How padel scoring works - star point, golden point and tiebreaks explained

Updated 6 August 2026. Revised for the FIP rulebook that took effect on 1 January 2026. The 40–40 section now covers three formats rather than two, following the introduction of the Star Point, and the serving rules have been corrected to match the current wording.

Whether you're new to padel or just watching your first match, the scoring system might seem confusing at first—but it's actually quite simple once you get the hang of it.

Padel scoring is almost identical to tennis, with a few padel-specific twists—like the deciding point at 40–40, the super tiebreak, and the let serve. Let's break it all down so you can keep score like a pro.

Basic scoring structure

Padel uses the traditional tennis point system within each game:

0 points = Love
1 point = 15
2 points = 30
3 points = 40
4 points = Game (if you lead by 2 points)

What happens at 40–40?

This is where padel forks. Since January 2026 the FIP rulebook recognises three formats, and the competition organiser chooses one before the event. In a social match, agree which you're playing before the first serve.

1. Advantage (traditional)

At 40–40, the score is called deuce
One team must win two consecutive points:
- First point = advantage
- Second point = game
- If the team with advantage loses the next point, it returns to deuce

There is no limit, so a single game can run very long

2. Star Point (new for 2026)

The FIP introduced the Star Point in the 2026 rulebook as a middle ground, and it is now the default on Premier Padel and the CUPRA FIP Tour.

At 40–40 you play advantage as normal. Lose it and you return to deuce
Play a second advantage. Lose that too, and the next point is the Star Point
That single point decides the game
The receiving team chooses which side receives, and may not switch positions to do it
In mixed doubles, the receiver must be the same sex as the server

3. Golden point

At 40–40, one deciding point is played immediately, with no advantage
The receiving team chooses which side will receive, again without switching positions
The winner of that point wins the game

Golden point was the standard on the World Padel Tour and early Premier Padel events. It remains an official FIP option and is still widespread in club, league and amateur play — but it no longer describes the top professional circuits.

Games, sets, and matches

Padel matches are typically played as best of 3 sets.

A set is won by the first team to win 6 games, with at least a 2-game lead
At 5–5, play continues to 7–5
If the score reaches 6–6, a tiebreak is played

Tiebreak rules

First to 7 points, win by 2
Scoring is numeric: 1, 2, 3, and so on
One serve from the right to start, then two serves each
Teams switch sides every 6 points

What is a super tiebreak?

In casual matches or tournaments with time limits, the third set is often replaced by a super tiebreak.

First to 10 points, win by 2
Scoring is numeric
Teams switch sides every 6 points

It's fast, exciting, and keeps matches within a set timeframe.

Who serves and when?

Padel follows a fixed serving rotation:

Teams alternate serving every game
Within each team, the two players alternate, so each player serves every fourth game

So: Player A serves Game 1, Player C serves Game 2, Player B serves Game 3, Player D serves Game 4, then back to Player A.

Serving rules

Serve is underhand after one bounce
At least one foot must be in contact with or behind the service line at impact. Before 2026 this required both feet
The ball may not cross the service line, or its imaginary extension, before you strike it
The ball must be struck at or below waist height
The ball must land in the opposite diagonal service box
You get two chances per point
You have 20 seconds between points, actively enforced in sanctioned play from 2026
If the ball hits the net but still lands in the correct service box, it's called a let serve and is replayed

More detail in our guide to serving in padel.

Match example

Here's how a typical match might look:

Set	Score
1	6–4 (Team A)
2	5–7 (Team B)
3	10–7 (Team A wins super tiebreak)

In this example, Team A wins the match 2–1, with a super tiebreak as the decider.

Where to play and watch padel

Now that you know how padel scoring works, why not hit the court or catch a match?

Check out some great padel cities in the US:

Or explore all padel courts near you.

Padel scoring might sound fancy with its love, deuce and tiebreaks—but once you're on the court, it all makes sense. The one thing worth settling before you start is which 40–40 format you're using, because that's the only part that genuinely varies from match to match.

New to the sport entirely? Start with what is padel, or read what changed in the 2026 rules.