Third Shot Rants

Supr Dupr 2: CEO Tito Machado

Howard and Gina interview DUPR CEO Tito Machado. Tito announces news about DUPR subscores that are coming soon. And we talk to Tito about the new algorithm and whether DUPR ratings are comparable across gender, age, and geography. We also announce our Third Shot Rants merch shop!
 
Third Shot Rants Merch Shop: https://cottonbureau.com/people/third-shot-rants
Feedback on the new algorithm
Are DUPR ratings universal across gender, age, and geography?
New DUPR feature: subscore ratings by gender and age
Closing remarks
Coaches Corner: tips for drop shots
Please follow and rate our show!
Aftershow: Howard and Gina’s Halloween plans
 
Resources:
Third Shot Rants Merch Shop: https://cottonbureau.com/people/third-shot-rants
DUPR CEO Tito Machado: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilberto-tito-machado-19004670
DUPR: https://www.dupr.com/
Contact info for Gina as coach: gtpicklecoach@gmail.com
Send questions and comments, including voice recordings, about the show to: thirdshotrants@gmail.com
CRBN 10 percent discount code: use code CRBNTEN at https://www.crbnpickleball.com/CRBNTEN 
 
Instagram:
Tito Machado: https://www.instagram.com/titomachado.dupr
Third Shot Rants: https://www.instagram.com/thirdshotrants
Gina: https://www.instagram.com/gtpickle 
 
Credits:
Hosts: Howard Chang and Gina Tsapralis
Audio Engineer: Henry Chang

Supr Dupr 1: Introduction to DUPR

Howard and Gina discuss everyone’s favorite topic, DUPR ratings and reliability scores–how they work, the new algorithm, whether they’re accurate, whether men’s and women’s ratings are comparable.
Basics of DUPR
DUPR Rating
Reliability Index
Where to play DUPR matches
New algorithm
Rating can go down with a win
Pros/cons
Are DUPR ratings accurate?
Our impressions
DUPR Biomes
DUPRs in Hong Kong
Are men’s and women' s DUPRs comparable?
Our impressions
Need for DUPR to assess and correct
Closing remarks
Coaches Corner: compact strokes at the kitchen line
Please follow and rate our show!
Restaurant reviews
Pita Inn
Rosita’s Tacos and Cocina
Note 1:  Our discussion of DUPR is based on the publicly available information we are aware of.  We welcome corrections and comments.  The statement that DUPR starts everyone at a 3.5 rating is based on what we believe occurs in a game among four non rated players.  It is less clear based on publicly available information what the algorithm assumes about a non rated player who plays a first game with three rated players, but based on anecdotal data, it does appear that there is a presumption that non rated players tend to start around 3.5.
Note 2: The discussion of a potential upward adjustment in DUPR ratings if a discrepancy were identified between men's and women's ratings based on the data would be intended to apply to men (or women) whose ratings came from matches played with men.  No adjustment would apply to men (or women) whose ratings came from matches played with women.
Resources:
DUPR info
Background: https://www.dupr.com/how-it-works
New July 2025 algorithm: https://www.dupr.com/post/dupr-algo-update-common-questions
FAQs: https://www.dupr.com/post/dupr-faqs-your-top-questions-answered-by-sarah-and-dave
Sarah Carpenter, Lead Data Scientist at DUPR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPtCLNT1sEU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsDnXxDEAJg&t=204s
Hong Kong amateur DUPRs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF_lhgYrRgc&t=297s
Contact info for Gina as coach: gtpicklecoach@gmail.com
Send questions and comments, including voice recordings, about the show to: thirdshotrants@gmail.com
CRBN 10 percent discount code: use code CRBNTEN at https://www.crbnpickleball.com/CRBNTEN 
 
Instagram:
Third Shot Rants: https://www.instagram.com/thirdshotrants
Gina: https://www.instagram.com/gtpickle 
 
Credits:
Hosts: Howard Chang and Gina Tsapralis
Audio Engineer: Henry Chang
 
Aftershow: Restaurant Recommendations
Pita Inn Skokie
Website: https://pitainn.com/pita-inn-skokie/
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/C1nagjPc3Lo7A2f46 
Rosita’s Tacos and Cocina
Website: https://www.rositastacoscocina.com/ 
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/da8z6StxxUgdDokL9 

SPF Founder Rich Green

Howard and Gina interview Rich Green, founder of SPF, the first pickleball club in Chicago. Rich discusses his personal pickleball origin story and SPF’s. Rich announces some exciting SPF news.
 
Rich’s origin story
SPF’s origin story
SPF news
Honey Butter Beach Club at SPF
Operating challenges for club owners
Closing remarks
Coaches Corner: beginner lessons
CRBN TruFoam Waves paddle launched September 25. Howard has one that listeners can try!
Please follow and rate our show!
 
Resources:
SPF: https://www.playspf.com/
Honey Butter Beach Club: https://www.honeybutterbeachclub.com/
Contact info for Gina as coach: gtpicklecoach@gmail.com
Send questions and comments, including voice recordings, about the show to: thirdshotrants@gmail.com
CRBN 10 percent discount code: use code CRBNTEN at https://www.crbnpickleball.com/CRBNTEN 
 
Instagram:
SPF: https://www.instagram.com/playspf
Third Shot Rants: https://www.instagram.com/thirdshotrants
Gina: https://www.instagram.com/gtpickle 
 
Credits:
Hosts: Howard Chang and Gina Tsapralis
Audio Engineer: Henry Chang

Pickleball Pro Vivian Glozman

Howard and Gina interview top pickleball professional, Vivian Glozman.
 
