Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Kitchen Konversation: Real Clear Stats - "Pickleball by the Numbers"

 

Taking Pickleball Analytics to the Next Level: A Konversation with Real Clear Stats

Get the inside scoop on how data is revolutionizing the professional pickleball scene

The world of professional pickleball is evolving rapidly. With the creation of Major League Pickleball (MLP) in 2021, the sport has taken major strides towards becoming a serious, competitive league on par with other major professional sports. And one of the key factors propelling pickleball to new heights? Analytics.


Advanced stats and data tracking are enabling teams, players, and fans to understand the sport in ways never before possible. To get an inside look at how analytics are revolutionizing pro pickleball, the Kitchen Konversation podcast recently sat down with Ben of Real Clear Stats, a company using technology to provide pickleball teams with unparalleled data insights.


As Ben explained on the podcast, Real Clear Stats got its start when he recorded one of his own matches and wanted detailed stats to analyze his performance. When he realized tracking the in-depth stats he wanted was incredibly complex, Ben leveraged his software engineering skills to build a system capable of live tracking rallies and producing analytics on professional matches.


Real Clear Stats debuted their system at the first MLP event, scoring 61 games in real-time and showcasing the potential for data to provide key strategic insights for teams and players.


As Ben described:

"With just two people we can score Pro matches live in real time...within seconds after each rally have all the data updated on the dashboard and everything, which is really exciting I think for the sport."

 

Some of the key stats Real Clear Stats tracks for each rally include:

  • Player impact - A measure of how many points a player directly wins minus points lost due to unforced errors. This shows their overall positive contribution to the scoreboard.
  • Unforced error rate - The frequency of unforced errors per player. Lower is better.
  • Early rally performance - Stats on returns, third shots, and other early rally patterns. Reveals strengths/weaknesses.
  • Speed up success rate - The percentage of speed ups won versus lost. Speed ups are critical points where a player hits aggressively to try to win the rally.

According to Ben, having access to analytics like these allows teams to optimize their lineups and strategies while identifying strengths and weaknesses at a very granular level. Players can then use the data to focus their training appropriately.


So what has the data revealed so far about the pros? Ben highlighted a few key insights:

  • Ben Johns dominated season 1 in player impact, applying pressure while making remarkably few unforced errors.
  • Riley Newman and Ben Johns consistently perform at the top, validating their status as the world's best.
  • Tyra Black, a 3rd round draft pick, finished 3rd in player impact her first season - a testament to her natural talent.


Ben also discussed differences between traditional scoring and rally scoring, explaining the data so far doesn't show major statistical differences in game length or optimal strategy between the two. The psychological pressure of rally scoring does change the experience though.


Finally, Ben revealed that the 5 teams Real Clear Stats assisted for the MLP season 2 draft won a remarkable 68% of games, compared to 45% for teams who didn't work with them. While not solely responsible, the data insights clearly provided a significant competitive edge.


With Real Clear Stats expanding services for teams and individual players, analytics will continue revolutionizing pickleball. As Ben put it, "data is an opportunity to get better." It's an exciting time to be a fan, seeing pro pickleball embrace data and technology on its rise to the big leagues.


This podcast provided a fascinating window into pickleball analytics. If you want to get the full scoop straight from the source, be sure to check out the Kitchen Konversation podcast episode with Ben Johns and Real Clear Stats!

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