, stating, "I'd love to get to a point where we are trying first to address that role problem." 10. Prioritizing Ease of Use The interview also shed light on DUPR's efforts to streamline user experiences, particularly when it comes to tournament directors using pickleball brackets. Mendelssohn mentioned that DUPR is actively working towards making the integration process smoother for organizers, acknowledging the challenges faced. In summary, the interview with Scott Mendelssohn, Head of DUPR Analytics, provided an in-depth exploration of the evolving landscape of pickleball, emphasizing the importance of player roles, adaptability, and community involvement. As pickleball continues its remarkable journey from backyard pastime to a mainstream sensation, individuals like Mendelssohn and innovative analytics systems like DUPR play a pivotal role in ensuring its future growth and success. With the sport's bright future ahead, the insights shared by Mendelssohn in this exclusive interview offer a glimpse into the promising potential of pickleball, a game that continues to capture the hearts and paddles of players worldwide. As the pickleball community joins hands with pioneers like Mendelssohn, the sport's journey promises to be an exciting one, filled with new opportunities, challenges, and endless fun on the courts.

Interview Question Time Code List

1. [00:00] Can you explain your role as the Head of Analytics at DUPR and how you got into pickleball?
2. [02:32] Can you give us a basic overview of how DUPR calculates player ratings, especially with the recent algorithm change?
3. [05:00] In the past, player ratings could change even if they didn't play. Can you elaborate on why that happened and how it's different now?
4. [09:08] Will DUPR provide the predicted results before a match, and how will that affect player ratings?
5. [13:08] When does a player's DUPR rating change, and how does it work for different types of matches, like recreational or tournament?
6. [16:08] You mentioned a tool called the "genie tool." Can you explain how it works and when it will be available to users?
7. [18:13] Is there a plan to provide more detailed information about why a player's DUPR rating changes after a match?
8. [19:52] Can you explain the concept of weighting and how it affects player ratings, especially in different types of matches?
9. [21:59] If the same match is entered manually by a player and also from a tournament, does it result in different weightings for rating changes?
10. [22:27] Can you explain how the format of a tournament affects the calculation of a player's rating in DUPR?
11. [23:58] How does the magnitude of the difference in ratings change for tournament results, and what factors influence it?
12. [26:46] You mentioned a 5x waiting factor for tournament results in the old algorithm. Can you explain why that was used and how it's changing?
13. [28:09] Could you clarify the recent changes related to new players' ratings and how they're initialized in the system?
14. [30:56] What is the significance of the "half-life" in the context of DUPR ratings, and how does it affect a player's rating over time?
15. [33:22] How does the half-life of the players you compete against in a match affect your rating in DUPR?
16. [37:03] Why doesn't DUPR differentiate between ratings for mixed and non-mixed doubles, and what factors contribute to this decision?
17. [39:05] How does DUPR handle the challenge of connecting different populations and determining the relative level of play?
18. [41:25] You mentioned that a 5.0 male and a 5.0 female might not have a significant difference in win probability. Can you elaborate on this?
19. [43:16] How does DUPR account for the role and position of players in doubles matches, such as left side, right side, Alpha, and Beta players?
20. [44:25] How does players like Ben Johns adapt to different partner skill levels?
21. [44:40] What is the nature of roles and interactions between players on the court, particularly in mixed doubles?
22. [45:08] What is the importance of strong and weak side players and the variability of mixed doubles outcomes?
23. [45:35] What are rating pairings and the challenge of connected communities in mixed doubles?
24. [46:02] What are the team-building exercises and player combinations based on roles and dominance?
25. [46:30] What is your perspective on separating traditional doubles from mixed doubles and the potential for growth?
26. [46:57] What is the impact of mixed results on player ratings?
27. [47:35] How does mixed play affect skill levels in competition?
28. [48:04] Can you address the problem of players' relative abilities and roles?
29. [48:49] What is the potential adjustments or modifiers for players in different roles?
30. [50:13] What about boiling down the average ability to win a point into a number and considering players' roles?
31. [50:40] What about integrating pickleball brackets with DUPR and inquires about the schedule for integration?
32. [52:17] What about players ending up with duplicate DUPR accounts and asking for solutions?
33. [53:14] What is the difference between the mobile app and web version of DUPR and asks about plans for the web version?
34. [54:36] Nick thanks Scott for the interview and suggests involving the community for questions and feedback.