Score formats by sport
How to write tennis, padel and pickleball scores, including tie-breaks, match tie-breaks and each scoring format.
Scores are written as a list separated by commas, from the point of view of the first player or team. How each part is counted depends on the sport.
Scores are entered in a box for each set or game, on the dashboard, the score link and the player app. This page explains how those sets and games are counted, and what a pasted score should look like.
Tennis and padel
Tennis and padel are scored in sets. Write each set as games won, for example:
6-4, 7-5
If a set went to a tie-break, you can add the tie-break score in brackets after it:
6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5)
If the match was decided by a match tie-break instead of a final set, wrap it in square brackets:
6-1, 3-6, [10-8]
A match tie-break counts as a set won, but only as one game in the game totals.
In padel, the deciding set is usually a match tie-break to 10. Golden points don't change the score, so record games as normal.
Tennis and padel standings show games for (GF), games against (GA) and game difference (GD).
Scoring formats
A tennis or padel match can record how it was scored, such as one Fast4 set or two sets with a match tie-break. The list follows the LTA's approved scoring formats, plus a few that clubs often use.
| Scoring format | How to write it |
|---|---|
| Match tie-break (to 10) | [10-8] |
| Best of three tie-breaks | [7-5], [4-7], [7-3] |
| One Fast4 set | 4-2 or 4-3 (7-5) |
| Two Fast4 sets, match tie-break | 4-2, 4-1 or 4-2, 3-4 (5-7), [10-6] |
| Two sets, match tie-break | 6-4, 6-3 or 6-4, 4-6, [10-7] |
| Best of three sets | 6-4, 6-3 or 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) |
| Pro set (to 8) | 8-6 |
| One set (to 6) | 6-4 |
| Timed match or other | Games won in each set |
A Fast4 set goes to a tie-break at 3-3, written in brackets after the set, like 4-3 (7-5).
Put every tie-break that stands in for a set in square brackets, including each one in best of three tie-breaks. Without brackets, the tie-break points would count as games.
Set a league's usual scoring format in the league settings, under Matches. For a junior league, picking a ball colour suggests the LTA's recommended format for that age group. You can change the format for any match when you enter its score.
The scoring format is a label. It doesn't change how points or standings are worked out, and a score is never rejected for not matching it.
Pickleball
Pickleball is scored in games. Write each game as points won, for example a 2-0 win with games to 11:
11-7, 11-9
A single game to 15 is written as:
15-11
Pickleball scores don't use tie-break brackets.
Pickleball standings show points for (PF), points against (PA) and points difference (PD).
Draws
If both sides win the same number of sets or games, the match is a draw, for example 6-4, 4-6 in tennis or 11-7, 7-11 in pickleball.
Run your own league, free
Fixtures, standings and stats for your club. No credit card needed.