Trips — also called Triples — is the team format that didn't get as much marketing as MLP but might be the better fit for most clubs. Three-player teams, three short sub-matches per team match, every player partners with every teammate exactly once. It's faster than MLP, easier to recruit for than 4-player formats, and arguably the most fun to play.
This guide explains the format, the rules, and how it compares to other team formats.
What is Trips pickleball?
Trips is a 3-player team pickleball format where two teams of three players face off across three sub-matches, with every player on the team partnering with each of their teammates exactly once:
- Sub-match 1: Player A + Player B
- Sub-match 2: Player A + Player C
- Sub-match 3: Player B + Player C
Each player plays in two of the three sub-matches. Each pairing happens exactly once per team match. The team that wins the most sub-matches wins the team match.
That's the format. The structure does three useful things at once:
- Every player plays. No bench, no subs, nobody waiting.
- Every pairing gets tested. You learn quickly which of your teammates you sync with.
- Skill imbalances don't dominate. The strongest player on a team can't carry every match — they're only in two of three.
A short history
Trips emerged organically at clubs in 2023–2024 as a response to MLP's coordination overhead. Clubs wanted the team-sport feel without:
- The 4-player roster requirement (harder to fill)
- The 8-court parallel-play requirement (most clubs don't have 8 courts)
- The lineup-card complexity (not everyone wants to coach)
By 2025, Trips events were running at hundreds of clubs nationally. Most modern tournament platforms support the format directly.
The rules in detail
Team composition
A Trips team has three players. Most events allow one substitute (4th player) but the three core players are who compete.
Common gender configurations:
- All-men's Trips — three men
- All-women's Trips — three women
- Mixed Trips — typically 1 man + 2 women, or 2 men + 1 woman, depending on the event
Some events run open Trips with any three players regardless of gender.
DUPR caps
Most Trips events cap the combined team DUPR:
- Recreational: 9.0–10.5
- Intermediate: 10.5–12.0
- Advanced: 12.0–13.5
- Open: no cap
Combined team rating is the sum of all three players' DUPR ratings.
The three sub-matches
The three sub-match pairings are predetermined by the format itself. Most events play them in this order:
- A + B vs the opposing team's first pairing
- A + C vs the opposing team's second pairing
- B + C vs the opposing team's third pairing
Some events allow captains to choose the pairing order; most don't (the rotation is automatic).
Scoring
Each sub-match is typically played to 11 or 15 points, rally scoring, win-by-2. Shorter scoring (to 11) is more common because three sub-matches need to fit on a single court within a reasonable window.
The team match is decided by best of 3 sub-matches. There's no tiebreaker because three is an odd number — there's always a winner.
Some events use total points scored across all three sub-matches as a secondary metric, useful for tiebreaking pool-play standings.
What happens if a player can't play?
- Use a substitute if your event allows them
- Play down a player — the remaining two players play all three sub-matches together (boring, but works)
- Forfeit — the team takes a loss
Most events allow one substitute per team to handle this.
Why directors love Trips
- 3 players is easier to recruit than 4. Smaller team size means more teams from the same player pool.
- Everyone plays. No bench, no subs sitting on the sideline, no "I drove an hour to watch."
- Faster than MLP. Three sub-matches to 11 fits in 60 minutes; an MLP team match takes 75–90 minutes.
- One court per team match. No need to run paired courts in parallel like MLP.
- Skill mixing. The forced rotation prevents one strong duo from dominating.
- Lower coordination overhead. No lineup cards, no captain strategy decisions.
Why some directors avoid Trips
- Less spectator drama than MLP. No dreambreaker, no "lineup reveal" moment.
- Some players want to play with their preferred partner. Trips forces them to play with everyone on their team.
- Three sub-matches feels less "decisive" than MLP's four. A team that wins 2-1 wins by a smaller margin than 3-1 in MLP.
How Trips compares to other team formats
| Aspect | Trips | MLP | Round Robin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team size | 3 | 4 | 2 (a pair) |
| Sub-matches per team match | 3 | 4 + dreambreaker | 1 |
| Time per team match | ~60 min | ~75–90 min | ~30–40 min |
| Courts needed per team match | 1 | 2 (in parallel) | 1 |
| Tiebreaker | None (best of 3) | Dreambreaker | None |
| Lineup strategy | Minimal | High | None |
Trips is the middle ground between Round Robin (simple but pair-based) and MLP (complex but full team-sport experience).
How to organize a Trips event
Plan team count
Common shapes:
- 6 teams → round robin, 5 team matches per team
- 8 teams → two pools of 4, top 2 to playoff
- 12 teams → three pools of 4, top 2 to playoff
- 16 teams → four pools of 4, top 2 to single-elim playoff
Plan timing
Each team match takes about 60 minutes. With 4 courts, you can run 4 team matches in parallel. A 12-team event with three pools of 4 can complete pool play in 3 rounds — about 4 hours including transitions.
Set the format
- Sub-match scoring: to 11, rally, win-by-2 (most common)
- Best of 3 sub-matches (always — there's no tiebreaker variant for 3-match formats)
- Total points scored as the primary tiebreaker for pool standings
Open registration
A captain registers the team, adds two more players, pays the entry fee. Roster locks 1–2 days before the event. Substitute players (if allowed) are listed during registration.
Pitfalls and tips
- Use the right scoring length. To 11 is right for events with many teams. To 15 is fine for premium events but stretches the day.
- Lock rosters before the event. Same-day swaps blow up DUPR caps.
- Print sub-match pairings for first-time Trips players. They sometimes forget who they're partnered with for which match.
- Don't allow same-day team formations. Trips teams need at least one practice session together.
- Communicate the format clearly in registration. Many players have never played Trips and may show up expecting fixed partners.
FAQ
What's the difference between Trips and MLP?
Trips uses 3-player teams with 3 sub-matches and no tiebreaker. MLP uses 4-player teams with 4 sub-matches and a dreambreaker. Trips is shorter, lighter, and easier to organize.
Why is it called "Trips"?
Short for "Triples" — three players to a team. Some events still call it Triples; most call it Trips.
Can I play Trips with two players?
No — the format requires three. With two players, just play doubles.
Do Trips matches push to DUPR?
Yes. Each sub-match reports as a doubles match for the players involved.
How long does a Trips event take?
A 12-team event with pool play and a 4-team playoff fits in a single day on 4 courts. Smaller events can finish in a half-day.
What's the rotation order?
A+B, then A+C, then B+C. Player A plays in matches 1 and 2. Player B plays in matches 1 and 3. Player C plays in matches 2 and 3. Every pair happens once.
Ready to organize a Trips event at your club? See How to run a Trips tournament on Fluid for the platform walkthrough.