HUDLE, India’s sports community platform, has announced the launch of GRIP (Game Rating Index for Players), the country’s first player rating and scoring system for racket sports, per the release.
GRIP is a skill-based rating framework designed on a 1–7 scale, derived from actual match results. It enables players to track their progress, compete at the right skill level, and eliminate ambiguities often associated with broad classifications such as beginner or intermediate. Powered by a proprietary algorithm, GRIP allows players of pickleball, padel and badminton to find suitable matches, log scores seamlessly, and showcase their skills with credibility.
Hudle is backed by investors including Sky Impact Capital, Physis Capital, IPV and sports icons Ajinkya Rahane, Mahesh Bhupathi and Gaurav Kapur. Guided by its mission to make sport accessible across Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities, Hudle’s ethos is rooted in ensuring that no player is left behind.
The launch of GRIP is being supported with a nationwide campaign and brand film, highlighting how the system elevates the playing experience for recreational athletes. Hudle will also roll out a GRIP Ambassador Programme, enabling frequent players of pickleball, padel and badminton to represent the platform, educate fellow players and earn exclusive rewards.
On 21 July, Hudle raised $2.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Sky Impact Capital, with participation from Physis Capital, Atrium Venture, Mahesh Bhupathi, Gaurav Kapur and the founders of Blue Tokai (Shivam Shahi) and Nitro Commerce (Umair Mohammed). The funding aimed at accelerating product innovation like GRIP.
Hudle founder and CEO Suhail Narain, “At Hudle, our vision has always been to make sport a way of life for every Indian. Today, over 1.5 million players across 80 cities use Hudle to book and play regularly. With GRIP, we are solving a very real gap in racket sports by giving players a measurable and trusted system to track their skills and progress. This is the first step in building a full-stack sporting ecosystem that covers everything from finding nearby venues, playing in professional leagues and tracking your progress seamlessly through GRIP.”
Rahane added, “Sports have always been an integral part of who I am. My journey in professional cricket has given me the privilege to make an impact beyond the field, and supporting Hudle is an extension of that endeavour. As a country, we must find ways to weave sports into our everyday lives, because it plays a vital role in our overall well-being. Today, with the right formats and infrastructure in place, we have the opportunity to step out, play together, and foster vibrant, healthy communities. Hudle’s latest innovation, GRIP, is a testament to their relentless efforts in shaping this category, and I’m excited to see Hudle become synonymous with building active sporting communities across India.”
