Padel is a dynamic sport that blends elements of tennis and squash. While its scoring system closely mirrors tennis, it incorporates a few distinctive rules and formats unique to the game, making it easy for racket sport enthusiasts to follow.

Points and Games

Like tennis, the progression of points within a game is standard:

First point: 15
Second point: 30
Third point: 40
Fourth point: Game

Deuce and Advantage

If both teams reach a score of 40-40, this is called "deuce." To win the game from deuce, one team must win two consecutive points. The first point won after deuce is called "advantage," and if that team wins the next point, they win the game. If they lose the next point, the score returns to deuce.

The Golden Point System

In some tournaments and competitive play, the "Golden Point" system is used. This rule eliminates the traditional advantage round. When the score is deuce, the next point decides the game instantly. A unique feature of this rule is that the receiving team chooses which side (left or right service box) they will receive the deciding serve.

Sets and Matches: Determining the Winner

A set is won by the first team to reach six games with at least a two-game lead.

If the score within a set reaches a tie at 6-6, a tie-break is played to determine the set winner. Matches are typically played as the best of three sets, meaning the team that wins two sets first claims overall victory.

The tie-break acts as a short, decisive game played with traditional point-by-point scoring (1, 2, 3, etc.). The goal is to reach seven points, but the team must still win by at least two points for the set to conclude (e.g., 7-5, 8-6, etc.).

How Points Are Awarded

A team scores a point under several conditions, most of which are standard for racket sports, plus specific rules related to the walls:

The opponent's shot hits the net or the court without bouncing.
The ball bounces twice on the opponent's side of the court.
The ball hits an opponent directly (body or clothing).
The ball leaves the playing area after bouncing once on the opponent's side (this is legal and often done intentionally in padel, but if the opponent cannot retrieve it before it bounces again or hits a fixture outside the court, the point is won).
A player intentionally or accidentally double-hits the ball.

Serving and Etiquette: Starting Play

All play begins with an underhand serve. The server must allow the ball to bounce once behind the service line and then strike it below waist level.

The serve must clear the net and land cross-court in the opponent's opposite service box.
Critically, the serve must bounce on the court before touching any of the walls or the cage.
Proper etiquette requires the server to announce the score before each serve (e.g., "30–15").

In summary, while padel’s scoring is familiar, the integration of wall play, the use of the Golden Point, and the underhand serve give the game its distinct identity and competitive flair.

Understanding the Padel Score