The PPA introduces an enticing opportunity in a bid to accommodate players not playing in the main draw. Its first stop in 2024 is at Palm Springs, California, with the Hyundai Masters offering a 16-team bracket boasting a purse of $1,000, available to anyone seeking to take part.

“A High Stake Bracket”

Dillon Segur, the PPA Tour’s Pro Player Director, took time out to explain the motivation behind this initiative, stating, “We wanted to provide another way for players to play in more of a high stakes bracket.

“There were players who wanted to play a more competitive game than just an amateur bracket, but they were losing in the qualifying rounds. This bracket will provide a different alternative for those players.”

Best-Of-Three Format

This singular bracket will amalgamate genders and mixed doubles. The victors will claim $600, while the runners-up will secure $400. The format adheres to the traditional best-of-three, with games extending to 11 points.

Additionally, a single-game loser’s bracket, spanning up to 15 points with no come-around, supplements the structure.

Registration Restricted To 16 Teams

Enrollment for these Moneyball events is hosted through pickleballbrackets.com. Eligibility extends to seniors, juniors, and individuals with a World Pickleball Ranking (WPR) of 5.5 or lower. The sole exclusion comprises professionals already enlisted in a main draw bracket.

It’s imperative to note that registration is confined to only 16 teams, with the team registration fee set at $150 ($75 per person).

Coed Bracket

This is a coed bracket with both male and female players accepted based on their WPR at the time of registration. A player’s rating must be 5.5 and under.

Play will consist of both genders and mixed doubles in one bracket. You must have a partner at the time of registration, and they have 36 hours to register or the team will be moved to the waitlist.

Touring Pro Players

Touring pro players will not be allowed to participate, i.e., if you are playing in any pro main draw event, you are excluded from the money ball event. Senior pro, junior pro, and amateur players are welcome (as long as they meet the criteria above).

Format

The format will be double elimination, meaning best 2-out-of-3 games to 11 points, win by two. The loser’s bracket will employ a system using a singular game match structure to 15 points, win by two. There is no come-around from the loser’s bracket.

Waiting Lists

If you find yourself on the waiting list, when someone withdraws, a team on that list will take their place. However, if a team withdrawal happens after 6 pm the day before the event, no waitlisted teams will be moved to the main event.

If a player is still playing in another event 2 hours before the start time, that player will have to be withdrawn from the Money Ball bracket and replaced with an alternate player. If an alternate cannot be found, a team withdrawal will be enforced with no refunds for either player in the Money Ball event.