A stranger showed up to a Wednesday padel meet alone. The host remembered their name from an earlier session, introduced them around, and made sure they got balanced games. Two months later that stranger was co-hosting. It's one of hundreds of stories like it in this survey, and it captures the central finding: the best hosts don't just organise games, they build communities.
This report draws on 554 survey responses from players and hosts across Southeast Asia to help hosts and their communities understand what players value most, where the gaps are, and what you can do about them. The misses are consistent: late starts, vague meet descriptions, uneven matchmaking and unclear pricing undo trust quickly. But the wins are consistent too: welcome people in, run your meet fairly, and make the details feel trustworthy.
554 responses across 17 countries in Southeast Asia, led by Malaysia (220) and Indonesia (214). Nearly half of respondents identify as hosts or player-hosts (268/554), so this isn't just players talking about hosts in the abstract. Padel, pickleball and tennis lead the sport mix.
The Community Pulse
Five threads running through the answers
Read end to end, the answers settle into five clear ideas. The positive signal is strong: your players do believe hosts add real value, and they notice the ones who make a meet feel fair, warm and easy to join. The challenge is that too much of that quality still depends on individual instinct instead of repeatable standards.
Here are the five patterns that came through most clearly — and what each one means for you as a host.
1. Hosts and players want the same thing. They disagree on the job.
Both groups rate hosts highly and both want public ratings. But the moment you ask what makes a host great, a quiet gap opens. Hosts describe the role as operational: things you can plan and control. Players describe it as relational: things they have to feel.
Players are ~5 points more likely than hosts to name “welcomes solo joiners” or “makes women, beginners and new joiners feel comfortable” as defining great-host traits. They're also more allergic to favouritism (15% of players walked away from a host over unfair matchmaking, versus 10% of hosts). Hosts, in turn, fixate on the operational sins: hidden fees, late starts and slow replies, each 7-9 points more upsetting to a host than a player.
The takeaway: the things you measure yourself on are real, but they're not what wins the meet. How a player feels in their first ten minutes is.
"A good host adds real value to my playing experience" — how strongly respondents agree
Ask a first-timer after their session: “Did you feel welcomed?” If the answer isn't an immediate yes, that's the gap. The hosts who stand out aren't the ones running the tightest brackets — they're the ones who make a newcomer feel like they belong before the first game starts.
2. Warmth wins. Skill is the warm-up.
When we asked players to name the single biggest benefit of a great host, the runaway winner across every country, every sport and both roles was the same: making everyone feel welcome, named by roughly 4 in 10of all respondents. Strong matchmaking, balanced games and good logistics all matter, but they sit a clear tier below. If you're a host reading this: your community values how you make them feel more than how you run the brackets.
“The host remembered we'd played together before. He brought me into the conversation. Two small things, enough to make this introvert happy.”Translation: skill at running a tight session is table stakes. The thing that turns a one-time joiner into a regular sits one layer up, in the social fabric of the community.
Small gestures compound. Remember a player's name from last week. Introduce solo joiners to someone at their level. Check in with the quietest person on court. These take seconds and cost nothing, but they're the single most-cited reason players come back.
3. The regional differences are real, and they matter.
This is where the full 554 responses sharpen the picture. Indonesia rewards fast, visible hosting. The Philippines is the most demanding on match quality. Malaysia reads as steadier and less spiky. Singapore is lower-pressure on chat, but less tolerant of unclear value. If you host in more than one market — or even more than one neighbourhood — these differences will shape how you communicate, price and structure your meets.
The steadiest market in the survey. Host value lands at 8.7/10, and players split almost evenly between keeping price flat and paying more (39% each). No single red flag dominates; even the top complaint, favouritism, reaches only 13%. The read here is consistency over theatrics.
The fastest and most expressive market. 65% want a reply within an hour and66% say the biggest benefit of a great host is feeling welcome. But the penalties are sharp too: 60% flag late starts, 43% want clearer skill-range info, and 38% have walked away over price.
The most performance-led market. Host value is highest here at 9.1/10,55% say strong matchmaking is the mark of a great host, and 49%want skill-range transparency up front. The tolerance for favouritism is lowest: 47%call it a red flag.
The least urgency-driven market, but one of the most clarity-sensitive. Only 23%expect a reply within an hour, and nearly half (49%) say prices should stay flat. But hidden costs are the top red flag at 29%. Lower pressure on chat, lower tolerance for unclear value.
