The GGS Blog

Topic

Tournament formats

12 posts

tournament formats

Cream of the Crop: Reshuffling Players Each Round to Find the Top

Cream of the Crop is a pickleball ladder format for 20 to 25 players. How the per-round reshuffle gets players to their level without a long climb.

5 min read
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tournament formats

What Is the Crazy 8's Format and When to Run It

Crazy 8's is a rotating-partner pickleball format for groups of eight. Here is how it works and when to run it for social nights and weekly leagues.

4 min read

tournament formats

Reign of the Court: A High-Energy Rotating Format for Social Nights

What Reign of the Court is, why it works for social pickleball nights, and how to run it so every player stays in the action.

5 min read

tournament formats

Double vs. Triple Elimination: Choosing Your Bracket Depth

Double or triple elimination for your next pickleball tournament? A director's guide to matching bracket depth to your time, courts, and player count.

4 min read

tournament formats

Ladder League vs. Up and Down the River: Which Ladder Fits Your League

A practical comparison of two pickleball ladder formats, and how to pick the one that keeps your courts competitive and your players coming back.

4 min read

tournament formats

The Compass Format: How to Guarantee Every Player Four Games

The Compass format guarantees every team four games and keeps them playing after a loss. Here is how it compares to double elimination and pool play.

4 min read

tournament formats

Pool Play Into Brackets: The Best of Both Worlds for Pickleball Tournaments

How pool play into brackets gives every player guaranteed games and still crowns a real champion, plus when to run single elim, double elim, or compass.

4 min read

tournament formats

How to Choose the Right Tournament Format Based on Player Count and Time

A practical guide for pickleball directors: pick a format that fits your player count and available court time, with example scenarios and math you can copy.

4 min read
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league operations

How to Use DUPR Ratings for Fair League Seeding

A practical guide for pickleball clubs on seeding leagues with DUPR ratings, building balanced divisions, and keeping competitive players coming back.

5 min read

club growth

5 Ways to Keep Your Pickleball Programming Fresh

Five practical ways to keep your pickleball club's leagues, ladders, and tournaments from feeling like reruns. Real formats, real scheduling moves.

4 min read

tournament formats

Round Robin vs. Double Elimination: Choosing the Right Tournament Format

A practical guide for pickleball clubs and tournament directors on when to run round robin, when to run double elimination, and how to pick between them.

5 min read

tournament formats

What Is MLP Format and Should Your Club Try It?

MLP format brings team rosters, captains, and lineup strategy to pickleball events. Here is how it works and how to know if your club is ready to run one.

4 min read