The basic padel rules you need to know
The padel rule book is long, but there are some basic padel rules you need to know before you get out on the court. These will provide you with a perfect stepping stone as you are growing into the game.
The padel game:
A padel game is played with two people per team, so four players on a court. There are some single courts popping up, but this is rare.
The padel court:
A typical padel court measure 20 meters x 10 meters (33 feet x 66 feet) with a net in the middle. The glass on the back is 3 meters (10 feet) high, with an additional 1 meter (3 feet) fence on top. There are four rectangular boxes that are used for the serve. The serve will always be taken from behind the baseline.
Scoring your game:
The scoring system is the same as tennis, using a 15, 30, 40 point system. The first team getting to 6 games wins the set, however you must win by 2 games (it can’t end 6 – 5). If the score is 6 – 6 then a tiebreaker applies (more on that here).
In the World Padel Tour they use a Golden Point system instead of the tennis deuce-advantage, this decides who wins the game.
The service basics:
- Remember to put your hand through the racket loop at all times.
- You will start your first serve on the right hand side and then alternate between left and right from there.
- On the service you will bounce the ball behind the baseline and hit your service underarm from behind the baseline. Do not cross the line with your feet or make contact over the rectangular or middle lines.
- Contact with the ball must be below waist height.
- At least one foot must be on the floor when contacting the ball.
- You will serve diagonally across the court with the bounce being inside the opposite rectangular box.
- You have a first and second serve.
- If you hit the net and it bounces in the box, a let can be played. (More let rules can be found here)
Service FAQ’s
- Ball hits the fence or glass before bouncing? Ball is out
- Ball bounces into the fence? Ball is out
- Ball bounces into the glass? Ball is in
- Ball doesn’t bounce in the opposite rectangular box? Ball is out
- Ball bounces outside the box? Ball is out
- Ball hits the net and bounces twice in the box? Let
- Ball hits the net and bounce once before hitting the fence? Ball is out
- The receiver cannot volley the ball on your service, it must bounce first.
Playing the game:
Once the ball is in play after the serve, any balls directly hitting the wall or fence before bouncing are out.
Players may volley.
The ball may only bounce once before being returned.
The ball may only be hit once on the return.
You will change ends at the odd number games (1, 3, 5, etc)
The glass and fence:
You can return the ball by hitting it against your own glass, that can be the back and side glass.
If you hit your own fence on the return, the ball is out
If your ball hits the opponents glass or fence before bouncing, it is out.
If the ball hits your opponents glass or fence after bouncing, it is in.
The net:
You may not touch the net or the net posts, your opponent then wins the point. If you hit the ball into the net, your opponent wins the point.
You may reach over the net to contact the ball, but only after it has already bounced on your side. You may not reach over and hit a ball before it crosses the net.
Running outside (the highlight shot!):
You may run outside and hit the ball. This is very rare in amateur games.
This would happen if your opponent hits a smash that bounces off your glass and over the side wall, if you can anticipate it, have the space, and the speed, you may return the ball into the opponents’ side of the court.
Is there a referee or umpire?
In professional matches yes, absolutely!
Your club matches may also have an appointed or volunteer umpire. When you are playing with friends you will need to referee yourselves. Honesty goes a long way!
Enjoy!
By no means an official rule of padel, but certainly the number one rule at My Padel Game – enjoy it!
I hope that these basic padel rules give you a good outline to enjoy your padel game. There is quite a lot covered, but this will be an adequate resource to use for your matches.
The full padel rulebook can be downloaded here: Padel Rule Book