Ever wondered what the big deal is about Pickleball?
Welcome to Dinks on Tap, where the pickleball paddle meets the margarita. We’re Casie and Lauren, your pickleball partners in crime, here to spill the beans on why pickleball is more than just a game. It’s that “more” part we’re so drawn to. That “more” part which we highly suspect is about rediscovering PLAY in our lives and bringing FUN into focus.
Let’s be clear, we’re not pros. We’re just a couple of recreational players who notice, marvel, and revel in the nuances that make up the juice to this fruit’s fine squeeze. In each episode we’ll look at the life breathing behind, within, underneath and alongside the game... That momentum shift on the court, (“Why am I so ‘off’ today?”), the Fourth Man Struggle (“Seriously, who else can we get to play?”), the camaraderie that turns strangers into friends (“Do you want to exchange numbers?”) and various other dynamics that go beyond the dink to make up the humor, heart, and hard-won wisdom we find between the lines.
So join us! Pour a glass, squeeze a lime, and let’s get under the hood of just how good it feels to rediscover PLAY in our lives.
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Ever wondered what the big deal is about Pickleball?
Welcome to Dinks on Tap, where the pickleball paddle meets the margarita. We’re Casie and Lauren, your pickleball partners in crime, here to spill the beans on why pickleball is more than just a game. It’s that “more” part we’re so drawn to. That “more” part which we highly suspect is about rediscovering PLAY in our lives and bringing FUN into focus.
Let’s be clear, we’re not pros. We’re just a couple of recreational players who notice, marvel, and revel in the nuances that make up the juice to this fruit’s fine squeeze. In each episode we’ll look at the life breathing behind, within, underneath and alongside the game... That momentum shift on the court, (“Why am I so ‘off’ today?”), the Fourth Man Struggle (“Seriously, who else can we get to play?”), the camaraderie that turns strangers into friends (“Do you want to exchange numbers?”) and various other dynamics that go beyond the dink to make up the humor, heart, and hard-won wisdom we find between the lines.
So join us! Pour a glass, squeeze a lime, and let’s get under the hood of just how good it feels to rediscover PLAY in our lives.
Is DUPR Dead? Mike Barker's VAIR Rating System Might Just Bury It
Dinks On Tap: The Happy Hour Pickleball Podcast
58 minutes
1 month ago
Is DUPR Dead? Mike Barker's VAIR Rating System Might Just Bury It
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 & LaurenDinks on Tap
Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us:
Instagram: @dinksontap
Facebook: @DinksonTapWebsite: dinksontap.com
Dinks On Tap: The Happy Hour Pickleball Podcast
Ever wondered what the big deal is about Pickleball?
Welcome to Dinks on Tap, where the pickleball paddle meets the margarita. We’re Casie and Lauren, your pickleball partners in crime, here to spill the beans on why pickleball is more than just a game. It’s that “more” part we’re so drawn to. That “more” part which we highly suspect is about rediscovering PLAY in our lives and bringing FUN into focus.
Let’s be clear, we’re not pros. We’re just a couple of recreational players who notice, marvel, and revel in the nuances that make up the juice to this fruit’s fine squeeze. In each episode we’ll look at the life breathing behind, within, underneath and alongside the game... That momentum shift on the court, (“Why am I so ‘off’ today?”), the Fourth Man Struggle (“Seriously, who else can we get to play?”), the camaraderie that turns strangers into friends (“Do you want to exchange numbers?”) and various other dynamics that go beyond the dink to make up the humor, heart, and hard-won wisdom we find between the lines.
So join us! Pour a glass, squeeze a lime, and let’s get under the hood of just how good it feels to rediscover PLAY in our lives.
