Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Padel and tennis share exactly the same scoring structure: points go 0 (love), 15, 30, 40, deuce and advantage; games are played to six (win by two), with a tiebreak at 6-6; matches are best of three or five sets. The key difference is that padel is exclusively doubles — two players per side — and the enclosed court and wall play create a different tactical game despite identical scoring.
- Identical to tennis: 15-30-40-deuce-advantage
- Sets to 6 games (tiebreak at 6-6)
- Always doubles (2v2)
- Same scoring, very different game feel
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Padel uses the same scoring terminology as tennis (15, 30, 40, game; best-of-three sets) despite being played on a smaller, enclosed court with walls — this shared scoring system is one reason tennis players often find padel approachable to pick up, even though the court strategy (using walls, less powerful serves) differs substantially from tennis tactics.
FAQ
Does padel use the same scoring as tennis?
Yes — padel uses identical game, set and match scoring terminology to tennis (15-30-40-game, best of three sets), making the format familiar to tennis players even though court tactics differ significantly.
What's different about serving in padel compared to tennis?
Padel serves must be hit underarm, below waist height, after bouncing the ball — a much less powerful, more controlled serve than tennis's overhead serve, which shifts strategic emphasis toward the rally rather than the serve itself.