Malaysia and Indonesia are large enough to read as markets. The Philippines and Singapore are smaller, but already distinct enough to shape how hosts communicate, price and structure games.
“If there are 20 or more players, hosts should lessen their own playing time so there's no idle courts and they can focus on the queueing list.”4. Players want host ratings. They don't want a red-card system.
The clearest pro-feature signal in the survey: 90% support public host ratings, an 8.6/10 average, and the support is uniform across hosts and players. What people want isn't a single star number; it's a composite — stars and verified badges and short written reviews and a “would-join-again” signal, each backed by similar levels of demand.
The caveats are real, but narrower than the support. 32% worry about unfair reviews from a single bad day. 22% say public negatives would feel harsh for this kind of community, and 19%worry it could scare new hosts off. If you're a newer host, this is worth watching: the community wants a system that surfaces trust, not one that punishes you for being human. The design challenge isn't whether ratings will come, it's how they're built.
Start collecting feedback now, even informally. Hosts who already ask players “how was today?” and act on it will have a head start when formal ratings arrive. A track record of responsiveness and consistency is the best shield against a single bad review.
5. The price story is “value”, not “cheap”. Sponsors are a sideshow.
The single biggest reason players have walked away from a host they used to like: “too expensive for what I got”. The frame isn't absolute price, it's value mismatch. The proof sits next to it: about 40% of all respondents say they'd pay more for a host they trust, most of them capping it at +10-25%. If you deliver consistent quality, your community will pay for it — but the moment they feel shorted, they leave.
Sponsor prizes don't move the same lever. 55% rate them at 7-10, while 28%rate them at 1-3. If you're putting effort into prize sourcing, treat it as a bonus layer, not the core of your value proposition.
Be transparent about what's included in your meet price. A clear breakdown — court cost, balls, water, host fee — removes the guesswork that leads to “too expensive for what I got.” Players who understand the value are far more willing to pay a premium for it.
Five threads from 554 responses. The breakdown below shows every question individually, filterable by country and role.
Why Players Love Their Hosts
Themes from 266 open responses on the best host they've had
When we left the question open, “tell us about a host who really got it right”, the answers cluster into five distinct flavours of greatness. None of them are about being a great player. All of them are about how the host made the community feel. If you recognise yourself in any of these, you're already doing something right.
The single most-quoted theme. Hosts who remember names, remember a player from a previous meet, remember someone's a newbie. Tiny acts of recognition that signal: you matter here.
“The host remembered we'd played together. He brought me into the conversation. Two small things, enough to make this introvert happy.”
Players talk repeatedly about hosts who explain the format, introduce them around, ease them in. Beginners, women, solo joiners and introverts all surfaced as people who felt the difference between a welcoming host and a transactional one.
“A warm welcoming, basic self-introduction, and tell us what to do, format or when to play. This basic attitude encourages the new comer.”
Equal playing time. Balanced matchups. The host playing less so others can play more. Fair scoring. Same rules and prices for everyone. When players use the word “fair,” they almost always mean “the host treated me the same as their friends.”
“Hosts should lessen their own playing time so there's no idle courts and they can focus on the queueing list.”
Free water. Fresh balls. A snack. A small prize. A voucher. None of it is required, all of it gets remembered. The phrase that came up most often: “worth it.” Hosts who gave a little extra were the ones players said they'd come back to.
“I give the players prizes, water, a cup of coffee, vouchers from my sponsor, freebies. The player felt it was worth it and wants to come back.”
The hosts the community talks about most aren't organising one-off meets, they're building a place. Mabar Sandut's balanced matchmaking. Courtribe's level-stratified groups, including a women-only sub-community with a female host. A Manila basketball pickup that ran for years before Reclub even existed. Players see these hosts as long-term institutions, and they show up loyally because of it.
“I'm building Courtribe into a bigger, structured community by level, intense play, first-timer, beginner, and a women's group with a female host so they're more comfortable communicating.”
The thread underneath: the great hosts treat their meet like a relationship, not a transaction. Your community remembers warmth, fairness, and being seen, in roughly that order. Every other compliment lives downstream of those three.
In Their Own Words
Real answers from hosts and players, sorted into the four themes that kept recurring. Lightly edited for clarity. Tap a card to read more.
