What is a Padel Tournament Bracket?
A padel tournament bracket is a structured elimination chart where teams compete in knockout rounds until a champion is determined. Unlike the americano format (where everyone plays everyone), brackets are used when you have larger groups and need to crown a winner efficiently.
Brackets are the standard format for competitive padel at all levels — from FIP (International Padel Federation) sanctioned events to local club championships. Padel is always played in doubles, so brackets are organized by team (pair) rather than individual player.
The most common format in competitive padel is group stage + knockout: teams play round robin in small groups, then the top teams advance to an elimination bracket. This combines the fairness of round robin with the excitement of knockout competition.
Our free padel bracket generator creates professional brackets for any number of teams, with proper seeding, bye placement, and support for group + knockout hybrid formats.
Padel Tournament Bracket Formats
Group Stage + Knockout (Most Popular)
The gold standard for padel tournaments. Teams are divided into groups of 3-4. Each group plays a mini round robin. The top 1-2 teams from each group advance to a single elimination bracket. This is the format used by the World Padel Tour (WPT), FIP events, and most serious padel tournaments worldwide. It guarantees every team at least 2-3 matches while building to an exciting knockout climax.
Pros: Guarantees multiple matches. Fair seeding for knockouts.
Cons: Requires more time and courts.
Single Elimination (Cuadro Eliminatorio)
Straightforward knockout. Lose and you're out. Fast and dramatic. Best for time-limited events or very large draws.
Pros: Fast and simple to run.
Cons: One loss and you're done. Players may travel far for just one match.
Double Elimination
Lose twice and you're out. After your first loss, you drop to a losers bracket. Less common in padel than group + knockout, but used at some recreational events.
Pros: More forgiving than single elimination.
Cons: Takes longer. Less common in padel culture.
Consolation Draw
First-round losers play in a separate bracket. Ensures everyone plays at least 2 matches.
Well Format (Pozo)
A unique padel format popular in Spain and Latin America. All courts are used simultaneously. Matches are short (one set or timed). Winners move up a court number, losers move down. The goal is to reach court #1 (the "well"). Very social, very fast-paced.
Pros: Extremely social. Fast-paced. Everyone plays many short matches.
Cons: No traditional bracket structure. Better for social events.
Monrad Format
A padel-specific elimination variant popular in Scandinavia. No teams are truly eliminated. After each round, teams are re-matched based on results — winners face winners, losers face losers. In relatively few rounds, it produces a full ranking of all teams.
Pros: No one is eliminated. Produces full ranking.
Cons: Less dramatic than knockout formats.
Padel Tournament Scoring for Brackets
Standard Padel Match Scoring
Best of 3 sets, each set to 6 games. Tiebreak at 6-6 in each set. Match tiebreak (first to 10 points, win by 2) can replace the 3rd set.
Modified Formats for Tournaments
To keep brackets moving, tournaments often use: best of 3 short sets (first to 4 games, tiebreak at 4-4), one pro set (first to 9 games, tiebreak at 8-8), timed matches (45-60 minutes, highest score wins), or match tiebreak (first to 10 points) for pool play games.
For Group Stage
Most tournaments use shortened formats in groups (one set or timed matches) and full best-of-3 for knockout rounds. This keeps the overall tournament timeline manageable.
Tips for Running a Padel Tournament
- Use group stage + knockout for 12+ teams. Pure elimination is too abrupt for padel — players travel to play, and losing your first match in 30 minutes is a bad experience. Groups guarantee everyone plays multiple matches.
- Balance groups by seeding. Distribute the top seeds evenly across groups. Seed #1 in Group A, #2 in Group B, #3 in Group C, etc. Avoid "groups of death" where multiple strong teams are placed together.
- Use shortened formats in groups, full formats in knockouts. One set or 45-minute timed matches for pool play. Best of 3 for quarterfinals onward. This balances time with competitive integrity.
- Account for padel's physical demands. Padel is intense — don't schedule back-to-back matches without at least 30-minute rest. In a group + knockout format, build in a longer break between the end of group play and the start of knockouts.
- Have backup balls. Padel balls lose pressure faster than tennis balls. Provide new balls for every knockout round match at minimum.
- Post brackets digitally. Display on a screen courtside with live updates. Padel clubs often have TVs near the courts — use them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best format for a padel tournament?
Group stage + knockout is the gold standard for padel. Teams play round robin in groups of 3-4, then the top teams advance to an elimination bracket. This is the format used by the World Padel Tour and FIP events.
What is the Well (Pozo) format in padel?
The Well format (Pozo) is a social padel format popular in Spain. All courts run simultaneously with short matches. Winners move up to a higher court number, losers move down. The goal is to reach the top court. It's fast, social, and keeps everyone playing.
How does the Monrad format work?
The Monrad format is popular in Scandinavian padel. No teams are eliminated — after each round, teams are re-matched based on results. Winners play winners, losers play losers. After several rounds, you get a complete ranking of all teams.
How many courts do I need for a padel tournament?
For 8 teams with group stage + knockout: 2 courts minimum. For 16 teams: 3-4 courts. For 32 teams: 6-8 courts. More courts means faster completion but requires more coordination.
Should I use full sets or shortened formats?
Use shortened formats (one set, short sets to 4, or timed matches) for group play, and full best-of-3 for knockout rounds from quarterfinals onward. This balances time with competitive quality.
Do I need to create an account to use this?
No. Completely free, no signup. Generate, print, and share instantly.
Padel Brackets by Size
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