Padel scoring uses the same point names as tennis — 0, 15, 30, 40 — but with a couple of twists that make it quick to learn. This guide explains how points, games, sets and tie-breaks work, what the golden point is, and how match formats like best of 1, 3 or 5 fit together. (If you’d rather not count at all, Pala keeps score for you on Apple Watch and iPhone.)
Points: 0, 15, 30, 40
Within a game, points are counted 0, 15, 30, 40 and then game. Zero is called “love.” Win the first point and you’re at 15, then 30, then 40, and the next point wins the game — as long as you’re not tied at 40. The server’s score is always called first, so “30–15” means the serving team has 30 and the receivers have 15.
Deuce, advantage & the golden point
When both teams reach 40, the score is 40–40, called deuce. There are two ways to finish a game from deuce, and you choose which before you start:
- Advantage (the traditional method): the team that wins the next point has the “advantage.” Win the point after that and you take the game; lose it and the score goes back to deuce. You must win by two points.
- Golden point (used on the professional tour and at many clubs): at 40–40 the very next point decides the game — there is no advantage. The receiving team chooses which of its two players returns the serve. It’s faster and adds pressure to a single point.
In Pala you pick golden point or advantage when you set up the match, and it applies the rule automatically.
Games and sets
Win games to win a set. A set goes to the first team to six games — but you must lead by at least two games. So 6–4 wins the set, while at 5–5 you play on, aiming for 7–5. If neither team can pull two games clear and the score reaches 6–6, the set is decided by a tie-break.
The tie-break
A tie-break is a special game played at 6–6 to decide the set. Points are counted as plain numbers — 1, 2, 3… — and the first team to seven points wins, provided they lead by two. If it reaches 6–6 inside the tie-break, you keep playing until one team is two points ahead (8–6, 9–7, and so on). The team that didn’t serve the previous game serves first, putting one point into play; after that, each player serves two points in turn, and the teams switch ends every six points.
Best of 1, 3 or 5
A padel match is made up of sets:
- Best of 3 — the most common format. The first team to win two sets wins the match.
- Best of 1 — a single set, great for a quick game.
- Best of 5 — first to three sets, used in some longer formats.
Who serves?
The serve in padel is underarm, struck after the ball bounces once, and it must land in the diagonal service box. Partners alternate service games, so each of the four players serves in turn across the set. The receiving pair sets one player on the right side and one on the left for the set, and they swap which side they’re hitting from as the points go on. Keeping track of who serves and from which side is one of the easiest things to lose during a fast game — which is exactly what Pala handles for you.
A quick example
Say you’re playing best of three with the golden point. You win a game to lead 1–0 in the first set, hold and break serve to reach 6–4, and take the set. The second set goes all the way to 6–6, so you play a tie-break and win it 7–5 — that’s two sets to love, and the match is yours. Pala would show every point, the set scores 6–4 and 7–6, and save the whole match to your history.
Don’t want to keep count? Pala applies every rule on this page automatically — points, deuce or golden point, games, sets, tie-breaks and the serve — so you tap to score and just play. It works on iPhone, and you can score from your wrist on Apple Watch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the golden point in padel?
The golden point is a single, decisive point played at deuce (40–40). Instead of playing advantage and needing two points in a row, the very next point wins the game, and the receiving team chooses who returns. It’s used on the pro tour and at many clubs because it’s faster and more dramatic.
How many points do you need to win a game?
Four points win a game — 15, 30, 40, then game — provided you’re not level at 40–40. If both teams reach 40 it’s deuce, and you win either by the golden point or by advantage (two points in a row).
How many games are in a padel set?
A set is won by the first team to reach six games with a lead of at least two (for example 6–4). If the set reaches 6–6, a tie-break to seven points decides it.
Is padel scoring the same as tennis?
The point names are the same — 0, 15, 30, 40 — but padel commonly uses the golden point at deuce and is usually best of three sets. The serve is underarm after a bounce.
How long does a padel match last?
A best-of-three match typically lasts about 60–90 minutes, depending on how close the sets are.