Three-player groups, three video games to 21, no DreamBreaker. A 12 months into MiLP v3, here is how the format truly performs.
We launched v3 at The Dink Minor League Pickleball a bit of over a 12 months in the past. We wrote it up, referred to as it MiLP v3, and let it unfastened on the circuit.
And it took off. Breaking all expectations, 9 months later the 2025 Nationwide Championship was a sell-out event, with all v3 divisions offered out, indicating that v3 was right here to remain.
The three-player crew format created a novel crew expertise that extends on MiLP’s rally scoring video games with three-player gendered groups competing in doubles crew matchups – besides there isn’t any DreamBreaker.
A season-plus later, and we nonetheless get the query on a regular basis: wait, what’s v3 once more?
Cheap. New guidelines and codecs present up on this sport quicker than anybody can hold observe of them. So, contemplate this the refresher on the way it works.
How The Dink MiLP v3 Works
For anybody who’s been nodding alongside with no clue…
- v3 Format: Spherical-robin crew competitors with assured matches. Gendered groups of three gamers are damaged into divisions (based mostly on their mixed DUPR ranking) to compete in opposition to one another in three 21-point video games. High groups will face off in a bracket playoff.
- v3 Match Format: 3 video games represent a match. An instance of the lineup is as follows:
Participant 1 and Participant 2 from every crew play the primary recreation. Participant 2 and Participant 3 play the second recreation. Participant 1 and Participant 3 play the third recreation.
Gamers choose their lineups earlier than the match begins.
The Minor League Pickleball Assure:
- Predictable taking part in instances and decreased ready intervals between matches
- Assured 6 video games performed with not less than 3 matchups every – throughout Spherical Robin, all 3 video games are performed in a matchup, no matter consequence. Throughout bracket playoffs, if a crew wins the primary 2 video games, the matchup is full.
- A good, level-based aggressive expertise, no matter your stage of play.
Groups Are Made Up of Three Gamers: Both three females or three males compete in their very own gender-based divisions. Three gamers, one roster. That is the entire thing.
Three video games to 21. Every matchup is three video games, with gamers competing in two of these video games. No DreamBreaker.
You play with everybody. You play two video games and sit one, with a special teammate beside you every time you are on the courtroom.
It retains transferring. Matches are fast, which means much less downtime, extra pickleball.
Finest Pickleball Highlights from 2025 Minor League Nationals
Hit play, attempt to sustain, and don’t be shocked if you find yourself watching a number of of those twice.
The place You Match
v3 runs in gendered DUPR divisions – 9, 11, 13, and 15 – for each women and men. Divisions are damaged into each open age and age 50+.
Groups are grouped by mixed DUPR ranking, so that you’re taking part in groups in your vary. It’s all level-based, so it’s the identical as the remainder of MiLP.
Why It Caught
The pitch a 12 months in the past was easy: a tighter, quicker crew format that also rewards technique.
For brand new groups, it is a simple method in. Three gamers, one afternoon, completed.
For veterans, it is a totally different puzzle, since smaller rosters imply each matchup carries extra weight.
For captains, it is a roster-building train: stacking three gamers whose video games truly match collectively.
With solely three gamers, everybody has to ship. Each companions with the opposite two throughout the match, so there isn’t any hiding a weak hyperlink or leaning on a single robust pairing.
And since groups are single-gender, the matchups keep direct, there’s no mixed-doubles juggling. It comes right down to your three in opposition to their three.
Minor League Pickleball Participant Jumps From 3.95 to five.425 in a 12 months
Alex Bowers thought her aggressive days had been behind her after school tennis, however when she found The Dink Minor League Pickleball, she reignited her ardour, embraced the crew format, and rapidly turned a rising drive.
It Counts Towards Championships
To be clear, v3 is not a aspect bracket – it is a part of the MiLP ecosystem, and an actual path to the largest novice stage within the sport.
Play nicely throughout the season and your v3 crew can earn a spot within the devoted MiLP v3 Championships – its personal occasion throughout the MiLP Championships week, throughout DUPR divisions.
Similar depth, tighter rosters.
The USA v3 Leaderboard
There is a nationwide leaderboard now, too. MiLP tracks the highest of the v3 format throughout the nation, so a powerful season would not simply financial institution wins – it places you on the board.
Because the season goes, you may hold observe of who’s climbing, who’s holding the highest spots, who’s price watching heading into the larger occasions. Price a glance to see the place you stand, or the place you are chasing.
Discover a Recreation
MiLP v3 occasions are operating all season. Head to dupr.com/minorleague and search for a v3 format close to you.
And if you happen to’ve learn this far and nonetheless aren’t certain it is price it… go play one. That normally settles it.
