Individual players or fixed pairs are ranked on a ladder. Each week you challenge someone within a few rungs above you. Win and you swap places; lose and stay put. Season ends on a date, and the highest rung wins.
Best for: competitive players, singles, or dedicated doubles pairs. Watch out for: the top of the ladder can go stale — cap unbeaten weeks and force challenges down.
Split the field into flights of 6–10 by skill (or rating). Each week, one flight plays a round robin of short matches. Over the season, everyone in a flight plays everyone else. Standings by points.
Best for: small-to-medium clubs, mixed doubles nights. Watch out for: flight boundaries — publish the promotion/relegation rules up front.
Players sign up individually and are drafted (or captained) into teams. Each week, two teams face off. A team match is usually 3–5 individual matches (mixed doubles + men\'s + women\'s + etc.), and the team with more individual wins takes the team win.
Best for: social clubs, corporate leagues, sponsor-friendly programs. Watch out for: captains need clear rules for lineup submission and no-shows.
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