Every pickleball event has two audiences: the players and the people who came to watch them.
Players see the event results update live in their Pickleheads app. Until now, the people on the sidelines had no way to follow along.
Meet Spectator Mode: a live, view-only window into your event. Matchups, standings and the bracket, updating as scores come in. Here's how to set it up.
How to set up spectator mode
Before game day
1. Grab your spectator link
Every round robin comes with one, right next to your player invite link.
Where to find it:
- On web: open your session. In the invite panel on the right, the Spectators link sits just below your player invite link. Click the copy icon.
- In the app: open your session, tap Invite in the top right, then choose Invite spectators.
2. Share it with your players
Drop the link in your group chat or pre-event message so players can pass it along to anyone coming to watch.
Ready-to-paste message for your group:
Have friends or family coming to watch? Send them this link and they can follow live matchups and standings on game day: [your spectator link]
3. Print the QR code for the venue
You'll post this at the check-in table so anyone at the venue can scan it and watch.
- To print (web only): open your session, click Invite in the invite panel, and under Magic Links click Print a QR code next to the Spectate link.
- Forgot to print? Use your phone or iPad: in the app, tap Invite, then tap the QR code icon next to Invite spectators, and let spectators scan right off your screen.
On event day
4. Post the QR code at the check-in table
Tape it somewhere visible and point people to it as they arrive. Anyone who scans it is watching your live matchups, standings and bracket.
💡 Good to know: Spectators don’t need a Pickleheads account or login. Scanning the QR code opens the app straight into spectator mode. If they don't have the app yet, they'll be prompted to download it, then scan again once it's installed.
5. Run your event
Nothing to manage. As scores come in, spectators see matchups, standings and the bracket update live. Spectators can't enter scores, change settings or see your player list, and they never appear on it.
If you, a player or a co-host taps the spectator link by accident, everyone just gets their normal session view.
To test your own spectator link, open it on a device where you're not logged in.
See it in action
Try spectator mode right now on a live demo round robin, no setup required.
On your phone? Tap this link to open the live spectator view →
On a computer? Scan this QR code with your phone's camera, the same thing your spectators will do at your check-in table:
No account needed. You'll land on live matchups, and you can flip to standings and the bracket from there.
When to use spectator mode
Ready for game day
That's the whole setup: grab the spectator link from any round robin, share it before game day and post the QR at check-in.
You're good to go.
FAQs
