How it works

Every player on your ladder holds a step, their current tier. Step 1 is the top, Step 2 is one level below, and so on. This is what determines court placement each session.

First session placement. When a player's first night is done, their results determine their starting step. The top four finishers get Step 1, the next four get Step 2, the next four get Step 3, and so on down the line.
 

Ongoing step changes.

After that first night, a player's step moves based on court movement during each session. Move up a court, your step improves. Move down, it drops. The system also projects one additional move based on how the player's final round went, so if a player physically moved up one court and their last round earned another move, their step change for that session is two.
 

Step ceiling and floor.

No player can go above Step 1. You can also set a step floor, the lowest step any player can drop to. This is worth using, especially early on. It keeps one rough night from discouraging players who are still finding their level.

The bottom line: over a handful of sessions, every player settles into a step that reflects where they actually play. You don’t have to manually adjust anyone. The system self-corrects.