Star Point in Padel: The New 2026 Scoring Rule

Star Point is a padel scoring option that keeps limited advantage play but prevents deuce games from continuing indefinitely. It entered the official FIP rules for 2026 and is used across Premier Padel, the CUPRA FIP Tour, FIP Promises, and FIP Beyond.

Try the interactive scoring comparison

Quick answer

When the game first reaches 40–40, play follows three stages:

1. First advantage: if the pair with advantage loses the next point, the score returns to deuce.
2. Second advantage: if the pair with advantage again loses the next point, the game moves to Star Point.
3. Star Point: one final deciding point determines the game.

This means the game can have no more than two advantage cycles after the first deuce.

A complete Star Point example

Imagine Team A and Team B reach 40–40:

1. Team A wins the next point: advantage Team A.
2. Team B wins: back to deuce for the second cycle.
3. Team B wins: advantage Team B.
4. Team A wins: the score moves to Star Point.
5. The winner of the next point wins the game.

If the pair with advantage wins during either advantage stage, the game ends before Star Point is needed.

Who receives the deciding Star Point?

When Star Point is reached, the receiving pair chooses whether to receive on the right or left side. The receiving players cannot swap their established positions for the deciding point.

In mixed competition, the receiver must be the same sex as the server under the current FIP rule.

Star Point versus Golden Point

Golden Point	Star Point
One deciding point immediately at first deuce	Up to two advantage cycles first
Fastest no-ad format	Compromise between advantage and no-ad
No advantage points	Advantage can still win the game

Both formats end with one deciding point if their trigger is reached. The difference is when that point happens.

Why the rule changed in 2026

FIP introduced Star Point to balance traditional advantage scoring with more predictable game length. The governing body announced it for its major professional, tour, junior, and amateur circuits beginning in 2026.

For social and club matches, Star Point is still something to agree before the first serve unless your competition specifies it.

Use Star Point in VMSPadel

Choose Star Point in the Apple Watch normal-match settings before play. VMSPadel then tracks the deuce stages, serving context, and deciding point while you update the score from your wrist.

Open the Apple Watch settings guide

Official sources

• FIP Rules of Padel: Rule 1, Option 2
• FIP announcement introducing Star Point for 2026