Keeping score should become a shared habit, not a discussion at the end of every rally. Learn the sequence, agree the match format and say the score before serving.
The sequence inside a game
Points normally run love, 15, 30, 40, then game. Call the serving pair’s score first. In a standard tie-break set, six games with a two-game lead wins the set; at 6–6, a tie-break decides it. Short formats can work differently. The LTA’s rules overview introduces the basic scoring system.
What happens at 40–40?
This depends on the format. With advantage scoring, a pair must win two consecutive points from deuce. With a deciding-point format, a single point can settle the game. Ask which system applies before you start.
For 2026, the LTA’s competition guide specifies Star Point for Grades 1 and 2, with its use optional at Grades 3–5. Star Point allows two advantage cycles; if neither produces a winner, the third deuce leads to one deciding point. The receiving pair chooses the receiving side without swapping positions. Mixed matches have an additional receiver requirement. Check the LTA’s 2026 competition guide for the complete event rules. A casual booking does not automatically use the same format as a tournament.
A worked example you can say aloud
Imagine your pair is serving. You win the first point: call “15–love”. The opponents win the next: “15–all”. They win again: “15–30”. You win the following two: “40–30”. If you win the next point, you win the game; if you lose it, the score is deuce and your agreed deuce system applies.
Try that sequence once without a ball. Have your partner repeat each call. It is a quick way to notice whether one of you is accidentally announcing the receiver’s score first.
Agree these details before the warm-up ends
- The match length: a full match, one set or a timed social session.
- The deuce system: advantage, a single deciding point or Star Point.
- The tie-break arrangement: when it starts and whether a match tie-break replaces a final set.
- The booking deadline: how your group will finish if court time expires.
A simple routine between points
- Confirm who won the rally before moving on.
- The server calls the score clearly before the next serve.
- If a call sounds wrong, resolve it before playing the next point.
- At the end of each game, confirm the game score and the next server.
For social games, a small score note can help while everyone learns. In organised competition, follow the referee’s procedure for a disputed score. Keep scorekeeping separate from shot advice: one clear call is easier to follow than several conversations.
New to the court? Pair this guide with our first-session checklist.