Orchestration for Open Play
/Pik.lik/
The Smart Way to Open Play
A dedicated orchestration layer designed to bring structure, transparency, and automation to open play sessions.
Currently in development with select partners, shaping the future of structured open play.
Market Context
Open Play Is Growing
Pickleball's most accessible format is also its least structured. Open play draws millions of participants precisely because it requires nothing in advance — but that same informality means coordination has never kept pace with growth.
- Shared, drop-in format — no preplanning or pre-arranged partners required
- Easy entry for new and casual participants
- One of the most common ways the 50M+ players in the U.S. access courts
- The only major play format still coordinated entirely through manual, analog processes
50M+
Active players in the U.S.
~15K
Venues nationwide
~68K
Courts
The Problem
The Structural Gap
Manual coordination leads to ad hoc matchmaking, growing player dissatisfaction, and overall inefficiency. As participation grows, the breakdown accelerates.
Informal Methods
Open play relies on paddle racks, queues, and improvised rotation rules to determine who plays next. No structure, no logic.
Unstructured Matches
Match formation becomes increasingly chaotic as sessions grow. Players have no visibility into wait times, partners, or opponents.
Growing Frustration
Skill mismatches and uneven games become persistent. Perceived unfairness and inconsistent experiences drive player dissatisfaction.
Operational Burden
When staff are present, they are overburdened by high attendance and many moving parts — manual coordination doesn't scale.
As participation grows, unstructured matchmaking and lack of visibility become the dominant drivers of player dissatisfaction, longer wait times, and session breakdown.
The Solution
The PICKLIQ Platform
PICKLIQ is an automated orchestration layer purpose-built for live open play. It takes over once open play begins — where existing reservation and club management platforms stop. Patent Pending.
PICKLIQ functions as a digital paddle rack, enhanced with structured logic and automation that manual systems cannot provide.
Takes Over Once Play Begins
Complementary by design, operating independently of scheduling, registration, and payments.
Automates Coordination
Dynamically automates match formation, player rotation, and court flow during live sessions.
Empowers Players
Provides clear visibility into queue position, expected wait times, and upcoming matches.
Scales Operations
Reduces operational burden for venues by eliminating the need to manually coordinate open play.
PICKLIQ replaces manual coordination with automated orchestration — increasing player satisfaction while making open play easier to operate at scale.
Process
How It Works
Seamless coordination from arrival to play.
Player Check-In
Players arrive and check in via mobile app, QR code scan, or geofence, indicating presence and readiness to play.
Queue Management
System places players in an intelligent queue with real-time visibility into wait times and position.
Match Formation
Algorithm automatically forms balanced matches based on skill level, wait time, and player preferences.
Court Assignment
Players receive notifications with court assignments and partner/opponent information.
Live Rotation
After each game, the system automatically rotates players to new matches, optimizing for fairness and flow.
Continuous Optimization
Platform learns and adapts throughout the session using player feedback to continuously improve match quality.
The orchestration layer operates consistently, transparently, and without bias — removing human error and social friction from the equation.
Value Proposition
Why It Matters
For Players
- More predictable sessions
- Clear rotation structure
- Reduced friction
For Venues
- Lower staff burden
- Improved session consistency
- Better player experience
For Platforms
- A missing infrastructure layer
- Recurring operational value
- Clear integration opportunity
Because open play occurs daily at most venues, orchestration infrastructure delivers continuous, session-level value.
Positioning
Where PICKLIQ Fits
A missing orchestration layer between access and active play.
Existing Platforms
Existing platforms handle registration, reservations, scheduling, and payments. These systems manage access to open play sessions, alongside other organized formats:
- Reservations
- Lessons
- Ladders
- Round robins
- Tournaments
Once open play begins, the digital aspects of those platforms stop.
PICKLIQ's Role
This is where PICKLIQ's automated orchestration begins:
- Coordinates match formation, rotation, and court flow dynamically during live open play sessions
- Operates independently — complementing, not replacing, existing platforms
Existing platforms manage access to open play. PICKLIQ orchestrates what happens once play is underway.
Validation
Market Validation
Stakeholders recognize the gap and are prepared to engage once a working solution exists.
Club Management Platforms
Platforms acknowledge the open play coordination gap and are waiting for a working version to evaluate for integration.
Venues & Operators
Venues have confirmed open play as a recurring operational challenge and want to pilot a solution that reduces manual coordination and improves player experience.
Players
Players consistently report dissatisfaction with unmanaged matchmaking, unclear wait times, and uneven play. Strong interest in an automated solution that improves fairness, flow, and predictability.
The market is aligned: platforms are ready to evaluate, venues want to try it, and players are eager for the improvement PICKLIQ delivers.
What's Next
Current Status
PICKLIQ addresses the need for structured open play coordination, improving player experience and reducing operational burden.
We are currently engaging with select operators and platform partners to refine and pilot the orchestration framework.
If you represent a venue, club management platform, or are interested in learning more, we'd welcome the conversation.