Official Padel Rules Explained Simply (2026 Guide)

Padel rules can seem confusing at first — walls are in play, the serve is underhand, and the scoring sounds like tennis but not quite. This guide breaks down every official rule in plain language so you can walk onto the court with confidence.

Court Dimensions

An official padel court is 20 meters long and 10 meters wide, divided by a net in the center. The court is fully enclosed:

• Back walls: 4 meters high — the bottom 3 meters are solid glass, topped by 1 meter of metal mesh
• Side walls: Start at 4 meters near the back and step down to 3 meters toward the net. The last section near the net is open (no wall), allowing the ball to leave the court
• Net height: 88cm at the center, rising to 92cm at the posts
• Service boxes: Each half is divided into two service boxes by a center line, with a service line 3 meters from the back wall

Serving Rules

The serve in padel is very different from tennis. Here are the key rules:

1. Underhand only: The ball must be struck at or below waist height. No overhead serves allowed.
2. Bounce first: The server bounces the ball on the ground behind the service line, then hits it after one bounce.
3. Diagonal service: The serve must land in the diagonally opposite service box, just like tennis.
4. Feet position: At least one foot must be on the ground behind the service line at the moment of contact. You cannot jump to serve.
5. Two serves: You get two attempts. If the first serve is a fault (net, wrong box, or the ball hits the side wall before bouncing), you get a second serve.
6. Wall after bounce: A valid serve bounces in the correct box. If it then hits the back glass wall, it's still in play. However, if it hits the side metal mesh after bouncing, it's a fault.

Scoring System

Padel uses the exact same scoring system as tennis:

• Points within a game: 0 (love), 15, 30, 40, game
• Deuce: When both teams reach 40-40, it's deuce. A team must then win two consecutive points — first to gain "advantage," then to win the game
• No-ad scoring (optional): In some tournaments, at deuce the receiving team chooses which side receives, and one point decides the game. This is called "golden point" and is used in World Padel Tour events
• Sets: The first team to win 6 games wins the set, provided they lead by at least 2 games
• Tiebreak: At 6-6, a tiebreak is played. Points are counted 1, 2, 3, etc. First to 7 points with a 2-point lead wins the tiebreak and the set
• Match: Best of 3 sets. Some recreational games play a single set or a super tiebreak (first to 10) instead of a third set

Walls in Play

This is what makes padel unique. Here are the wall rules:

• After the bounce: Once the ball bounces on the ground on your side, it can hit any wall (glass or mesh) and you can still return it — as long as it hasn't bounced on the ground a second time
• Direct wall hit: You cannot hit the ball directly into your own wall. The ball must cross the net first, and then must bounce on the opponent's floor before touching their wall
• Over the wall: If the ball bounces on the ground and then pops up over the back or side wall, you can exit through the side opening and play it back — one of the most spectacular shots in padel
• Your own wall: After the ball bounces on your floor and rebounds off your wall, you must hit it back over the net before it touches the ground again

When Is the Ball Out?

The ball is out in the following situations:

• It bounces on the ground outside the court lines (this rarely happens due to the walls)
• After being hit by a player, it hits the wire mesh or wall on the opponent's side before bouncing on their floor
• It goes over the back or side wall directly without bouncing on the opponent's side first
• It hits any fixture above the court (lights, ceiling) — this counts as out regardless of which side

The simplest way to remember: the ball must always bounce on the opponent's floor before it touches their walls. If it hits a wall first, it's out.

Let Rules

A let (replay of the point) is called when:

• The serve clips the net cord and lands in the correct service box (same as tennis — the serve is replayed)
• Any external interference disrupts play (a ball from another court rolls in, a sudden loud noise, etc.)
• A player is injured and the point is in progress

Note: unlike some racket sports, there is no let on a return that clips the net during a rally. If the ball touches the net during play and goes over, it's still in play.

Switching Sides

Teams switch ends after every odd-numbered game in each set (after games 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.). During the tiebreak, teams switch every 6 points. This ensures neither team has an unfair advantage from sun, wind, or court conditions.

Doubles Positioning

Padel is almost exclusively a doubles game. Here's how positioning works:

• On serve: The server stands behind the service line on their side. Their partner typically stands at the net on the opposite side
• On return: The receiver stands in or near the service box to receive. Their partner stands roughly at the service line on the opposite side
• During the rally: Both players on a team should try to be at the same depth — either both at the net or both at the back. Avoid one-up-one-back formations when possible
• Side choice: In recreational padel, players typically pick a side (left or right) and stay there. The left side player handles more backhand shots, while the right side player takes more forehand shots (for right-handers)

Common Rule Mistakes Beginners Make

1. Hitting the ball into your own wall: You cannot play the ball off your own wall to send it over the net. The ball must go directly over.
2. Reaching over the net: You cannot reach over or touch the net with your body or racket. If the ball bounces back over the net to your opponent's side due to spin, you lose the point.
3. Serving overhead: New players instinctively try a tennis serve. In padel, the serve must be underhand, with contact at or below waist level.
4. Forgetting the second bounce rule: The ball can only bounce once on the floor. Walls don't count as a bounce — only the floor does. Some beginners think a wall hit counts as a bounce.
5. Not knowing you can leave the court: If the ball pops over the wall after bouncing, you can run out the side opening and play it. Many beginners just watch the ball sail away.
6. Touching the net on volleys: Getting too close to the net and touching it with your racket or body is a foul, even if you win the shot.