Padel formats compared
Americano, Mexicano, Team Americano, Mixicano, knockout cups — the same group of players can have five completely different nights out. Here is what separates them and which one suits your group.
At a glance
| Format | Partners | Scoring | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Americano | Everyone partners everyone once | Fixed pot per game, individual totals | Mixed-ability social groups |
| Mexicano | Drawn each round from the standings | Fixed pot per game, individual totals | Competitive nights |
| Team Americano | Fixed pairs all session | Fixed pot per game, team totals | Partners who want to play together |
| Mixicano | Rotating, always one man and one woman | Fixed pot per game, individual totals | Mixed sessions |
| Knockout cup | Fixed pairs, single elimination | Best of three sets | One-off tournaments |
| Standard padel | Fixed pair for the match | Games, sets, best of three | League and club matches |
Americano
The default social format. The schedule is built up front so every player partners every other player exactly once, and points follow the individual. With eight players that is seven rounds on two courts.
Choose it when you want everyone included, everyone mixed, and a clean individual table at the end.
Mexicano
Same scoring as Americano, but the draw follows the table: after each round players are re-ranked and paired 1+4 against 2+3. Games tighten as the session goes on and the leaders end up facing each other.
Choose it when the group is competitive, or when you want a session that can run for any number of rounds.
Team Americano
Pairs stay together all session and play every other pair. Points are banked by the team, not the individual, so the table ranks partnerships.
Choose it when people have come with a partner, or for a club night where pairs enter together.
Mixicano and other variants
Mixicano runs an Americano or Mexicano draw with the constraint that every pair is one man and one woman — popular for mixed club sessions.
Knockout cups suit one-off tournaments with 16, 32 or 64 players: fixed pairs, single elimination, best of three sets.
Which should you play?
- Wide range of abilities and a social feel: Americano.
- Everyone roughly matched and hungry for a contest: Mexicano.
- People arriving in pairs: Team Americano.
- A one-night event with a winner and a trophy: knockout cup.
- An ongoing league table: any of the above — record every session and let the rolling averages do the work.