Understanding the Padel Scoring System: How Many Serves Do You Get?

Padel, a popular racquet sport that originated in Mexico, has been gaining popularity worldwide. Combining elements of tennis and squash, it offers an exciting and fast-paced gameplay that keeps players on their toes. If you’re new to the sport, understanding the scoring system is essential. Particularly, you might be wondering, “How many serves do you get in padel?” Let’s dive in and demystify the scoring system of this thrilling sport.

The Basics of Padel Scoring

Before we delve into the specifics, let’s begin by understanding the basic scoring principles of padel. The game is played in a doubles format, with two teams of two players each facing off on an enclosed court. The scoring system in padel is similar to tennis, consisting of points, games, and sets.

In padel, a point is gained if the opposing team fails to return the ball to the playing area. Points are counted in a sequence of “love” (0 points), 15, 30, 40, and winning the game. However, there is one crucial difference compared to tennis – in padel, you only serve once per game.

Understanding Service Rotation in Padel

To clarify, in padel, service rotates between the players of each team. The starting server serves from the right side of the court diagonally to the opposing diagonal box. After the first point is played, the server rotates to the left side box, and the opponent becomes the receiver for the next point.

Similarly, after each subsequent point, the server alternates between right and left sides. Therefore, each player on a team gets an equal chance to serve and receive during the game.

It’s worth mentioning that pads have unique scoring rules for the first point of each game. When the score is love-all, the player on the right serves. After the first point, service rotation starts, as mentioned earlier. So, if you’re starting a game from scratch, remember that the right-side player serves first.

Game and Set Structure in Padel

In padel, a game is won when a team reaches 40 points and has a two-point advantage over the opponent. If both teams reach 40 points (called “40-all” or “deuce”), they play a sudden-death point, often referred to as an “advantage point”. The team winning the advantage point wins the game.

As for the sets, padel typically follows a best-of-three sets format. The first team to win two sets emerges victorious in the match. However, some competitive tournaments may adopt a best-of-five sets format, but this is less common.

Mastering the Scoring System in Padel

Now that you understand the scoring system of padel, you can confidently step onto the court and enjoy the game. Remember, despite the similarities to tennis, you only serve once per game in padel, and service rotation ensures that both players on a team get an equal chance to serve and receive.

So, the next time someone asks you, “How many serves do you get in padel?”, you can impress them with your knowledge of the scoring system. Happy paddling!