How Padel Scoring Works, With Star Point
Tennis scoring until deuce, then the star point in US events.
Padel scoring uses the tennis game-and-set ladder of 15, 30, 40, and game, with six games winning a set and matches played as best of three sets. At Wildcard Sport, we research official federation rulebooks to track how scoring changes across circuits. Padel differs from tennis at deuce, where governing bodies provide three methods: traditional advantage, golden point, and star point.
Points, Games and Deuce
Points in padel progress through four calls: 15, 30, 40, and game. When a pair wins the first point of a game, the score becomes 15. The second point brings the count to 30, and the third point moves the tally to 40.
Winning the fourth point secures the game, provided that pair leads by at least two points. If both pairs win three points, the score reaches 40-40, which is called deuce. The LTA padel and tennis guide from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) notes that basic scoring in padel matches tennis.
You can read our comparison of padel vs tennis to review other court differences. At deuce, padel offers three ways to finish the game.
What Happens at Deuce
The International Padel Federation (FIP) establishes three official methods to settle a game at deuce under Rule 1: Option 1 Advantage, Option 2 Star Point, and Option 3 Golden Point. You can verify each system in the official FIP Rules of Padel.
Option 1 follows traditional advantage scoring. The pair winning the point immediately after deuce gains advantage. If that same pair wins the next point, they win the game, while losing that point returns the score to deuce until one pair wins two consecutive points.
Option 3 is the golden point format, described in the rulebook as a no-advantage system. When the score reaches 40-40, the pairs play a single deciding point. The receiving pair chooses whether to receive the serve in the right service box or the left service box.
Receivers cannot change their court positions for that deciding rally. In mixed matches, the receiver must be the same sex as the server. The pair that wins the golden point wins the game.
Option 2 is the star point format. According to the FIP Star Point announcement, the FIP General Assembly unanimously approved the system on November 28, 2025. FIP says this system limits the maximum number of points that can be played in a game.
A star point game follows a strict sequence once deuce occurs:
- At 40-40, the score is deuce 1, and the next point yields advantage 1.
- Winning the next point wins the game, while losing it creates deuce 2.
- The next point yields advantage 2.
- Winning the next point wins the game, while losing it creates deuce 3.
- At deuce 3, the pairs play a deciding Star Point to determine the game winner.
On the Star Point, the receiving team chooses the side to which the serve is delivered. Receivers cannot swap court positions for that point. Mixed matches follow the same-sex receiving rule, requiring the receiver to match the server's sex.
FIP applied Star Point across Premier Padel, the CUPRA FIP Tour, FIP Promises, and the amateur FIP Beyond circuit starting in 2026. The format made its competitive debut at the FIP Bronze Melbourne event from January 5 to 11, 2026. Its Premier Padel debut followed at the Riyadh P1 tournament from February 9 to 14, 2026.
| Deuce Format | Post-Deuce Mechanics | Max Points After 40-40 | Official Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advantage (Option 1) | Consecutive two-point lead required | Unlimited | FIP Option 1 |
| Golden Point (Option 3) | Single deciding point at first deuce | 1 point | FIP Option 3; USPA fallback with approval when a tournament risks not finishing |
| Star Point (Option 2) | Two advantage cycles before one deciding point | 5 points | FIP Option 2; Premier Padel and USPA-sanctioned tournaments |
Sets and the Tie-Break Serve Order
A pair wins a set by reaching six games with a margin of two games over the opposing team. If the game score reaches 5-5, play continues until one pair wins 7-5. If both pairs reach 6-6, they contest a 7-point tie-break to decide the set.
Matches consist of the best of three sets. Teams can agree in advance to play a third set without a tie-break using an advantage margin of two games. Points in a tie-break are counted numerically as zero, 1, 2, 3, and onward.
The first pair to reach 7 points with a two-point margin wins the tie-break and takes the set 7-6. If the score reaches 6-6 in the tie-break, play continues until one side establishes a two-point lead.
The tie-break serving order shifts after the opening point:
- The player due to serve delivers one point from the right service court.
- The opposing pair serves the next two points, beginning their first delivery from the left service court.
- Each player thereafter delivers two consecutive serves, rotating between pairs throughout the tie-break.
Players change ends of the court every 6 points during a tie-break. Teams switch sides at scores like 4-2, 6-0, or 6-6. Once the tie-break concludes, the next set begins with a serve from the pair that did not serve first in the tie-break.
