Americano
Classic Americano
Rotating partners, short matches, points for every game you win.
View gameNot every session has to be a standard doubles match. This guide shows you the most popular padel games and formats – from Americano and Mexicano to box leagues, ladders and King of the Court – and links to full guides for each format on PaddlePals.
Box leagues and ladders are perfect for keeping regulars engaged and giving structure to club play.
In a box league, teams are placed into small groups (boxes) and play everyone in their box over a set period. Promotions and relegations keep things fresh.
A box ladder combines the box concept with a ladder, allowing players to challenge up or down based on results.
In a ladder league, teams move up by beating those above them. It’s simple, self-scheduling and great for clubs with busy players.
When you’re running more competitive events, these classic structures help organise draws fairly and keep players engaged.
Round robin tournaments guarantee everyone multiple matches by having each team play every other team in their group.
A classic knockout event where losers are eliminated and winners advance, ideal for finals days and high-stakes competitions.
Single elimination means one loss and you’re out. Simple and time-efficient for tight schedules.
Double elimination gives teams a second chance via a losers’ bracket, making the event feel fairer for travelling teams.
The Swiss system pairs teams with similar records each round, without eliminating anyone until the end. Great for larger events.
Group + knockout formats use round-robin groups followed by a knockout stage, similar to World Cup-style competitions.
These scoring tweaks let you run more matches in less time – perfect for club nights and busy courts.
Fast4 compresses matches by playing sets to four games with tie-breaks, often with no-ad scoring, letting you complete events in a single evening.
Short set formats adjust the number of games or sets played, typically to fit booking windows or round-robin blocks.
Tie-break shootouts decide matches or events with a single extended tie-break, ideal for finals days or when time is short.
Golden point removes advantage after deuce: the next point wins the game. It speeds up matches and adds drama at key moments.
These formats are ideal for specific audiences: juniors, workplaces or club-wide social events.
The standard padel doubles match is still the backbone of most club play: classic scoring, best of three sets or timed formats.
A social padel tournament mixes formats like Americano, short sets and King of the Court into one relaxed event.
Team padel events pit clubs, workplaces or friend groups against each other in multi-rubber fixtures, often across several courts.
Corporate padel events combine light competition with networking and hospitality – ideal for team-building and client entertainment.
Junior padel tournaments adapt formats and scoring for younger players, focusing on short matches, fun and development.
In Beat the Box, winners move up through lanes or boxes while challengers try to knock them off. Great for busy club nights with multiple courts.
Winners’ court (or winners’ lane) keeps victorious pairs on a feature court while challengers queue to take them on.
Winners’ lane is a variation with multiple lanes or courts, where teams move up or down based on each short match result.
Use this padel games hub to pick the right format for your next club night, tournament or corporate event – then head to your favourite local courts to play.
Use Padel Courts Near Me to find indoor, outdoor and roofed venues across the UK. Many clubs list Americano nights, box leagues and tournaments directly on their timetables.
New to padel? Start with What Is Padel? and our How to Play Padel guide, then come back here to choose your first game format.
Whatever format you choose – Americano, Mexicano, box leagues or King of the Court – PaddlePals makes it easy to log results, follow friends and see your improvement over time.
Jump back to the anchor links above to explore more padel game formats or open individual pages in new tabs as you plan your next event.
Swipe or scroll sideways to discover more padel formats, scoring systems and event ideas.
Rotating partners, short matches, points for every game you win.
View gameDeep dive into rules, scoring and organiser tips for Americano events.
View gameLevel‑balanced Americano where matches get closer every round.
View gameSplit into colour teams and stack Americano scores for your side.
View gameTeam‑based Mexicano with closer matches as the session goes on.
View gameFast king‑of‑the‑court rotations with a visible “top court”.
View gameClimb towards the hill and defend your crown against challengers.
View gamePlay everyone in your box over a few weeks and earn promotion.
View gameChallenge up and down boxes with flexible, player‑led fixtures.
View gameOne long ladder where you challenge players above you.
View gameMini‑leagues where every pair plays everyone in their group.
View gameDrop‑in mix‑ins with new partners every round.
View gameStructured but relaxed club night with varied formats.
View gameChallenge your way up through boxes to reach the top court.
View gameWinners move up towards the feature court; losers move down.
View gameProgressive lane format racing towards a final winner’s lane.
View gameClassic elimination draws for club championships.
View gameLose once and you’re out – simple & time‑efficient.
View gameTwo lives per pair, ideal for bigger competitive events.
View gameSwiss‑style pairings that match winners vs winners each round.
View gameWorld‑Cup style groups leading into knockout draws.
View gameSets to 4 games, fast tie‑breaks and compressed match times.
View gameShort sets and match tie‑breaks for busy club schedules.
View gameEvenings built entirely from super tie‑breaks.
View gameNo‑advantage scoring with one deciding point at deuce.
View gameStandard 2‑v‑2 padel match format, rules and positions.
View gameRelaxed, mixed‑ability events with rotating partners.
View gameClub‑vs‑club or internal team fixtures across multiple courts.
View gameTeam‑building, client days and branded company tournaments.
View gameAge‑group formats, soft balls and safeguarding for kids.
View gameSign up to PaddlePals, pick a format from this padel games guide, and start playing Americano, Mexicano, King of the Court and more at padel courts near you.
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Social & Club Padel Game Formats
These formats are perfect for social nights and mixed-ability groups. They keep everyone playing, meeting new partners and having fun on court.
Americano Padel Tournament
In an Americano, players rotate partners and opponents frequently while keeping an individual score. It’s one of the most popular social formats in UK padel clubs.
Page: americano-padel-tournament.html
Mexicano Padel Tournament
Mexicano is a more competitive cousin of Americano. Pairings are adjusted as the event progresses so matches become closer and closer.
Page: mexicano-padel-tournament.html
Team Americano Padel
Team Americano keeps fixed pairs together instead of rotating. Ideal for friends who want to stay as a team but still enjoy the Americano scoring style.
Page: team-americano-padel.html
Team Mexicano Padel
Team Mexicano combines fixed pairs with Mexicano’s performance-based matchups, giving you closely-matched fixtures between established teams.
Page: team-mexicano-padel.html
King of the Court
In King of the Court, winners stay on the “king” side while challengers rotate through. It’s quick, competitive and perfect for busy social sessions.
Page: king-of-the-court-padel.html
King of the Hill
Similar to King of the Court, King of the Hill uses multiple courts where winning teams move up and losing teams move down, creating a fun “climbing” effect.
Page: king-of-the-hill-padel.html
Social Padel Mix-In
Social mix-ins are relaxed events where players are mixed into new pairs every few games, with or without formal scoring.
Page: social-padel-mix-in.html
Social Padel Night
Social padel nights combine friendly games, simple formats and off-court socialising – ideal for club community building.
Page: social-padel-night.html