relations, some circuit players and part of the fans have greatly amplified the announcement of the introduction of the Star Point by International Federation of Padel. Presented as a major evolution of the scoring formatHowever, this new feature gives the impression that one actually far too much.

For over a year, one question has been repeatedly asked: Should we go back to NO AD?, already official, codified, and applied to the FIP Tour, as previously on the World Padel Tour ?
A format already proven at the highest level, now partly defended by the players broadcasters and part of public.

After a phase in NOAD on the WPT, the circuit Premier Padel made the choice, with the approval of a majority of players, to return to scoring with an advantage, HISTORY.

However, the criticisms never disappeared. The debates still focus on the excessive duration of some games, readability of the scoring for the viewer and the impact on the overall match durationparticularly in certain slow playing conditions.

From 2023, Paquito Navarro, Martín Di Nenno et Juan Lebrón had expressed favorable opinions on a return of the golden punto. More recently, Franco Stupaczuk evoked a hybrid format, very close to what would later be called Star Point.

Presented as a new format, Star Point it actually consists of preserving the scoring with advantageor a limit the number of ties to three, then to trigger a single decisive pointIn other words, it is a Golden Point delayed.

Star Point, No Ad, Golden Point: much ado about nothing

This principle has nothing revolutionary. He is inspired by other sportsand above all, it does not modify nor the structure of the game, nor his overall rhythm Significantly, a fundamental element is often overlooked: Most games don't even have more than three ties..

To assess the real impact, it is essential to distinguish men's matches et women's matcheswhose dynamics are very different. Among men, the exchanges are often shorterwith more quick winning pointsIn the women's game, the exchanges are longerSlow conditions amplify the duration of points, and some matches can exceed 2:30pm.

Conservative estimate of time saved – men's matches

Scoring formatAverage discount per gameEstimated winnings per setEstimated winnings per match
Classic AdvantageReference--
Star Point (maximum 3 ties)5 to 10 seconds30 to 60 seconds1 to 2 minutes
NO AD / Golden Point20 to 30 seconds2 to 3 minutes5 to 8 minutes

The impact of Star Point appears here very limited.

Conservative estimate of time saved – women's matches

Scoring formatAverage discount per gameEstimated winnings per setEstimated winnings per match
Classic AdvantageReference--
Star Point (maximum 3 ties)20 to 30 seconds2 to 3 minutes6 to 10 minutes
NO AD / Golden Point45 to 60 seconds5 to 7 minutes15 to 25 minutes

It is here that the NOAD shows a a truly structuring effect, particularly on slow tracks and during long exchanges regularly exceeding 40 seconds.

Ultimately, the conclusion is clear. The Star Point does not revolutionize padel, only marginally changes the duration of the matches and constitutes above all a low impact measure.

One essential point must also be remembered: This format has not yet been adopted by either the FIP or by Premier PadelRead here or there that this rule will Modify ou revolutionize Professional padel is therefore more akin to...media frenzy than factual analysis.

La FIP chose an approach extremely cautious, preferring to give the feeling of taking action without actually transformingLimit to three ties amounts to preserving almost entirely the advantage system, while showing progress.

Conversely, the World Padel Tour had, in his time, assumed a choice clearer with the NOAD, despite questionable communication and sometimes brutal methods. In hindsight, this choice was certainly more responsive to the challenges of longer term,, readability and diffusion.

In summary, many debates, many comments, lots of expectations, to finally not much on the field.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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