How to Use the Simulator to Plan Your Tournament Schedule in PT
The Simulator in Pickleball Tournaments (PT) is a planning tool that lets you test different team counts and match formats to estimate how long your tournament will take and how many players your courts can hold. Once you've found a schedule that works, you can copy those settings directly into your live events.
How to access the Simulator
- After creating your events, open the 3-line menu and select Simulator.
- If prompted, enter the number of courts you'll be using. This must be set before the Simulator becomes accessible.
Part 1: Estimate your tournament capacity
Use the Simulator to find the right team count for each event before opening registration.
- Select the Event Date you want to test from the dropdown.
- For each event, configure the test settings: bracket format, estimated match time, number of teams to test, pool/playoff structure.
- If registration is already open, use the current registration data to see where you stand: Both = both partners registered; Only One = one partner registered; WL Both = both on waitlist; WL Only One = one partner on waitlist.
- Click the green Save button, then click View Schedule to see the projected run time.
- Repeat for all events and all tournament days.
- Once you've found the right capacity numbers, enter those as maximums directly in each event's settings.
Plan at least 5 extra minutes per match for 4.5+ brackets, and a bit more for 50+ and 60+ age groups — they typically run longer. Games to 11 or 15 are more time-predictable than best 2-of-3 formats. Keep notes from each tournament so you can fine-tune timing estimates for future events.
| Format | Suggested time per match |
|---|---|
| Best 2-of-3 to 11, win by 2 | ~50 minutes (add 10-20 min for 4.5+, 50+, 60+) |
| Game to 15, win by 2 | ~25 minutes |
| Game to 11, win by 2 | ~20 minutes |
Part 2: Copy your schedule to live events
Once you're satisfied with your Simulator projections, you can push those start times and settings directly to your live events:
- Make sure all events you want to include are marked Update LIVE Event in the Simulator.
- Click Save this Day to save the day's configuration.
- Click Copy Settings to Live Events to push the start times and settings to your actual events.
- Return to your Events tab to confirm the start times have been updated.
Only events marked Update LIVE Event will have their settings copied. If an event is missing its start time after copying, confirm it was marked correctly in the Simulator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the Simulator before registration opens?
You can test any number of teams in the Simulator even before registration opens. Simply enter a projected team count and run the schedule to see how it fits in your timeframe.
Do I have to manually enter start times into each event?
Use Copy Settings to Live Events after marking the events you want to update. This pushes the Simulator's start times and settings into your actual events without needing to manually update each one.
What if my team count changes after I've already used the Simulator?
Run the Simulator again with your updated team count and re-copy the settings to your live events. You can run the Simulator as many times as needed.
Related articles
- How to Set Starting Times Using Daily Planner in PT
- How to Set Up an Event in Your Tournament in PT
- How to Configure Scoring and Scheduling Settings for Your Tournament Events in PT
Questions about the Simulator? Email support@pickleball.com.