The rules in a minute, then names in and rounds out
Padel Americano: the rules, and a maker for tonight
The social padel format: partners change every round and every point you win is yours to keep. How it runs, then the maker, already set to Americano. Straight to it.
How it works
Four players to a court. Every round brings a new partner and new opponents: after the first, a random draw, the maker pairs you with the player you have partnered least, against the two you have faced least. A bad draw in round two is forgotten by round three.
Scoring
Matches are played to a fixed number of points, not games: 16, 21, 24 or 32, and 32 is the club standard. Every point is played out, so a 32 point match ends 17 to 15 or 20 to 12. Each player keeps the points their pair won, and the table adds them up: most points first, then the point difference, then matches won. Short on time? Play a set number of minutes a round; the clock rings and you type both scores.
Players and courts
Eight players on two courts is the classic evening; twelve fill three courts, sixteen fill four. Any number from four works: when it is not a multiple of four, some players sit out each round and the round says who. Twenty-four points on one court takes about fifteen minutes.
Format
Courts
Scoring32 is the club standard; 16 or 24 for big groups or short evenings
Mixed group? Choose Mixicano and mark the women with a star, like Ana*: every pair is a woman and a man. Fixed pairs? Team Americano keeps the pairs together and rotates the opponents.
Questions organisers ask
How many points is a padel Americano match?
Usually 32 at a club, 24 or 16 when the group is big or the evening is short. Every point is played, and each player keeps the points their pair won.
How many players do you need for an Americano?
Four at the least, one court. Eight on two courts is the usual evening. Numbers that are not a multiple of four work too; some players sit out each round.
What is the difference between an Americano and a Mexicano?
In an Americano partners rotate so you play with everyone. In a Mexicano the table decides the courts after round one, so players meet others on the same score.