How to find and join pickleball open play near you
By the PaddleBag team · Updated October 6, 2026
Open play is the easiest way to get games without a fixed group: a host books the court, sets a time, and anyone at the right level can join. Here's how to find a session near you on PaddleBag — or host your own.
Find a session
- Open the Open Play page to see upcoming sessions, soonest first, with the court, time, level and open slots.
- Sessions happening right now show a Live tag, so you can see where people are playing today.
- Each court page also lists its upcoming open plays — handy if you already have a home court.
Join and pay the host
Tap Join on a session. If it's full, you go on the waitlist; some hosts approve players first. Once you're in, the session chat is where the host shares details.
If there's a court fee, you pay the host directly (usually GCash). PaddleBag doesn't take payments — the host marks you as paid in the session so everyone knows who's settled.
Host your own open play
- Pick the court and time, how many players, the level, and an optional fee.
- Set it to repeat if it's your regular weekly game.
- Invite players, add guests who aren't on PaddleBag, and confirm payments from the session page.
- When everyone's at the court, start a Smart Stack to rotate players fairly.
FAQ
Is joining open play on PaddleBag free?
Joining through PaddleBag is free. Some hosts charge a court fee, which you pay them directly; the amount is shown on the session before you join.
What if the open play is full?
You can join the waitlist. If a player drops out, the next person on the waitlist can take the spot.
Can I bring a friend who isn't on PaddleBag?
Yes. The host can add guests by name, so they're counted in the session without needing an account.