The Best Paddle Queuing and Rotation Methods for Open Play Pickleball

One of the unique parts of pickleball is the amount of participation that happens at open play (some call it paddle stack).

In case you're unfamiliar, open play is typically the same across the country – a group of people put their paddles in some order that dictates who is up next when a court opens up.

However, while the basis of open play is the same, we are finding that how the paddles and players are lined up – or queued – can vary greatly depending on your area and the competition around you.

We've compiled a list of the different paddle queuing (stacking) methods we've discovered and the pros and cons of each.

If any of these sound interesting to you, consider trying them out on your local courts.

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Option 1 - Four on, four off

The most popular and common method is simply a first-come, first-serve queue. Typically, there is a paddle rack – usually a long piece of wood or PVC pipe with slits to put paddles in – outside a fence, which dictates when four players come off, the next four on the rack go on.

DinkShot Pickleball, Paddle racks — Dinkshot paddle racks come in different sizes

The players coming off put their paddles at the end of the queue.

Pros

Simple and easy to follow
Requires little explanation
If you want to sit out a round or work into a different group, you can place your paddle farther back
It's obvious to everyone who is up next

Cons

Doesn't take skill level into account
Can get stuck with the same opponents through multiple matches (this can be good, bad, or very bad)
Someone can move your paddle without you knowing (to another foursome or even steal it)
Allows players to develop cliques

Option 2 - Challenge courts

Another increasingly common way of dictating open play is to offer up challenge courts (or a challenge rack).

In this iteration, the two winners on a court (usually designated by the players) get to stay on, while the losers return to the end of the queue. However, the two winners must split up – meaning they can't be on the same team for the next game.

The next two players up in the queue become their teammates.

This allows a reward for winning and, in theory, allows the better players to continue playing beyond one game.

Pros

If you're one of the better players, this provides you with more court time
Assuming you have a decent number of courts (compared to the number of players), this can be a great way to have more competitive matches
This encourages higher-skilled players to come to open play more regularly

Cons

If your courts are limited, assigning one as a challenger court may not make sense
It can take longer to play a match on these courts, since only two come off and go on at a time
It prioritizes winning – which we don't always have control over since our partners are typically random
You have to explain this system fairly often for those who are new or come from other systems – not everyone reads the signs

Option 3 - Beginner, intermediate, and advanced

One reason many players dread open play is getting "stuck" with beginners. While most are willing to play a game or two, no one wants to spend their entire time at the courts showing someone how to play correctly or playing far "below" their skill level to make the games more competitive.

A potential solution is to have a method separating beginner, intermediate, and advanced players.

This could be a rack with clearly defined skill levels written somewhere, or some type of marked basket or box for players to stack their paddles in.

Pros

This allows like-skilled players to play against each other more often
Simple to follow
Can designate specific courts for each skill level

Cons

Since these rely on self-assessment and self-regulation, players can place their paddle in the section above their actual skill level, causing an imbalance in games
If courts aren't designated for beginner, intermediate, or advanced, it can be confusing who is actually up next
If someone refuses to admit they belong in a lower skill level, it can create an awkward situation where people hold on to their paddles or refuse to play with certain people

Option 4 - Waterfall or ladder

The final system worth mentioning is a waterfall or ladder method (it's called different things in different areas).

Essentially, if you have the perfect number of courts for the number of players you have (meaning no one really has to wait), then you can have the winners of a court move "up" to the next court and the losers move "down" a court.

You would determine ahead of time which way the winners and losers go after each game. Both winning and losing teams should split (meaning they have a different partner for the next game).

Pros

This ensures that the same foursome is not always stuck playing together and instead helps you mix in with other players
It keeps the games flowing – usually, there are only a few minutes between games
Winning with someone means you play against them the next game, which in theory, makes the game more competitive