How Padel Scoring Works (and Why It’s Different from Tennis)

If you’ve just started playing padel, one of the first things you’ll notice is that the scoring system sounds familiar — but there are a few unique twists that make it its own. 

Padel borrows from tennis in structure but adapts the rhythm of points and sets to fit the game’s fast, doubles-focused style.

Here’s a simple breakdown of how padel scoring works and how to keep track of points, games, and sets during your match.

How Do You Keep Score in Padel?

Padel follows the same basic point system as tennis:

15, 30, 40, game.

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You win a point when your opponents:

• Before the ball bounces twice, fail to return it.
• Hit the ball into the net or outside the glass.
• Hit the ball directly onto your side’s wall or fence without it first bouncing in the court.

The first team to win four points (with at least a two-point lead) wins the game.

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How Many Sets Are Played in a Padel Match?

A standard padel match is played as best of three sets.

• Each set is made up of six games.
• To win a set, a team must have a two-game advantage (for example, 6–4).
• If the score reaches 6–6, a tie-break decides the set winner.

Matches typically last between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the level and rally length.

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What Happens at Deuce in Padel?

Just like in tennis, if the score reaches 40–40, that’s called deuce.

From there, a team must win two consecutive points:

• The first point gives them advantage.
• If they win the next point, they take the game.
• The score goes back to deuce if they lose.

In some social or club matches, players use a “golden point” rule at deuce — where the next point wins the game outright, adding extra excitement and speed to play. The returning pair can decide who on their team will receive the serve on golden point. 

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Is Padel Scoring the Same as Tennis?

Almost, but not quite.

Here are the key differences:

• All matches are doubles — so you’re always playing with a partner.
• The serve rotation alternates between teams and players differently (each player serves for one full game before switching).
• The pace of points is generally faster, thanks to the use of walls and shorter rallies.

So while tennis players will recognize the numbers, the flow of the game feels much more dynamic in padel.

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How Does a Tie-Break Work in Padel?

When a set reaches 6–6, the tie-break begins.

• It’s played to 7 points, with a two-point margin needed to win.
• The first server serves once from the right side, then each player serves two points in a row, alternating sides.
• Teams switch sides every 6 points to balance conditions (like sunlight or wind on outdoor courts).

Winning the tie-break means winning the set — so it’s often one of the most intense moments in any match.

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What’s the Best Way to Keep Track of Padel Points During a Game?

In friendly matches, players often keep score verbally, just like in tennis:

• “15-love,” “30-all,” “deuce,” and so on.

 In tournaments or clubs with scoreboards, the umpire or team on serve usually calls the score before each point.

A simple tip: the serving team always calls their score first.

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Final Thoughts

Padel scoring might look a lot like tennis at first glance, but it’s designed to keep the action moving and the rallies exciting. 

Once you get used to the rhythm — the sets, tie-breaks, and even those pressure-filled deuce points — keeping score becomes second nature.

So next time you step onto the court, focus less on the numbers and more on the point in front of you — that’s where the real fun of padel begins.

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Additional Resources To Help Your Game