Advantage: the classic deuce
The traditional rule from tennis. At 40–40 (deuce) the next point gives a team the advantage. If that team also wins the following point, it wins the game; if it loses it, the score returns to deuce. There is no limit, so a game can go back and forth many times.
Advantage rewards consistency and nerves over several rallies. It is the rule of tennis and is still common in friendly matches and many club leagues.
Golden Point: one point decides
At the first 40–40, the next point wins the game – no advantage. The rule is also called no-ad, punto de oro or sudden death.
The receiving team chooses which side receives the golden point: the player on the right or the player on the left. The partners may not swap positions to do it.
Golden point keeps games short and predictable, which is why social matches and many competitions use it. Every deuce becomes a big moment: one rally decides the game.
Star Point: the FIP's newer rule
The star point is a hybrid of advantage and golden point. The International Padel Federation (FIP) approved it in late 2025, and the professional Premier Padel tour plays it from the 2026 season.
- At the first deuce, advantage is played as usual.
- If the score goes back to deuce, advantage is played a second time.
- At the third deuce, one deciding point – the star point – wins the game.
As with the golden point, the receiving team chooses the side for the star point. The rule keeps some of the drama of advantage but caps how long a game can run.
The three rules side by side
| Rule | At 40–40 | Longest game | Common in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advantage | Win two points in a row | No limit | Friendly matches, many club leagues |
| Golden Point | The next point wins | 7 points | Social play, leagues with fixed court time |
| Star Point | Advantage twice, then one deciding point | 11 points | Premier Padel and FIP events from 2026 |
The longest game counts every point played: with golden point, deuce comes at 3–3 and the seventh point decides. With star point, the third deuce comes at 5–5 and the eleventh point decides.
Which rule should you play?
- Court booked for 60 or 90 minutes? Golden point keeps a best-of-three match inside the slot.
- Want to play like the pros? Star point is the format of the professional tour from 2026.
- Training consistency, or a classic club match? Advantage.
- Whatever you choose, agree on it before the first point – including that the receivers pick the side for a deciding point.
Every deuce rule in PadelCounter
Pick Advantage, Golden Point or Star Point in the match rules on your phone, tablet or watch, or tap the ready-made Golden point or Star point setup. On the scoreboard a gold octagon stands for the golden point and a gold star for the star point.
- Advantage, Golden Point and Star Point
- One-tap setups: Standard, Golden point, Star point, Match-Tiebreak, One set, Americano 24
- Statistics count the golden points each team won
- The announcer can call game, set and match points
Golden Point and Star Point are part of PadelCounter Pro, with a free trial for new players. Advantage is free – and the web scoreboard has every rule for free.
Frequently asked questions
Who chooses the side on the golden point?
The receiving team. It decides which of its two players receives the deciding point; the partners may not swap positions for it.
When was the star point introduced?
The FIP approved the star point in late 2025, and the Premier Padel tour plays it from the 2026 season.
Is golden point the same as no-ad?
Yes. Golden point, no-ad, punto de oro and sudden death all mean one deciding point at 40–40.
How long can a star point game last?
At most 11 points: deuce comes at 3–3, advantage can be played twice, and the point after the third deuce ends the game.
Does the golden point apply in a tie-break?
No. Tie-break points are counted one by one, and a team needs a two-point lead. See the tie-break rules.