GPS Tournaments Explained: How the German Padel Series Works
Play padel tournaments in Germany and you'll quickly run into labels like GPS 100 or GPS 500. They stand for the German Padel Series – the official tournament series of the German Padel Federation (DPV) and the backbone of the national ranking. Here's what the numbers mean, how the points work and what you need to take part.
What is the German Padel Series?
The German Padel Series is the DPV's nationwide tournament series. Events run all year round at padel venues and clubs across Germany, published and managed via the Rankedin platform. Play is in doubles, with separate men's and women's draws, sometimes mixed and age-group categories too. From local entry-level events to top tournaments, everything hangs off the same series – and the same ranking.
The categories: GPS 50 to GPS 1500
The number after GPS isn't a location – it's the points awarded to the winning team. The series runs from GPS 50 through GPS 100, 250, 350 and 500 up to GPS 750, 1000 and 1500. You'll most often see GPS 100 and GPS 250 – the typical weekend tournaments. The higher the category, the stronger the field: GPS 1000 and 1500 draw Germany's best teams.
Points and the DPV ranking
The winning team collects the full points of the category; every other placing earns proportionally less. For the DPV ranking, your best eight results from the last 52 weeks count – so if you play a lot, weaker results gradually drop out. The ranking determines seeding in the draw and, for ambitious teams, is the real goal of the season.
Who can enter?
The entry barrier is low: GPS 50 tournaments are licence-free – anyone can sign up with a partner. From GPS 100 upwards you need a DPV licence, which you apply for through the federation. Entries are always made as a pair via the tournament listing. You'll find all current GPS tournaments – filterable by category, city and radius – in our tournament calendar. And for how these tournaments work in general, see our overview of padel tournaments in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
What does GPS 250 mean in padel?
GPS stands for German Padel Series; 250 is the number of points the winning team earns. GPS 250 is a mid-level category – tougher than the entry-level GPS 50 and 100 events, but below the top GPS 1000 and 1500 tournaments.
Do I need a licence for GPS tournaments?
Not for GPS 50 – the entry category is licence-free. From GPS 100 upwards a DPV licence is required, which you apply for through the federation.
How many tournaments count for the DPV ranking?
Your best eight results from the last 52 weeks. Older and weaker results drop out automatically as better ones come in.