The Origins of the Current Padel Score: Unraveling the Mystery of 15, 30, 40

🔍The Origins of the Padel Scoring System

Believe it or not, the origins of the current padel scoring system can be traced back to the medieval game of real tennis, also known as royal tennis. This precursor to modern tennis was played by kings and nobles in grand indoor courts, and it had its own unique scoring system that differed from the one we use today.

In real tennis, players would start the game at "15" and then progress to "30" and "40" before finally reaching "game." However, the reasons behind these particular numbers remain somewhat of a mystery.

💡Theories on the Origins of the Scoring System

One theory suggests that the scoring system was derived from the 🇫🇷 French game of paume (jeu de paume), which was a popular precursor to real tennis. In paume, scoring might have been done with clocks 🕒.

A quarter turn of the minute hand could have meant 1 point (15), half a turn 2 points (30), and so on. When the hand reached the hour (60 minutes), the game would be over. Over time, the "45" was shortened to "40" to make the scoring system more concise.

Sounds logical, right? Well, hold on a sec...🤔

There are a couple of problems with this clock theory:

• The first written references to this scoring system actually predate clocks with minute markings . So, people probably weren't using fancy clocks to keep score back then.

• Some historians believe the scoring system might have come from a completely different game altogether !

Intriguing! So, what other theories are there?

Here are a couple of other interesting ideas:

• The Hunting Hypothesis: Maybe points were originally marked on the court itself. For example, 15 marks could have been one point, 30 marks two points, and so on.

• The Golden Money Theory: This one suggests points might have been linked to the value of old coins. Maybe 15 points was worth a certain amount, 30 points another, and so on.

The Truth is Out There. Somewhere

As you can see, the exact origin of the 15, 30, 40 system remains a bit of a mystery. But hey, that just adds to the fun and intrigue of the game, right?

The Padel Legacy Continues

No matter where it came from, this unique scoring system has become an essential part of padel (and tennis) all over the world. From calling out "advantage" at deuce to celebrating that winning game point, it all adds to the excitement of the sport.

So next time you're locked in a close padel match, take a moment to appreciate the curious history behind the score you're calling out. Who knows, maybe someday you'll be the one rewriting padel history by winning a crazy long rally or pulling off an incredible comeback!

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