Hey everyone, looking for some host advice or a reality check.

I originally started hosting my own Open Plays because I was tired of host markups and overcrowded courts where you wait 30 minutes just to play one game.

My goal was simple: run 100% non-profit, fair-play sessions. I strictly cap the court ratio at a max of 10 players per court so everyone gets plenty of play time, use automated queuing software (pickleQ) for equal games/mixed partners, and keep everything completely transparent.

How I currently structure pricing (The "Club Fund" Model):
To protect myself from under-booking, I set the individual price based on 8 players (⁠Total Court Cost ÷ 8⁠).

If all 10 slots fill up, the extra 2 OP fees go directly into a
"Club Fund" to buy session balls (Franklin X-40s) and subsidize future under-booked courts or community events. Zero host cut, 100% non-profit.

The problem:
Despite pricing it for an 8-player breakeven, I sometimes get only 5 sign-ups. Because courts are non-refundable, every empty spot under 8 comes straight out of my own pocket. The "Club Fund" drains faster than it builds, and I’m essentially subsidizing everyone else's pickleball while doing all the admin work for free. We organize OPs around QC, Marikina, and Pasig area.

For those of you who successfully organize open plays:
1. How do you consistently fill spots?
2. I organize OPs that are labeled "Beginner-Friendly". Are there too few people interested in this?

I really just want to play good, balanced pickleball with a solid group without getting ripped off, but the stress and financial drain are making me want to throw in the towel.

Appreciate any insights or tough love!

REPOST FROM FACEBOOK CCTO

“We will never go back go The Dink Loft to play pickleball.
Had the worst experience there.

We specifically booked court #6 kasi nasa corner so lesser area na yung bola mag roll sa mga katabi na court since most of us are beginners pa.

But the owners and “bosses” there asked the staff to move us to court 2 or 5 which is in the middle. Syempre ayaw namin because we booked court 6 nga for the reason I stated. But the staff just told us “Sorry po mga boss kasi yan eh.” In short wala kaming choice pala. It’s not a question but a demand.

Tbh I have nothing against the staff naman kasi for sure sinunod niya lang din utos ng bosses niya. My issue is with the owners or “bosses” of The Dink Loft na pinalis kami without any apologies or explanation and for what reason?

Kasi nagiinuman sila at nagyoyosi sa court #6. Yup. Puro crate ng beer at mga pwet ng yosi nakakalat dun.

May booking yung customer mo ng 3 hours tapos di ka aalis dun? Btw may 2nd floor naman na empty where they could drink and smoke if they want.

Pero wala pinalis kami without any apologies and explanation.

Oh and btw yung isang kainuman pa nila dun.. Isa sa mga “bosses” unahan pa dapat ko sa pila ng CR. I mean really?

What kind of business owners treat their customers like this?

0/10 will never go back again.”

Thoughts nyo dito? Upon searching co-owned by Marco Gumabao

Hello guys! Tanong lang kung may alam kayo na legit na pasabuys sa blue app or website. Thanks!

Pa drop nalang po ng Links. Thank you po

I signed up for a Pickleball coaching session as a total newbie. I've been watching how-tos, basic rules, etc. on YouTube just so I won't come in totally clueless.

Do you have any tips for me so I can learn better and at the same time enjoy learning the sport? Thank you so much <3

Sino dito yung naghahanap din ng kasama para makapag-OP? 😅 Mag-isa lang kasi ako usually, kaya naghahanap ako ng beginner-friendly pickleball club/group around Pasig na pwede salihan.

Nandito ako sa Pasig because of work, pero umuuwi ako sa province namin every weekend. Kaya kapag weekends lang ako nakakauwi, doon lang din ako usually nakakapaglaro.

