Al boost for pro pickleball line calls

Major League Pickleball (MLP) is set to introduce electronic line-calling for its matches in the 2026 season, following a deal with technology firm Owl AI, the company’s founder Jeremy Bloom said.

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Owl Al’s software-based system will be used to make real-time line calls in pickleball matches, replacing human judges and promising “pennies on the dollar” costs.

The move comes as pickleball, one of United States’ fastest-growing sports, seeks greater accuracy and fairness in officiating.

“We're excited because we think this technology will take away the subjective nature of ball in, ball out in a really cost-effective way,” Bloom said.

MLP further established itself as a force in sports in 2025, with sponsorship revenue more than doubling, ticket revenue up 94 per cent, and total attendance rising by 52 per cent.