How PickleRec Works
Find pickup pickleball games near you, track your rating, and climb the leaderboard — no league, no tournament, no hassle.
Find & Join Pickup Games
Browse open games across Chicagoland, join with one tap, and get notified when spots fill up. No group chats. No guessing. Just show up and play.
Find Games Near You
Browse open pickup games across Chicagoland. See the venue, time, skill range, and who's already joined — all at a glance.
Post or Join in Seconds
Create a game with your venue, time, cost, and skill range. Or join an open game with one tap. It's that simple.
Real-Time Notifications
Get email and text alerts when new games are posted, players join or withdraw, or your game fills up. Never miss a chance to play.
Skill-Matched Players
Every game has a skill range so you play with people at your level. No more lopsided matchups or guessing who's showing up.
Your 4th Just Drop Out?
No problem. Post your opening and fill the spot in minutes — not hours of texting around. PickleRec notifies nearby players instantly.
Build Your Community
Invite your regular crew, discover new players in your area, and grow your local pickleball network. All game history transfers when players join.
Track Your Rating
Log games in seconds, get an Elo-style rating, and see where you stack up. No opponent confirmation needed.
Log Your Game
Enter the score, pick the players, and submit. Singles or doubles — it takes about 10 seconds. No opponent confirmation needed, so you can log a game right after you play.
Watch Your Rating Move
Your Elo-style rating updates instantly after every game. Win against a higher-rated player and you'll see a bigger jump. Track your progress over time with detailed rating history charts.
Climb the Leaderboard
See how you stack up against other recreational players. Leaderboards rank by singles rating, doubles rating, most improved, most active, and longest win streak.
No Waiting on Anyone
Unlike tournament rating systems, PickleRec doesn't require opponent confirmation, league registration, or sanctioned events. Rate yourself after any recreational game — open play, drills, or friendly matches.
Ready to Play?
Join PickleRec for free — find a game or log your first match in under a minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do pickup games work?
Anyone can post a pickup game with a venue, date/time, cost, and skill range. Other players in the area can browse open games and join with one tap. You'll get notified as players join, and everyone gets a confirmation when the game is full.
Can I get notified when new games are posted?
Yes! Enable pickup game notifications in your profile settings. You can choose email, SMS text alerts, or both. You'll be notified when games matching your skill level are posted nearby, when players join or withdraw from your games, and when games fill up.
What if someone drops out of my game?
When a player withdraws, all remaining players are notified and the open spot becomes visible to other players immediately. You can also edit your game to adjust the player count or skill range to fill the spot faster.
How does the skill range work for pickup games?
When you post a game, you set a minimum and maximum skill level (e.g., 3.00–4.00). Only players whose rating falls within that range will see the game in their feed. This keeps games competitive and fun for everyone.
Is PickleRec free?
Yes. PickleRec is completely free during beta. Sign up and start finding games and tracking your rating today.
How does the rating system work?
PickleRec uses an Elo-style rating system similar to chess ratings. Your rating starts at 3.000 and adjusts after every game based on the outcome and your opponents' ratings. Beat a higher-rated player and your rating rises more; lose to a lower-rated player and it drops more.
Do my opponents need to confirm the game?
No. You can log a game immediately after playing — no waiting for your opponent to verify. If another player disagrees with a score, they can contest it, but confirmation isn't required to log.
Is this the same as a DUPR or UTPR rating?
No. PickleRec is specifically designed for recreational play. It's not affiliated with any official pickleball organization. Think of it as a fun, low-pressure way to track your improvement over time.
Can I track both singles and doubles?
Yes. PickleRec maintains separate ratings for singles and doubles, so you can see how you perform in each format independently.
What if I play with someone who isn't on PickleRec?
You can add a player to the system, assign that player an estimated rating and add that player to any game. You don't have to wait for the player to register in order to start tracking your games with them! Simply invite that player to the system at anytime and when they sign up later, their game history transfers automatically.
What if I join an open play or pickup game and I don't know the names of the opponents I played. Can I still track that game?
Yes! You can add a "Guest Player" to any game if you don't know a player's name or you don't want to add them to the system. You can assign that Guest Player a rating so that your rating moves up or down appropriately based on the outcome of the game.