If you are entering your first LTA Grade 5 padel event, LTA Padel describes the Local Tour as a suitable starting point for players new to competition. Its current entry guide says Grade 5 draws have 8–16 pairs, use a compass draw and guarantee each pair at least three matches. The LTA Padel 2026 Referee and Organiser Guide lists one tie-break set as the minimum Grade 5 scoring format, with Star Point scoring optional.
Use those details as a baseline, then check the notice for your specific event. The published schedule, court, match order and scoring selection are the practical facts you need before travelling; the grade alone does not tell you all of them.
What does Grade 5 usually mean?
LTA Padel calls Grade 5 a Local Tour and recommends it for people new to competing. Its entrant guide says acceptance is first come, first served and that an event may run on one court. The same guide describes a compass draw with 8–16 pairs and at least three matches for each pair.
A compass draw keeps pairs playing further matches after a loss; LTA’s Grade 5 entry guide says each pair is guaranteed at least three matches. After your first match, check the live draw and ask the organiser where and when you should report next.
Grade 5 identifies the Local Tour category. LTA presents it as an entry point for people new to tournaments, so check the event’s eligibility information and decide whether the format suits your current experience with scored matches.
The published format and what to confirm
| Match-day question | LTA’s published Grade 5 baseline | Confirm for your event |
|---|---|---|
| What kind of event is it? | Local Tour; LTA suggests Grade 5 for players new to competing. | Entry acceptance, category, arrival or check-in time, and the contact for questions. |
| Does one loss end the day? | The entrant guide describes a compass draw and at least three matches. | Where the live draw is posted and how to find your next match after a win or loss. |
| How is a match scored? | The 2026 organiser guide lists one tie-break set as Grade 5’s minimum scoring format. | The event’s exact scoring notice and how its tie-break is played. |
| What happens at deuce? | Star Point scoring is optional at Grades 3–5 in the 2026 guide. | Whether this event uses Star Point, Advantage or another stated option. |
| When and where do I play? | The organiser guide says tournament properties should include match times, courts and scoring format. | Your first match time, court, draw updates and the instruction for checking later matches. |
These are source-based starting points, not a promise that every event notice uses identical wording. If the listing and event pack disagree or leave a question open, ask the organiser before the first match. For a plain-English explanation of the optional scoring format, see Star Point in padel.
A short checklist for you and your partner
Before the event:
- Save the event page, draw link, venue address and first match time.
- Confirm the match format and what happens at deuce; do not assume Star Point is automatic.
- Check how the organiser will announce court assignments and later match times.
- Agree who serves and receives first, which sides you prefer, and one default for an uncertain middle ball. The middle-ball decision guide gives pairs a way to make that call without relying only on court side.
- Use a warm-up you have practised. The site’s 12-minute padel warm-up ends with one simple partner cue instead of a long tactical meeting.
At the venue, check the draw again before leaving the court after a match. In a compass draw, the next assignment may depend on the result, and the organiser’s schedule is the source for where to go and when. Between points, keep communication short; the Score–Roles–Cue–Ready reset is designed to fit the time available during a match.
How should you practise for the format?
Once you know the event’s scoring, play a practice set using that same format. If the notice says Star Point, agree the receiving pair’s roles for a deciding point before you start; our 2026 Star Point guide explains the sequence. If the notice does not say, ask rather than guessing on the day.
Do not turn the week before your first event into a last-minute technique overhaul. Choose one tactical intention with your partner, such as recovering together after a lob or calling the middle early. Keep the rest familiar and use the padel match-tactics and positioning guide if your pair needs a simple shape to practise.
After each match, record the score, one repeated situation and one action for the next court session. The guide to tracking a padel match shows how to make that note useful without turning it into a full match report. Padel Coach App can help you keep a recorded clip with a training focus, so you have something specific to review at your next practice; see the match-video review guide or download the app.
Quick questions
Does every Grade 5 event guarantee three matches?
LTA Padel’s current entry guide says Grade 5 draws contain 8–16 pairs and use a compass format, with at least three matches guaranteed to each pair. Check the draw and event information for the tournament you entered.
Will my Grade 5 event use Star Point?
Not necessarily. LTA Padel’s 2026 organiser guide says Star Point is optional for Grades 3–5. Follow the scoring notice for your event; the grade by itself does not settle the choice.
Is a compass draw the same as a round robin?
No. LTA lists compass draw and round robin as separate formats for some grades. For Grade 5, its guidance names a compass draw and a minimum of three matches. Follow the organiser’s draw rather than assuming the format from another tournament.
Sources and scope
- LTA Padel: How to enter an LTA Padel competition, including its Grade 5 entry guidance.
- LTA Padel: Referee and Organiser Guide 2026, draw and scoring formats and tournament scheduling.
The guide applies to LTA Grade 5 Local Tour events in the UK. Club round robins, Americano or Mexicano sessions, leagues and other competitions can use different draws and scoring. Check the information supplied for the event you are playing.
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