Padel rules, explained simply

Everything you need for your first match, based on the International Padel Federation (FIP) rules that apply from 1 January 2026.

The basics

• Doubles: padel is played two against two on an enclosed 10 x 20 m court.
• Walls are in play: after the ball bounces on the ground, it can come off the glass or the mesh and still be played.
• One bounce: you must hit the ball before it bounces a second time. You can also volley it before it bounces, except on the return of serve.

1. The serve

• Stand with one foot behind the service line, between the centre line and the side wall. Don't touch the service line or the centre line.
• Bounce the ball on the ground behind the service line, then hit it at or below waist height, with at least one foot on the ground.
• Serve diagonally into your opponent's service box. The lines count as in.
• You get two attempts, as in tennis.
• Serve from the right first, then alternate sides after each point.

When the serve is a fault

• It lands outside the receiver's service box.
• It bounces in the box and then hits the mesh fence before bouncing again. Hitting the glass is fine.
• You miss the ball, or it hits you or your partner.

Net serves

If the serve clips the net and lands in the right box, it's replayed, as long as it doesn't then hit the mesh. Unlike pickleball, you don't play it.

2. The return of serve

The receiver must let the serve bounce in their box, then hit it before it bounces again. If the serve hits the receiver or their racket before bouncing, the point goes to the server.

3. Playing off the walls

• Once the ball has bounced on your side, you can play it after it comes off any wall or the mesh.
• You can hit the ball against your own walls to send it over the net, as long as it then lands on the ground on the other side.
• Your shot must bounce on the ground in your opponents' half before touching their walls or mesh. If it hits their wall, fence or anything else first, you lose the point.
• If your shot hits the mesh on your own side, you lose the point.

4. How you lose a point

• The ball bounces twice before you hit it.
• Your shot hits the opponents' wall or fence before bouncing on their ground.
• You, your racket or your clothing touch the net or posts while the ball is in play.
• The ball hits you or your partner.
• You hit the ball twice, or both players on your side hit it.
• You hit the ball before it has crossed the net.
• You drop your racket or your wrist cord breaks.
• You serve two faults in a row.

5. Padel scoring

Padel uses tennis scoring: 15, 30, 40, game. A set goes to 6 games with a 2-game lead, with a tie-break at 6-6. A match is the best of three sets.

What happens at 40-40

The 2026 rules allow three ways to settle a game at deuce. Agree which one you're playing before you start.

• Advantage: the classic system. You need two points in a row to win the game.
• Golden point: one deciding point at 40-40. The receiving pair chooses which side receives.
• Star Point (new in 2026): advantage is played twice. If the score reaches deuce a third time, one deciding point settles the game.

Tie-break

The tie-break goes to 7 points with a 2-point lead. The first server serves one point, then players serve two points each in turn. Change ends every 6 points.

6. Changing ends

Change ends after the 1st, 3rd and every odd-numbered game of each set.

Last checked: 31 October 2026