How PicklePlay boards work
The organizer scores games on an iPhone. The phone sends a small update to the league’s board, and everyone with the link sees it within seconds. Here’s what that looks like from both sides of the fence.
For players
1
Find your court
When your name shows up under Up next, that’s your court for the coming round.
2
Play, and let the scorer call it
Whoever is scoring taps each rally on the phone. You’ll see your game appear under On court now once the first point is scored.
3
Check the standings
When your game ends, it moves to Just finished and the standings update with it.
For spectators
1
Open the link
Use the link or QR code from the organizer. It opens in any browser, with no app or sign-in.
2
Find your player
Each court card lists the players, the score, and who’s serving. Use your browser’s find-in-page to jump to a name.
3
Follow the bracket
At a tournament, the bracket fills in round by round as winners advance, with live matches outlined in yellow.
Reading the board
The yellow ball
Marks the side that’s serving. That side’s score is shown in yellow too.
The score call
Three numbers, like 7–4–2: serving side, receiving side, and which partner is serving. Rally scoring shows just the two scores.
Game dots
In a best-of-three match, filled dots show how many games each side has won.
Live, Final, and Disputed
A disputed score is one the scorers disagree on. It stays unofficial until the organizer settles it.
The orange banner
Appears when the board hasn’t heard from the organizer’s phone for a while, so you know the scores may be behind.
Questions
Do I need the app or an account to follow a board?
No. A board is a web page. Open the link in any browser on a phone, tablet, computer, or TV.
How often does the board update?
The page checks for new scores every 20 seconds. The organizer’s phone sends updates every few seconds while it’s online, so a point usually shows up within half a minute.
Why does the board say the scores may be behind?
The organizer’s phone may have lost signal, or play may have paused. Scoring keeps working on the phone, and the board catches up as soon as it’s back online. The banner shows the time of the last update so you know how old the scores are.
Can I find a board by searching for it?
No. Boards aren’t listed anywhere and ask search engines not to index them. The only way in is the link your organizer shares.
Can we put the board on a TV at the desk?
Yes. Open the link in the TV’s browser or on a laptop connected to it. On a large screen the scores and names get bigger so they’re readable from across the room.
Why don't I see my rating or photo?
Public boards show names and scores only. Photos, ratings, and skill levels stay on the organizer’s phone. See everything a board shows and doesn’t.
My name is wrong, or I'd rather not be on the board.
Ask your organizer. They can change how your name appears, remove you from the board, or stop publishing it entirely.
Where do I get the app?
PicklePlay for iPhone is coming to the App Store. It isn’t available to download yet. You don’t need it to follow a board.
Try reading a board
The sample board has three live courts, a filling bracket, and tonight’s standings.