King of the Hill (Winners Court): Padel Up and Down the Courts

How King of the Hill padel works: winners move up a court, losers move down. Step-by-step rules, scoring tips, court and player counts and fairness notes.

King of the Hill, also called Winners Court, is simple: win and you move up a court, lose and you move down. The aim is to reach court 1, the top of the hill, and stay there. Every result has an instant consequence, which gives the format a fast, high-energy feel.

What is King of the Hill?

Courts are ranked, with court 1 at the top. Each round, one match is played on every court. When it ends, the two winners move up one court and the two losers move down one. The winners on the top court stay put, and so do the losers on the bottom court.

On every court the teams are then reshuffled: the two players arriving are split up, and each partners one of the players already there. Partners change every round, so nobody rides one strong partner all the way to the top.

Rules, step by step

1. The number of players must be exactly four times the number of courts. 8 players for 2 courts, 12 for 3.
2. Draw the first round at random across courts and teams.
3. Play a match on every court, to a points total or on a timer.
4. Enter the scores.
5. Winners move up one court, losers move down one. Court 1 winners and bottom-court losers stay where they are.
6. On each court, the two new arrivals are split and partner the two players who stayed.
7. Repeat until the final round.

Scoring options

• Points per match: 16, 21, 24, 32 or a custom value. For this format we recommend an odd target such as 21: a match can't end level, so it's always clear who goes up and who goes down.
• Draws: with an even target, if a match ends level PadelDraw counts one team as the winner so the round can move on; the organizer can correct it. An odd target avoids the issue entirely.
• Win bonus (optional): makes winning count more in the standings.
• Tie-breaks: points → wins → point difference → head-to-head → drawing lots.

Players and courts

In King of the Hill everyone plays every round; nobody sits out. The table assumes about 13–16 minutes per round with 21-point matches and changeover.

On a single court the format loses its point: there's nowhere to move, only partners change. It shines with 3 or more courts. If your headcount isn't a multiple of four times your courts, Americano or Mexicano, which handle sit-outs, are better choices.

Fairness notes

• Court 1 advantage: winners at the top stay there. Strong players who climb early can play many matches on the top courts. Ranking by points gives a more balanced result than only asking "who won on court 1 in the last round".
• Opening draw: round 1 is random, so a strong player may start on a low court and need a few rounds to climb. In short events, that can affect the outcome.
• Split partners: winning pairs are broken up on the next court, so no one can stay on top by leaning on one strong partner.
• Lower courts: players further down meet opponents close to their own level, which makes matches more competitive in mixed-level groups.
• Repeats: once levels settle, the same players meet on the same courts often. That's in the nature of the format.
• Reproducible draw: the same seed and the same scores produce the same flow.

Who it suits

• Groups wanting a short, fast, competitive session
• Clubs with 3 or more courts
• Events where the headcount fits exactly four players per court

For a relaxed night where everyone plays everyone, use Americano; for standings-based pairing, use Mexicano. More tips in our King of the Hill guide.

Example schedule

A sample flow for 8 players on 2 courts (later rounds follow sample scores):

FAQ

Who wins King of the Hill?

PadelDraw ranks players by the points they collect. Some groups also crown the pair that wins on court 1 in the final round; you can use both.

What if the headcount isn't four per court?

Everyone plays every round in this format, with no sit-outs, so players must equal courts × 4. If not, pick Americano or Mexicano.

Who moves up after a draw?

With an odd target like 21, there are no draws. With an even target, the organizer can correct a drawn result.

How many courts do we need?

You can run it on one court, but then only partners change. For real King of the Hill you need at least 2, and moving up and down feels much more meaningful with 3 or more.

Start a King of the Hill tournament

Dernière mise à jour: 16 octobre 2026