What Is the Star Point in Padel? The New 2026 Scoring Rule Explained

Quick Answer

The Star Point is padel's new scoring rule for 2026. When a game hits deuce (40–40), teams play up to two normal advantage cycles. If neither side converts after two advantages, one sudden-death rally — the Star Point — decides the game. The receiving team chooses which side to receive the serve. The FIP General Assembly approved it unanimously on November 28, 2025, and it now applies across Premier Padel, CUPRA FIP Tour, FIP Promises, and FIP Beyond.

Last updated: March 2026 · Rule details verified against FIP official announcements at time of writing.

Why Padel Changed Its Scoring

Padel borrowed its scoring from tennis: 15, 30, 40, game. At deuce, teams traded advantages back and forth until someone won two in a row. No limit.

That created a problem. A single game could stretch past 10 minutes. Broadcasters couldn't predict match length. Players burned energy on marathon deuce battles that didn't move the scoreboard.

Two solutions existed before 2026:

• Advantage (traditional): Unlimited deuce cycles. Used in most club play.
• Golden point: One point at deuce wins the game. No advantage at all. Used on the World Padel Tour and early Premier Padel events.

Golden point fixed the length problem but created a new one. Players and coaches argued it was too random — one lucky shot could decide a tight game with zero margin for recovery.

The Star Point splits the difference.

How the Star Point Works

The system kicks in at the first deuce of any game. Three stages:

Stage 1 — First advantage. Exactly like traditional scoring. One team earns advantage. If they win the next point, they take the game. If they lose it, back to deuce.

Stage 2 — Second advantage. Same rules. Another chance to close out the game on advantage.

Stage 3 — Star Point. If two advantages have been lost (by either team, in any combination), the next point is sudden death. One rally. One winner. Game over.

A quick example: the score is 40–40. Team A wins a point and gets advantage. Team B fights back — deuce again. Team B then earns advantage but loses the next rally — back to deuce a second time. Two advantages have now been lost. The umpire calls "Star Point." The next rally decides everything.

The Receiver's Choice

On the Star Point, the receiving team picks which side of the court the serve comes from — left or right. This matters because it lets the returners position their stronger player to receive the pressure serve.

In mixed doubles, there's an extra rule: the receiver must be the same sex as the server. So if a male player is serving, a male player must receive.

Where It Applies

The Star Point is now the default for all FIP-governed competitions:

• Premier Padel — debuted at the Riyadh P1 (February 9–14, 2026)
• CUPRA FIP Tour — debuted at the FIP Bronze Melbourne (January 5–11, 2026)
• FIP Promises — junior circuit
• FIP Beyond — amateur circuit

It's listed as Rule 1, Option 2 in the official FIP rulebook. Club matches and social play can still use traditional advantage or golden point — the Star Point is an official option, not the only option.

Star Point vs Golden Point vs Advantage

	Advantage	Golden Point	Star Point
At deuce	Unlimited cycles	Instant deciding point	Up to 2 advantages, then deciding point
Max points at deuce	No limit	1	5
Receiver chooses side	No	Yes	Yes (on Star Point only)
Used in 2026 pro tour	No	No	Yes

The key number: a Star Point game can have a maximum of 5 points after deuce (advantage, back to deuce, advantage, back to deuce, Star Point). Traditional advantage has no cap.

What This Means for Players

For pros: Matches are shorter and more TV-friendly. The FIP consulted 100 national federations, players, coaches, and broadcasters before the vote — and it passed unanimously.

For club players: Nothing changes unless your club or tournament adopts the Star Point. Most social play already uses golden point or traditional advantage. But if you enter FIP-sanctioned amateur events (FIP Beyond), you'll play with the Star Point.

For strategy: The two-advantage buffer means serving teams still have a real chance to convert. But once that Star Point arrives, the receiving team holds a tactical edge — they pick the side.

FAQ

What is the Star Point in padel? The Star Point is a single sudden-death point played after two lost advantages at deuce. It replaced unlimited advantage exchanges in all FIP-sanctioned competitions starting in 2026.

How is the Star Point different from golden point? Golden point skips advantage entirely — one point at deuce wins the game. The Star Point allows up to two full advantage cycles first, then triggers a deciding point only if neither team converts.

Who chooses the serve side on a Star Point? The receiving team picks which side (left or right) to receive the serve. In mixed matches, the receiver must be the same sex as the server.

When did the Star Point system start? The FIP General Assembly approved it on November 28, 2025. It debuted at the FIP Bronze Melbourne on January 5, 2026, and on the Premier Padel circuit at the Riyadh P1 on February 9, 2026.

Does the Star Point apply to amateur padel? It applies to FIP Beyond (the amateur circuit) and any tournament following FIP rules. Club and social matches can still use advantage or golden point — the Star Point is listed as "Option 2" in the FIP rulebook.