Question

Math/Programming problem.. I was thinking about how to make a fair ranking system, that will quickly place the new comers in... while watching this show i came across something.. like um a tournament game/season placements...
Suppose you have a club full of tennis players.
When the club first starts with n number of players.
What is a good way to establish their rankings, and allow them to move up the ranks. How to quickly place the new comers into their present estimated ranks.

Answer 1

I was trying to come up with some simple looking algorithms..I ran into some problems, like I considered a straight up ranking system where they all start at 0, and the winners have +1 losers have -1
The -1s can only play other -1 and you end up with -2 and 0 players after their wins and losses... and similarily the +1 play each other and end up +2 and 0, then you can repeat,

Answer 2

however for new joiners who should be placed a lot higher to start with will mess up the rankings, so I was thinking o