Padel Tennis: Scoring & Rules Simply Explained

For many beginners, padel scoring is their first touchpoint with the sport's broader ruleset. It is adopted directly from tennis, but understanding deuce, advantage, and tie-breaks is crucial to coming out on top in tight matches. At OLIVER-SPORT, we explain how you win sets and matches, as well as the essential rules you need to know.

Before we jump into pro-level details, here is a quick refresher on game and set scoring:

1. Game Scoring

A game is won when a team scores four points and holds at least a two-point lead.

• The first point counts as 15.
• The second point counts as 30.
• The third point counts as 40.
• A score of zero is called Love or Zero.

What Do Deuce and Advantage Mean?

Arguably the most thrilling moment in a padel match is deuce. It occurs when both teams have reached three points, leaving the score tied at 40:40. From this point on, play enters advantage mode. To win the game, a team must score two consecutive points starting from deuce:

• Advantage: If the serving team wins the next point, they gain Advantage In. If the receiving team wins the next point, they gain Advantage Out.
• Game: If the team holding advantage wins the following point as well, they win the game.
• Return to Deuce: If the team holding advantage loses the next point, the score reverts back to deuce (40:40).

This process continues until one team establishes a two-point lead.

Pro Insight: The Golden Point
In official professional tournaments, the "Golden Point" (deciding point at 40:40) is standard practice today, whereas many recreational matches still play out classic advantages. With a Golden Point, the first point played after 40:40 decides the game immediately without playing an advantage. However, in standard padel rules, advantage is traditionally played out.

2. Set Scoring

A set is won when a team wins six games and holds at least a two-game lead (e.g., 6:4 or 6:3). If the score reaches a 5:5 tie, play continues until 7:5. If the score reaches 6:6, a decisive tie-break comes into play.

What Is a Tie-Break?

A tie-break is played whenever the set score reaches 6:6. It serves to wrap up the set quickly without letting the match stretch indefinitely until a 2-game margin is achieved.

Tie-Break Scoring Rules:

• In a tie-break, points are no longer counted as 15, 30, 40, but numerically (1, 2, 3...).
• Set Win: The first team to reach seven points with at least a two-point lead wins the tie-break (e.g., a 7:5 win. A 6:6 tie means play continues to 8:6, 9:7, etc.).
• Serving: The player whose turn it would normally be serves first. After that, service alternates every two points.
• Switching Sides: Teams switch ends of the court after the first six points are played, and every six points thereafter.
• The winner of the tie-break wins the set 7:6.

How Do You Win the Match?

Most padel tournaments and amateur matches are played as Best-of-Three Sets.

• The match is won as soon as one team wins two sets.
• If the set score is tied 1:1 after two sets, the third set decides the match.

Tip for Recreational Players: Many amateur players agree on a Match Tie-Break (often up to 10 points with a 2-point lead) instead of a full third set to keep playing time manageable. Always clarify which rules apply before starting your match! Have fun in your next game... preferably with an OLIVER racket!