by Kelly Campbell
Professional sports are not immune to the age of tech. Every major sport is getting smarter, faster, and more data-driven by the day. Even the most long-established games have gotten technological makeovers: the NBA is embracing “automated officiating”, the NFL utilizes instant replay technology and AI-powered play analysis, and tennis has fully embraced automated line calling and real-time performance stats. In the professional sports world, the stakes are now too high to rely solely on officials, and inevitable human error.
Most recently, the controversial decision to introduce “robot” umpires in Major League Baseball by 2026 has caught our attention, and it’s made us wonder: how will tech shape the game of pickleball?
Of course, we’ve seen pickleball evolve tremendously over the past few years, but we’re still relatively new to the professional mainstream. With no legacy standard in place and no single league calling all the shots, professional pickleball is still being crafted and molded. The massive push to retrofit high-tech solutions in legacy pro sports will inevitably influence pickleball’s professional development. This sport is still being defined, which means the foundation of professional pickleball could be built for technology, not just adapted to it.
Read on for some of the latest pickleball tech advancements you need to know about, and a look at whether pickleball could become the first truly tech-native sport.
The First Tech-Forward Sport?
In September, the MLB announced its plan to roll out the Automated Ball‑Strike System (ABS). Stadiums will be equipped with multiple camera arrays (via Hawk‑Eye) to track each pitch relative to a defined strike zone, effectively replacing human ball/strike calls. These upgrades aim to improve fairness, consistency, analytics (both for teams and viewers), and transparency, and they signal one of the most significant uses of technology to change officiating in any major sport.
But these changes have been met with mixed reactions because it completely shakes up the longstanding legacy the MLB has built. Still, many think these tech implementations are long overdue and will go a long way in eliminating unnecessary errors.
Every mainstream professional sport has begun adapting to the times by implementing the latest technology, but they are retrofitting technology into century-old systems. Pickleball, on the other hand, has a rare opportunity: to leap ahead by building with tech from the start. Rather than adapting to the future, professional pickleball is still at a stage where it can be built for it.
Because pickleball is still a young professional sport, it isn’t weighed down by legacy infrastructure that slows innovation in more established leagues. There’s less resistance to tech from the growing fanbase, and the systems and standards for pro play are taking shape now. This means that automation and technology are being integrated much earlier in the sport’s lifecycle compared to others, which not only makes pickleball more appealing to younger fans who are drawn to tech-enhanced experiences but also positions it as a smart option for sports gamblers who want fewer gray areas and more reliable, data-backed calls.
As pickleball grows into its pro era, it has a rare opportunity to build technology into the sport’s foundation, not as an afterthought, but from the start. That kind of adaptability from day one opens the door to deeper integration, more meaningful partnerships, and stronger community-building with world-class tech companies. It’s a chance to shape a mainstream sport with technology at the forefront, something we’ve never truly seen before.
Pickleball Technology You Should Know About
CourtQ is a standout example of how technology can elevate the pickleball experience. Inspired by the old-school tradition of “paddles on the fence,” CourtQ brings that system into the modern era with an entirely virtual waitlist, designed to streamline court usage and make open play more organized and fair.
Though geared toward recreational play rather than professional tournaments, CourtQ solves real problems players and clubs face at every level. The app allows players to check in via QR code, add themselves to the queue, and track upcoming matches from their smartphone. It assigns out courts and eliminates the need to hover courtside or interrupt games to ask who’s up next. Players can roam freely and still get a real-time notification when it’s their turn to play.
CourtQ displays live player order, offers court usage trends and data, and ensures fair, automated rotations so everyone gets equal court time. The built-in messaging feature adds a social layer, allowing players to communicate, follow one another, and favorite locations, thereby building greater pickleball communities.
CourtQ redefines how players connect and compete. It’s an innovative, all-in-one system designed to make your next game more flexible, fair, and fun. Are you ready to “ditch the fence?”
Smart Paddles: Why settle for a plain wooden paddle when you can opt for a smart paddle? Smart paddles allow you to bring pickleball tech into your own hands, literally. Emerging smart paddles are embedding sensors in the handle to measure swing speed, paddle angle, force, and timing. These could be game-changing for performance analytics, training insights, and injury prevention. While they could provide helpful insight, they come at a high price point, and some consider them an unfair advantage. You can preorder the Potenza SmartX Paddle for ~$500. We don’t yet know how impactful and accepted smart paddles will be, but it’s safe to say they’ll revolutionize how we train and compete.
PlayReplay: In July, PlayReplay, an AI-powered tennis officiating and performance-tracking platform, announced its partnership with Pickleball Inc. The system will be rolled out at PPA and MLP matches in 2026, marking a significant shift in how professional pickleball is played and officiated. PlayReplay plans to expand beyond the pro level, bringing its technology to recreational facilities nationwide. It tracks line calls, foot faults, and kitchen violations in real time using four small cameras mounted on the net posts. The system also captures performance data like shot type, ball speed, spin rate, and placement. Court speakers announce live calls.
SwingVision: Another tennis-turned-pickleball-tech company, SwingVision revolutionizes pickleball training from your smartphone. The app allows users to use a phone camera to record pickleball matches, and the AI technology analyzes movement, tracks shots, recognizes ball speed and placement, and provides live electronic line calls.
WingField: Wingfield has adapted its multi-camera Vision Pro system (used in racquet sports) for pickleball. It allows clubs to offer automated match tracking, stats dashboards, and AI-based coaching feedback. Wingfield partners with The Picklr, one of the most well-known premium indoor pickleball franchises, and is featured in Picklr facilities.
Playsight: PlaySight’s SmartCourt platform brings AI‑powered video, analytics, and live streaming to pickleball. Their multi‑angle cameras capture matches, offer instant replays and automated highlights, and provide coaching and player development tools. The system integrates with club booking and court‑management platforms, making high‑end tech available to both competitive and recreational venues. Playsight partners with numerous pickleball leaders, including Chicken N Pickle, PPA, MLP, and NPL.
3D-Printed Pickleball: Pickleball “pop” haters rejoice! One of the latest pickleball tech advancements is a no-noise 3D-printed pickleball from Accel Digital Solutions. The DigiPro pickleballs are the same size and weight of the average pickleball, but are more durable and at least 10x quieter. They’ve even been certified by USAP.
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