USA Pickleball rules
Matches will follow the USA Pickleball rulebook and the tournament’s published event policies.
Tournament Info
Come ready to compete. We’ll handle the details.
The Gateway Open is designed for players pursuing a Golden Ticket and for every competitor who values a well-run tournament experience.
Golden Ticket
The Path to Nationals.
Golden Ticket Tournaments offer players a direct pathway to the USA Pickleball National Championships by earning priority registration in their winning event.
A Golden Ticket provides priority registration for the event in which it was earned. Registration is subject to available capacity within each division and all current Nationals eligibility, registration, and membership requirements. Read the qualification and registration details.
Professional operations
Clear check-in, bracket communication, court flow, and referee information will be shared before play.
Results and ratings
Completed tournament results will be submitted to DUPR following the event. Link your DUPR account to your pickleballtournaments.com account before registering.
USA Pickleball · Approved information
Understand your pathway to Nationals.
What is a Golden Ticket Tournament?
Golden Ticket Tournaments are officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball, the National Governing Body for the sport of pickleball in the United States. Players who earn a Golden Ticket receive priority registration for their winning event at the USA Pickleball National Championships. A player’s DUPR rating at the time of Nationals registration determines the applicable skill division.
- Golden Tickets are awarded only at designated Golden Ticket Tournaments.
- A Golden Ticket applies to the event in which it was earned.
- Winners must meet all current eligibility, registration and membership requirements.
- Golden Tickets are non-transferable.
What is The Path to Nationals?
The Path to Nationals is USA Pickleball’s official competitive framework outlining how players qualify for the USA Pickleball National Championships. The pathway includes Golden Ticket Tournaments and points-based eligibility through the Tiered Point System.
USA Pickleball National Championships
The USA Pickleball National Championships is the premier event and the longest-standing championship in the sport, bringing together leading amateur players across age groups and skill levels through a qualification-based competitive pathway. The tournament is officially sanctioned and operated by USA Pickleball. Participation requires qualification through The Path to Nationals.
Priority registration
Eligible Golden Ticket winners receive the first opportunity to register through their priority registration window, subject to available capacity within each division.
USA Pickleball notifies eligible athletes when their registration window opens. Athletes must meet all current Nationals eligibility and membership requirements and complete registration through the designated Nationals registration platform.
Nationals skill division: A player’s DUPR rating at the time of Nationals registration determines the applicable skill division. The Gateway Open’s rating lock applies to this tournament, not to Nationals registration.
Tiered Point System (TPS)
The USA Pickleball Tiered Point System, or TPS, rewards players and standardizes competition across USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournaments. Points are tied to participation and placement, with event weighting determined by tournament tier and competitive results.
- A minimum of 4,500 TPS points is required for Nationals eligibility.
- Points are earned through participation in USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournaments, with points awarded for registration and placement.
- TPS points determine eligibility and priority for Tier 2 Nationals registration.
- Every Golden Ticket Tournament automatically provides the required 4,500 TPS points, satisfying the baseline eligibility requirement.
Meeting the TPS baseline is separate from earning a Golden Ticket and its winning-event priority registration.
Active membership is required
Participation in USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournaments, including Golden Ticket Tournaments and the USA Pickleball National Championships, requires an active USA Pickleball membership.
Membership supports the National Governing Body and growth of the sport, provides eligibility for sanctioned competition, offers official resources and exclusive opportunities and discounts, and unlocks access to The Path to Nationals.
For the Gateway Open, your Challenger or Champion membership must remain active through February 21, 2027. Nationals participants must also meet the membership requirements in effect for Nationals. Join or renew with USA Pickleball.
Who is USA Pickleball?
USA Pickleball is the official National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of pickleball in the United States. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, USA Pickleball is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the game while advancing its growth and development nationwide. The organization supports players, clubs, and communities by sanctioning premier tournaments, offering certified equipment testing, training referees, certifying facilities, and providing a wide range of educational resources.
USA Pickleball also maintains and updates the official rules of the sport, ensuring consistency and fairness at every level of play. Led by a Board of Directors and a dedicated national office staff, USA Pickleball delivers the infrastructure and strategic vision necessary to fuel the continued expansion of pickleball across the country—benefiting members with exclusive access to events, programs, and tools that elevate their experience on and off the court.
Event details
Your tournament essentials.
Plan your entry with the confirmed details below. Check the official registration page for current event availability and tournament updates.
Before you register
- Check your USA Pickleball membership. A Challenger or Champion membership is required and must remain active through February 21, 2027. Join or renew your membership.
