Padel scoring explained
Points, golden point, sets and tie-break — plus a scoreboard you can try right away.
Padel scores like tennis, with one twist: at deuce a single point often decides the game. Here is how a game, a set and a match are counted.
Scoring a game: 15, 30, 40
Every rally wins a point. The first four points of a game count 15, 30, 40 and game. Whoever wins four points first takes the game, as long as they lead by at least two. When calling the score, the server says their own score first, for example "30–15".
| Points won | Call |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 ("love") |
| 1 | 15 |
| 2 | 30 |
| 3 | 40 |
| 4 | Game (with a lead of at least 2 points) |
Deuce, golden point and advantage
At 40–40 it is deuce. This is where the rules differ:
Ask before the match which variant applies. When in doubt, the golden point is the common choice.
Sets, tie-break and match
A set goes to the pair that wins six games with at least a two-game lead. At 5–5 play continues to 7–5. At 6–6 a tie-break is played if agreed beforehand. It goes to seven points, also with a two-point lead. The first server serves once, then the serve changes every two points, and the sides change every six points.
A match is usually best of three sets. In casual play you often agree on a single set or on a fixed time, like the 60 or 90 minutes you booked on court.
A scoreboard to try
After every rally, tap the pair that won the point. The board counts points, games and sets and switches to a tie-break at 6–6. The switch lets you choose between golden point and advantage. The board stores nothing and sends nothing, it runs only in your browser.
Quick questions
Like tennis: 15, 30, 40 and game. Six games with a two-game lead win a set, and matches are best of three sets.
At 40–40 only one deciding point is played to win the game. The receiving pair chooses the side.
That depends on the tournament and the club. Many venues play the golden point, others the classic advantage like tennis. Ask before you start.
If a tie-break was agreed, it is played to seven points with a two-point lead. Otherwise the set continues until one pair leads by two games.
Decide it like in tennis, for example with a coin toss or by spinning a racket. The serve is underhand and diagonal.