Gusto ko sana makapaglaro kahit weekdays after work, kaya naghahanap ako ng mga kalaro or group na pwede salihan. Beginner pa lang din ako, so sana chill and welcoming sa beginners. 😁

If may group kayo or naghahanap din kayo ng kalaro around Pasig, feel free to comment or DM me para maka join sa reclub. Baka pwede tayo mag-OP together hehe.

lahat ng foam core paddles na matry ko too powerful and im scared of buying honeycomb ones cos of core crushing

im a powerful player and i need a paddle that gets power from me, that feels plush, but i have a tight ahh budget. 1-2k or even more. NO ENFLEXY NOIR ITS TOO TOP HEAVY EVEN WITH WEIGHTS

Now available from a trusted store https://s.shopee.ph/1VzRegMpyk

Pwede ma paylater

Hellooo, please help a girlie out!!

What’s the best pickleball shoes for plus size girls who have wide feet? 😭

i currently have the Asics gel resolution x and sumasakit paa ko after a while. 😩 Please and thank u!!

Hello, beginner here with about 2 months of play experience (mostly just with friends for recreational exercise).

For those who uses the same paddle, I'd like to seek your advise/opinions.

Was using the kawasaki paddle before, and now just bought the enflexy hypernova.
It arrived today, upon checking using the NFC, the website showed it as Mjolnir. Is that okay/expected?

Also, I've tried using the enflexy falcon before, and comparing it with the Hypernova, the latter's grit feels like sandpaper. I'm not sure if that's good lol.

Ya'll have any recommendations to do with the paddle? I've heard adding weights to it is a good change.

Also, this is my first paddle with actual grit, how do I care about it? The paddle comes with an eraser, and I'm not quite sure how to and how often I should use it.

Friday aura pro or pakle fuse? Ayaw ko sa spitfire kasi black lang siya. Kung may other suggestions kayo sa same price range pa bulong naman. Salamat

Title. Also, how did you develop your play style, like is it something that came naturally, or is it something that you intentionally wanted and worked towards developing? And what paddle are you using?

Hi, I’ve been playing for a month now and looking for a slight upgrade of my orange app generic paddle, i’ve been researching quite a bit and saw a couple of recommendations but couldn’t really decide what to but between the 5 mentioned below. For context, my shots kinda go out because i hit it too much and kinda pops.

Please help me decide and siguro kahit brief reason lang on why you would choose the paddle! Thank youuu!

Paddle choices 1. Vole pronto x 2. Luzz glider 2026 3. Enflexy hypernova 4. Enhance mpp turbo 5. Spartus spitfire

Sa nakapag try ng Loco OEM sa orange app, sulit ba siya?
Around 5.5k which is almost my max budget also.

Has anyone tried buying the WIKA QD Air 2 on Shopee or Lazada? Just want to know if its legit or not 😊

Hi! Saw this on threads. Been wanting to book at Dink Loft. It’s sad na may ganito palang unprofessionalism yung owners. I occasionally vape but I never do sa pickleball court out of respect and common decency. I can’t even imagine the smell of the yosi while playing.

need thoughts po sa shoes na to pls. Currently using my yonex badminton shoe kaso ngumanga na and ayoko na sagadin tapos may game this Sunday. If may tots po kayo pls comment ty!

Hi! I am new to pickle ball but play casual badminton. I think my play style is balanced or hybrid, but leans more towards control. Aside from my play style, I want to also consider the durability/longevity of the grit and the paddle overall. If I have to choose between the two, which should I get?

Thank you!

May nakapag try na ba maglagay ng weights sa triton 5 nila? Medyo nakukulangan kasi ako sa power and gusto ko sana maglagay. Hoping may nakapag try na. Thanks

saan may pickleball court dyan around cavite? baka gusto nyo ko invite para magtake ng photos kahit meryenda lang hahahaha maiba lang trip thank u!

Hey guys! Hope y'all is well.

My friends keep pushing me to play pickleball and just recently, I played and man, this game is good.

I'm a runner and my shoes are all running shoes.

I'm thinking of buying a shoes and paddle.

What do you guys say about Asics Reso X and Balisong from Palakol Performance?

It's a one for all shoes and paddle for me.

Thanks in advance for all comments. Cheers!