The shortest possible version
Install Tally, open the watch face, pick "Padel" once, and tap the side that won the point. The match format you pick at the start determines whether the third set is a full set or a 10-point super-tiebreak — Tally handles the rest.
If you have already played padel and just want the app, stop reading and start a match.
Why padel deserves a wrist scorekeeper
Padel is the fastest-growing racquet sport globally and the most "between points" sport you can play. Rotations, side switches, drink breaks, glass-bouncing shots that everyone wants to debate — there is constant chatter and the scoreboard slips through the cracks. The wrist scorekeeper means you can argue about the bandeja and still know the score.
Also: most padel clubs do not have a paper scoreboard at every court. The watch is the scoreboard.
Step by step
Do this once and the rest is muscle memory:
- Install Tally from the App Store and let it sync to your Apple Watch.
- Open Tally on the watch and pick Padel as the active sport.
- Pick the format. Common combinations: best of 3 sets with ad scoring and a 7-point tiebreak at 6-6, or best of 3 with a 10-point match tiebreak instead of the third set.
- Start the match. The watch shows two big numbers (game score), the set score, the current games, and the server indicator.
- Tap your side after every point you win. Tap the opponent side after every point they win.
- At 6-6 the watch enters tiebreak mode and switches the serve every 2 points. At the end of the second set, if you chose match tiebreak format, the third set is replaced by a 10-point tiebreak.
The three format choices that actually matter
Padel has three settings that change the rules of the match. Pick them once and Tally remembers:
- Ad vs no-ad scoring. Ad is the classic format (deuce, advantage, win by two). No-ad uses sudden-death at 3-3 — the receiver picks the side and the next point wins the game. Most amateur leagues use ad scoring. Some pro tournaments use no-ad to keep matches on schedule.
- Tiebreak at 6-6 vs not. Almost always 7-point tiebreak at 6-6. Some old-school formats play out the set without a tiebreak, but that is rare today.
- Third set or match tiebreak. A best-of-three with full third sets can run 2+ hours. The match tiebreak (first to 10, win by 2) replaces the third set entirely and keeps matches under 90 minutes. Premier Padel and amateur leagues vary; ask your group before the match.
If you guess wrong on format setup, you can change it mid-match in the app's settings — the engine recalculates the current state correctly.
Side switching the watch does for you
Padel switches sides every odd game (1, 3, 5...) within a set, plus an extra switch after the set ends if the total games in the set were odd. Plus side switches every 6 points in a tiebreak. This is a lot to remember.
Tally plays a small haptic when it is time to switch sides. You will feel the buzz, look at the watch, and the screen will tell you to switch. No more "wait, do we change?" mid-set.
Double Tap and Live Activities
Double Tap (Series 9 and newer) lets you score from the wrist without touching the screen — useful when your hand is wet from a sweaty paddle grip. Live Activities mirror the score on the iPhone lock screen for partners or watching family.
After the match, Tally logs it as a Racquet Sports workout in Apple Health. Tally Pro adds the Coach's Report — a narrative recap that calls out the set you turned around, the player you served stronger against, and the moment of the match where the momentum shifted. The recap runs on-device with Apple Foundation Models; no cloud, no account.
Padel scoring is a tax on the rally. The watch pays it for you.