How Star Point Changes Padel Strategy: Why Big Points Now Matter Even More
Padel has always been a game of momentum. One loose return, one rushed volley, one missed bandeja at the wrong moment, and a comfortable game can suddenly become a battle and here we explain the new star point scoring system.
Now, with the arrival of the Star Point scoring system, those moments are about to matter even more.
From the 2026 season, the International Padel Federation and Premier Padel are introducing Star Point across major competitions, including Premier Padel, the CUPRA FIP Tour, FIP Promises, and FIP Beyond. The change was approved as part of an update to the FIP Rules of Padel, with the goal of balancing tradition, player welfare, broadcast appeal, and fan engagement.
So what does that mean for players?
It means pressure points are no longer just important. They are decisive.
What is Star Point in padel?
Star Point is a new scoring format that changes what happens when a game reaches 40-40.
Under traditional advantage scoring, a game can keep going through repeated deuces until one pair wins two consecutive points. Under Golden Point, the very next point at 40-40 decides the game.
Star Point sits between the two.
At deuce, the game still uses normal advantage scoring at first. But if the score returns to deuce after the first two advantage situations, the next point becomes a single decisive Star Point. Whoever wins that rally wins the game.
In simple terms:
Star Point keeps the drama of advantage scoring, but stops games from dragging on forever.
For spectators, it creates a clear high-pressure moment. For players, it changes how you should think tactically.
Why Star Point changes the psychology of padel
Padel is not just about hitting the best shot. It is about choosing the right shot at the right time.
The Star Point system increases the value of decision-making under pressure. When a game reaches the decisive point, there is no room to “feel your way in” or recover from a poor choice. One rally decides the game.
That does not mean players should become reckless. In fact, it means the opposite.
The best Star Point players will not be the ones who simply hit harder. They will be the ones who know exactly what their highest-percentage pattern is when the pressure rises.
At club level, this is where many players go wrong. They treat big points like a chance to produce something spectacular. They go for a risky return, an unnecessary smash, or a low-percentage winner from the back glass.
Star Point rewards pairs who stay clear, disciplined, and connected.
1. Serve strategy becomes more deliberate
On normal points, players can sometimes get away with a loose serve or a predictable pattern. On Star Point, the serve needs a clear purpose.
The serving pair has a major opportunity because they can start the rally with structure. But that advantage is wasted if the serve is casual.
The key question is:
What serve gives us the best chance of controlling the next ball?
That might mean serving into the body to jam the returner. It might mean targeting the weaker backhand. It might mean serving slower and wider to open space for the first volley.
The goal is not always an ace or a forced error. In padel, the goal is often to create a slightly uncomfortable return so the server’s partner can take the net early and start the point in control.
For amateur players, the lesson is simple: do not just “put the serve in” on big points. Choose the serve before you step up.
2. Return strategy becomes less about winners and more about survival
Returning on Star Point can feel brutal. You are under pressure before the rally even begins.
The temptation is to do too much: attack the first ball, slap a return down the line, or try to surprise the net player. But unless that shot is genuinely one of your strengths, it is usually the wrong choice.
A good Star Point return should do three things:
- Get the ball in play.
- Avoid giving the net player an easy volley.
- Buy enough time to recover position.
The lob becomes extremely valuable here. Not a desperate, floating lob, but a controlled, deep lob that pushes opponents away from the net and resets the point.
The chiquita is also useful when executed well, especially if the server is slow to close the net. But it needs control. A rushed chiquita into the net is one of the fastest ways to lose a decisive point.
On Star Point, a boring return is often a winning return.
3. Net position matters even more
Padel is usually won from the net, but Star Point makes net control even more valuable.
When the game reaches a decisive point, the pair that controls the net usually controls the emotional temperature of the rally. They can apply pressure, force defensive lobs, and make the opponents hit one more difficult ball.
But there is a difference between holding the net and panicking at the net.
