Major League Pickleball to Use Owl AI for Electronic Line-Calling Next Season

Major League Pickleball (MLP), presented by DoorDash, will implement electronic line-calling for all matches next season following a new partnership with technology company Owl AI. 

The league will use Owl AI’s software to make real-time line calls, effectively replacing human judges while offering a cost-effective alternative. “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 told Reuters. 

MLP has experienced significant growth in 2025, with sponsor revenue more than doubling, ticket revenue rising by up to 94 percent, and total attendance increasing by 52 percent. The league hopes that integrating Owl AI technology will enhance the fan and player experience by providing clear, data-driven visualizations of line calls. “Technology is essential to any sports property as they look to grow,” MLP Commissioner Samin Odhwani said. 

Unlike hardware-dependent systems such as Hawk-Eye, Owl AI relies on software, using 4K video from smartphones or broadcast feeds to make line calls. Bloom emphasized that the goal is to eliminate errors that might affect any game, inning, or play.