How scoring works

In one minute

Padel uses tennis scoring: 15, 30, 40, game; six games to win a set (by two); best of three sets to win the match. At 40–40 (deuce), the FIP rulebook offers three official formats — classic advantage, Golden Point, or Star Point. Which one applies must be agreed before play (tournament organiser, or you and your opponents). At Irish club level, ask: "Advantage or golden point?"

Points and games

Each point adds to the game score:

Points won by a pair	Called
0	Love
1	15
2	30
3	40
4	Game (if that pair is ahead)

When both pairs have won three points, the score is 40–40 — deuce. What happens next depends on the deuce format (below).

Winning a set: first pair to six games, with a two-game lead (e.g. 6–2, 6–4, or 7–5 after 5–5). At 6–6, play a tie-break unless you have agreed a different format in advance.

Winning a match: best of three sets — first pair to win two sets. If each pair wins one set, a third set is normally played (some events use a match tie-break instead — see below).

At deuce — three official options (FIP Rule 1)

The International Padel Federation lists three scoring options. An organiser picks one for a competition; in a friendly, agree before the first serve.

Option 1 — Classic advantage

Same as traditional tennis. At deuce, the next point gives advantage to the winner. Win the following point too → game. Lose after advantage → back to deuce. Repeat until one pair wins two consecutive points.

Option 2 — Star Point (from 2026)

Used on Premier Padel, the CUPRA FIP Tour, and other FIP circuits from 2026. After both pairs reach 40–40:

1. Deuce 1 → point won → Advantage 1 → win next point → game; lose → Deuce 2
2. Deuce 2 → point won → Advantage 2 → win next point → game; lose → Deuce 3
3. Deuce 3 → Star Point (single deciding point) → winner takes game

Option 3 — Golden Point

At 40–40, play one deciding point immediately. The winner of that point wins the game. (The FIP PDF wording says "match" here — that is a known wording error; the point decides the game, not the whole match.)

Deciding points (Golden Point & Star Point)

When a single deciding point is played:

• The receiving pair chooses whether to receive on the left or right side.
• Receivers cannot swap positions for that point.
• In mixed doubles, the receiver must be the same sex as the server (FIP Rule 1).

Quick comparison

	Classic advantage	Golden Point	Star Point
At 40–40	Need two consecutive points	One sudden-death point	Up to two advantages each, then one deciding point
Receiver picks side?	—	Yes	Yes (deciding point only)
Typical use	Traditional / some competitions	Club social, faster games	Pro FIP circuits from 2026

Tie-break at 6–6

When a set reaches 6–6, a tie-break decides the set:

• Points are counted 0, 1, 2, 3… — not 15/30/40.
• First pair to 7 points, win by 2.
• The set is recorded 7–6 to the tie-break winner.

Serve order in the tie-break (FIP Rule 1): the player due to serve starts with one point from the right. The next two points are served by the opposing pair (following their service order, first from the left). After that, each pair serves two consecutive points in rotation until the tie-break ends.

Change ends: every six points during the tie-break (FIP Rule 5).

Who serves when (basics)

• Between pairs: teams alternate service each game (Pair A game 1, Pair B game 2, and so on).
• Within a pair: partners take turns serving on their team's service games — decide who serves first before the set.
• Receiving: at the start of a set, the receiving pair chooses who receives first. That player receives the first serve of every game in that set; partners alternate receiving within each game as serves switch sides (FIP Rules 8.2–8.3).

Full serve rules — faults, let, 2026 line clarification — are in the next guide.

Other formats you might see

Some events or social sessions use alternative FIP formats agreed in advance:

• Mini set: first to four games, win by two; tie-break at 4–4.
• Match tie-break: at one set all, a tie-break to 7 (win by 2) replaces the third set.
• Super tie-break: at one set all, first to 10 (win by 2) replaces the third set.

Common at Americano rotations and time-limited club sessions — not the default for a standard friendly match unless you agree it.

At Irish clubs

There is no separate Irish scoring system — clubs follow FIP. What varies is which deuce option people use in social play. Some Irish club rule pages (e.g. Active Tribe) list advantage or golden point at 40–40 and leave the choice to the players.

Before a friendly: "Advantage, golden point, or star point?" — five seconds, fewer arguments.

In Northern Ireland, the LTA uses the same FIP framework; the same three deuce options apply.

Common mix-ups

• "Padel has different scoring from tennis." The structure is the same — walls change the rally, not the scoreboard.
• "Star Point replaced Golden Point everywhere." Star Point is new on pro FIP tours; Golden Point remains official and common at club level.
• "Tie-break uses 15/30/40." Tie-break points are numbered 0, 1, 2, 3…
• "We change ends every game." Change ends after games 1, 3, 5, 7… (odd games in the set).

Try this next time

1. Scoreboard drill — Call the score out loud after every point for one full game.
2. Deuce handshake — Before your next match, agree the deuce format explicitly.
3. Tie-break walkthrough — If you hit 6–6 in practice, play the tie-break slowly and track the serve rotation: 1, then 2, then 2+2…

What's next

You know how points add up. Next: serve and return — how to start the point legally and stay in the rally.

For a short 2026 rule-change summary, see What's new in the rules (2026). For honest gear budgets, see Gear refresh (2026).

If you have not read it yet, start with the court & what's in play.