Padel scoring: from 15/30/40 to tournament formats
A normal padel match is scored like tennis: 15, 30, 40, game. In tournaments with many participants that works badly — there you count points or short sets so every court finishes at the same time. Here are both, and when each fits.
Standard scoring
A game runs 15, 30, 40, game; at 40–40 (deuce) a team must win two points in a row. Many clubs play a golden point instead — at 40–40 a single rally decides.
A set runs to six games won with a two-game lead; at 6–6 a tiebreak follows. A match is best of three sets.
This is the scoring for league matches and tournaments with fixed teams and plenty of time — for a tournament evening with rotating pairings it is too slow.
Tournament scoring: points instead of sets
In Mexicano, Americano and King of the Court tournaments you count points instead: every rally won is a point, played to a fixed number (commonly 21, 24 or 32) or on a clock.
The advantage is predictability: all courts end together and the next round starts as a group. That is what makes these formats workable in a single evening at all.
The standings count points scored, not just wins and losses. Lose a close game and you still take something from it — which keeps the field together over the evening.
Which scoring for which tournament?
On a clock (say 15 minutes per round) is the simplest option when court time is limited: the evening ends predictably however the games go.
To a fixed score is cleaner competitively, because every game is played out — at the cost of rounds varying in length.
Short sets suit smaller fields with fixed pairs. In Racketmaster you choose points or sets when creating the tournament; the standings calculate either way.
Frequently asked questions
How does scoring work in padel?
In a normal match, like tennis: 15, 30, 40, game — sets to six games. In tournaments you usually count points to a fixed number or play on a clock instead, so all courts finish together.
What is the golden point?
At 40–40 there is no deuce; a single decisive rally is played. It shortens games and is widespread in padel.
Points or sets in a tournament?
Points or a clock for formats with rotating pairings (Mexicano, Americano, King of the Court) — they keep rounds the same length. Sets suit small fields with fixed pairs.
Create a tournament and pick your scoring — points or sets, the standings do the rest.
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