Padel scoring explained — points, games, sets, tiebreaks

The big picture

A padel match is best of three sets. To win a set, you need to win six games (and be ahead by two). To win a game, you need to win four points (and be ahead by two). Most matches last 60–90 minutes for two sets, longer if a third set is played. Tiebreaks at 6-6 in a set decide who wins it — except sometimes the third set, depending on the tournament format.

Points: 15, 30, 40, game

Within a single game, points are scored as: 0 (called 'love'), 15, 30, 40, game. So if you've won three points and your opponents have won one, the score is 40-15. The strange numbers are inherited from tennis history — they don't mean anything mathematical. Just memorise the order: love, 15, 30, 40, game.

Deuce — when both teams reach 40

When both teams reach 40 (40-40), it's called 'deuce'. From deuce, you have two ways to win the game: traditional advantage scoring, or the golden point. Traditional: the next team to win a point gets 'advantage'. If they win the next point too, they win the game. If they lose it, it goes back to deuce. Repeats until one team wins two consecutive points from deuce.

Golden point and STAR POINT (2026 update)

Most amateur padel uses Classic Golden Point: at deuce, one decisive point decides the game. The receiving team chooses which side will receive the serve. This is faster than traditional advantage scoring and prevents games from dragging. In 2026, the FIP introduced the STAR POINT — a similar but slightly different deciding-point system that only kicks in after multiple deuces in the same game. Tournament organisers choose which to use; check your tournament rules.

Games and sets

Whoever wins six games first wins the set, as long as they're ahead by two. So 6-4 wins. 6-3 wins. 6-5 doesn't — you need to win one more (7-5) or lose to make it 6-6 (which goes to a tiebreak). Best of three sets means whoever wins two sets first wins the match. Winning sets 6-4, 6-3 wins in two sets. Losing the first set 6-7 in a tiebreak then winning 6-3, 6-2 wins in three sets.

Tiebreaks

When a set reaches 6-6, a tiebreak decides who wins the set. Tiebreak points use simple counting: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... First team to 7 points wins the tiebreak (and the set), as long as they're ahead by two. If it reaches 6-6 in the tiebreak, you keep playing until one team is ahead by two. Serving rotates every two points, with the team that didn't serve first in the tiebreak serving the first point.

Serving rotation

Within a single game, one player serves the entire game. Both players on that team alternate serving sides — the first point is served from the right side (deuce side), the second from the left (advantage side), and so on. After the game, the other team serves. Within a team, players alternate which one serves each game. So in a typical match: Player A serves game 1, Player C serves game 2, Player B serves game 3, Player D serves game 4, and so on.

Side switching

Teams switch ends of the court after the first game and then every two games. So you switch after game 1, game 3, game 5, etc. (odd games). At the end of a set, you switch only if the total games played in that set is odd. In a tiebreak, you switch ends every six points.

Common scoring mistakes beginners make

Forgetting who's serving and from which side: keep score out loud. Calling the score wrong (server's score first): always say your team's score first if you're the server. Confusing 'love' with zero: same thing. Not knowing whether the tournament uses Classic Golden Point or STAR POINT: ask before the first match. Forgetting to switch sides: someone always notices eventually — it's not a big deal mid-match.

Questions