How to Find a Pickleball Tournament Partner

The bracket is posted, registration closes Friday, and your usual partner can't make it. So you text everyone you know, ask in the club group chat, and scroll a "needs a partner" list hoping someone at your level turns up before the deadline.

A partner list on one tournament's page only helps for that one tournament. On InstaPickleball you say what you're looking for once, and players near you can find you for this event and the next one.

1. Tag yourself with the partner you need

Open Me → Edit profile → Tags. Under Partner Seeking, pick Looking for Male Tournament Partner or Looking for Female Tournament Partner, then tap the check mark at the top to save.

The tag stays on your profile until you take it off. You don't have to post anything for people to find you.

2. Why there are two tags

Mixed doubles needs a partner of one gender and a same-gender bracket needs the other. These are two different searches, so they get two different tags. Pick the one for the bracket you're entering. If you play both, pick both.

3. Search for players who'd pair with you

On the map, tap Players on the right-hand bar, then the filter icon next to the search bar. Under Tags (Optional), choose the tag your partner would be wearing:

• Same-gender bracket: the same tag as yours. Two women looking for a women's doubles partner both wear Looking for Female Tournament Partner.
• Mixed doubles: the other one. A man looking for a female partner picks Looking for Male Tournament Partner, the tag women looking for a male partner wear.

Then set Gender to the partner you need and narrow the list further:

• DUPR: set the rating range you want, and switch between doubles and singles ratings.
• Distance: how far you're willing to drive to practice together.

The Players list shows everyone nearby who matches, not just the people posting a game right now.

4. Make sure the rating is real

A rating someone typed in themselves isn't much help when there's a bracket on the line. Turn on Verified DUPR only in the same filter to see only players whose rating, in the format you picked, comes from their official DUPR record, checked by our team. On a profile, a verified rating shows in green with a ✓.

Want yours verified? Submit your DUPR ID in Me → Edit profile → DUPR. The check usually takes under 24 hours.

5. Reach out and play a practice game

Tap Chat on a player's profile to message them. Before you commit to a whole tournament weekend, play a game together: create a Session at your local court or join one that's already on the map.

Most tournaments take entries on their own website, so once you've found your partner, you both sign up there.