Is padel scoring the same as tennis scoring?
Padel and tennis score a game in the same words: love, 15, 30, 40 and game, with deuce at three points each. Both sports win a set with 6 games and a margin of two games, and both play a 7-point tie-break at 6-6. Padel differs in the serve, which is underarm after a bounce, and in the walls, which keep the ball in play.
On this page
- What is the same in padel scoring and tennis scoring?
- What is different in padel scoring and tennis scoring?
- Does padel use deuce and advantage like tennis?
- How does the padel serve differ from the tennis serve?
- How do the walls change a padel point?
- How do the courts and the equipment compare?
- Can a tennis player keep score in padel straight away?
- Where do these rules come from?
What is the same in padel scoring and tennis scoring?
Four parts of the score are identical. A game runs love, 15, 30, 40 and game. Three points each is deuce. A set goes to 6 games with a margin of two games. A tie-break at 6-6 goes to 7 points with a margin of two points, and the pairs change ends after every six points.
The order of the call is also the same. The server states the score of the serving side first. A call of 40-30 means the serving side holds three points and the receiving side holds two points.
What is different in padel scoring and tennis scoring?
The differences sit at deuce, in the match length and in the way each rule book names the deciding point.
| Element | Padel, FIP Rules of Padel | Tennis, ITF Rules of Tennis |
|---|---|---|
| Points in a game | Love, 15, 30, 40, game | Love, 15, 30, 40, game |
| Three points each | Deuce | Deuce |
| Deciding point at deuce | Golden point and Star Point, both inside the main rules | No-Ad, an approved alternative in Appendix V |
| Set | 6 games, margin of two games | 6 games, margin of two games |
| Tie-break at 6-6 | 7 points, margin of two points | 7 points, margin of two points |
| Change of ends in a set | After the 1st, 3rd and every later odd game | After the 1st, 3rd and every later odd game, and at the end of a set with an odd game total |
| Change of ends in a tie-break | After every six points | After every six points |
| Match length | The best of three sets | The best of three sets or the best of five sets |
| Deciding tie-break to 10 points | Super tie-break, an approved alternative | Match tie-break, an approved alternative |
The scoring rules of the two sports, compared element by element.
Does padel use deuce and advantage like tennis?
Padel keeps deuce and advantage as Option 1 of Rule 1. A pair must win two points in a row after deuce to take the game. The FIP rules then add two shorter methods that tennis treats as an appendix.
- Golden point. One deciding point settles the game at the first deuce.
- Star Point. The pair play advantage twice, then one deciding point at the third deuce.
The tennis equivalent is the No-Ad method. The ITF describes a deciding point at deuce, with the receiver choosing the side and doubles partners holding their positions. Padel applies the same mechanics under different names. The golden point guide covers this in detail.
The placement in each rule book differs. The golden point sits inside the main FIP rules. The No-Ad method sits in an ITF appendix.
How does the padel serve differ from the tennis serve?
The serve is the largest rule difference between the two sports. A padel serve is underarm and follows a bounce. A tennis serve may be overhead, and the ball must never bounce first.
| Element | Padel | Tennis |
|---|---|---|
| The ball before the strike | The server bounces the ball on the ground first. | The server hits the ball before it hits the ground. |
| Contact height | At or below waist level | No height limit |
| Feet at the strike | At least one foot on the ground | The ITF allows one or both feet off the ground. |
| Start position | Behind the service line | Behind the baseline |
| Service attempts | Two | Two |
| Target | The diagonal service box | The diagonal service court |
| Ball on the net cord, then in | A let. The server repeats the serve. | A let. The server repeats the serve. |
| Ball hits the metal fence after a good bounce | A fault, before the second bounce | Not applicable. A tennis court has no fence in play. |
The service rules of the two sports. The two attempts and the diagonal target are shared.
One padel detail surprises a new player. A serve that bounces in the correct box and then touches the glass wall stays in play. A serve that bounces in the correct box and then touches the metal fence before the second bounce is a fault.
How do the walls change a padel point?
The walls do not change the score. They change how a point ends. A padel court is fully enclosed by glass walls and metal fence. After the ball bounces on the floor of a side, the players on that side may play it off their own walls or fence, and the ball stays in play.
Two limits keep the rally fair. A returned ball must bounce on the floor of the opponents before it touches any wall or fence on their side. A player loses the point if the ball bounces twice before the return.
Tennis has no walls. A ball that lands outside the lines is out, and the point ends.
How do the courts and the equipment compare?
The figures below come from the two rule books.
| Element | Padel | Tennis |
|---|---|---|
| Court, inside measurements | 20 m long, 10 m wide | 23.77 m long, 10.97 m wide for doubles |
| Enclosure | Glass walls and metal fence, in play | None |
| Net height at the centre | 0.88 m | 0.914 m |
| Ball diameter | 6.35 to 6.77 cm | 6.54 to 6.86 cm |
| Ball weight | 56.0 to 59.4 g | 56.0 to 59.4 g |
| Racket hitting surface | Solid and perforated, with holes of 9 to 13 mm | A pattern of crossed strings |
| Racket total length | 45.5 cm maximum | 73.7 cm maximum |
Court, net, ball and racket figures from the FIP Rules of Padel and the ITF Rules of Tennis.
Can a tennis player keep score in padel straight away?
Yes. A tennis player already knows the calls, the set and the tie-break. Three points need attention on the first day.
- Check the method at deuce. Ask the organiser for advantage, the Star Point or the golden point.
- Expect a shorter match. Many club matches replace the third set with a super tie-break to 10 points.
- Learn the serve rule. The bounce, the waist limit and the foot on the ground apply to every serve.
PadelArc applies the padel rules automatically, including the golden point option. See what the app does.
Where do these rules come from?
The International Padel Federation (FIP) publishes the Rules of Padel. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) publishes the Rules of Tennis. This page follows the FIP edition applied from 1 January 2026.
Sources. FIP Rules of Padel, Rule 1, Rules 5 to 9 and Rules 12 to 16, plus the court, ball and racket sections. ITF Rules of Tennis, Rules 1 to 10 and 16 to 18, plus Appendix II and Appendix V. Each rule book lets a competition announce a different method in advance, so confirm the method with the organiser.
What else do people ask about padel and tennis scoring?
Is padel scored the same as tennis?
Padel and tennis score a game love, 15, 30, 40 and game, and both call deuce at three points each. Both sports win a set with 6 games and a margin of two games.
Does padel have deuce and advantage?
Yes. The FIP Rules of Padel keep deuce and advantage as Option 1. The same rules also allow the golden point and the Star Point, which end a game with one deciding point.
Can you serve overarm in padel?
No. A padel serve is underarm. The server bounces the ball on the ground and strikes it at or below waist level, with at least one foot on the ground.
Is the padel tie-break the same as the tennis tie-break?
The point target matches. Both sports play a tie-break at 6-6 to 7 points with a margin of two points, and both change ends after every six points.
How many sets are in a padel match compared with a tennis match?
The FIP Rules of Padel state that a match is the best of three sets. The ITF Rules of Tennis allow the best of three sets or the best of five sets.
Does the ball go out in padel when it hits the wall?
No. After the ball bounces on the floor of a side, that side may play it off its own walls or fence. The ball must bounce on the floor before it touches a wall.
Is a padel court smaller than a tennis court?
Yes. A padel court measures 20 m by 10 m inside the enclosure. A tennis doubles court measures 23.77 m by 10.97 m and has no walls.