Padel Rules

The Court

A padel court is a rectangle 20 m long and 10 m wide, divided in half by a net and fully enclosed.

• Back walls: 4 m high at each end — 3 m of solid wall (usually glass) with 1 m of metal mesh on top.
• Side walls: glass panels near each end, then metal mesh along the rest of the side.
• Service lines: 6.95 m from the net on each side, with a centre service line splitting the area between the service line and the net into two service boxes.
• Net: 10 m long, 0.88 m high in the centre and up to 0.92 m at the posts.

Scoring

Padel uses tennis scoring.

• Points: 15, 30, 40, game. At 40-40 (deuce) you need two points in a row to win the game.
• Sets: first to 6 games, with a 2-game lead. At 6-6 a tie-break is played: first to 7 points, win by 2.
• Match: best of three sets. Many club and tournament formats replace the third set with a super tie-break (first to 10 points, win by 2).
• Changing ends: players swap sides after the first game of each set and then every two games (after odd-numbered games).

Golden point and star point

To keep matches moving, many events use a deciding point at deuce instead of advantage:

• Golden point: at the first deuce (40-40), the next point wins the game. The receiving pair chooses which of them receives.
• Star point: the first two deuces are played with advantage as normal. If the game reaches deuce a third time, a single deciding point wins it.

Check which format your club or tournament uses before you start.

The Serve

The serve is the biggest difference from tennis: it's underhand, and the ball bounces first.

1. Stand behind the service line, between the centre line and the side wall. Don't touch either line with your feet.
2. Bounce the ball on the ground behind the service line, then hit it.
3. Make contact at or below waist height, with at least one foot on the ground.
4. Serve diagonally into the opponent's service box. The first serve of each game goes from the right side, then you alternate.
5. You get two serves, as in tennis.

Service faults

A serve is a fault if:

• the server misses the ball or hits it above the waist;
• it lands outside the correct service box (the line counts as in);
• after bouncing in the box, it hits the metal mesh before its second bounce;
• it hits the server's partner.

A serve that bounces in the box and then hits the glass is fine and must be played.

Lets

If the serve touches the net and lands in the correct box, it's a let and is replayed. A let doesn't count as a fault.

The Walls: How Play Works

This is what makes padel unique. The basic rule is simple: the ball must bounce on the ground before it touches the opponents' walls.

On your opponents' side

• If your shot bounces in their court and then hits their glass or mesh, it's in — they can play it after it comes off the wall, as long as it hasn't bounced twice.
• If your shot hits their wall or mesh before bouncing, you lose the point.

On your side

• After the ball bounces on your side, you can let it come off your glass and then hit it back — this is called playing off the wall.
• You may only let it bounce once on the ground. A second bounce loses the point.
• You can also hit the ball into your own back or side glass so that it rebounds over the net. This shot is called a contrapared and is perfectly legal.
• You can volley the ball before it bounces, except on the serve return.

Winning points off the walls

You win the point if your shot bounces in the opponents' court and then:

• goes out of the court over the wall or through a door; or
• gets stuck in the mesh or on top of the wall.

Some courts have open exits that allow out-of-court play, where players can run outside to retrieve a ball. This is only allowed when the court is built with the required safety space. On most club courts, a ball that leaves the court after bouncing is simply a winner.

Other Rules to Know

• Doubles: padel is played as doubles almost everywhere. Partners can hit the ball in any order — there's no need to alternate.
• Touching the net: if you or your racket touches the net or posts while the ball is in play, you lose the point.
• Hitting the ball twice: a double hit in a single stroke loses the point.
• Ball hits a player: if the ball hits you or your partner, you lose the point.
• Racket safety cord: the cord on the handle must be worn around your wrist.

Rules are updated by the International Padel Federation from time to time. For tournaments, check the current official rulebook and any local event rules.