How padel scoring works: golden point, tie-breaks and more

From 15-30-40 to golden point, tie-breaks and super tie-breaks, learn padel scoring step by step, plus the points-total system used in social tournaments.

In your first padel match, the confusing part often isn't the ball coming back off the glass. It's the score. "Was that 30–15 or 15–30?" "What happens at 40–40?" "It's 6–6, now what?" These questions get asked on every court.

The good news: padel uses almost exactly the same scoring as tennis. Once it clicks, you can follow official matches and social tournaments alike. This guide goes from points to sets, golden point to tie-breaks, and finishes with the points-total system most social tournaments use.

Points within a game

A game is won with four points:

The serving team's score is called first. So "30–15" means the serving team is ahead.

40–40: advantage or golden point?

When both teams reach three points, the score is 40–40 (deuce). There are two common ways to play it.

Advantage (traditional)

After deuce, a team needs two points in a row to win the game. Win the first and you have "advantage". Win the next and the game is yours; lose it and you're back to deuce. In theory this can go on indefinitely.

Golden point

With golden point, deuce is settled by one deciding point. Whoever wins it takes the game. Under official rules, the receiving team chooses which player receives that point.

Golden point shortens matches and makes timing predictable, which is why plenty of club matches and amateur events use it. Which system applies is entirely up to the event, so settle it before you start.

Star point

Recently, some professional events have started using a middle ground called "star point". Advantage is played after deuce, but if deuce keeps coming back (after two advantage attempts), a single deciding point is played. It's not common in club play yet; if you come across it, just ask the organizer how they're running it.

Winning a set

• A set goes to the first team to 6 games with a lead of at least 2 games. 6–4 ends the set; 6–5 doesn't.
• At 6–5, one more game is played; 7–5 ends the set.
• At 6–6, a tie-break decides it.

Matches are usually best of three sets.

How a tie-break works

In a tie-break, points are counted simply: 1, 2, 3 and so on.

1. The first team to 7 points with a lead of at least 2 wins. 7–5 ends it; 7–6 doesn't, so it continues to 8–6, 9–7 and beyond.
2. The player whose turn it is serves one point first.
3. Service then passes to the other team, and each player serves two points in turn.
4. Teams change ends every 6 points.
5. The team that wins the tie-break wins the set 7–6.

Super tie-break

Some tournaments replace the third set with a super tie-break. Same idea, but played to 10 points instead of 7, still with a 2-point margin.

It's popular at events with tight schedules: instead of a long third set, you get a few minutes of intense finish.

Shorter formats

Amateur events use other variations to fit the clock:

• One set: The match is a single set.
• Short sets: Some events play sets to 4 games.
• Time limit: When time is up, the current score stands.

None of these is a universal standard; they vary from event to event.

Points-total scoring in social tournaments

Social formats such as Americano and Mexicano usually don't count games or sets at all. Instead, every rally is a point, and the match ends when the two teams' combined points reach a target.

In a 24-point match, for example:

• The final score might be 13–11, 15–9 or 12–12.
• Your team's points from that match go to both players' individual totals; even as your partner changes each round, your points stay with you.
• Serving is usually done in blocks, with each player serving, say, four points in turn.

The big advantage is that all courts finish at roughly the same time. Nobody stands around waiting for a marathon deuce battle on court three.

In PadelDraw you set points per match to 16, 21, 24, 32 or a custom value, with an optional win bonus and draw bonus. If players finish level in the standings, the order is decided by points, then wins, then point difference, then head-to-head, and finally a draw of lots.

In a fixed-pair knockout, traditional set scoring is the more common choice, because every match has to produce a winner.

Example: counting a game step by step

Say you're serving and the game goes like this:

1. You win the first point: 15–love
2. They win one: 15–15
3. You win: 30–15
4. You win: 40–15
5. They win: 40–30
6. They win: 40–40
7. With golden point, whoever wins the next point takes the game. With advantage, the winner of the next point goes to advantage.

FAQ

Whose score is called first? Within a game, the serving team's score comes first. For set scores, players usually call their own team's score or the leader's first; in official matches the umpire announces it.

Who receives on golden point? Under official rules, the receiving team decides which player takes the return.

Can a social tournament match end in a draw? If the points total is even (24, say), 12–12 is possible. That's why some organizers add a draw bonus or choose an odd total such as 21.

In short

• Game: 15, 30, 40, game. At 40–40, advantage or golden point.
• Set: 6 games with a 2-game lead; tie-break to 7 at 6–6.
• Match: usually best of three; sometimes a super tie-break to 10 replaces the third set.
• Social tournaments: every rally counts, and the match ends at the points total.

For the rest of the basics, see padel rules: the complete guide.

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Last updated: 16 October 2026