Dynamite Pickleball Club in Santa Barbara, CA, is home to seven outdoor courts in beautiful southern California. With near-perfect weather year-round and an abundance of free courts in the area, club owners have worked to establish unique programming that keeps over 200 players continuing to choose Dynamite.
In 2023, three friends who liked the sport and community of pickleball decided to give club ownership a shot. Two co-owners were already established in pickleball coaching and the community, while Ben Sample was a passionate player looking for a new business opportunity.
The group signed a lease for Dynamite in Santa Barbara, the same day they closed the sale on a struggling tennis facility in Texas. When it rains, it pours!
Embracing the Multi-Club Player
Ben says that with the near-perfect playing conditions and so many courts available, they quickly realized that to survive, the club needed to embrace the “multi-club player” and create a reason for players to choose their outdoor courts.
“We offer a wide variety of leagues, clinics, and scrambles to give options to players who want something a little more than open play all the time,” says Ben.
Many regular players split their time between a few different courts and groups. While a membership saves players money and offers perks for regular players, all events, open play sessions, clinics, and leagues are open to both members and drop-ins.
| Open-play alternatives at Dynamite
Open to both members and drop-ins
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Solving DUPR Rating Challenges with The Gauntlet
Many clubs and players struggle with DUPR ratings. Some players are rated a 2.6 yes, consistently play at a 3.6 level. Others are the opposite, causing frustration for the higher-level players.
A highly successful program for the club that works through the DUPR issues on its own is called The Gauntlet. Twice a week, players sign up for round-robin play that re-seeds after every round. Similar to the King or Queen of the court, where winners move up and losers move down, Dynamite uses an app that helps to keep players from being stuck in the bottom courts and encourages more competitive play.
“It is true that some players aren’t correctly ranked through DUPR, and this format helps to mitigate those interactions more elegantly,” says Ben. “If a player is ranked too low or too high, that will come out in the matches, and they will level up or down accordingly.”
This method also allows players who are actually higher than their ranking to improve through more competitive play, thanks to the winner-moves-on system.
Every other week, Dynamite reports DUPR ratings, allowing players who are improving the opportunity to move up in their rating. This system has proven to work for both DUPR-focused and those who aren’t.
How The Gauntlet works
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Building Tournament Confidence with the Tournament Prep Program
Another unique offering from Dynamite Pickleball Club is the Tournament Prep Program. Ben noted that many players are interested in tournaments but are intimidated by the competition or worried they aren’t good enough. The nine-week Tournament Prep offering is an opportunity for tournament partners to drill together for nine weeks leading up to a tournament. This intentional practice provides direct partner experience in a drill format that allows for the most improvement
“Drills are the biggest bang for your buck in terms of skill growth,” Ben says. “When players practice specific skills over and over, it helps prevent them from clamming up when the situation arises in a game since it has become an ingrained habit.”
In this format, Monday nights are drills, and Saturday is strictly gameplay in a king-or-queen-of-the-court format. The week before the tournament, the club invites other players to join, adding fresh competition.
Tournament Prep Program at a glance
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Family Day Brings the Whole Family to the Court
In an effort to bring the whole family into the world of pickleball, the first Sunday of every month is Family Day with free play for families of all ages and skill levels for a couple of hours. Staff is on hand to assist with the basics, and it provides a way for parents and kids to play together and grab some quality time.
Lessons for a Competitive Club Landscape
As competition between pickleball clubs grows, Dynamite Pickleball offers valuable lessons in how to create a club that is set apart from others by offering something different, especially through tournament prep. Clubs don’t need to offer a tournament to provide a route to success for their players. Keeping players involved, challenged, and having fun is the key to also keep them coming back for more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Dynamite Pickleball Club located?
Dynamite Pickleball Club is in Santa Barbara, CA, and is home to seven outdoor courts.
How many players does Dynamite Pickleball Club have?
Over 200 players continue to choose Dynamite.
What is The Gauntlet?
The Gauntlet is a twice-a-week round-robin format that re-seeds after every round, where winners move up, and losers move down.
How long is the Tournament Prep Program?
Nine weeks, with Monday nights for drills and Saturday for game play in a king or queen of the court format.
When is Family Day?
The first Sunday of every month, with free play for families of all ages and skill levels.
Are events open to non-members?
Yes. All events, open play sessions, clinics, and leagues are open to both members and drop-ins.
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