Running open play nights with a digital paddle stack

Open play runs on the paddle rack: put your paddle down, wait for four, play, put it back at the end. It works until the rack gets crowded, someone skips, or a beginner waits an hour. A digital paddle stack keeps the same idea and makes it fair and visible.

Set up the session

1. 1Start a session: name, time, which courts, doubles or singles, and how long a game runs (to 11, or a time cap).
2. 2Pick a rotation rule (below).
3. 3Show the QR code on a tablet or print it. Players scan it, type a name, and they’re in the queue — no app, no account.

Pick a rotation rule

• Paddle stack: first in, first out. The next four play; after the game all four go to the back.
• Winners stay: the winning pair stays for up to 2 games, then goes to the back.
• Mix it up: new partners and opponents every game, so nobody plays with the same people all night.
• Level-balanced: like Mix it up, but matched by the level players pick when they join.

Whatever you pick, nobody waits much longer than everyone else, and you can see how many games each player has had.

Run it from your phone

Each court is a card with who’s on it and a game timer. Tap “Game finished” and the next group is called. You can add walk-ins by name, move players, put someone on a break, and undo a mis-tap.

Put a screen up

TV mode shows the courts and a big “Up next” list on a tablet or TV, and can call players out loud: “Called to Court 3.” Players also see their place on their phone — “You’re up in ~2 games” — and their phone buzzes when it’s their turn (keep the page open).

After the night

You get a summary: games per player, wins if you kept score, total games. Share it as an image in your group. Open play queues are free for players and organizers.