Star Point
The Star Point is the new deuce option introduced by the International Padel Federation in the 2026 rulebook. From the first deuce, a maximum of two advantages are allowed before a single decisive point is played. It sits between the immediate sudden-death of the Golden Point and the open-ended Classic Advantage system, and it is the default scoring used on Premier Padel and the CUPRA FIP Tour from January 2026.
What is the Star Point?
The Star Point is the new deuce option introduced by the International Padel Federation in the 2026 rulebook. From the first deuce of a game, a maximum of two advantages are allowed before the game must be decided.
The sequence runs deuce 1 - advantage 1 - deuce 2 - advantage 2 - deuce 3, and at that third deuce a single decisive Star Point is played. It replaces the open-ended back-and-forth of Classic Advantage without collapsing into the instant sudden-death of the Golden Point.
When does it apply?
The Star Point applies on every Premier Padel and CUPRA FIP Tour match from January 2026, and also runs across the FIP Promises and FIP Beyond circuits. Tournament organisers at every tier below that can choose freely between the Star Point, the Golden Point or Classic Advantage when they publish their regulations.
For club leagues and amateur events it is worth checking the rulebook for each competition - the format is not automatic outside the FIP-sanctioned calendar.
How does it work?
Once the score reaches the third deuce, the receiving pair chooses which of the two players will receive the decisive Star Point. Players cannot change sides or positions once that choice is made.
Service is delivered as normal, the point is played out under standard rules, and whichever pair wins the rally wins the game outright. There is no second chance and no further advantages from this point onwards.
Coach tip: The Star Point is a hybrid - both pairs get a second chance through the two-advantage cap, unlike the immediate sudden-death of the Golden Point. Train players to handle the high-pressure decisive point regardless of which deuce system the tournament uses.
Common mistakes
The most common misreading of FIP 2026 Rule 1 is assuming the Star Point means every deuce is decisive - that is the Golden Point, not the Star Point. The Star Point preserves the two-advantage cycle before any sudden-death point is played.
A second slip is forgetting that the receiving pair, not the server, picks the side for the decisive point.