If you're new to padel at Todenham Barn, you've probably seen "Americano" on the coaching schedule and wondered what it means. Don't worry, it's not a coffee reference (though you might want one afterwards!). An Americano is one of the most popular formats in padel, and it's brilliant for players at any level.
How Does an Americano Work?
An Americano is a social competition format where you rotate partners and opponents throughout the session. Instead of playing with the same partner all evening, you'll team up with different players for short games, usually playing to a set number of points (often 16, 24, or 32 depending on the session length).
Here's the key part: you accumulate points individually throughout the session. Win a game 24-16? You get 24 points. Your partner gets 24 points. Your opponents each get 16 points. By the end of the session, everyone has an individual score, and the player with the most points wins.
The rotation system means you play with everyone in your group at some point, and you also play against everyone. It keeps things interesting, social, and surprisingly competitive!
Why Are Americanos So Popular?
You Meet Players at Your Level
At Todenham Barn, we're running Americanos for different skill levels throughout the week. This means you're playing with people who are at roughly the same stage as you, whether you're just starting out or you've been playing for years. It takes the pressure off and makes the whole experience more enjoyable.
It's Social Without Being Cliquey
One of the challenges at any sports club is meeting new people. Americanos solve this beautifully. Because you rotate partners and opponents, you naturally get to know other members. You're not stuck with the same group every week, and you're not waiting awkwardly on the sidelines hoping someone needs a fourth player.
You Get Better Without Realising It
Playing with different partners throughout the session means you adapt to different playing styles. You learn to communicate quickly, adjust your positioning, and read the game from various angles. Our coaches are on court during Americanos, offering tips and guidance as you play. It's coaching without feeling like a coaching session.
The Perfect Balance of Fun and Competition
There's a scoreboard, yes. But the atmosphere is friendly and supportive. People want to win, but they also want everyone to have a good time. It's competitive enough to keep you focused but social enough to have a laugh when someone plays a ridiculous shot.
Americanos at Padel X Todenham Barn
We run Americanos throughout the week for different skill levels:
Beginner Americano: Saturdays 12pm. Perfect if you're new to padel as this is just after the Intro to Padel and Beginner Coaching sessions. Our coaches are on hand to help, and everyone in the session is at a similar level. It's the ideal next step after the morning sessions.
Intermediate Americano: Tuesdays 6pm. For players who've got the basics down and are working on consistency and tactics. Great competitive games with coaching support.
Advanced Americano: Fridays 6pm. Fast-paced, technical play for experienced players. This session has been incredibly popular, with regular players coming back week after week.
All our Americano sessions include coaching input throughout, so you're constantly learning while you play.
What to Expect in Your First Americano
Turn up about 10 minutes before the session starts. You'll meet the coach running the session, and they'll explain how the format works and introduce everyone. Don't worry if you're on your own, most people are!
Games are short (usually around 10-15 minutes), so if you're having an off game or you're paired with someone whose style doesn't quite match yours, it's not long before you rotate. The flip side? When you have a brilliant game, you want it to keep going.
The scoring keeps things interesting right to the end. Even if you're not winning every game, you're still accumulating points, and the leaderboard can change right up to the final rotation.
Ready to Try an Americano?
If you're based in the Cotswolds and you're looking for a welcoming padel club, Todenham Barn is the place to be. Our Americano sessions are open to members, and they're one of the best ways to become part of the community here.
Not a member yet? Come along to one of our free Intro to Padel sessions first (Tuesday 2pm, Thursday 6pm, Friday 4pm, or Saturday 10am). Once you've got the basics, an Americano is the perfect next step.
Book your session here or get in touch at hello@padelx.club if you've got questions.
See you on court!
