Padel rules explained: a friendly FIP summary of the official rules for beginners

New to padel or need a friendly refresher before your next match? Here's a clear, court-ready overview of the official rules used worldwide, translated into plain language so you can play confidently and avoid common faults.

Updated for 2026. The FIP issued a revised rulebook effective 1 January 2026. The fundamentals below are unchanged, but the serve wording, the 40–40 format and the safety cord rule have all moved. See what changed in the 2026 padel rules for the full list.

Below you'll find quick explanations and a handy quick-reference table. When in doubt during a match, check the "what counts" sections.

Court and equipment

Court size: 10m wide x 20m long, enclosed with glass walls and mesh fencing.
Net height: 0.88m at the center, rising to 0.92m at the posts.
Out-of-court play: Courts must have 2 exit doors per side (0.72–0.82m wide, 2m tall minimum). From 2026 the minimum safety zone is 3m wide and 4m long, up from 2m wide, for new builds.
Balls: Must meet the FIP specification for padel balls.
Rackets: Solid (not strung), perforated hitting surface, max 45.5cm long, 26cm wide, 38mm thick. Must have a non-elastic safety wrist cord, max 35cm, fixed in the handle. From 2026, if the cord breaks or detaches during a point — or you drop the racket — you lose the point.

Player positions and changing sides

Padel is always doubles. Players stand on opposite sides of the net; the server starts the point and the receiver returns it.
Change ends after every odd number of games (1, 3, 5, …).
Rest time: up to 90 seconds between games.

Choosing serve and side

A pre-match toss decides who chooses first: serve/receive, side, or asking opponents to choose.

The serve: how to do it right

Serve diagonally into the opposite service box; lines are good.
Feet between the centre line extension and the side wall, with at least one foot in contact with or behind the service line at impact. (Before 2026 this required both feet.)
Bounce the ball before hitting it. The ball may not cross the service line, or its imaginary extension, before you strike it.
Strike at or below waist height, with at least one foot on the ground; no walking, running or jumping into it.
Start from the right; alternate sides each point.
If you served from the wrong side, correct when noticed; points already stand.

Service faults

Typical faults include:

Any violation of the serve mechanics above.
Missing the ball completely while attempting to serve.
Ball landing outside the receiver's service box (lines count in).
Serve hitting the server's partner.
Served ball touching the fence or walls before the second bounce.
Taking more than 20 seconds to serve. This limit is actively enforced in sanctioned play from 2026.

Service and return order

Teams decide who serves first and who receives first each set; the order then alternates and must remain until the set ends.
If someone serves or receives out of turn, fix it when noticed; points already played usually stand.

Second serve and receiver readiness

Two serves per point: if the first is a fault, you get a second from the same side, immediately.
Don't serve until the receiver is ready; if they weren't ready and didn't try to return, you can't claim the point—even if the serve was in.

Lets and interference

A let is replayed when: a serve touches the net then lands good, the receiver wasn't ready, the ball breaks, or play is interrupted by something beyond players' control.
If a player is disturbed by something outside their control (not the court itself or their partner), replay the point.
Deliberate disturbance → point goes to opponents.

Scoring and tiebreaks

Game points: 0, 15, 30, 40, then deuce at 40–40.
What happens at 40–40 depends on the format, and the 2026 rulebook recognises three. Advantage: win two points in a row. Star Point: two advantages, then one deciding point. Golden Point: a single sudden-death point straight away. Organisers choose before the event; agree it before you start a social match.
Sets: first to 6 with a 2-game margin. At 5–5 you play on to 7–5; at 6–6 the set goes to a tiebreak.
Standard tiebreak: first to 7 with a 2-point margin; one serve from the right, then two serves each, starting left; change ends every 6 points.
Matches: best of 3 sets.

Full detail in our padel scoring guide.

Ball in play, out of court, and volleys

After a good serve, the ball is live until it bounces twice, hits a player, or another fault occurs.
You may play off your own glass to send the ball over the net (not on the serve).
Players may exit the court to retrieve the ball if the facility meets safety dimensions.
Volleys are allowed any time except on the return of serve.

Correct vs. incorrect returns

A return is correct when:

It touches the net/posts and then lands good.
You play off your glass and the ball then lands in the opponents' court.
It lands in, then goes out over the top or hits objects (roof/lights) on their side.

A team loses the point for:

Touching the net or opponents' side while the ball is live.
Double bounce, volleying the serve, double-hit, or the ball hitting you or your gear.
Ball going directly into opponents' wall/fence without the ground first; hitting your own fence; crossing the net before the ball does; both partners striking the ball on one shot.
Breaking or detaching the wrist cord, or dropping the racket, during a point (2026).

Continuous play and suspensions

Keep play continuous, respecting 20 seconds between points and 90 seconds on changeovers.
The pre-match warm-up is 3 minutes from 2026, reduced from 5.
If suspended (e.g., rain/lights), warm-up allowances depend on delay length; resume with same score, server, and ends.

Ball changes

Tournament regulations specify when balls are changed, usually by round or after a set number of games.
Lost or damaged balls must be replaced with ones in similar condition.

Clothing, identity, and behavior

Wear clean, appropriate sports clothing and proper shoes; competitions may set their own dress requirements.
Rackets and balls must meet official standards.
Players must prove identity, nationality, and age if asked.
Conduct: respect opponents, officials, and spectators. Warnings, point penalties, and disqualification may be applied for misconduct such as racket abuse, ball abuse, obscenities, or aggressive behavior. From 2026, a coach's second verbal warning means immediate expulsion.
Eating and drinking between points is prohibited from 2026; hydrate at permitted side changes.

Quick-reference table

Topic	What to remember
Court & equipment	10x20m court, 0.88m net, 3m safety zone (new builds), regulated rackets
Format & ends	Doubles only; change ends after odd games; 90s rest
Toss & choices	Choose serve/receive or side
Serve basics	Diagonal into box; waist-height strike; one foot behind line; ball must not cross the line before contact
Service faults	Missed strike, out, hits partner, fence/wall touch, >20s
Orders	Service and receive orders fixed per set
Second serve	One re-try from same side, immediately
Receiver ready	Don't serve until receiver is ready
Lets	Net-cord in on serve, not ready, broken ball, interruptions
Interference	Outside disturbance → replay; deliberate → point to opponents
Scoring	15–30–40; three 40–40 formats; sets to 6 by 2; TB at 6–6
Tiebreak	First to 7 by 2; serve 1–2–2…; switch ends every 6
Ball in play	Off your glass is fine (not on serve); can exit court to retrieve
Correct returns	Net-cord in, off your glass, out over top or hits roof on their side
Lose the point	Net touch, double bounce, volleying serve, double-hit, body contact, cord break
Continuous play	20s between points; 90s changeovers; 3-minute warm-up
Conduct	Proper attire, identity, sportsmanlike behavior; no eating between points

Primary source: Official Padel Rules — International Federation of Padel, edition effective 1 January 2026.
This summary is for guidance only; always defer to the full FIP text and local tournament regulations.

Ready to play? Find courts near you

Plan a match and put the rules into practice at courts near you:

Los Angeles, CA: /california/los-angeles
Miami, FL: /florida/miami
Austin, TX: /texas/austin
New York City, NY: /new-york/new-york
Easton, PA: /pennsylvania/easton

Brand new to the sport? Start with what is padel.