Padel rules

Padel tennis is a sport that combines elements of both tennis and squash. It’s fast-paced, social, and incredibly fun, but to get the most out of the game, it's important to understand the basic rules. Here’s a complete guide to padel rules, so you can step onto the court with confidence and clarity.

The Padel Court – What Does It Look Like?

A padel court is smaller than a tennis court and features a rectangular layout with walls and a net in the middle. This gives the game its unique character.

Size: An official padel court is 10 x 20 meters, divided into two halves by a net.
Surface: The court surface is typically artificial turf, but can also be concrete or cement.
Walls and fencing: The back wall is 4 meters high, with the first 3 meters made of glass and the top meter made of metal mesh. The side walls are also a combination of glass and fencing.
Lines: Court lines must be either white or black and are 5 cm wide.

Tip: The walls are part of the game and add to padel’s unique dynamics!

You can read more about the court and padel tennis here.

Equipment

Before diving into the rules, make sure you have the right equipment:

Padel racket: A racket without strings, with holes in the striking surface. The racket must always be attached with a wrist strap.
Ball: Padel balls look like tennis balls but have lower pressure, making them slower and easier to control.
Shoes and clothing: Comfortable shoes with good grip are recommended, especially since courts often have artificial grass.

Read more about what you need for padel.

Rules of Play

Padel is typically played as doubles, meaning 2 players on each side of the net. The rules are simple, but some important details must be noted:

Basic Rules

The ball may only bounce once on your side before you return it.
The ball can hit the wall after it has bounced.
If the ball hits a wall directly, without bouncing first, you lose the point.
The ball must not hit the metal fence on the opponent's side.
You may use your own glass walls to return the ball, but it must go over the net and land in the opponent’s court.

Serving Rules

Serving is a key part of padel and must be done carefully:

Underhand serve: The serve must be hit below waist height.
Position: Serve behind the service line and diagonally into the opponent's court.
Bounce: The ball must bounce behind the service line before being hit.
Contact: The ball must not hit the metal fence after landing in the opponent’s box.
Two attempts: You get two tries to make a legal serve.
Net contact: If the ball hits the net and then lands correctly in the service box, the serve is reset and replayed.

Tip: Always start serving from the right side and switch sides after each point.

Scoring in Padel

The scoring system in padel is the same as in tennis:

First point = 15
Second point = 30
Third point = 40
Fourth point = game won

If both teams reach 40-40, it’s called 'deuce'. From there, a team must win two consecutive points to win the game.

Golden Point Rule

In some tournaments, the Golden Point is used: At 40-40, the next point decides the game. The team who wins that point wins the game.

Sets and Tiebreaks

A padel match is played as the best of 3 sets. A set is won when a team has won 6 games with at least a 2-game lead.

Score tied at 6-6? The set is decided by a tiebreak:
- First team to 7 points wins the tiebreak, but there must always be a 2-point lead.

Example: Tiebreak can end 8-6, 9-7, or even higher.

How Do You Lose a Point?

You lose a rally in padel if:

The ball bounces on your side twice.
The ball hits the metal fence directly after the serve.
The ball hits you or your partner.
You touch the net with your body or racket.
The ball is returned before it crosses the net.
You make two serve faults in a row.

Popular Game Formats in Padel

Padel isn’t just for professionals – there are many ways to make the game fun and accessible for everyone:

Americano

A popular format where players draw lots for new teams each match. Matches are played to a set number of points, e.g., 24 points. Each player keeps track of their individual score, and the player with the most points at the end wins the tournament.

Example: If the match ends 14-10, the winners get 14 points, and the losers get 10.

Read our article on what Americano padel is.

Tips for Mastering the Rules

To get the most out of the game, you may benefit from:

Practicing your serve: A good serve gives you a strong advantage.
Using the walls: Learn to use the walls tactically to return difficult balls.
Communicating with your partner: Padel is a team sport where communication is key.
Staying behind the line: Make sure to position yourself correctly and wait for the right shot.