Common Scoring Mistakes in Tennis and Padel (And How to Avoid Them)

Common Scoring Mistakes in Tennis and Padel (And How to Avoid Them)

You're mid-match, deep in a rally, and someone suddenly says the score is 30–40. You thought it was deuce. Uh-oh.
Welcome to the world of scoring confusion—something every tennis and padel player deals with at some point.

Whether you're just starting or already competing regularly, a few simple habits can save you from match-day drama. Let’s look at the most common scoring mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Forgetting the Score Mid-Game

It’s more common than you think. One long rally, one loud distraction, and suddenly no one remembers the score.
Fix it: Make it a habit to call out the score before each serve. In doubles, assign one player to do it consistently. Or go the easy route—a Pt Watch Scorekeeper can track the points with a single tap, so you don’t have to.

2. Mixing Up Server Scores

Both sides remember the score… but disagree on who’s got what.
Fix it: The server’s score is always announced first. If the score is 15–30, the server has 15. Stay consistent with this and you’ll avoid one of the most common match arguments.

3. Serving from the Wrong Side

You serve from the right, win the point, and… serve from the right again? Oops.
Fix it: The server alternates sides after every point. Here’s the trick:

  • If the total number of points played in the game is even, serve from the right (deuce court).
  • If it’s odd, serve from the left (ad court).

So at 15–0 (1 point played), you serve from the left. At 30–30 (4 points played), you serve from the right. Once you get used to this rhythm, it becomes second nature.

4. Deuce Battles That Go Off the Rails

Advantage, deuce, advantage, deuce… then someone says “game” out of nowhere.
Fix it: Keep mental track during deuce games—or announce the score after each point. If it gets too chaotic, a quick glance at a scorekeeping watch can save you the argument.

5. Forgetting to Change Ends

Yep—you're supposed to switch sides during a match. It's not just a pro thing.
Fix it: In both tennis and padel:

  • Change ends after the 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc. game of each set.
  • In tie-breaks, switch sides after every 6 points.

It balances out sun, wind, and court conditions—plus it gives everyone a moment to reset.

6. Tie-Break Confusion

Tie-breaks have different scoring (1, 2, 3...) and serve rotation rules. One slip-up, and suddenly no one knows who’s serving.
Fix it: In a tie-break:

  • Players serve once, then every two points.
  • Announce the score after every point.
  • Switch sides after 6 total points.

A small gadget like Pt Watch can take all this off your mind—so you can focus on playing, not counting.

7. Doubles Disagreements

Your partner says 30–15. You say 15–30. The other team says nothing and walks off the court.
Fix it: Before the match, agree on who keeps track of the score—just one person per team. Communicate clearly between points. Less drama, more dinking and smashing.

Game, Set… Clarity!

Scoring mistakes are normal—but they don’t have to ruin your game. With clear habits, better communication, and a little help from modern tools, you’ll keep the match smooth, fair, and fun.

And if you're tired of guessing whether it’s deuce or 40–30, a Pt·Watch Scorekeeper might just become your new favourite court buddy.

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