Padel rules explained

Padel is usually played in pairs on a 20 x 10 m court closed in by walls and metal mesh. You serve underhand after a bounce, you can play the ball off the walls, and it uses the same basic scoring system as tennis (games, sets, deuce), with padel-specific options at 40-40. This guide covers the current rules of the International Padel Federation (FIP), in the edition that applies from 1 January 2026.

The court and the net

• Playing area: 20 m long and 10 m wide, measured inside the walls.
• Service lines: 6.95 m from the net on each side. The centre service line runs at least 20 cm past the service line.
• Lines: 5 cm wide.
• Clear height: at least 6 m above the court. FIP suggests 8 m for new facilities.
• Net: 10 m long, 0.88 m high in the centre and 0.92 m at the ends. The posts are at most 1.05 m high.

Walls and fence

The back of the court is closed by an enclosure 4 m high: a 3 m wall with 1 m of metal mesh on top. The sides come in two layouts:

The walls and the metal fence are part of the playing enclosure. What matters is the order of contact: the ground first, then the wall. The details are in the sections below.

The serve

This is where most new players get caught out. Under the 2026 FIP rules:

1. Feet. At the start of the serve, stand with one foot behind the service line. Stay between the imaginary extension of the centre line and the side wall until you hit the ball. Older editions of the rules said "both feet"; the current FIP rule is one foot.
2. Bounce. Bounce the ball on the ground in your own serving area, behind the service line, before you hit it. The ball may not cross the service line before you strike it.
3. Height. Hit the ball at or below waist level, with at least one foot on the ground. That is why padel serves are underhand.
4. Direction. Serve diagonally. The ball must bounce first in the receiver's service box. The lines count as good.

You get two serves. A double fault loses the point.

Serve faults

• You break the position rules (a foot fault).
• You miss the ball.
• The ball bounces outside the receiver's box.
• The ball hits you, your partner, or anything either of you wears or carries.
• The ball bounces in the receiver's box and then touches the metal fence before its second bounce. This one is specific to padel: after the bounce, only the metal fence makes it a fault, not the wall.

Net on the serve (let)

The serve is replayed if the ball touches the net or the posts and then lands in the receiver's box. The exception: if it then touches the metal fence before the second bounce, it is a fault. The serve is also replayed if the receiver was not ready.

• A let on the first serve: you have two serves again.
• A let on the second serve: only the second serve is repeated.

Playing off the walls

The walls are what make padel feel different. The rules are simpler than they look:

• Before the second bounce. You must return the ball before it bounces twice on your side.
• Your own walls. You may play the ball against the walls on your side so that it then crosses the net. It does not have to touch the ground first. A return is good if it bounces directly in the opponents' court, or hits a wall on your own side first.
• The opponents' walls. Your shot has to land on their ground first. If it hits their wall or fence before bouncing, you lose the point.
• After the bounce. Once your shot has bounced in the opponents' court, it can hit their walls or fence and is still a good return.
• Your own fence or ground. If your shot touches the metal fence or the ground on your own side, you lose the point.

Playing outside the court

On some courts you can run out through the openings in the side walls to reach the ball. This is only allowed when the court meets FIP's safety-area conditions: an area at least 3 m wide (4 m is recommended), 4 m long and 3 m high, with 2 access openings on each side. If you are not sure, ask the club before you play.

The pair that had to return the ball loses the point if:

• after a correct bounce, the ball goes out over the end wall, or
• when play goes out over a side wall or through a door, the ball bounces twice or touches something that is not part of the court.

Other ways to lose a point

• Touching the net. You, your racket or anything you wear touches the net, the posts or the tension cable, or touches the opponents' court during the point.
• Double bounce. The ball bounces twice before you return it.
• Double hit. You hit the ball twice.
• Ball hits your side. After you hit it, the ball touches you, your partner or anything you wear.
• Both partners hit. You and your partner both hit the ball.
• Racket and cord. The safety cord breaks or the racket leaves your hand.

Lets during a rally

The point is replayed if the ball breaks, or if an object that is not part of the game comes onto the court. Call it at once: if you keep playing, you lose the right to claim the let.

Rackets and the safety cord

Padel rackets are solid and perforated, with no strings. FIP limits them to 45.5 cm in length and 38 mm in thickness. The wrist safety cord is mandatory: it must be non-elastic and no longer than 35 cm.

Scoring in short

Points go 15, 30, 40, game. The first pair to 6 games with a 2-game margin wins the set, a tie-break is played at 6-6, and a match is best of three sets. At 40-40, the FIP rules allow three formats: advantage, golden point and Star Point. Our guide to padel scoring explains each one step by step.

Next steps

• Agree the format before the first game. Ask your club or league what happens at 40-40: advantage, golden point or Star Point.
• Practise the serve. One foot behind the line, bounce in your own area, hit at waist height or below, diagonally into the box.
• Learn the order: ground, then wall. On their side the ball must bounce before it touches a wall. On your side you can use your walls straight away.
• Find a court. Use our directory to find a club near you, then book through the club's booking app or by phone.