Frequently Asked Questions
Getting started
Do I need a venue to use Vallio?
No. A game with no venue is a quick game — it scores and earns PaddleRank normally. Venues add the queue, voting, and a higher source multiplier.
Why didn't my game count toward my rating?
Almost certainly the registration rule: both teams need at least one registered player. A game where one side was all guests records its score but awards no PaddleRank to anyone.
Why can't I find my friend when adding them to a game?
Only mutuals appear — you have to follow each other. See Friends & Following.
What's the difference between a quick, venue, event, and league game?
How much structure it has, and it's the most important distinction in the app. See The Four Kinds of Game.
PaddleRank
Does losing lower my PaddleRank?
No. A loss is +0, not a deduction. Regular PaddleRank rewards cumulative activity — you can't go backward by playing someone better than you.
(Ranked PaddleRank, coming soon, does fluctuate both ways.)
Should I avoid playing much better players?
The opposite. Beating someone 1 or 2+ tiers above you is the largest opponent bonus available, and losing costs nothing. Play up.
Why do some games earn more than others?
Two multipliers: where you played (source) and who you beat (opponent).
What are the tiers?
Seven, from Rally Rookie to Valiant. See Skill Tiers.
What's Regular vs Ranked?
Regular is your everyday rating across all games — live now. Ranked is a fluctuating competitive rating requiring a venue — coming soon.
Is it ELO?
No. PaddleRank is its own system built on published multipliers rather than expected-outcome math. See How PaddleRank Works.
Courts and queues
How does the court queue work?
First come, first served. Tap JOIN, confirm when it's your turn, and teams form automatically. See The Court Queue.
I got skipped. Why?
You missed the confirmation deadline. You'll sit out a round and return as Warned — miss again and you're removed, though you can rejoin at the back.
Who decides singles or doubles?
The players, by vote. Three votes locks it. See Game Type Voting.
What happens after a game on a court?
Winner stays and plays again. Loser leaves the queue and can rejoin anytime.
Events and leagues
What's the difference?
An event runs and finishes; a league plays out over a season with standings that build. They work the same way otherwise. See Events & Leagues.
Why can't I see an event I was told about?
Either its privacy setting excludes you, or your PaddleRank is outside its skill range — events outside your range are hidden entirely.
Which format should I pick as an organizer?
Round robin for most games per player, pool play with bracket for a real finish, single elimination for speed. See Tournament Formats.
Can I edit an event after creating it?
Editing and managing events is a Champion feature. On Rookie, what you set at creation is what runs.
Plans
Is the free tier actually usable?
Yes. Scoring, tracking, venues, queues, challenges, milestones, badges, and joining events all work indefinitely on Rookie.
What does Champion add?
Deeper stats and history, world rankings, rivalries, and event organizing. Full list: What's Included with Champion.
Does paying improve my rating?
No. Champion changes what you can see and organize, never how PaddleRank is earned.
I paid but still see free features.
Use Restore on the subscription screen. That fixes most cases.
What happens to my data if I cancel?
Nothing is deleted. You drop to Rookie and everything keeps accruing — you just can't see the Champion-only views.
Everything else
Can I use it for sports other than pickleball?
Vallio is built for racquet sports with pickleball first. The mechanics are shared across the family.
Does it work on a watch?
Yes — Apple Watch and Wear OS both. It's the better way to score while actually playing, and it's included on the free tier.
My venue isn't listed.
Add it — a moderator reviews new venues before they go live. See Adding or Claiming a Venue.