Michigan Pickleball Tournaments

A round-robin bracket format is used for this tournament and includes both women’s doubles and singles, men’s doubles and singles, and mixed doubles. Matches are played according to skill levels, including 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0. 

There are also five age divisions. These include a division for all players age 19 and over, plus divisions for players aged 50, 60, 65, and 70+ years. 

Depending on the number and age of attendants, age groups may be combined to form a division. However, skill levels are never combined to form a division. A minimum of four players are required to form a division. 

The Pickleball Tournament is typically held in June of each year at Belknap Park Grand Rapids. Pre-registration is required, and this event fills up quickly, so early registration is recommended. 

The BEER City Open has grown in popularity since the tournament was founded in 2018. This year’s tournament features new courts, more stadium seating, and a prize pool that is the largest ever in the tournament’s history. 

The BEER City Open takes place annually at Belknap Park Grand Rapids and is a National Qualifier-sanctioned tournament. There are both amateur and pro events, with limits on how many events amateurs can register for. 

This outdoor tournament is open to players aged 11 years and up, with a current prize money pool of $100,000.  The 2024 tournament is scheduled for July 9th to the 14th.

Lake Odessa is a smaller town in Michigan, but even with a population of about 2k residents, they’re still huge into pickleball! The Pickleball Open and Lake Odessa Picklebowl are sporting highlights attracting pickleball lovers from around. 

The Pickleball Open is a non-sanctioned tournament and is open to all players who are ten years of age or older. The Picklebowl is located at the Lake Odessa Fairgrounds and has been operating since 2017. This tournament is primarily structured as a round-robin event and is open to all skill levels. The Lake Odessa Picklebowl/Pickleball Open is a great introductory tournament experience for amateur players. 

The 2024 tournament will be held from June 21st – 23rd.

Are you an avid pickleball player that’s at least fifty years old and looking to crush the competition at a Michigan pickleball tournament? The Michigan Senior Olympics Summer Games in Rochester Hills has a spot on their Pickleball tournament roster for you. 

This tournament is MMP sanctioned, with medals awarded in the 3.0/3.5 skill level division and the 4.0/4.5/5.0 skill level division. Tournament play is set up in five-year age bands, starting at age 50. A combination of women’s singles & doubles, men’s singles & doubles, and mixed doubles matches are offered. 

The Michigan Senior Olympic Summer Pickleball Tournament takes place annually in August every year, with the current location being Lifetime Fitness on W Avon Rd in Rochester Hills.  The 2024 tournament will be held from August 9th- 12th.

Grand Valley State University is hosting a casual Pickleball Outing and Happy Hour event on July 20, 2024. The event is a fun way to socialize, connect with other players, and support a good cause! All proceeds will go directly to the GVSU Men’s and Women’s Tennis Programs. Registration will begin in-person at 5 PM, with play beginning at 5:30 PM. The Pickleball Outing will include free drinks, fun people, and a low-pressure competition. Men’s and Women’s Mini Pickleball Tournament at Western Michigan University.

The 12-court pickleball complex at Ramona Park in Portage, Michigan, will host the Latitude 42 Pickleball Fever in the Zoo Tournament from July 21-23, 2024. Players 13 and up of various skill levels are encouraged to register! There is a $65 registration fee to compete on the outdoor courts.

This is a doubles-only event, which means there will be no singles events. There will be mixed, men’s, and women’s doubles. If you want to compete and don’t have a partner, the tournament can help pair you with a partner when you register.

The Paddle Battle is a great opportunity for men and women of various skill levels to compete in a Round Robin Format. The tournament will take place from July 7th to 9th at Livonia Athletic District in Livonia, Michigan. It costs $50 to register, and the tournament is exclusively for skill levels 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0. If you’re confident in your abilities on the court but not quite ready to play with pros, this is the ideal tournament.

All games will be played on an indoor, hard court surface. If you aren’t used to playing on an indoor court, practicing before the tournament is highly encouraged! It’s noticeably different than playing on an outdoor court.

The yearly schedule is below:

• Winter Paddle Battle: February
• Spring Paddle Battle: April
• Summer Paddle Battle: July
• Fall Paddle Battle: October
• Holiday Paddle Battle: December

If you’re new to the pickleball tournament scene in Michigan, there are a few things you need to know before joining. 

First, it’s important to know your skill level, even for amateur tournaments. Pickleball skill ratings range from 1.0 to 5.5 and higher. The very first time you step on the pickleball court, your skill level is 1.0. This indicates that you’re a new player with no other background in racquet sports. 5.5 or higher is a pickleball master. This is the level that major pickleball pros play at. For most tournaments, 3.0 is the minimum skill level, although you might find 2.5 categories in some amateur round-robin events. 

Next, make sure you’re aware of not only the tournament dates but also the cutoff dates for registration. All tournaments require advanced registration, which usually takes place about two to three months before the event. You’ll also want to note the registration fees involved.

Some tournaments are forthcoming about any prize money awarded, while others you’ll need to contact directly for more information. Remember that the prize pool is typically the entire amount of prize money that will be divided up and awarded to tournament winners in each series. 

Finally, if this is your first time playing in a pickleball tournament, make sure that your equipment is up to USAPA standards. This applies mostly to pickleball paddles that can be made of a variety of materials but must not measure more than 24 inches when you combine width plus height. No homemade paddles are allowed, and all paddlers must have a smooth surface. 

Pickleball tournament season runs late spring and throughout the summer in Michigan, with a few tournament outliers on each end. Even if you can’t make it to a tournament this year, now is the perfect time to perfect your game and gear up to crush the pickleball tournament circuit next year.