Picklefan - Pickleball Amateurs Level Up App
Helping beginner pickleball players receive asynchronous feedback—filling a market gap identified in user research.
As we know, pickleball has rapidly grown in popularity across the United States. According to recent reports, an estimated 36.5 million people are playing pickleball nationwide. This widespread interest presents a significant opportunity to support players in improving their skills and achieving their personal goals in the game.
ROLE
UX researcher & designer
DURATION
Sep 2024 - Dec 2024
DELIVERABLE
Secondary Research, Primary Research, Competitive Analysis, Persona, User Journey Map, Card Sorting, High Fidelity UI/Prototypes, Final Specs
Beginner and intermediate players lack affordable training resources. They struggle to find tools that match their skill level and support effective improvement.
Research Methodologies
First, to understand competitors' strengths, weaknesses, and market opportunities, I analyzed 3 popular pickleball platform.
PickleUp
Pickleball FYI
PB Vision
Competitive Analysis
Based on the research, I identified 3 key findings about existing competitive apps in the market:
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FINDING
The lack of video tutorials makes learning less intuitive and engaging.
FINDING
Lack in-depth training or performance-tracking tools
FINDING
Lack of personalized feedback or advanced performance analysis
The key findings provided insights into market opportunities. To avoid bias, I recruited 12 interviewees from my local recreational center's pickleball court to explore target users' pain points and needs.
The interview script with key highlights helped me gain a deeper understanding of target users and gather valuable insights for user-centered design.
Based on the key findings from the Competitive Analysis & Interviews, I designed the survey questions to focus on the following core aspects:
Analyzed 41 survey responses to create personas and a journey map, uncovering user motivations and pain points to guide a more focused and effective platform experience.
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Persona 1
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Persona 2
Journey Map
Identified 3 key features addressing core user needs, resulting in an intuitive, user-centered design that fills a market gap.
1.
Video Tutorials Matched to Player Profile
2.
Structured Training Plan with Performance Tracking Feature
3.
Pre-Recorded Video Analysis with Coach Commentary
40 Screens
Validating ideas with wireframes
Include sketches and wireframes created during the early design process to visualize ideas and refine concepts. Sketch and test features with users to gather early feedback for improvement.
3 Participants
Most notably, conducting card sorting with 3 participants was very helpful in determining the app’s categories and information architecture.
Getting the ideation validated with low-fi prototype.
Next, I can dive into details of user interaction and interface design.
3 Iterations
Solution
3 Main Features:
Included Drill, Community, and Me.
Demonstration -1
First step, the new user could upload the video to determine the level by AI.
Demonstration -2
Level- Based Training Plan
Many players lack access to a clear, goal-oriented training structure that guides them through skill progression. This platform will address this ! Next step, the AI will generate structured training plan and recommend video tutorials matched to player profile.
This resource promotes consistent growth, ensuring that players can measure progress and build their skills with a tailored, step-by-step approach.
Demonstration -3
Provide tailored analysis and commentary from certified coaches.
Players often struggle to find time for personalized, professional feedback, relying on informal input from peers instead. This platform solves that issue by offering pre-recorded video analysis with certified coach commentary ($0-$25 per session), providing players with tailored, skill-level-appropriate training.
Demonstration -4
Interactive Community
Users can explore more Picklefans' coach-analyzed videos to gain skill inspiration. Join the fun by uploading their own videos and climbing the monthly interactive ranking list — a great way to boost engagement and connect with the community.
Demonstration -5
“Me” Section
The "Me" section is a personalized hub where users can manage their training journey. It includes:
- Level-Based Training Plan: AI-Generated from Uploaded Videos.
- Uploaded Videos with Coach Analysis: A library of the user's submitted videos.
- Progress Tracking: Visual dashboards and stats to help players monitor their improvement over time.
Effect & Impact
Refined the design through multiple iterations informed by 3 rounds of usability testing. While the project was an academic exercise, its effectiveness was validated through user metrics and qualitative feedback.
- Usability Outcomes: Achieved 95% task success rate and a 4.8/5 usability score in testing, demonstrating strong potential for real-world adoption.
- Positive Feedback: Users highlighted the coach commentary, interactive community, and progress tracking as key factors driving their continued interaction and engagement.
- Conversion Intention (Hypothetical): 98% of users stated they would use this product if launched, and also would recommend the platform to fellow players.
Key Learnings
Designing for a Predominantly Male Audience:
Designed for a 60% male audience while maintaining inclusive appeal—highlighting the importance of gender-aware, accessible design.
Iterative Improvement:
Continuous refinement based on user feedback ensured the platform evolved to meet real-world needs, reinforcing the value of iterative design in creating an intuitive product.