Reading a pro bodybuilding contest recap on BarBend typically includes mention of judges’ scoring. Examples include an athlete “receiving a unanimous first-place vote from the judges” or “a one-point decision separating first and second place.”
Newer fans may not know how bodybuilding scores are determined, but this breakdown will help explain how bodybuilding competition scoring works in the IFBB Professional League divisions.
The Judging Panel
The size of the contest determines the number of judges assigned to it. Smaller shows have five judges, while others may have seven. Larger shows, such as the Olympia or Arnold Classic, can have as many as nine.
Regardless of the show, there will always be an odd number of judges, including the head judge, responsible for calling the athletes out for comparisons and instructing them on the poses to perform.
The Rounds
The Men’s Open and Fitness divisions have two mandatory scoring rounds. The Men’s Open category includes Pre-judging and Finals. According to the IFBB Professional League rules, each round counts for half of the total score. This gives the Men’s Open athletes time to improve between rounds and the judges another opportunity to confirm their scoring.
The Fitness division is unique because of its physique and routine rounds.
- The physique round is basically standard pre-judging based on the body’s appearance and counts for one-third of the score.
- The routine round showcases each competitor’s athleticism and agility, is supposed to be as entertaining and inspiring as possible, and counts for two-thirds of the overall score.
Typically, only the pre-judging round is scored in all other divisions. If the judges need to examine the athletes further, they can institute a “confirmation” or final round.
The Scoring
Judges score the athletes in the order they deem they should rank: first place gets a score of one, second place gets two, and so on. The head judge then adds the scores together.
The highest and lowest scores are removed in a five or seven-judge panel. The two highest and lowest may be erased if it is a nine-judge lineup. This prevents an extreme score from affecting the overall placing.
For example, if six judges were to place an athlete first, but the seventh was to rank them sixth, then the sixth-place vote would be tossed. If an athlete is placed fourth by the majority of the panel but one picks them as the winner, that vote won’t count in the final score.
2025 Pittsburgh Pro
This does not necessarily mean the scoring will be consistent at every show. Occasionally, several judges may have differing opinions. The 2025 Pittsburgh Pro, where Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker tied on the scorecards, is a prime example.
Walker won the pre-judging round, and Lunsford won the finals. Their combined scores gave them each 15 points at the end of the contest.
In a tie, the athlete who won the finals may be deemed the winner. The judges may occasionally decide that the athletes must pose again for a third vote. That was what happened in Pittsburgh, where Lunsford ultimately won the contest.
Scorecards
The competitors are listed alphabetically on the judges’ scorecards or in the order they checked in for the contest. They are given a number displayed on a pin they wear on their trunks.
When the IFBB Professional League publishes the scorecards post-contest, athletes are listed in their order of finish along with their respective scores. Two scores are added to determine the overall score for the Men’s Open and Fitness divisions. The other divisions traditionally have only the pre-judging round score listed.
Using the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro as an example, the top three of the Men’s Open contest looked like this.
| Number | Name | Pre-Judging | Finals | Total | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Derek Lunsford | 8 | 7 | 15 | 1 |
| 14 | Nick Walker | 7 | 8 | 15 | 2 |
| 6 | Martin Fitzwater | 16 | 15 | 31 | 3 |
This scoring reflects the judges being torn between Lunsford and Walker. If the competitor received all first-place votes, Lunsford would have a total score of 10 (five for each round).
This example shows that some judges scored Fitzwater in fourth place in pre-judging, meaning he received four third-place votes and one fourth-place vote on the scorecards.
One week later, the 2025 New York Pro had a smaller panel, and the scoring was more consistent. Walker won that contest with a perfect score, so he has threes instead of sixes on the scorecards. The judges agreed on the top three based on the consistent scoring.
The votes counted ranked Walker, William Bonac, and Michal Krizanek in the top three in that order. The scoring from that show is below:
| Number | Name | Pre-Judging | Finals | Total | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98 | Nick Walker | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| 90 | William Bonac | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 |
| 6 | Michal Krizanek | 9 | 9 | 18 | 3 |
The judges score the top 15 of a lineup. Athletes who don’t rank in the top 15 are usually tied for 16th place. There are exceptions, where judges score beyond 15th in international contests, but it is not traditional.
Regardless of the division or show, judges’ scores are final and cannot be appealed. If athletes question why they placed where they did, they are encouraged to speak to the judges about their rank and what they need to improve for the next contest.
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