Padel Scoring Explained: Advantage, Golden Point and Star Point

If you have watched tennis, padel scoring will feel familiar. The big question is what happens at deuce, because padel has three different ways to settle it. This guide walks you through scoring under the official FIP rules, from the first point to the final tie-break.

Coming from pickleball? Padel does not use side-out scoring. Every point counts, whoever is serving. Our padel vs pickleball guide covers the other big differences.

Padel scoring in 30 seconds

• Points go 15, 30, 40, game, just like tennis.
• At 40-40 (deuce), the game is settled by Advantage, Golden Point or Star Point, depending on what you agreed.
• Win 6 games, with a 2-game lead, to win the set. At 6-6, play a tie-break.
• A match is the best of three sets.

Points: 15, 30, 40, game

The FIP rules put it simply: "On the first point won "15" will be called, on the second point won "30", the third point "40" and the fourth "game"." The exception is when both pairs reach three points each. That is deuce.

Deuce: three ways to settle it

The FIP rules (Rule 1) list three scoring options. Here is how they compare:

All three are official options, so at club level the main thing is to agree which one you are playing before the first serve. For how that first serve works, see our padel serve rules guide.

Star Point, step by step

Star Point sits between the other two. It starts like Advantage:

1. At 40-40, "deuce 1" is called.
2. The next point won is "advantage 1". Win the following point and you win the game.
3. Lose it and the score goes to "deuce 2", then "advantage 2", with the same chance to close the game.
4. If that advantage is lost too, the score goes to "deuce 3" and a deciding point, the Star Point, is played.

For the Star Point, "The receiving pair will choose whether to receive the service on the right or the left side of the court", and they cannot change positions to receive it. "The pair that wins the "Star Point" wins the game."

Golden Point, and who chooses the side

With Golden Point, there are no advantages at all. As soon as both pairs have three points each, deuce is called and one deciding point, the "golden point", is played. Win it and you win the game.

Just like Star Point, the receiving pair choose whether to receive on the right or the left, and they cannot switch positions for that point.

Mixed doubles: for the deciding point in both Star Point and Golden Point, "the player receiving will be the same sex as the server."

Sets and tie-breaks

"The first pair to win 6 games, always with a minimum advantage of 2, will win the set." At 5-5, you play on to 7-5. At 6-6, a tie-break decides the set, which is then won 7-6.

A match is the best of three sets. If the players agree beforehand, the third set can be played without a tie-break, so it carries on until one pair is two games ahead.

How a tie-break works:

• Points are called "zero", "1", "2", "3" and so on.
• The first pair to 7 points wins, as long as they are 2 points clear. If not, play continues until someone is.
• The player whose turn it is to serve takes just one serve, from the right side. The opponents then serve the next two points, starting from the left. After that, each side serves two points in a row.
• The next set is started by the player of the pair who did not begin serving in the tie-break.

Shorter formats you might meet at a club

The FIP rules also list alternative ways to score, which are handy when court time is short:

• Mini set: first to four games, with a two-game margin. At 4-4, play a tie-break.
• Match tie-break: at one set all, a tie-break to 7 points (win by 2) replaces the third set.
• Super tie-break: at one set all, "The first pair to win ten points wins the super tie-break and the match, provided there is a minimum margin of 2 points."

Planning a club night with lots of short matches? A 24-ball pack of Cannonballz gives you plenty of balls to go around. They are made with natural rubber, pressurized, and covered in felt "with a 57% wool blend". For smaller groups, there is also a 4-pack.

What the pros use

Both main pro tours use Star Point. The Premier Padel men's rulebook and women's rulebook say matches are best of three sets, every set is decided by a tie-break, and "The Star Point system will be used as described in the FIP Game Rules." The CUPRA FIP Tour rulebook also says the Star Point system will be used during all its tournaments.

Star Point has been added since the 2021 rules, which offered only Advantage and Golden Point.

Changing ends

You switch sides "after the 1st, 3rd and every subsequent odd game in the set." In a tie-break, you change ends after every 6 points.

Quick FAQ

Which deuce format should we play? Any of the three is an official FIP option. Agree it before you start, so nobody is surprised at 40-40.

Who chooses the side for the deciding point? The receiving pair, in both Golden Point and Star Point.

Can a set finish 6-5? No. You need a two-game lead, so 6-5 goes on to 7-5, or to a tie-break at 6-6.

What do I need to start playing matches? A racket, balls and a way to carry them. Mint's padel rackets come in several shapes: the Merite and Merveille (teardrop), the Manouvre and Majeste (diamond), and the round Maitre. Our guide to choosing a padel racket can help you narrow it down, and the Unleash Tournament Bag has room for rackets, shoes, clothing and hydration on match days.

Rallies off the glass can decide a lot of these points, so our padel wall rules guide is worth a read too. For quick definitions of all these terms, see our padel glossary.

Sources

• International Padel Federation, Rules of Padel (review of application 01.01.2026), via the FIP rules page
• Premier Padel Official Rulebook, Version 2026/2: men's and women's
• CUPRA FIP Tour Rulebook, Version 2026

Short quotes are used for commentary. Rules can change, so check the current official rules before a tournament.