What is Open Play in padel? Everything you need to know

If you play padel, you already know about Americano, Mexicano and other social formats designed to bring players together for a few hours of mixed-up doubles. Open Play is a new layer on top of that idea, and the key thing that sets it apart from anything you've played before is one simple principle: no score, no winner, no prize.

Open Play is a casual, drop-in padel session where you can enjoy the sport without committing to a tournament or a formal competition. No partner needed, no fixed bracket, no big commitment. You bring your racket, show up at the time the session starts, and play with whoever's there.

The format was born and popularized in pickleball, where it has powered the sport's social culture for years. In padel, it's emerging fast, and the dynamic on court is shaped specifically for the way padel is played.

How Open Play works in padel

Open Play sessions are organized by clubs at set times and on set courts. They typically last one, two, three hours or even more, depending on what the club decides.

The dynamic on court is what makes padel Open Play distinctive: everyone is always playing. There's no waiting bench, no paddle stack, no queue. All booked courts are active at the same time, and the format works by rotating partners or switching courts at fixed intervals, every few games, every set, or every X minutes, so by the end of the session you'll have played with and against most of the people there.

The single biggest thing to know going in: no result is recorded. Unlike an Americano or a Mexicano, Open Play is not a competition disguised as a social event. There's no points table, no winner at the end, no prize. That framing is the whole point: it removes the competitive pressure and turns the session into pure social padel.

It's perfect for when you want to play on short notice and meet new people on the court, without the score-keeping that usually comes with it.

Open Play, Open Match, Americano: what's the difference?

Padel has several overlapping social formats, and Open Play sits next to (not on top of) them. Here's the quick map:

• Open Match. You join a single match with three other players, and you play that whole match with the same four people. One match, one group, then you go home. Great for a one-off game.
• Tournament. A competitive event with a score, a leaderboard and a winner. This includes formats like Americano or Mexicano, which use rotations but still keep a score and crown a winner. Higher stakes, structured, ranked play.
• Open Play. Rotations like an Americano, but without the competitive layer. No points table, no winner, no prize. Designed for play and socializing, not ranking.

If you're new to padel, or just want to play without the usual competitive edge, Open Play is the easiest way in.

Why padel players love it

Open Play is taking off in padel for a few very good reasons:

• You don't need to know anyone. Show up alone and you'll leave knowing five new people. It's the most social padel format you can play.
• You play the entire session. No bench, no waiting. You're always on a court.
• No competitive pressure. Without a score on the line, you can try shots you wouldn't risk in a match, lose a point without consequence, and just enjoy the game.
• You improve faster. Rotating partners means you adapt your game to different styles and levels constantly.
• It's flexible. No long-term commitment, no team obligations. Drop in when your week allows it.

Tips for your first Open Play

1. Don't worry about your level. Mixing levels is part of the format. Be honest about where you are and enjoy the games.
2. Embrace the rotation. You'll switch partners or courts often: that's the magic of the format, not an interruption.
3. Forget the score. Try the shot you've been wanting to try in a match. There's no scoreboard waiting to punish you.
4. Smile at strangers. Half of the fun is meeting new people. The other half is the padel.

How to find and join Open Play in the Playtomic app

Finding a session near you takes about thirty seconds:

1. Open the Playtomic app and tap on "Join an event" on your home screen.
2. Browse Events: you'll see all available activities, including Open Plays, Tournaments and Leagues.
3. Filter for Open Play and padel. Use the Event type filter and select "Open Plays", and make sure your sport filter is set to padel so you only see relevant sessions.
4. Pick your session. Check the time, location and skill level, and tap to join.
5. You're in! Show up, play, and have fun.

You can also find Open Plays by visiting a club's profile and going to the "Events" tab.

💡Note: Open Play is currently available at clubs in the United States and Canada. We’re rolling it out to more countries, so if you don’t see it in the app yet, it should arrive soon.

Ready to find your next game? Download the Playtomic app and join your first Open Play session today.

Curious how Open Play works in pickleball, the sport where the format was born? Read the pickleball version here.