Stories from the community
Why players come back. Hosts who remembered a name, welcomed a stranger, or turned a Wednesday meet into a real-life friendship.
“One of the best hosting experiences I've had was with SNF & PJ Collective Club during a pickleball session. What made it so special was the warm and welcoming atmosphere from the moment everyone arrived.”
Malaysia
“It was my first ever socials on Reclub and it took me 2 months before building the nerve to join a socials. The host was so welcoming and encouraging. We are still playing together till today.”
Singapore
“This host remembered that I was a new player, welcomed me genuinely, and even remembered me when he saw me outside the court.”
Malaysia
Read 5 moreShow fewer
“When it was my first time playing in an open play, I was matched with higher-level opponents together with the host. They taught me kindly and helped me play better.”
Philippines
“The host was punctual, the meet was held as described on Reclub, and she welcomed me as a newcomer. Small prizes were given for winners also.”
Indonesia
“The host asks whether everything's fine and fair, anything they can do to help the event go smoothly, and listens patiently when suggestions come up.”
Hong Kong
“Joined a random social for the first time and the host remembered my name, my paddle and was actively managing the court flow. He match-made players so everyone got to partner with someone new.”
Malaysia
“The host makes the player comfortable, there is small talk while players are waiting, and they create a fun and competitive vibe at the same time.”
Indonesia
The host's playbook
What great hosts actually do on the day. The operating principles your community quoted back to us, in their own voice.
“Friendly hosts take time to explain the game format and general rules. They introduce you to other players to familiarise you around.”
Singapore
“It is introvert-friendly. The club page has all the information I need, open play is well run, court-to-player ratio is good, and max wait is 10 minutes.”
Philippines
“The host didn't play, knew about half the participants, and designated a court just for beginners and veterans who didn't mind guiding beginners.”
Malaysia
Read 5 moreShow fewer
“Always on time, consistent weekly games, and structured training provided. It feels like a real club, not just a short-term money-making session.”
Malaysia
“If there are 20 or more players, hosts should lessen their own playing time so there's no idle courts and they can focus on the queueing list.”
Philippines
“There is one host who does round robin games with app-generated matchups instead of the overused paddle stacking system, which makes all the games new and unpredictable.”
Malaysia
“Hosts need to minimise human error: no double booking, no unbooked court, and no mismatch between what's described and what actually happens.”
Indonesia
“I'm building Courtribe into a bigger, structured community by level: intense play groups, first-timer and beginner groups, and a women's group with a female host so they're more comfortable communicating.”
Indonesia
Direct notes to Reclub
The specific product asks: trust signals, native payments, fairer matchmaking and better tools for the people running meets.
“Reclub can help tackle issues when players raise concerns about a club or host treating newcomers and regular players fairly, and make sure the problem is resolved before the host continues to run meets.”
Hong Kong
“A verified host badge would help, but please don't make new hosts who don't have reviews yet struggle to offer meets too.”
Indonesia
“Add payment options the moment someone chooses to join a meet. Add credit card and GCash payment instantly rather than having to send screenshots of payment.”
Philippines
Read 5 moreShow fewer
“Court designations in-app, grouping players by level or type. I know this can be done already but the UI and presentation needs rethinking.”
Malaysia
“Provide a host dashboard for attendance history, revenue, and player behavior. Allow hosts to cap last-minute joiners or require pre-payment to reduce cancellations.”
Malaysia
“Add Indonesia local payment gateways like Xendit or Midtrans. We had no-shows and lost money. Official payment so people can trust Reclub more.”
Indonesia
“Reclub really needs to filter players' skill levels better. Besides self-rating, there should be a way for others to rate players too.”
Indonesia
“Host badge, no-turn-up feedback on players so they can get banned if needed, and better reminders for people on the waitlist to confirm and pay.”
Singapore
General notes from the community
The comments that don't fit neatly into a feature request: clearer standards for hosts, stronger newcomer care, and reminders about what kind of community people want this to be.
“Transparency and full meet details are a must for hosts when organising open plays. As a joiner, it's difficult to put my trust in something vague or incorrect.”
Philippines
“Hosts should make extra effort for new joiners, beginners and newbies. It often takes extra courage for them to join social games with strangers.”