Many players get tight on big points. Their volleys become stiff. They stop moving their feet. They reach instead of adjusting. The result is either a soft volley that gives opponents time, or a forced attacking shot that misses.
The better approach is to use the net patiently.
Play the first volley deep. Make your opponents move. Look for the weak lob. Then attack when the opportunity is clear.
Star Point does not mean “finish the rally immediately.” It means “make the right decision immediately.”
4. The bandeja becomes a pressure weapon
If there is one shot that may become even more important under Star Point, it is the bandeja.
Why?
Because the bandeja is the shot that lets you maintain control without overcommitting.
On a decisive point, many players see a lob and immediately want to smash. That can work if the ball is short and the player has the technique to finish. But from deeper positions, the smash can become a trap.
A controlled bandeja allows you to keep the net, move your opponents, and avoid giving away a cheap error.
The same applies to the vibora. It can be a major weapon, but only if it is a reliable shot. On Star Point, your “best” shot is not the flashiest one. It is the one you can trust when your heart rate is high.
5. Communication between partners becomes critical
Star Point is not just an individual test. It is a partnership test.
Before a decisive point, both players need to know the plan.
Who is taking the middle?
Where is the serve going?
Are you expecting a lob or a low return?
Who attacks the first high ball?
What happens if you get pushed to the back?
Pairs that communicate clearly before big points will have an edge. They reduce hesitation. They avoid both players moving for the same ball. They make the point feel familiar rather than chaotic.
A simple pre-point conversation can make a huge difference:
“Serve body, cover middle, first volley deep.”
That is enough. You do not need a complicated strategy. You need a shared one.
6. Risk management becomes the real skill
Star Point will create highlights, but it will also expose poor risk management.
The question players need to ask is not:
Can I make this shot?
It is:
How often do I make this shot under pressure?
That difference matters.
A smash you make 70% of the time in practice might become a 40% shot when the score is tight. A simple deep volley might not look impressive, but if you make it 95% of the time, it may be the smarter choice.
At higher levels, Star Point may encourage pairs to develop specific pressure patterns. At club level, it should encourage players to stop gambling unnecessarily.
The pair that makes fewer emotional decisions will usually win more Star Points.
7. Fitness and focus still matter, even if games are shorter
One reason behind Star Point is to avoid endless deuce games and make match lengths more predictable. Premier Padel and FIP have framed the change as part of a wider effort to improve player welfare and create a better product for fans and broadcasters.
But shorter games do not mean easier games.
In fact, they may feel more intense.
Players will need to switch on quickly, manage nerves, and recover mentally after losing decisive points. The physical load may be more controlled, but the psychological load could increase.
That makes routines more important: breathing, pre-point rituals, clear tactical calls, and the ability to reset after a mistake.
How amateur players should train for Star Point
You do not need to wait for official competitions to start using Star Point in your own matches. In fact, it is a brilliant training tool.
Try adding Star Point games into your practice sessions.
Play normal games, but when you reach repeated deuce situations, use the Star Point format. Track who wins those points and why. You will quickly see patterns.
Do you miss returns under pressure?
Do you overhit volleys?
Do you stop communicating?
Do you lob too short?
Do you attack too early?
Once you know your pattern, you can train it.
A great drill is to start every game at 40-40. One pair serves, the other returns, and you play only the pressure phase. Rotate servers and returners. After 10 or 20 points, you will have a much clearer picture of your real pressure habits.
Final thoughts: Star Point rewards smart padel
Star Point is not just a scoring change. It is a strategy change.
It makes the biggest moments easier for fans to understand and harder for players to hide from. It rewards pairs who can stay calm, choose high-percentage patterns, and communicate clearly when the pressure peaks.
For club players, the lesson is simple:
You do not need a bigger smash to win more big points.
You need a better plan.
The best Star Point players will be the ones who know their strengths, protect their weaknesses, and make opponents play one more ball when it matters most.
In padel, big points have always mattered.
Now they matter even more.