Padel rules in five minutes
Rules baseline: International Padel Federation (FIP) Rules of Padel published in the FIP documentation library and current on 1 August 2026. Tour and national regulations may modify match administration.
- Objective: win points by serving and returning the ball so the opposing pair cannot make a legal return before the second bounce.
- Players, court, and equipment: standard padel is doubles on a 10-by-20-metre enclosed court; the perforated racket, ball, net, glass, mesh, openings, and safety equipment are regulated.
- How play begins: after the pre-match choice of serve, receive, or end, a point begins with an underarm serve hit after one bounce from behind the service line into the diagonally opposite service box.
- Possession and turns: pairs alternate shots; after the ball first bounces in the receiving court it may rebound from that court's walls and remain playable, but a player cannot hit twice in succession.
- Scoring: standard FIP scoring uses tennis-style points, games, and sets, with a tie-break at 6–6 unless the event regulations select an authorised alternative.
- Length and winner: a match is normally best of three sets, so the first pair to win two sets wins; there is no overall match clock in the basic format.
- Main faults: two bounces, a ball landing out before legal wall contact, illegal service height or position, touching the net, double hits, body contact, and prohibited reach or court-exit play lose the point.
- Restarts and penalties: a first-service fault permits a second serve, a let replays the service or point when the rules require it, and conduct or time breaches follow the applicable competition code.
- Competition differences: golden-point scoring, court exits, ball changes, coaching, warm-ups, breaks, and event formats may vary, so check the organiser's regulations alongside the FIP playing rules.
- Go deeper: continue with padel scoring, serving, and wall rules, which works through the core rally and enclosure decisions.
Browse Padel rules by topic
21 plain-English explainers, grouped by the kind of decision you need to settle.
Essentials and setup
Players, playing areas, equipment, positions, and the basic structure of the sport.
FIP 2026 Padel Out-of-Court Play Rules Explained
FIP 2026 padel out-of-court rules: when a side exit stays live, why an end-wall exit ends the point, safety-area requirements and legal returns.
Read explainerPadel Ball Touches Player or Equipment Rules
FIP 2026 padel rules for a ball hitting a player, clothing, racket or equipment, including serves, net-cord lets, dropped rackets and partner contact.
Read explainerPadel Court Dimensions and Markings
FIP 2026 padel court dimensions: the 10 m × 20 m interior, service lines, net, enclosure, access openings, clear height and outside-play space.
Read explainerPadel Doubles Positioning and Rotation
FIP 2026 padel doubles positioning: fixed service and receiving orders, free in-rally movement, wrong-order corrections, tie-breaks, and Star Point variations.
Read explainerPadel Racket, Ball, and Equipment Rules
FIP 2026 padel equipment rules: legal racket dimensions and holes, mandatory wrist cord, approved ball specifications, ball changes, attire and devices.
Read explainerScoring and match formats
How points, goals, results, tied contests, and competition formats are decided.
Padel Match Formats and Set Rules (FIP 2026)
FIP 2026 padel match formats: best of three sets, six-game and mini sets, set tiebreaks, advantage final sets, and match tiebreaks.
Read explainerPadel Rules: Scoring, Serving, and Walls (FIP 2026)
FIP 2026 padel rules explained: scoring formats, legal serves, glass and fence rebounds, out-of-court play, faults, and worked rulings.
Read explainerPadel Scoring, Golden Point, and Tiebreaks
FIP 2026 padel scoring explained: advantage, Star Point and Golden Point games, 6-6 tiebreaks, service order, match tiebreaks, and tour variations.
Read explainerPadel Tiebreak Rules Explained
FIP 2026 padel tiebreak rules: the 6-6 trigger, win-by-two scoring, exact serve and receive order, end changes, errors, and match tiebreak variants.
Read explainerFouls, penalties, and conduct
Illegal contact, violations, cards, discipline, and how sanctions are applied.
Padel Code of Conduct and Penalty Rules
FIP 2026 padel conduct rules explained: warnings, point penalties, delay sanctions, coach violations, direct disqualification and tour variations.
Read explainerPadel Faults and Lost Point Rules
FIP 2026 padel lost-point rules explained: second bounces, net and body contact, illegal returns, double hits, serve faults, lets and out-of-court play.
Read explainerPadel Net Rules and Interference
FIP 2026 padel net-touch, reaching-over and interference rules: when the point is lost, when play is legal, when a let applies, and Premier Padel VAR.
Read explainerPadel Serve Rules and Faults
FIP 2026 padel serve rules: the legal bounce and contact, foot position, diagonal box, glass and fence outcomes, net lets, order errors and tour variations.
Read explainerTiming, restarts, and reviews
Clocks, substitutions, restarts, replay systems, reviews, and official procedure.
