What does “balanced” mean to your group?

A hypothetical session. These players and situations are made up to illustrate organising choices. They are not customer results or a promise of a particular schedule.

Balanced teams: share the strength

Imagine four players with local starting ratings of 6, 5, 3 and 2. Pairing 6 with 2 and 5 with 3 gives each team a total of 8. That is a useful starting point if friends want to mix across abilities.

It doesn’t guarantee an even match. One player may cover much more court, or a beginner may see very few balls. Watch the actual games and ask whether everyone is enjoying the pace. A rating is a rough organising aid, not a complete description of a player.

Similar-ability courts: share the pace

Now imagine eight players rated 5, 5, 4, 4, 2, 2, 1 and 1, with two courts. One option puts 5 + 4 against 5 + 4 on one court, and 2 + 1 against 2 + 1 on the other. Both courts have balanced team totals, and each has a narrower ability range.

Ask before choosing

Before the first draw, offer a plain choice: “Would you like to mix with everyone, or have a few rounds closer to your usual pace?” Avoid assuming that every stronger player wants competition or every new player wants coaching.

A flexible social session might begin with two mixed rounds and then offer a similar-ability block. Explain the change as a choice of game experience, not a ranking of who belongs.

Different preferences within one Group session

Split groups lets you keep two playing circles within one Mixer session. Group 1 might suit players looking for a competitive challenge, while Group 2 might suit people learning the sport or preferring a more relaxed hit. Players assigned to Both can play with either group. These are flexible playing circles, not skill rankings.

Players assigned to Group 1 and Group 2 never share a court, as partners or opponents. Both players can join either group or play together. Both groups still use the session’s selected format and scoring settings. The feature is available in Group sessions for rounds and continuous play, in singles and doubles.

For example, in a hypothetical twelve-player group, five might prefer a competitive hit, five might prefer a relaxed introduction and two might be happy with either. Assigning those two to Both gives the organiser more flexibility. Review the proposed courts and rests: availability and other preferences still affect what is possible. Ask people which experience they want rather than assigning them a label based only on ability.

Use ratings gently

PaddlePot’s local starting ratings run from 2 to 6, with 3 as the default. These are not official or universal ratings, and a 4 in one group need not mean the same thing elsewhere. Adding them is a rough planning shorthand, not a calibrated prediction of match strength. Use broad estimates, adjust when actual games suggest a mismatch and explain why the information is being used.

Avoid publishing a league table of people’s ability just to organise a friendly hit. Talk privately about an adjustment if it could embarrass someone.

Expect trade-offs when numbers are tight

If only two beginners attend, keeping every court close in ability may be impossible in doubles. If three friends insist on a particular format or two players stay partnered, your choices narrow again. Loosen a lower-priority preference, change the format with everyone’s agreement, or accept some repeat encounters.

Using the idea in PaddlePot

Use skill-balance priorities when you want closer team strengths; use similar-ability grouping when the range across a court matters. Read the play mode guide for the available options. Preview the proposed draw and ask for feedback after a couple of rounds. No algorithm can decide what “fun” means for your friends.

Next: add some friendly competition, or work out a fair rest plan.