TallynightHow to keep score in padel
Padel is scored like tennis. Points make a game (15, 30, 40, game), games make a set (the first to 6, 2 clear), and the first pair to win two sets wins the match. What happens at 40 all depends on the format: advantage, golden point or star point.
- Players
- 4, in two pairs
- Who wins
- The first pair to win 2 sets
- A game
- 15, 30, 40, game. At 40 all: advantage, golden point or star point
- A set
- 6 games, 2 clear. Tie-break at 6 all
Points in a game
The serving pair's score is called first, so 30 to 15 means the servers are ahead.
| Points won | Called |
|---|---|
| 0 | Love |
| 1 | 15 |
| 2 | 30 |
| 3 | 40 |
| 4, with a lead of 2 | Game |
| 3 each | Deuce, or 40 all |
From 40 all, padel has three ways to finish the game. Agree on one before the first serve.
Deuce: advantage, golden point or star point
- Advantage: the classic way, as in tennis. Win the next point for advantage, then the one after for the game. Lose it and you're back to 40 all.
- Golden point: at 40 all, one point decides the game. The receiving pair chooses which of them receives it. Many clubs play this, because it keeps games short.
- Star point: the professional rule since 2026. At 40 all, play advantage. If it comes back to 40 all, play a second advantage. If that comes back to 40 all too, one last point, the star point, wins the game.
The International Padel Federation brought in the star point for 2026, for Premier Padel and the FIP tours. It keeps the advantage, but no game can go on for ever.
Sets and the tie-break
The first pair to win 6 games wins the set, as long as they're 2 games ahead: 6 to 4 wins it, 6 to 5 doesn't. From 5 all, the set can go to 7 to 5.
At 6 games all, play a tie-break. The first pair to 7 points, 2 clear, wins it, and the set goes down as 7 to 6. Tie-break points count 1, 2, 3, not 15, 30, 40. The first server serves one point, then the serve passes in twos.
Pairs change ends after the first game of each set, and then after every odd game: the third, the fifth, and so on. In a tie-break, change ends every 6 points.
The match
A match is best of three sets: the first pair to win two sets wins.
Many clubs and amateur events play a super tie-break instead of a third set: at one set all, the first pair to 10 points, 2 clear, wins the match.
A scoring example
A best-of-three match, Ana and Ben against Cleo and Dev, written as games in each set.
| Set | Ana and Ben | Cleo and Dev |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 3 |
| 2, tie-break 4 to 7 | 6 | 7 |
| 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Sets won | 2 | 1 |
Ana and Ben won 6 to 3, 6 to 7, 6 to 4. The second set reached 6 all, and Cleo and Dev won the tie-break 7 points to 4.
One game from the third set, playing golden point, with Ana and Ben serving: 15 to 0, 15 all, 30 to 15, 30 all, 40 to 30, 40 all. Cleo chose to receive the golden point, and Ana and Ben won it: game Ana and Ben.
Under the star point, the same game could have gone 40 all, advantage Cleo and Dev, 40 all, advantage Ana and Ben, 40 all, and then one star point for the game.
Keep score for padel in Tallynight
Pick Tennis in Tallynight: it counts games and sets the way padel does. Tallynight keeps games and sets, not 15, 30 and 40, so call the points out loud, and when a pair wins a game, tap + on their tile. Advantage, golden point or star point, you tap once the game is won.
A set goes to 6 games, 2 clear, and at 6 all the tie-break winner takes it 7 to 6: add one game for the tie-break. A new set starts by itself, and the match ends when a pair wins two sets. Add each pair as a player, rename the game Padel, and add it to your favourites.
Playing a super tie-break instead of a third set? Count its points out loud, add one game to the pair that wins it, then tap Set 3 and choose End this set.
- Add a game to whichever pair wins it, and the sets take care of themselves
- Sets won on each pair's tile
- Best of three or one set, and shorter sets if you like
- End a set yourself, for a super tie-break
Questions
Is padel scored the same as tennis?
Almost: 15, 30, 40, game, sets to 6 games with a tie-break at 6 all, and best of three sets. The difference is at 40 all, where many games play a golden point, and the pro tours have played the star point since 2026.
What is the golden point in padel?
At 40 all, one deciding point wins the game, with no advantage. The receiving pair chooses which of them receives it.
What is the star point in padel?
The International Padel Federation's rule since 2026, used in Premier Padel and the FIP tours. From 40 all you play up to two advantages. If the game comes back to 40 all a third time, a single star point decides it.
How does a tie-break work in padel?
At 6 games all, the first pair to 7 points, 2 clear, wins the tie-break and the set 7 to 6. Points count 1, 2, 3.
What is a super tie-break in padel?
A tie-break to 10 points, 2 clear, played instead of a third set when the sets are one all. Many clubs and amateur events use it to keep matches short.
How many sets are in a padel match?
Best of three: the first pair to win two sets wins. Some social games play one set, or a super tie-break instead of the third.