What Do DUPR and Tinder Have in Common? A Love Affair With Elo

Here’s the crossover episode nobody asked for: pickleball ratings and dating apps. Once upon a time, both cared a lot about Elo. Then one of them moved on, and the other… is still texting Elo at 2 a.m.

Yes, your pickleball rating and your dating desirability once shared the same Elo Algo… let’s just hope your DUPR doesn’t start swiping left on you too.

The Plot Twist

Tinder dumped Elo. They say it themselves: Elo is “old news.” These days, their matching system updates based on how people actually behave—Likes, Nopes, and what’s on profiles. (source)

“A few years ago, the idea of an ‘Elo score’ was a hot topic… Elo is old news… Today, we don’t rely on Elo — we have a dynamic system that continuously factors in how you’re engaging with others on Tinder.”

Meanwhile, on the Court…

DUPR still uses a modified Elo-style model—updated by opponent strength, score, and recency—to nudge your rating after every match. It’s not “chess Elo,” but it’s Elo’s cousin who shows up to open play with a spreadsheet. (source)

If DUPR Stole Tinder’s Playbook

• Less “one number rules all,” more context: rec play vs. tourney, partner mix, and recent form could matter even more.
• Fewer Elo flashbacks, more “who are you playing like right now?” vibes.
• Think Google core-update energy: adapt fast, punish sandbagging, reward consistency.

The Punchline

Tinder: “It’s not you, Elo—it’s… everyone’s behavior.”

DUPR: “We can still make this work.”

You: “Cool, but can my rating stop dropping when I win by two?”

Takeaway

Elo had a good run. But in 2025, the magic trick is dynamic context. Dating figured it out. Search figured it out. If ratings want to feel modern—and fair—they’ll need to swipe right on adaptability, too.

Further reading: Tinder deprecates Elo · The old desirability score era