Malaysia
“Should not be a profit-making thing but to build the pickleball community. Keep levels accordingly, make matches fair, stay away from being too cliquey, provide water.”
Malaysia
Read 4 moreShow fewer
“Honestly, stop asking players to help key in scores. If the host can't keep scores then they're opening too many courts.”
Malaysia
“Greet all players in a friendly manner. We pay for an exciting meet and sports. Imagine arriving on the field and the host is cold.”
Indonesia
“Thank you so much for this app. It really does help bring everyone together. Before this, it was hard to find other people with the same hobbies and sport.”
Indonesia
“Keep building a positive and respectful community. When hosts feel supported and guests feel comfortable, everything else falls into place.”
Malaysia
What The Community Wants Reclub To Improve
Top feature requests from ~440 open-text comments
Many respondents said Reclub already helps them play more, discover more meets and find more people. The repeated asks are more specific: reduce admin, surface trust, and make good hosting easier to deliver consistently. Mention counts are rough keyword tallies across all open-text questions, so one respondent can land in more than one bucket.
This reads less like a complaint than a discovery problem. Players want a faster way to identify a trustworthy host, and good hosts want a fair way to prove they run a reliable meet. The recurring caveat: don't turn the system into a cold-start penalty for new hosts.
Show community quotesHide quotes
“Host badges and rating could be a start. Though reviews could be subjective — current system is enough I would say, no host ratings/badges needed yet.”
“I guess most people are quite hesitant about joining a new meet with a new host, maybe you can create something that shows I have hosted several meets and am trustworthy.”
“Please give a host rating or badge, because there are many new hosts but not good enough to be host.”
“Verified badge and review of host and community would be great.”
4 moreShow fewer
“Provide a badge for hosts who offer consistent, high-quality meets to boost trust and attract more players.”
“Badge host sounds good, we're looking for any collaboration with Reclub.”
“Make a system rating for hosts, so they will be appreciated if they are hosting nicely, and people can see their ratings publicly.”
“Sponsor real hosts, give achievements for real hosts — sortir hosts to avoid the scam.”
4 moreShow fewer
“Host badge. More notifications on game chat and private chat because a lot of newcomers don't read the chat.”
“Level filters, host badges and reviews.”
“Sponsor kits or premium support for those hosts that have constant good reviews and reputation in the community.”
“Host badge — no turn-up feedback on players so they get banned if no valid reason.”
This is not a payments-for-payments' sake ask. Respondents tie it directly to fraud prevention, faster confirmation, and less awkward manual chasing. In-app payment is being asked for as proof, not just convenience.
Show community quotesHide quotes
“Payment system please. So no one needs to disclose their personal bank account.”
“There should be a way to pay through Reclub itself to avoid having to use third-party apps.”
“Official payment would be great so people can trust Reclub more. BUT NO FEE.”
“Reclub processes payment and refunds, releases payment to hosts after event. Safer for users and less admin for hosts.”
4 moreShow fewer
“This is critical! Add payment the moment someone chooses to join a meet. Add credit card and GCash instantly rather than having to send screenshots.”
“Automated payment integration: integrate directly with local payment gateways to automatically mark spots 'paid' upon RSVP.”
“Better level filters matter a lot for intermediate+ players. And we had some no-shows so we lost money — please add Indonesia local payment gateway.”
“Payments could be better streamlined. Better in-app payment verification and game confirmation process.”
4 moreShow fewer
“Allow hosts to cap last-minute joiners or require pre-payment to reduce cancellations.”
“Payment can be transfer to Reclub first like other platforms. Hopefully the fake meets can decrease.”
“Probably offer free trainings for hosts, just covering the basics. If there is a way to make payments more seamless and integrated that would elevate the app.”
“Promoting meets, payment inside Reclub apps, better communication tools inside Reclub.”
Still a top-tier ask, especially in padel and in the more performance-sensitive markets. The core request is simple: make the label on the meet feel closer to the reality on court.
Show community quotesHide quotes
“Better matchmaking because Reclub matchmaking sucks (padel).”
“Reclub really needs to filter players' skill levels better. Right now, there are so many 'beginner' sessions but a lot of the players are actually lower bronze.”
“Remove self-rate!! Make it like Playtomic rating based on real win rate.”
“Level should be adjusted not by self-rated but by their win or loss in that match.”
