Guides › Scoring
How to score padel
Updated 30 October 2026
Padel uses tennis scoring with one big twist: what happens at 40-40. Here is everything you need to keep score on court, from the first point to the last tie-break.
Points within a game
Each game starts at 0-0, called “love”. The serving team’s score is always said first.
| Points won | Called |
|---|---|
| 0 | Love |
| 1 | 15 |
| 2 | 30 |
| 3 | 40 |
| 4 | Game (unless it is 40-40) |
So if the serving team has won two points and the receivers one, the score is “30-15”.
What happens at 40-40
When both teams reach 40, the score is “deuce”. This is the one place padel groups differ, so settle it before the first serve.
| Rule | What happens at 40-40 | Where you’ll see it |
|---|---|---|
| Classic advantage | Win two points in a row to take the game. Win one and you have “advantage”; lose the next and it is back to deuce, as many times as it takes. | Traditional club and social play |
| Golden point | The next point wins the game. The receiving team chooses which player receives it. | Very common in social play and leagues; long used on the pro tour |
| Silver point | One advantage is played. If it comes back to deuce, the next point decides the game. | A middle ground some clubs use |
| Star point | Two advantages are played. If it comes back to deuce a third time, one deciding point wins the game. | Adopted by FIP for professional padel in 2026 |
Sets
- The first team to six games wins the set, but they must lead by two: 6-4 wins, 6-5 does not.
- At 5-5, play continues to 7-5.
- At 6-6, a tie-break decides the set, which then ends 7-6.
- Most matches are best of three sets: the first team to win two sets wins the match.
Tie-breaks
A tie-break is scored with plain numbers: 1, 2, 3 and so on. The first team to seven points, with a lead of two, wins the tie-break and the set. If it reaches 6-6, play continues until one team is two points clear.
- The player whose turn it is to serve serves the first point, from the right-hand side.
- After that, each player serves two points in turn, in the same rotation as normal games, starting from the left-hand side.
- Teams change ends every six points.
Super tie-break
Many leagues and social matches replace the third set with a super tie-break: the same as a tie-break, but played to ten points, still with a lead of two. It keeps matches to a predictable length when court time is booked by the hour.
Serving order
- Each game is served by one player. The serve rotates through all four players: a player from team A, then team B, then A’s partner, then B’s partner.
- Each team decides who serves first for them at the start of every set.
- Within a game, the server starts from the right-hand side and alternates sides after every point, serving diagonally into the opposite box.
Changing ends
Teams change ends after every odd-numbered game of a set: after the 1st, 3rd, 5th and so on. In a tie-break, they change every six points.
Common scoring arguments, settled
“Whose score do we say first?”
The serving team’s, always. “15-30” means the server’s team has 15.
“We forgot who served last game.”
Follow the rotation from the start of the set. If nobody remembers, the usual fix is that the player who should have served serves now and the score stands.
“Is it golden point or advantage?”
Whatever you agreed before the match. If you didn’t agree, decide at the first deuce and stick to it for the rest of the match.
Frequently asked questions
Is padel scored the same as tennis?
Yes: 15, 30, 40 and game, six games to a set, best of three sets, and a tie-break at 6-6. The main difference is at 40-40, where many padel matches use golden point or star point instead of playing advantage forever.
What is golden point in padel?
At 40-40 the next point wins the game, with no advantage. The receiving team chooses which player receives that point.
What is star point in padel?
Star point allows two advantages at deuce. If the game comes back to 40-40 a third time, one deciding point wins it. FIP adopted it for professional padel in 2026.
What is a super tie-break?
A first-to-ten tie-break, with a lead of two, played instead of a third set.
Stop arguing about the score
PointCall keeps score from your Apple Watch, Android watch or a Bluetooth remote, and calls every point out loud so all four players hear it. Classic, Golden, Silver and Star are all free, along with tie-breaks, super tie-breaks and your own custom rules.
More: How to run a padel americano · Best padel scoring apps