Padel scoring explained

If you know tennis, you can score padel. The system is almost the same, with a few differences, mainly at deuce and on the serve.

Points in a game

A game is scored 0, 15, 30, 40, game. At 40-40 it depends on the deuce rule you agreed on:

• Advantage: a pair needs a two-point lead.
• Golden point: the next point decides; the receiving pair chooses the side.
• Star point: advantage twice, then one point decides at the third deuce. This has been the FIP standard since 2026. More in the star point guide.

Games and sets

A set goes to 6 games with a lead of at least two. At 5-5 you play to 7. At 6-6 there is a tiebreak. A match is usually best of three sets.

Tiebreak and super tiebreak

In a tiebreak you simply count up: 1, 2, 3 and so on. The first to 7 points with a two-point lead wins. The first server serves one point, then the serve changes every two points.

A super tiebreak goes to 10 points, also with a two-point lead. Many friendly groups and tournaments use it instead of a third set.

Serving and changing ends

• Serve underarm: bounce the ball behind the service line, hit it at or below waist height, diagonally into the service box.
• You get two attempts. If the serve hits the wire fence after the bounce, it’s a fault. Hitting the glass is fine.
• The serve passes to the other pair after every game, rotating through all four players in doubles.
• Change ends after every odd game, and in a tiebreak after every six points.

In short

Padel scores like tennis, with its own rules at deuce and on the serve. If you lose track after a long rally, let your Apple Watch keep score: Rebotazo knows all of these rules and also shows who serves and when to change ends.