4 moreShow fewer
“Don't let the player rate themselves — there must be a system able to rate a player's level.”
“Make a better skills level to be more precise.”
“The host can make all players play against each other with almost the same level.”
“I like hosts with the notion 'growing together'. Same number of players, same level, and we grow our skills together.”
4 moreShow fewer
“Not just aim for 'the more the merrier', but how a game can upgrade skill.”
“Filter level yang lebih baik — setiap pemain bisa main secara adil. (Better level filters — every player can play fairly.)”
“Fix the game matchmaking mechanism so it can be fairer. For example, if we play americano, some players get more turns than others.”
“I think the host should make sure about skill of the participants, make matches better.”
Tied with matchmaking and tightly linked to payments. Players want a stronger trust floor: fake-meet detection, easier reporting, and downside protection when people disappear after taking a slot.
Show community quotesHide quotes
“Safety for fake meetings — some hosts make fake meetings then go missing after.”
“Scam is still on Reclub and newbies often become the victim. Please prevent any scam by adding more rules like delete/freeze for suspected meets.”
“I strongly suggest making Reclub a safer and welcoming community especially for newbies and beginners. Some people are leaving the app because they got scammed.”
“Make the host reputation to avoid the scam.”
4 moreShow fewer
“Portal Payment, so it can be minimised the scam.”
“No-show handling.”
“Ban no-show players.”
“Membantu melakukan promosi, menghindarkan orang-orang no show. (Help with promotion, prevent no-shows.)”
4 moreShow fewer
“Sponsored a real host for prizes so everyone who joins feels safe because a lot of fake hosts scam.”
“Blacklist clubs that tend to disappear when you have already transferred.”
“Implement an automated deposit or penalty system for last-minute cancellations to protect hosts from monetary losses.”
“No turn-up feedback on players so they get banned if no valid reason.”
Players want critical updates to stay inside the platform instead of being split across chat apps, screenshots and missed notifications. The underlying ask is better coordination, not more noise.
Show community quotesHide quotes
“Chat notifications function should be improved. Sometimes the notification missed.”
“App push notification not working 90% of the time.”
“I have to mute the notification of Reclub because it has too many irrelevant notifications. However, I had missed too many important private messages.”
“I think can some host have slow response due to not turning on the Reclub notification. Probably can link to WhatsApp.”
4 moreShow fewer
“I think the chat can be improved, and less laggy please.”
“Host badge. More notifications on game chat & private chat because a lot of newcomers don't read the chat.”
“Better at notifying people with the invitation — so people can look and reply to my invitation.”
“I think Reclub could help hosts by giving better tools to manage RSVPs and communication.”
4 moreShow fewer
“Chat reliability: users report that event chats often fail to load, showing a blank screen.”
“Improved cancellation management: hosts need a more streamlined way to send bulk announcements or notifications to members.”
“Payment and chat.”
“Responsive feedback chatting.”
Leveling, Ratings & Matchmaking
The single biggest source of on-court frustration
Across every market and sport, matchmaking quality is one of the strongest signals in the data. Players don't just want to play — they want to play against people at a similar level. When the meet description says “all levels” but the reality is lopsided, trust drops fast. Here are the four key findings.
“Groups players by skill level fairly” is one of the most-selected great-host traits. In the Philippines it reaches 55%. For hosts, this is a clear signal: your community notices when you get the matchups right, and they notice even more when you don't.
Players selected “skill level range of who's signed up” as a transparency priority. They want to know beforethey sign up whether a meet is beginner-friendly, competitive, or mixed. The fix for hosts: be specific in your meet description. “All levels welcome” tells players nothing.
Unfair or inconsistent matchmaking is a real churn driver. Players who felt games were lopsided stopped coming back. For intermediates and above, this is especially sharp — they feel the gap more acutely and have more alternatives.
The strongest product ask in the matchmaking space: stop relying on self-rated levels. Players want a system that reflects real play — win rates, peer assessment, or verified ratings — not just a label the player chose themselves.
What players are saying
“Reclub really needs to filter players' skill levels better. Right now, there are so many ‘beginner’ sessions, but a lot of the players joining are actually lower bronze, and it makes the games less fun.”
“Remove self-rate!! Make it like Playtomic rating based on real win rate.”
