How TennisLadder Works
From setup to your first ranked match in just a few minutes
Start a ladder with your tennis friends today. Upgrade only when you need more players or features.
Start Your Own Ladder
Any player can create a ladder for their group of friends, coworkers, or local community
Create Your Ladder
Sign up for free and create your first ladder in under 2 minutes. Give it a name, set your location, and choose a ranking system. Free for up to 10 players.
- Free tier: 10 players, 1 ladder
- Leapfrog ranking included
- No credit card required
Invite Players
Share your ladder link with players or send email invitations. Players create free accounts and join with one click. No app downloads required.
Watch Rankings Update Automatically
As players report and verify matches, rankings update automatically. You can focus on playing tennis while the system handles the math.
For Players
Find & Join
Browse public ladders in your area or join via invitation link. Create a free account and you're ready to compete.
Challenge Opponents
Send challenges to other players. Propose a date, time, and court. They accept and you're all set.
Report & Climb
After playing, report the score. Your opponent verifies it, and rankings update automatically. Watch yourself climb!
Ranking Systems Explained
Choose the system that fits your group's style of play
Leapfrog (Traditional)
The classic ladder system. Beat someone ranked above you and you take their spot. They drop one position. Beat someone below you? Nothing changes.
Best for: Casual groups, office ladders
Elo Rating
A mathematical rating system that accounts for opponent strength. Beat a stronger player and gain more points. Lose to a weaker player and lose more. Fair and accurate.
Best for: Competitive leagues, skill-based matching
Points Based
Earn 3 points for a win, 1 point for a loss (participation matters!). Simple and rewards activity. Great for encouraging players to play more matches.
Best for: Encouraging participation, social ladders
Win/Loss Percentage
Pure win rate determines ranking. Minimum 3 matches to qualify. Ties broken by total matches played. Rewards consistency.
Best for: Season-based competition, clubs
Ranking Systems In Detail
Tap any system below for a deeper look at how it works, with concrete examples
Every win earns 3 points and every loss earns 1 point. You always earn points for playing, so every match counts. Players are ranked by total points, with ties broken by number of wins.
Example
Player A has 10 wins and 5 losses, giving them 35 points (30 + 5). Player B has 9 wins and 3 losses, giving them 30 points (27 + 3). Player A ranks higher despite having more losses, because they played more matches and accumulated more points.
Why it works: Every match matters regardless of who you play. Player #19 beating Player #20 still earns 3 points and climbs the rankings. The system rewards activity and participation above all else.
Best for: Clubs that want to encourage players to play as many matches as possible
Beat someone ranked above you and you take their spot. They drop one position, and everyone between you shifts down. Beat someone ranked below you? Nothing changes. The higher-ranked player was expected to win.
Example: Upset Win
#5 beats #3 → #5 becomes #3, old #3 drops to #4, old #4 drops to #5
Example: Expected Win
#3 beats #5 → no change (higher-ranked player was expected to win)
Best for: Traditional ladder feel, casual groups, office ladders
Every player starts at a rating of 1500. When you beat a higher-rated player, you gain a large number of rating points. Beat a lower-rated player and you gain only a small amount. The system uses a K-factor of 32, the same value used by FIDE chess for newer players.
Example: Upset Win
A 1500-rated player beats a 1600-rated player and gains roughly 20 points, jumping to 1520.
Example: Expected Win
A 1500-rated player beats a 1400-rated player and gains roughly 12 points, moving to 1512.
Why it works: The rating reflects true skill level over time. A string of wins against strong opponents will push your rating up quickly, while beating weaker opponents yields smaller gains. It naturally finds each player's true level.
Best for: Competitive leagues where accuracy of skill measurement matters
Rankings are determined by your win percentage: wins divided by total matches played. Players must complete at least 3 matches before they appear in the standings. Ties are broken by total number of wins.
Example
Player A wins 8 out of 10 matches (80%). Player B wins 5 out of 6 matches (83%). Player B ranks higher even with fewer matches played, because consistency is what counts.
Best for: Season-based competition where consistency matters most
Singles & Doubles Ladders
Run ladders for individual players or doubles teams, all on the same platform
Singles
One player per position. You join, you compete, and your results are yours alone. Every match you play updates your personal ranking on the ladder.
Doubles
Register with a partner as a fixed team. Your team shares one position on the ladder, and either partner can report match results. Teams are ranked just like individual players, and all four ranking systems work with doubles.
Doubles Example
The Smith/Jones team is ranked #3 on the doubles ladder. They beat the Miller/Davis team at #1. In a leapfrog system, Smith/Jones jumps to #1, while Miller/Davis drops to #2 and the former #2 team slides to #3.
For Organizers: Managing Your Ladders
Powerful tools that keep administration simple so you can focus on your players
Admin Seeding
Set your initial player order when starting a ladder. Place your top players at the top and work down. You can adjust positions at any time throughout the season to keep things fair.
Multi-Ladder Scoring
If two players share multiple ladders, a single match automatically updates rankings on all shared ladders. No need to report the same match twice. One submission, every ladder updated.
Collecting Entry Fees
Connect your Stripe account to collect entry fees directly from players. You set the fee amount, players pay when they join, and funds go straight to your account. A small 3% service fee is added to the player's total.
