Paddle stacking vs a queue app
Updated October 2026
The paddle rack is the classic way to run open play, and for a lot of groups it’s all they need. Here’s where it shines, where a queue app does better, and how to tell which one your night needs.
How paddle stacking works
Players drop their paddles in a rack or along the fence. When a court frees up, the next four paddles go on, and those players come back to the end of the line after their game. Some clubs use separate racks for levels, or for winners and losers.
Side by side
| Paddle stacking | Queue app (Dinkmix) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost and setup | Free, nothing to set up | Free; a 2-minute event setup and a QR code |
| Who’s next | Whoever is at the front of the rack | The longest-waiting player, always; shown on phones and a TV |
| Partners | Whoever stacked together, often the same four | Picked for new partners and opponents |
| Levels | Separate racks, or nothing | Games by level, mixing when a level is short |
| Breaks and late arrivals | Paddles left behind, or moved by hand | Check out and back in; late arrivals join the back fairly |
| Results and standings | Not recorded | Leaderboard, podium and shareable cards |
| Needs a phone | No | The organizer’s; players can scan or be added by name |
When the paddle rack is enough
- One or two courts and a group that knows each other.
- Similar levels, so any four make a good game.
- Nobody minds the occasional same four.
When a queue app helps
- Three or more courts, or 20+ players: nobody can see the whole rack.
- Mixed levels, and you want beginners to play as much as everyone else.
- New faces every week who should meet different partners.
- You want results: a leaderboard, the night’s winners, something to share.
You don’t have to choose forever. Many organizers keep the rack for small nights and use Dinkmix when the courts fill up. It runs in any browser, players don’t install anything, and you can still drag players into any game by hand.
Create an open play (free, no sign-up) or try a demo with dummy players first.