How to balance skill levels in open play
A simple level scale, the rule for who can share a court, and how to split four players into two even teams.
By Albert Antioquia · Updated
The hardest part of running a mixed open play isn’t the queue. It’s the moment four players walk onto court and one of them is far stronger than the other three. Nobody enjoys that game: the strong player is bored, the newer players are out of their depth, and the rally lasts two shots. This guide covers a simple way to rate players, the rule for who can share a court, how to split the four into fair teams, and what to do when a group is too spread out for one queue.
Use a short, plain scale
You don’t need a formal rating. A five-step scale that players can place themselves on is enough, as long as the host can adjust it after watching a game. Badminton has no recreational rating system that most groups share, and plenty of pickleball players have never been rated, so describe each level by what a player can do:
| Level | Badminton | Pickleball |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Beginner | Learning grip and serve; short rallies | Learning the serve, the kitchen rule and scoring |
| 2 · Novice | Clears and lifts reach the back; rallies of a few shots | Can dink and return serve deep; few faults |
| 3 · Intermediate | Smashes, drops and net play; knows doubles positions | Drives, resets and moves up as a pair |
| 4 · Advanced | Consistent under pressure; controls pace | Third-shot drop on purpose; patient at the kitchen |
| 5 · Expert | Tournament standard; deception and speed | Tournament standard; few unforced errors |
Keep a separate level for each sport. A strong badminton player is not automatically a strong pickleball player, and the reverse is just as true.
The court rule: no more than two steps apart
Put only compatible levels on one court. A simple rule that works: the weakest and strongest player on a court are no more than two levels apart, and beginners never share a court with advanced or expert players. The middle level plays with everyone, which is what keeps a mixed queue moving.
Splitting four players into two fair teams
Once you have four compatible players, pair the strongest with the weakest. If the levels are 4, 3, 3 and 2, the teams are 4+2 against 3+3: both sides add up to 6. When the sums can’t match, get them within one. Balancing the teams matters more than balancing the four: a court of four 3s split 3+3 vs 3+3 is a better game than 5+1 vs 3+3.
Over a night, levels are only half the story. Track who has partnered whom, and avoid the same pair twice in a row. A player who always partners the strongest player in the room will look better than they are.
When the spread is too wide for one queue
If your group runs from first-timers to tournament players, one queue will either frustrate the strong players or bury the new ones. Three options, from lightest to heaviest:
- One queue, level rules. Keep a single line but skip a player whose level doesn’t fit the next court. It works for a moderate spread.
- Labelled courts. One court for levels 1–2, one for 4–5, the rest open. Common at pickleball venues with separate racks for each.
- Separate sessions. A beginner hour before the main session. The kindest option for new players, and often the best recruiting tool a club has.
Helping new players without slowing the night
- Put a first-timer’s first game with three patient players, not three beginners.
- Rate cautiously at first and move people up after a game or two; moving someone down is awkward.
- Don’t use a winners-stay court for beginners. They lose once and sit for a long time.
How PaQueueKa balances levels
PaQueueKa uses the same five levels (Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert), kept separately for badminton and pickleball. Players set their own and the host can change them. The free PaQueueKa Rotation picks the next four by games played first, then compatible levels (levels 1–2 are kept apart from 4–5; level 3 plays with anyone), then rest and recent partners. It then splits the four into balanced teams. See rotation modes for how it compares with first in, first out.
Questions people ask
How do you make fair doubles teams from four players?
Pair the strongest player with the weakest. With levels 4, 3, 3 and 2, the teams are 4+2 against 3+3, so both sides add up to the same total.
Should beginners play with advanced players at open play?
Occasionally, with patient players, it helps a beginner learn. As a rule, keep the strongest and weakest players on a court no more than two levels apart, and never put beginners on a winners-stay court.
Try it at your next session
PaQueueKa runs the queue, the rotation and the fee split for badminton and pickleball. Hosting and joining are free on iPhone and Android.