Curious how your pickleball rating actually gets calculated?

Check out VAIR, the new pickleball rating system: https://www.vairified.com/?ambassador=7180389

Pickleball rating systems can feel like the Wild West… where matchups make zero sense and “fair play” is more myth than rule. One minute you’re rallying with a retired pro, the next you’re getting smoked by a 13-year-old with braces and a wicked backhand.

In this episode, we dig into the accuracy drama with Mike Barker, the brains behind VAIR (Visually Assessed International Rating), a next-gen player rating system that promises to clean up the chaos. Mike’s not just a ratings guy; he’s a former semi-pro footballer, tech entrepreneur, and the kind of guy who brings AI camera systems and court-side video analysis into your average Tuesday night match. He’s passionate about one thing: making sure your rating is actually accurate!

We share wild stories from mixed brackets gone wrong, debate what counts as a “real” rating, and explore how skill-based matchmaking is reshaping both recreational pickleball and the future of competitive pickleball.

What you’ll hear:

• Why most rating systems feel like a bad doubles partner: unclear, unreliable, and kind of holding you back
• The age + gender mix-ups that make you wonder if you accidentally signed up for a youth camp or the retirees’ tour
• How VAIR uses AI, camera systems, and smart player data to give us finally giving us real-deal skill evaluation
• What separates a rec rating from a verified one, and why that tiny decimal point can make a huge difference
• How clubs are using smart tech, solid pickleball techniques, and juicy game insights to create the matchups we actually want

So grab your margarita, tune in, and find out how the new VAIR rating system could mean better matchups, fewer mismatches, and way more fun for the whole pickleball community.

Cheers,

Casie & Lauren
Dinks on Tap

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