21 or 24 points: does an odd total mean one side serves more?
Yes. With 21 points in the usual blocks of four, one side serves 12 points and the other 9. Blocks of two narrow it to 11 against 10. Both sides only serve equally when the total splits into an even number of blocks: 16, 24 or 32 in fours. Most groups play 24, about 16 minutes.
Why does an odd total matter?
In an Americano the serve crosses the net after a fixed block of points, usually four. If the total doesn't split into an even number of blocks, the side that serves first also serves the last block.
Someone on r/padel asked why apps offer 16, 21, 24, 31 and 32 points. One reply said every Americano they had played used an even total, usually 24 (r/padel, April 2025).
How are the serves split?
| Points | Blocks of 4: each side | Each player | Blocks of 2: each side | Each player |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 8 each | 4 each | 8 each | 4 each |
| 20 | 12 and 8 | 8, 4, 4, 4 | 10 each | 6, 4, 6, 4 |
| 21 | 12 and 9 | 8, 4, 5, 4 | 11 and 10 | 6, 5, 6, 4 |
| 24 | 12 each | 8, 4, 8, 4 | 12 each | 6 each |
| 32 | 16 each | 8 each | 16 each | 8 each |
Blocks of three split 21 points the same way as fours, 12 against 9. An even total isn't automatically fair either: 20 points comes out uneven in fours, while blocks of five, which the club in that thread uses, give 10 each.
Which total should I pick?
| Total | Time per round | Serves even? |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | about 11 minutes | yes |
| 20 | about 14 minutes | only in blocks of five |
| 21 | about 14 minutes | no |
| 24 | about 16 minutes | yes |
| 32 | about 21 minutes | yes |
Pick 24, or 16 if time is tight. If your group loves 21, keep it and swap which side serves first each round. The serving guide shows the full rotation.
Questions people ask
Is 21 points fair in a padel Americano?
Not quite. In blocks of four one side serves 12 points and the other 9; in blocks of two it is 11 against 10. With 24 points in blocks of four, each side serves 12.
Why do most Americanos use 24 points?
It splits evenly into blocks of four, so each side serves 12, and a round takes about 16 minutes, so seven or eight rounds fit into two hours.
What total should I use for a short session?
16 points. A round takes about 11 minutes and each side serves 8 points.