In rec play, mixed doubles is usually the most popular format. And at both Minor League Pickleball and Major League Pickleball events, it s the matchup that usually draws the biggest crowds.
So when The Dink MiLP launched v3 as a gendered format , the obvious question was what about mixed?
Ask and you shall receive. Mixed v3 is here. Let s get into it.
How The Dink MiLP Mixed v3 Works
Just like gendered v3, there are three matches, round-robin style, and no DreamBreaker. However, the lineup strategy plays out differently in mixed than in gendered.
Here s how it works:
Mixed teams are made up of two men and one woman, broken into divisions based on their combined DUPR rating. They compete against each other in three 21-point matches. From there, top teams face off in a bracket playoff.
Three matches make up a matchup. Each player plays only two of the three matches, and no pairing repeats within a matchup. The order looks like this:
First Match: Men s Doubles (the two male players)
Second Match: Mixed Doubles one
Third Match: Mixed Doubles two
The twist? Unlike gendered v3, mixed v3 teams set their mixed doubles lineups after men s doubles wraps, meaning team captains are watching for what s coming in match two and three.
Grouped By Combined DUPR Rating
Mixed v3 runs in the same DUPR divisions as the rest of MiLP v3 (9, 11, 13, and 15), with teams grouped by combined DUPR rating so you re playing in your range.
v3 in particular is an exciting format since no team can hide a weak link behind a strong pairing. With three matches and three players, everyone s in two of them.
What Makes Mixed v3 So Special?
Mixed doubles has always brought a different kind of chemistry than gendered play. Then you stack that with playing a men s doubles match first, and it adds another layer.
Team captains can t just set and forget a roster. They need a team that adapts mid-matchup. The men s doubles result (and how the other team responds to it) shapes what mixed pairing should play next.
Find a Mixed v3 Event
The Dink Minor League Pickleball mixed v3 events run as part of the wider MiLP v3 slate.
Go to dupr.com/minorleague to see the next mixed v3 event near you.