Padel Let Rules and Replay Points Explained
FIP 2026 padel let rules: service nets, receiver readiness, outside objects, broken balls, interference, replay procedure and point-loss exceptions.
Read explainerPadel Referee Decisions and Appeals Explained
FIP 2026 padel officiating: final fact calls, immediate appeals on rules questions, lets, corrections and VAR review in major competitions.
Read explainerPlay and decisions
The live-play rulings, sequences, and judgment calls that decide what happens next.
Padel Ball In and Out Rules Explained
FIP 2026 padel ball in and out rules: first bounce, walls, fence, lines, second bounce, serves, out-of-court play, lets, and Premier Padel review.
Read explainerPadel Change of Ends and Rest Period Rules
FIP 2026 padel changeover rules: odd-game side changes, 20-second tiebreak changes, 90-second rests, set breaks, mistakes and tour variations.
Read explainerPadel Double Hit and Carry Rules Explained
FIP 2026 padel double-hit and carry rules: the three-part correct-return test, partner contacts, point outcome, close calls and Premier Padel review.
Read explainerPadel Return of Serve Rules Explained
FIP 2026 padel return-of-serve rules: required bounce, receiver order, glass and fence rebounds, net serves, lets, corrections and outcomes.
Read explainerPadel Wall Rules: Glass, Fence, and Rebounds
FIP 2026 padel wall rules: when glass and mesh rebounds are live, own-wall returns, service faults, double walls and out-of-court cases.
Read explainerPadel Warm-Up and Coin Toss Rules Explained
FIP 2026 padel coin-toss and warm-up rules: the winner's one choice, first server and receiver, the 3-minute rally, delays and restarts.
Read explainerStart with the main rules explainer
- Rules, scoring, serving, and walls: how padel points start, when the ball may use the glass, what counts as out, and how doubles rallies are decided.
- Ball in and out rules: first-bounce calls, lines, direct wall or fence contact, second bounces, serves, and out-of-court exceptions.
- Faults and lost point rules: double bounces, net touches, wrong returns, player contact, double hits, service faults, and out-of-court lost points.
- Code of conduct and penalty rules: warnings, point losses, disqualification, time violations, coach sanctions, delays, abuse, attire, and match-area control.
- Ball touches player or equipment rules: body contact, clothing, partner touches, dropped rackets, serve contact, and equipment-related lost points.
- Double hit and carry rules: when a second contact loses the point, when one continuous impact is legal, and why partner touches matter.
- Serve rules and faults: underhand serving, foot faults, let serves, second serves, and the side-fence fault.
- Return of serve rules: required bounce, correct receiver, receiving order, net-cord serves, readiness, and common return disputes.
- Wall rules: glass, fence, and rebounds: the bounce sequence behind legal wall play, own-glass defence, and out-of-court questions.
- Out-of-court play rules: when players may leave the court, what safety authorization requires, and how side exits, gates, and end walls change the ruling.
- Scoring, golden point, and tiebreaks: deuce, advantage, deciding points, sets, tiebreak serve order, and format variations.
- Match formats and set rules: best of three sets, short sets, deciding-set options, match tiebreaks, and format mistakes.
- Tiebreak rules explained: when a tiebreak starts, first-to-seven scoring, two-point margins, service order, receiving order, and match tiebreak variations.
- Warm-up and coin toss rules: pre-match choices, first server and receiver, the 3-minute courtesy rally, and restart warm-ups.
- Change of ends and rest period rules: odd-game changeovers, tiebreak side changes, timing limits, end-of-set breaks, and forgotten-change corrections.
- Referee decisions and appeals explained: umpire rulings, let requests, interference calls, conduct penalties, correction of mistakes, and when formal protests depend on competition rules.
- Net rules and interference: net touches, reaching over, player contact, obstruction, hindrance, and replayed points.
- Let rules and replay points: service lets, receiver-not-ready calls, outside interruptions, accidental interference, and when officials replay the point.
- Doubles positioning and rotation: service order, receiving order, switching sides, net control, and left-right roles.
- Racket, ball, and equipment rules: legal racket dimensions, wrist cords, approved balls, ball changes, clothing, shoes, devices, and equipment disputes.
Where padel gets technical
- Serve sequence: underhand delivery, bounce before contact, diagonal service box, and faults.
- Wall rebounds: when a ball can hit your glass, the opponent's glass, the fence, or leave the court.
- Doubles play: court coverage, partner communication, and when a player may cross or reach near the net.
How padel pages should work
- Start with whether the ball bounced on the court first.
- Separate glass contact from fence contact.
- Explain serve faults before rally faults.
- Use doubles examples because singles-style positioning rarely explains padel well.
Where these rulings come from
- International Padel Federation documentation - official rules, technical standards, and governance documents.
- LTA padel rules and guidance - national governing-body overview for players in Britain.