“I like hosts with the notion ‘growing together’. Same number of players, same level, and we grow our skills together.”
“Don't let the player rate themselves — there must be a system able to rate a player's level.”
What this means for hosts
- Be specific about your meet level.Replace “all levels” with a clear range (e.g. “upper beginner to intermediate”). Players use this to self-select, and when the label is honest, they come back.
- Actively manage matchups on the day. The hosts players praise most are the ones who balance courts in real time — rotating players, adjusting pairings, and making sure no one sits out too long or gets outclassed.
- Consider level-specific meets or sub-groups.Hosts like Courtribe have built structured communities by level — intense play, first-timer, beginner, even a women's group with a female host. Players see this as a sign of a mature, committed community.
- Support better rating systems when they arrive. The community overwhelmingly wants skill levels based on real play, not self-assessment. When Reclub ships better level tools, early-adopter hosts who use them will have a trust advantage.
What Comes Next
Four priorities from Reclub to support hosts and their communities
You've told us what matters. The open-text answers mostly describe what the best hosts already do by hand — the product ask is to make those behaviours easier to trust, repeat and scale. Here's where Reclub is focusing next.
1. Make trust legible
Good hosts want proof they're trustworthy. New players want a fast way to spot them. Verified-host status, fair ratings, review recency, payment confirmation and scam reporting belong in one trust layer, not as separate fragments.
2. Automate fairness before the meet starts
A lot of player disappointment is preventable. Bad level fit, too many players per court, unclear waitlists, and vague descriptions are product and process gaps, not community mysteries. Better level bands, clearer templates, visible player-to-court ratios and smarter queue tools would remove friction before anyone arrives.
3. Give hosts better operating tools
Refunds, slot transfers, last-minute drops, notifications and repeat promotion are still too manual. You're asking for dashboards, templates, reminders and payment-linked attendance because you want to spend less time firefighting and more time running your meets.
4. Back community builders, not just bookers
The strongest positive signal in the survey is that players notice when a host creates a beginner-safe, women-friendly, long-term community. Reclub can amplify that with better discovery, host education, repeat-player tools and formats that reward consistency rather than pure volume.
Great hosting already exists across the platform. The next step is to make it easier to recognise, easier to deliver consistently, and safer for both hosts and players.
Themes drawn from 554survey responses and ~440 open-text product-feedback comments (across “is there anything Reclub could do” and “anything else”) plus a wider ~1,184 open-text answers including stories about great hosts. Coverage: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and a handful from Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei and Hong Kong.
Question By Question
Filter by country or role to see how the answers shift. Malaysia and Indonesia carry the bulk of the responses, with growing reads from the Philippines and Singapore.
Do Hosts Add Real Value
“Hosts add real value to a meet, beyond just booking the court.”
All filtered responses · 554 of 554 responses · 1 = strongly disagree, 10 = strongly agree
Where Hosts Add The Most Value
“What's the biggest benefit a good host brings to a meet?”
All filtered responses (top 3) · 554 of 554 responses
The top-cited benefit is "making everyone feel welcome" (68%). The pattern leans toward community and atmosphere over operational mechanics, hosts are valued as hosts, not just as logistics.
What Makes A Host Great
“What makes a host great in your eyes?”
All filtered responses · 554 of 554 responses
"Welcomes solo joiners as much as groups" leads at 54%. Inclusivity and warmth score higher than technical chops — hosts who make solo joiners and new players feel comfortable are punching above their weight.
Red Flags For A Host
“What's a red flag that a host won't be great?”
All filtered responses · 554 of 554 responses
The most-cited red flag is "starts late or cuts the session short" (57%). Behaviour issues cluster around basic professionalism, time, comms, and money, more than around personality or vibe.
Beyond The Host: What Else Matters
“Beyond the host themselves, what most affects whether you have a great experience?”
All filtered responses · 554 of 554 responses
Does The Meet Match What Was Advertised
“How often does a meet match what was advertised when you signed up?”
All filtered responses · 554 of 554 responses · 1 = almost never matches, 10 = always matches
Issues Players Have Actually Hit
“Have you experienced any of these before or during a meet?”
All filtered responses · 554 of 554 responses
27% of respondents say they've never run into any of these. The remainder cite a spread of issues, none dominant on this small sample, but money-related ones (scams, hidden costs) and friend-priority signups are showing up early.
