around the post
By Jennifer Lucore & Alex Hamner
SO MANY TOURNAMENTS, SO LITTLE TIME!
Which Tournaments
to Play?
I
t’s no surprise for those of us who play that
pickleball is exploding in popularity and growth
throughout the world. With this continued
upsurge of FUN comes more players as well
as the business of fun—building new courts, new
manufacturers and suppliers, player sponsorships,
tournaments for fun, tournaments for charities,
tournaments for prize money... the list goes on.
We’ve had the opportunity to compete and enjoy this
ride of growth for more than 10 years, and with that
experience comes knowledge, right? So, to help you with
tournament selection for 2020, consider these tips:
1. Location. Is it a new place for you to play and
explore? Is the location on your bucket list?
Or maybe it’s an old favorite venue you want
to continue to support. What is the weather/
temperature like at that time of the year? Is it
indoor or outdoor?
2. Cost vs. Benefit. Will you get your money’s
worth to enter this tournament? Travel, lodging,
eating out, entry fees—these costs add up. But
there are also benefits: personal challenge,
different competition, meet new and see old
friends, find potential future partners—all priceless!
3. Prize money. Do you need or wish to win money?
Does the payout align with your desires? For
example, if you’re over 50 (senior), the payout is
less than for non-seniors. What if the payout is
different for gender? Tournaments typically make
money. So where does the money raised for the
tournament go? Is it to support a charity of your
liking? Maybe to help build new courts? Or is it
primarily a fundraiser for the director?
4. Tournament format. Are you looking for the fun
round-robin format, which is to play as much as
you can? Do you support our sport’s traditional
double elimination format? What if it’s a hybrid
format—will that work for you?
5. Read the fine print. Understand and ask the “what
ifs.” What if not enough players enter your division?
What if it’s rained out? What if your partner has to
cancel? What percentage of the monies raised goes
to charity, players, or the cause? Is the prize pool
that’s advertised guaranteed? Ask those questions
so you’re not surprised.
While we love that there are so many tournament
options and cool locations to compete in, this is
your “player beware”—know the specifics and pick
tournaments that are “equal” to you. All players, male
or female, under 50 or over 50, YOU have the choice
to support or not support a tournament and what
it represents. To continue this discussion, check out
Jennifer’s pickleball blog at www.Allpickleball.com. •
Jennifer Lucore and Alex Hamner’s prizes from 2014 Nationals—both
champions in Open Doubles, Open Singles (Pro and Senior Pro) and more! A
good haul for six days of continuous play—Ladies Got Game!
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Jennifer Lucore and Alex Hamner started playing pickleball
in 2010, and have competed in numerous tournaments in
the U.S. Jennifer has competed internationally and is a 2019
Pickleball Hall of Fame inductee. Jennifer and Alex have
26 national titles, but are best known for winning gold in
Women’s Open Doubles at Nationals for four consecutive
years (2011-2014). They live with their respective families in
North San Diego County.