Vivian’s pickleball origin story
Becoming a pickleball pro
Life as a pickleball pro
Pickleball and life advice from Vivian
Closing remarks
Three and me sessions with Gina
CRBN TruFoam Waves paddle launches September 25. Howard has one pre-launch that listeners can try!  
Please follow and rate our show!
Vivian Glozman Bio
 
Resources:
Vivian’s MLP page: https://majorleaguepickleball.co/player/vivian-glozman/
Contact info for Gina as coach: gtpicklecoach@gmail.com
Send questions and comments, including voice recordings, about the show to: thirdshotrants@gmail.com
CRBN 10 percent discount code, including for new Trufoam Waves paddle: use code CRBNTEN at https://www.crbnpickleball.com/CRBNTEN 
 
Instagram:
Vivian Glozman: https://www.instagram.com/vivian_glozman
Vivian’s Food Insta: https://www.instagram.com/toastwithviv
Third Shot Rants: https://www.instagram.com/thirdshotrants
Gina: https://www.instagram.com/gtpickle 
 
Credits:
Hosts: Howard Chang and Gina Tsapralis
Audio Engineer: Henry Chang

Targeting!

Howard and Gina talk about whether targeting a weaker player is an acceptable strategy.
Targeting
Games with inexperienced players at open play
Competitive open play
Closed invite only groups
Leagues
Tournaments
Bodybagging
Closing remarks
Please follow and rate our show!
Learn how to lob from Gina!
CRBN TruFoam Waves paddle launches September 25. Howard should have one pre-launch!
 
Resources:
Contact info for Gina as coach: gtpicklecoach@gmail.com
Send questions and comments, including voice recordings, about the show to: thirdshotrants@gmail.com
CRBN 10 percent discount code: use code CRBNTEN at https://www.crbnpickleball.com/CRBNTEN 
Ben Johns head shot at Quang Duong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp11GaekBGQ
 
Instagram:
Third Shot Rants: https://www.instagram.com/thirdshotrants
Gina: https://www.instagram.com/gtpickle 
 
Credits:
Hosts: Howard Chang and Gina Tsapralis
Audio Engineer: Henry Chang
 

APP Chicago Week

Gina talks about her APP week and Howard joins her at APP on Saturday.
APP Chicago
Volunteering at APP
Third Shot Rant: poorly organized amateur brackets
Watching pro pickleball
Closing remarks: please rate and follow our show!
Notes:  We were told that the APP entry fee was approximately $145 per person and that APP did not refund the fee for the 3.5 women's doubles bracket we discussed but did offer to waive the spectator fee.
 
Resources:
Contact info for Gina as coach: gtpicklecoach@gmail.com
Send questions and comments, including voice recordings, about the show to: thirdshotrants@gmail.com
CRBN 10 percent discount code: use code CRBNTEN at https://www.crbnpickleball.com/CRBNTEN 
2025 APP Chicago Open: https://www.theapp.global/tour-schedule/2025-app-chicago-open
Megan Fudge
Video of Megan’s Third Shot Rants interview with Gina: https://youtu.be/T-VwFL0WbyA 
Mixed Doubles Gold: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOCUGkLEjKb/
Womens Doubles Silver: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOCH35JkkPz/
Jack Munro ball tracking: https://youtu.be/Ps59V0GbnRc
Fudge DeHeart kid champions: FudgeDeHeartKids.jpg
Gina doing the wave: GinaWave.jpg
Howard refusing to do the wave: HowardNoWave.jpg
 
Instagram:
Third Shot Rants: https://www.instagram.com/thirdshotrants
Gina: https://www.instagram.com/gtpickle 
 
Credits:
Hosts: Howard Chang and Gina Tsapralis
Audio Engineer: Henry Chang

Challenge Court Controversy

Howard and Gina explain the Grant Park challenge court controversy, give their views, and describe their field trip experience.
Grant Park–the park and the pickleball courts
Challenge Court Controversy
Closing remarks: please rate and follow our show and tell your friends!
Resources:
Contact info for Gina as coach: gtpicklecoach@gmail.com
Send questions and comments, including voice recordings, about the show to: thirdshotrants@gmail.com
CRBN 10 percent discount code: use code CRBNTEN at https://www.crbnpickleball.com/CRBNTEN 
Grant Park: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/grant-ulysses-park
Grant Park pickleball courts: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/grant-pickleball-courts
Grant Park pickleball court funding: https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/09/20/16-pickleball-courts-open-in-grant-park-thanks-to-500k-from-lollapallooza/
Teach Reach: https://www.teamreach.com/
Team Reach code for Grant Park: PlayChicago
Instagram:
Third Shot Rants: https://www.instagram.com/thirdshotrants
Gina: https://www.instagram.com/gtpickle 
Credits:
Hosts: Howard Chang and Gina Tsapralis
Audio Engineer: Henry Chang

Origin Stories

Howard and Gina preview what their pickleball podcast will cover, describe their personal origin stories, and rant a bit about people who don't know the rules at open play.
Introduction to our podcast
Howard and Gina’s personal journeys into pickleball
Pickle Peeves: people who don’t know the rules but like to argue about them anyway
Closing remarks
 
Resources:
Contact info for Gina as coach: gtpicklecoach@gmail.com
Send questions and comments about the show to: thirdshotrants@gmail.com
CRBN 10 percent discount code: use code CRBNTEN at https://www.crbnpickleball.com/CRBNTEN 
Pickledilly in Skokie, IL: https://www.pickledillyskokie.com/
Pickleball Clubhouse in Chicago, IL: https://www.pickleballclub.house/
Horner Park Pickleball Courts in Chicago, IL: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/horner-park-pickleball-courts
 
Instagram:
Third Shot Rants: https://www.instagram.com/thirdshotrants
Gina: https://www.instagram.com/gtpickle 
 
Credits:
Hosts: Howard Chang and Gina Tsapralis
Audio Engineer: Henry Chang