The paddle stack — sometimes called the paddle queue — is how open play pickleball courts decide who plays next. Players line their paddles up in the order they arrived. When a court becomes available, the next four paddles in the stack take the court. First paddle in, first to play.
The basics
When you arrive at open play, find the stack. It's usually at the net post, on a nearby bench, or propped against a fence near the courts. Place your paddle at the back of the line.
When a game ends, the four players who just finished return to the sideline. The next four paddles in the stack come onto the court. If the court uses a "winners stay" format, the winning team stays and only the losing team returns their paddles to the stack.
Stack variations
Not every court runs the stack the same way. Common formats:
- Standard rotation*: All four players leave after each game. The next four paddles take the court. Most equitable for courts where wait times are long.
- Winners stay*: The winning team keeps one spot on the court. The losing team goes to the back of the stack. This rewards good play and can create long waits if one pair is dominant.
- Paddle-up*: Courts with multiple courts may run a "paddle-up" system where the stack is sorted by wait time, and players are assigned to whichever court opens next regardless of which game just finished.
Stack etiquette
Put your paddle in the stack yourself — don't have someone else hold your spot. Keep your paddle visible and distinctive enough to identify (a piece of tape works). If you need to leave, pull your paddle and let the organizer know.
Don't stand at the baseline waiting to get on — wait at the side. Keep the transition between games quick. The stack only works when everyone respects it.
When there's no stack
Some sessions don't use a physical stack — organizers keep a mental list, or use an app. The principle is the same: first in, first to play. If there's no obvious system when you arrive, ask the person who seems to be running things.
PickleFolk's queue tools let organizers run a digital paddle stack — players join from their phone and Dill pings them when their court is up. Same fairness, less hunting for your paddle.