For how a point is played, review our guide on how to play padel.
Shorter Sets and Super Tiebreaks
The International Padel Federation rulebook permits three shortened scoring formats to accelerate match completion.
The first alternative is the mini-set format, designated as four games. In a mini-set, the first pair to win four games with a margin of two games wins the set. If the game count reaches 4-4, the pairs play a standard 7-point tie-break.
The second alternative replaces the deciding third set with a 7-point match tie-break. Teams play two standard sets, and if they split sets at one all, the 7-point tie-break settles the match.
The third alternative replaces the final set with a 10-point super tiebreak. In a super tiebreak, the first pair to score 10 points with a lead of two points wins the match. Play continues beyond 10-10 until one side achieves that two-point margin.
Scoring in US Tournaments
The United States Padel Association (USPA) Rules and Regulations say that Star Point is used in all USPA-sanctioned tournaments and matches. On the Star Point, the receiving team chooses the side to which the serve is served.
Tournament division tiers determine the exact set formats across US events:
- In USPA 2000, 1000, 750, and 500 tournaments, Division 1 main draw matches use best-of-three tiebreak sets with 7-point tiebreakers at six games all.
- Divisions 2 through 4 and consolation draws in those same tournaments play two tiebreak sets plus a 10-point super tiebreaker instead of a third set.
- USPA 250 and 100 tournaments use two tiebreak sets with a 10-point super tiebreaker in lieu of a third set.
- All tiebreakers in USPA events require a two-point margin, with no sudden death point.
When tournament directors face schedule disruptions, the regulations permit specific format adjustments. A tournament at risk of not finishing because of weather can switch from Star Point to Golden Point, provided the director secures USPA approval. Directors can also request approval to run 8-game pro-sets with a tiebreak at 8-8, or 10-game pro-sets with a tiebreak at 9-9.
The USPA outlines specific scheduling allocations based on match format. The association recommends scheduling 90 minutes for best-of-three tiebreak sets. Matches using two sets plus a super tiebreak receive 75-minute slots, while pro-sets and shortened formats receive 60-minute windows.
Keeping Score in Casual Games
In a casual game, the players choose the deuce method. Star point caps a game at five points after the first deuce, so it fits a fixed court booking better than open-ended advantage.
If players want uninterrupted traditional game flow without sudden-death points, star point is not for them. They should play Option 1 advantage instead, provided their court booking accommodates open-ended games. We would change our advice to practice star point before a USPA event only if USPA moved its sanctioned events off star point.
A padel match has no fixed duration, according to LTA Padel rules. If you book by the hour, use the USPA times above as a guide, and find a court through our guide to finding a padel court near you.
To understand court boundary calls and faults alongside scoring, consult our complete guide to padel rules. Agree on your padel scoring format before the first serve, and see the padel basics guides for the other guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is padel scored the same as tennis?
Mostly. Padel counts 15, 30, 40 and game, like tennis. Sets and tie-breaks match too, but at deuce the rulebooks also allow golden point and star point.
What is the golden point in padel?
The golden point is a sudden-death scoring format played at 40-40 under FIP Option 3. The receiving pair selects which side receives the serve, and receivers cannot swap positions. The pair that wins that single point wins the game.
What is the star point in padel?
The star point is FIP Option 2, which allows two advantage cycles before triggering a deciding point. If neither team converts their advantages, the game reaches deuce 3, where a single Star Point decides the winner. This structure limits any game to a maximum of five points after the initial deuce.
Who chooses the side on the golden point?
The receiving pair chooses which side receives the serve on a golden point. Receivers cannot swap their set positions for that point. In mixed doubles, the receiver must match the server's sex.
How does a tie-break work in padel?
A padel tie-break is played to 7 points with a required two-point lead. The first server delivers one point from the right, then the opponents serve two points starting from the left, and each player after that serves two in a row. Teams change ends of the court every 6 points.
What is a super tiebreak in padel?
A super tiebreak is a 10-point tiebreaker used in place of a full third set. The first pair to score 10 points with a margin of two points wins the match. USPA uses it in Divisions 2 through 4, consolation draws, and all 250 and 100 events.
How long does a padel match last?
A padel match has no fixed duration, according to LTA Padel. For scheduling, the USPA recommends 90 minutes for three tiebreak sets, 75 minutes for two sets plus a super tiebreak, and 60 minutes for pro-sets. Actual duration depends on the scoring format and the number of deuce games played.