- Create or check your DUPR account. Visit DUPR to create an account or verify your details.
- Connect your accounts. Sign in to pickleballtournaments.com and make sure your USA Pickleball membership and DUPR account are correctly connected to your player profile before registering.
Registration for the St. Louis Gateway Open will be through pickleballtournaments.com.
Official registration pageRegistration dates and fees
Junior-only registration discount: Juniors who register exclusively for junior brackets receive $10 off the registration price. The discount does not apply if a player also registers for a non-junior bracket.
Registration opens October 10, 2026. The listed registration fee is $35 per player, increasing to $45 on October 17, 2026. See the official registration page for the full fee schedule and any additional charges.
Registration closes February 13, 2027 at noon CST.
Refunds: Refunds are available minus a $25 fee through January 15, 2027. No refunds will be issued after January 15 for any reason.
Dates
February 18–21, 2027
Early registration
October 10, 2026
Official ball
Franklin X-40, Optic Yellow
Franklin X-40, Optic Yellow
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Results reported to DUPR
Completed tournament results will be submitted to the DUPR platform following the event. Players must have a DUPR account correctly connected to their pickleballtournaments.com player profile.
Schedule and divisions
Competition schedule
- Thursday, February 18: Men’s & women’s doubles: 50+ age brackets; Men’s & women’s Open singles; Coed junior doubles.
- Friday, February 19: Men’s & women’s singles: skill/age brackets; Junior men’s & women’s singles.
- Saturday, February 20: Men’s & women’s doubles: 7–29, 30–39, and 40–49 age brackets; Men’s & women’s Open doubles.
- Sunday, February 21: Mixed doubles: all listed skill/age brackets; Open mixed doubles.
Playing days published as of October 5, 2026; start times have not been posted. View all events and exact divisions. Dates and formats are subject to the bracket policy below.
Skill and age divisions
Skill divisions currently listed include 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, Open, and junior events. See exact age/skill divisions on the Events page. For the Gateway Open, ratings are locked at registration; eligibility remains subject to USA Pickleball requirements and tournament director review. Players may not enter below their eligible skill level.
Format
Round-robin or pool play leads into playoffs. Pool and playoff games are one game to 15, win by two. Gold and bronze medal matches are best two of three games to 11, win by two.
Open/prize-money divisions use a double-elimination playoff. See Open division payouts and minimum fields.
Bracket & format adjustments
To help us serve players well and keep the tournament running smoothly, the Tournament Director reserves the right to merge or split brackets, adjust advancement, and change formats or schedules based on entries, withdrawals, court availability, or other tournament needs. Any adjustments will follow applicable USA Pickleball rules.
If divisions are combined, medals and Golden Ticket status will be recognized according to each player’s original registered division before the merge, in accordance with applicable USA Pickleball Golden Ticket requirements.
Player preparation
Arrival and check-in
Brackets may begin up to 30 minutes before the published start time. Plan to arrive no later than one hour before your posted bracket start time so you have time to park, check in, and warm up.
Head Referee
Daniel Ward will serve as Head Referee for the 2027 St. Louis Gateway Open. Additional referee coverage and assignments will be published with event details.
“The referees were knowledgeable, personable, and professional. They handled difficult situations calmly, made fair decisions, and helped everyone leave the court feeling that the match had been handled well.”Player · 2026 Golden Ticket Event
Registration
Both doubles partners must register, pay, and be paired for the team to be complete. Players are responsible for finding and confirming their partner.
Open divisions · Prize money
Come compete for it.
Our generous tournament sponsors help make these prize purses possible. Once the minimum field is reached in a bracket, its advertised prize purse is guaranteed.
Open division fee: An additional $50 per entry, as listed on the official registration page.
Men’s & women’s Open singles
Minimum: 10 players per bracket
1st place: $500
2nd place: $250
3rd place: $125
$875 total prize purse per singles bracket.
Men’s & women’s Open doubles
Minimum: 12 teams per bracket
1st place: $500 per player / $1,000 per team
2nd place: $250 per player / $500 per team
3rd place: $125 per player / $250 per team
$1,750 total prize purse per doubles bracket.
Open mixed doubles
Minimum: 12 teams
1st place: $500 per player / $1,000 per team
2nd place: $250 per player / $500 per team
3rd place: $125 per player / $250 per team
$1,750 total prize purse.
Open divisions use double-elimination playoffs. Meet the sponsors supporting this event.
Here to serve
Good competition starts with preparation.
From court preparation to match-day communication, the details matter. Meet the tournament requirements early so you can arrive ready to play.
Review your registration checklist