Building a Unified Digital Platform for Pickleball
A look at how Picklebay is opening up Pickleball in India through community, technology, and simple access to courts, partners, and tournaments.
Year
[2025]
Client
Picklebay
© Picklebay
From community and technology to bold innovation, this case study charts how Picklebay is redefining Pickleball in India by making the sport accessible through easy court bookings, partner matches, and tournaments.
Platform
Web | Android | iOS
Collaborators
Arshdeep Singh
Vani Pawar
Swayam Dhupkar
My Role
Design Lead
Skills Used
Design SystemsCreative DirectionIllustrationIcon DesignUser ExperienceInteraction DesignBrand Identity
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Introduction
We partnered with Picklebay to design India’s first all-in-one digital platform dedicated to Pickleball, bringing together court bookings, player discovery, tournaments, and community engagement into a single, seamless experience.
The task at hand was to make this fast-growing sport feel accessible, exciting, and unified under one digital roof. The Pickleball experience in India is fragmented, event planning lacks structure, and essential information is scattered across multiple platforms. This not only frustrates existing players but also discourages newcomers. A dedicated, well-designed platform can bridge these gaps, creating a richer, more seamless experience for anyone looking to engage with the sport.
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The Process
Discovery
2 Weeks
Understanding product objectives, user goals through primary and secondary research and defining Success Metrics.
Define
2 Weeks
Gathering insights and mapping mental models to understand user behaviour and gaps in the current landscape of Pickleball in India.
Ideate
2 Weeks
Using our understanding of the user and the business to flesh out modules and features that would build up a robust product experience.
Design
6 Weeks
Weeks of sketching on whiteboards and paper, multiple iterations of wireframes, paved the way for the final product spanning over 12 modules and more than 100 screens.
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The Solution
A product as unique as Pickleball with a unique blend of discoverability, social engagement & excitement.
Insights & Interventions
Primary research and landscape analysis to define product objectives and validate our hypothesis
Ideating Modules & Features
Taking our insights forward to define key functionalities while ensuring alignment between user needs and business goals.
Product UX & Interface Design
Robust and engaging user flows translated into clean interface design for player facing front-end and back-end dashboards
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Modules & Features
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PickleBay was built as a two-sided ecosystem, balancing what players need to play more and what venue owners need to grow their business. Each module was designed to reduce friction, increase discovery, and create a seamless loop of
Play Discovery & Booking
Players needed a simple, intuitive way to find and book courts without juggling WhatsApp groups, calls, or scattered information. This module brings clarity, transparency, and speed to the center of the experience.
Key Features
Location-based venue discovery & smart filters.
Venue cards with trust cues (PickleBay Promise, Featured, Trending).
Court-level details, slot selection & guided booking.
User Goals Enabled
Find the right court instantly.
Compare venues based on price, amenities, timing & availability.
Book with confidence and minimal friction
Business Enablement
Increased visibility for new or lesser-known venues.
Higher conversion through richer venue profiles.
Reduction in WhatsApp/call-based manual bookings.
Competitive & Social Play
A dual engine that powers both competition and community-driven casual play.
Key Features
Tournament discovery (level, location, timing).
Multi-category registration + automated brackets.
Live fixtures, score updates & standings
Create A Game” for casual matches (with in-app & WhatsApp invites)
User Goals Enabled
Discover events effortlessly.
Join tournaments or casual games with minimal coordination.
Track progress, build credibility & enjoy consistent play.
Business Enablement
Increased footfall through tournaments & social games.
Standardised event hosting tools for organisers.
More bookings driven by continuous community activity.
Community, Identity & Engagement
A layer that extends beyond gameplay—building belonging, trust, and long-term retention.
Key Features
SSO-powered community spaces.
Level-based & region-based groups.
Discussions, polls, announcements.
User profile, skill level, activity logs, saved venues/tournaments.
Badges, milestones & personal progress feeds.
User Goals Enabled
Connect with players of similar skill or locality.
Stay informed about sessions, events & community happenings.
Build a recognizable playing identity and track growth.
Business Enablement
Stronger retention from engaged communities.
Organic venue discovery via group posts & game sharing
Better matchmaking → better experiences → more repeat bookings.
Owner & Admin Infrastructure
The backbone that makes PickleBay scalable, reliable, and operationally efficient for every stakeholder.
Key Features
Venue Owner Dashboard (venue creation, court setup, manual bookings).
Tournament management tools.
Admin onboarding for venues & organisers.
Approval workflows & content CMS.
Coupons, notifications & data-driven oversight.
User Goals (Venue Owners / Admin)
List venues accurately & professionally.
Manage bookings without WhatsApp dependency.
Run tournaments smoothly with standardized tools.
Business Enablement
Digitises offline venues into structured, discoverable listings.
Reduces operational load through automation.
Enables promotions, seasonal campaigns & scalable growth.
Builds trust through quality control and consistent experience.
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Conclusion
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Picklebay is more than just an app, it's a comprehensive ecosystem tailored for India's growing Pickleball community. Designed with a vibrant, high-energy personality, it's as welcoming to beginners as it is empowering for seasoned players. The platform blends sporty minimalism with gamified engagement, using intuitive UI, lively visuals, and inclusive design to ensure a seamless experience across age groups. With built-in support for court bookings, tournaments, coaching, and community features, Picklebay uniquely caters to the Indian context, including integrations with WhatsApp and flexible session planning. Its success is measured through growing user registrations, tournament activity, engagement metrics, and retention. Whether it's discovering a new court, joining a local league, or building a playing streak, Picklebay transforms the everyday act of playing into a connected, rewarding experience, one that helps users play, connect, grow, and truly belong.
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