TYPTI: A new racket-based sport that promises to replace the pickleball thanks to its silent operation.
TYPTI is a combination of tennis and pickleball, using a specialized foam ball that eliminates noise and provides a technically rich playing experience for players of all levels.
In early 2026, the world sports map welcomed a new member: TYPTI. Developed by Steve Bellamy, the founder of Tennis Channel, this sport aims to blend the best elements of tennis and pickleball. TYPTI not only offers a fast-paced, technically demanding style of play but also effectively addresses the noise issue – the biggest obstacle often cited as a complaint in residential areas for pickleball.
The perfect combination of engineering and equipment technology.
TYPTI is considered a clever "hybrid" variant, inheriting the accessibility of pickleball while retaining the spin and tactical depth of tennis. This sport is played on standard pickleball courts, allowing clubs to implement it immediately without additional infrastructure investment.
The core difference lies in the equipment. Instead of solid rackets and hard plastic balls, TYPTI uses 22-inch long-stringed rackets. This design allows players to execute full-force shots with significantly greater ball control than a pickleball. Specifically, the TYPTI ball is a specialized grooved foam ball with a diameter of 3.5 inches. This type of ball flies slower than a tennis ball but bounces higher than a pickleball, creating conditions for prolonged and dramatic rallies. Notably, the foam material helps to dampen the sound upon impact, making it an ideal sport for urban environments.
Unique rules and scoring system.
TYPTI eliminates the restricted attack zone (often called the "kitchen") of the pickleball, allowing players more freedom of movement and flexibility in serving. An interesting aspect of the rules is that players can use body parts to save the ball in certain situations, creating improvisational and entertaining plays.
TYPTI's scoring system is completely different from the terms "up" or "down." Specifically:
- The player who serves and wins the point gets a 1-Up, while a loss counts as a 1-Down.
- A game ends when someone scores 3 points in a row.
- A set ends when one side reaches 5 games won first.
- Professional matches are usually played in a best-of-two-set or best-of-five-set format.
Ambition to professionalize with a million-dollar tournament.
Despite its recent launch, TYPTI has already received strong support from stars such as football legend Drew Brees and actor Chris Pine. This financial backing has quickly materialized with the inaugural US Open TYPTI Championships, scheduled to take place from May 20-24, 2026 in Calabasas, with a total prize pool of $100,000.
The organizers even set ambitious goals to raise the prize money to $1 million in its second season. With a well-structured development plan and solutions to the noise pollution issues of its predecessors, TYPTI has a great opportunity to become the next wave of racket sports globally.