Padel has rules similar to tennis but with peculiarities: walls are in play, the serve is underhand, and the court is smaller. If you're coming from tennis or starting from scratch, this guide clarifies the 12 most important rules per the International Padel Federation (FIP).
1. Court and dimensions
20m long by 10m wide. Enclosed with glass walls and/or metal mesh, 3 to 4 meters high. The net is 88cm in the center and 92cm at the posts.
2. Underhand serve only
Serve is made with a prior bounce on the floor: let the ball bounce, hit at waist height max, diagonally into the opposite box. Two attempts, same as tennis.
3. The ball must bounce before the wall
When you receive a serve or a shot, the ball must bounce on your side first before touching the wall. If it hits wall before floor, the point goes to the rival.
4. The walls are in play
After the floor bounce, the ball can hit your side walls and you still play it. This is the heart of padel: using walls gives you second chances to return.
In tennis you lose the point when the ball hits the mesh. In padel the wall is part of the game, and learning to use it separates beginner from intermediate.
5. Out of court
If the ball flies over the walls and lands outside the court, the point goes to whoever sent it out. Some shots take the ball through the side door and back in — in current federated padel this is considered out (since 2020; before it was valid under the "por 4" rule).
6. Double bounce, lost point
If the ball bounces twice on your side, you lose the point. You can't rescue it after the second bounce.
7. Touching the net
If your racket, body, or clothing touches the net during a point, you lose. The net is forbidden territory.
8. Smash and "por 3"
When you smash and the ball flies out through a side door or over the back, in some amateur modes it counts if the rival can't go after it. But in current federated padel, out is out.
9. Tiebreak in sets
Sets are played to 6 games. At 6-6, you play a tiebreak to 7 points (with 2-point difference). Typically best of 3 sets.
10. Changing sides
Every odd game (1, 3, 5...) teams switch sides to neutralize lighting, wind or glare differences.
11. The ball
Official balls like Bullpadel, Wilson, Head — slightly less pressurized than tennis. Changed every 7 to 9 games in official matches.
12. Communication with your partner
Yes, you can talk to your partner during the point (shouting "mine", "yours", "out"). It's actually essential to avoid colliding mid-court.
Common mistakes that lose points
- Receiving the serve and hitting straight to the wall without letting it bounce.
- Touching the net while chasing a short ball.
- Smashing so hard the ball flies through the side door.
- Forgetting the serve goes diagonally (not straight ahead).