Why Players Walk Away From A Host
“Have you ever stopped joining a specific host's meets? If so, why?”
All filtered responses · 554 of 554 responses
The leading reason is "too expensive for what i got" at 37%. Price-perceived-value is a stronger churn driver than matchmaking complaints — hosts who can demonstrate value keep players coming back.
What Players Most Want To Be Told Up Front
“What would you most want hosts to be transparent about before a meet?”
All filtered responses (top 3) · 554 of 554 responses
The number-one transparency ask is "skill level range of who's signed up" (44%). Players are telling hosts: clarity on what I'm paying and what I'm getting matters more than anything else.
How Fast A Host Should Reply
“If you message a host before a meet, how quickly do you expect a reply?”
All filtered responses · 554 of 554 responses
53% expect a reply within an hour. The bar is set high, players see hosts as chat-first, near-realtime, even before a meet starts.
Would You Pay More For A Great Host
“Would you pay extra for a meet run by a host you know is great?”
All filtered responses · 554 of 554 responses
Willingness-to-pay is split: about 40% open to paying more for a great host, about 37% feel the price should stay the same regardless. Premium is on the table, but it isn't a default expectation.
Should Hosts Have A Public Rating
“Players have skill ratings. Should hosts also get a public rating or score?”
All filtered responses · 554 of 554 responses · 1 = strongly disagree, 10 = strongly agree
Preferred Format For Host Ratings
“If hosts had a rating or feedback signal, what format would feel fair?”
All filtered responses · 554 of 554 responses
"A simple star rating (e.g. 1-5)" leads at 61%. Players want a multi-signal view, not a single star number — badges and "would join again" are running level with stars.
Concerns About Public Host Ratings
“What worries you about rating hosts publicly?”
All filtered responses · 554 of 554 responses
How Much Sponsor Prizes Move The Needle
“How much do sponsor prizes (vouchers, gear, freebies) affect your decision to join a meet?”
All filtered responses · 554 of 554 responses · 1 = doesn't matter at all, 10 = major factor
What Hosts Find Hardest
“What's the hardest part of hosting for you right now?”
Hosts only (top 3) · 268 of 554 responses
What Hosts Currently Use To Run Meets
“What do you currently use to run your meets?”
Hosts only · 268 of 554 responses
Methodology and Disclosure
Based on 554 anonymous survey responses collected from 3 May 2026 onward via the Reclub app. The survey uses progressive disclosure, so questions only appear when relevant to the previous answer. Multi-select answer options are randomised per response to avoid order bias. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Sample size caveat. 554 responses gives clear directional signal across the two lead markets (Malaysia and Indonesia). Country-level reads for the Philippines and Singapore are directional, while Thailand, Vietnam and other smaller markets should be treated as anecdotal.
Where responses came from. 🇲🇾 Malaysia 40% (220) · 🇮🇩 Indonesia 39% (214) · 🇵🇭 Philippines 9% (51) · 🇸🇬 Singapore 6% (35) · 🇻🇳 Vietnam 2% (11) · 🇭🇰 Hong Kong 1% (8) · 🇹🇭 Thailand 1% (4) · 🌏 Brunei 0% (2) · 🌏 United States 0% (1) · 🌏 Hk 0% (1) · 🌏 BRUNEI 0% (1) · 🌏 Hong kong 0% (1) · 🌏 hong kong 0% (1) · 🌏 HONG KONG 0% (1) · 🌏 HK 0% (1) · 🌏 Hongkong 0% (1) · 🌏 HKG 0% (1).
How respondents use Reclub. Player 51% (282) · Player and Host 47% (258) · Host 2% (10) · Spectator, I follow but rarely play on Reclub 1% (4). Note: 268 respondents identify as hosts (about half), so host-specific charts already have a real signal.
Primary sports played. Padel 183 · Pickleball 90 · Tennis 74 · Badminton 41 · Volleyball 2 · Squash 2 · Bowling 1 · Mini Soccer 1 · Tenis table 1 · Tenis meja 1 · Bike & Hike 1 · Softball 1 · Golf 1 · Table tennis 1 · Pingpong 1.
Insights on this page are written by Reclub Labs based on aggregated survey data. No individual responses or identifying details are disclosed.
Want to review the exact questionnaire shown to participants? View the original survey page.