The official rules of padel are set by the International Padel Federation (FIP). The new edition of the rules came into force on 1 January 2026. In Estonia, official competitions are organised by the Estonian Padel Federation (Eesti Padeli Liit, EPL), which is a member of FIP. In casual games, some things, such as the deciding point, are often agreed between the players.
How is padel played, in short?
Two pairs play against each other on a court that is divided by a net and surrounded by walls.
- You serve underarm, diagonally into your opponents’ service box.
- Your shot has to bounce on your opponents’ side before the ball touches a wall or the wire mesh.
- After the bounce, the ball can hit the walls, and your opponents can return it before it bounces a second time.
- On your own side, you can let the ball come back off the wall after it bounces.
- Points are counted as in tennis: 15, 30, 40 and game.
What does a padel court look like?
Measured on the inside, the court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide. A 10-metre net runs across the middle. It is 88 cm high in the centre and up to 92 cm at the ends.
| Part | Size |
|---|---|
| Court | 20 × 10 m (inside measurements) |
| Net height | 88 cm in the centre, up to 92 cm at the ends |
| Service line | 6.95 m from the net |
| Back wall | 4 m in total: 3 m of glass and 1 m of wire mesh |
| Side wall | glass near the back wall, wire mesh 3 m high in the middle |
| Exits | one or two openings on each side, with or without a door |
The service line and the centre line divide each half into two service boxes. There are no other lines on the court: the walls are its boundaries.
What are the equipment rules?
- The racket has no strings, and its face has holes. It can be at most 45.5 cm long, 26 cm wide and 38 mm thick.
- A wrist strap is compulsory. Under the 2026 rules, it must be non-elastic and no longer than 35 cm. If the racket slips out of your hand during a point or the strap breaks, you lose the point.
- In official competitions, the ball must be approved by FIP. It is 6.35–6.77 cm in diameter and weighs 56.0–59.4 g. It is slightly smaller than a tennis ball and has lower internal pressure.
We explain how to choose your kit in our equipment guide.
How does the serve work?
The server bounces the ball behind the service line and hits it underarm, at or below waist height, diagonally into the opponents’ service box. You get two attempts on each point. The serve must bounce in the service box. After that the ball may hit the glass, but if it touches the wire mesh before its second bounce, the serve is a fault.
The receiver has to let the ball bounce. The rest of the details are on the serve page.
When is the ball in play, and how do you use the walls?
The ball is in play from the serve until the point ends. Except when returning serve, you can hit the ball either before or after it bounces.
- Your shot must bounce on your opponents’ side before it touches their wall or wire mesh.
- After that bounce, the ball may hit any wall or the wire mesh. Your opponents can return it as long as it hasn’t bounced a second time.
- On your side, you can let the ball bounce, come back off the wall and then hit it.
- You can also hit the ball into your own glass wall so that it flies over the net. You can’t hit it into your own wire mesh.
When do you lose a point?
A player or pair loses the point if:
- the ball bounces a second time on their side;
- their shot goes into the net, or hits a wall, the wire mesh or anything outside the court before bouncing on the opponents’ side;
- the ball hits them or their partner, including their clothing;
- they hit the ball twice;
- they touch the net, the net posts or the opponents’ side of the court with their body, racket or clothing;
- they hit the ball before it has crossed the net (following through over the net is allowed, as long as the net isn’t touched);
- their racket slips out of their hand during the point, or the wrist strap breaks;
- they serve a double fault.
You also lose the point if your shot flies straight into the ceiling, a light or any other object outside the court.
Can you play the ball outside the court?
Sometimes. If the ball bounces on your opponents’ side and then leaves the court through an exit or over the wall, they can run after it and hit it back before it bounces a second time. Out-of-court play is only allowed if the court has exits and there is enough safe space next to it. Under the 2026 rules, this zone must be at least 3 metres wide.
If out-of-court play isn’t allowed, the point goes to the player whose shot left the court. In a casual game, agree on this before you start.
How are points counted?
Within a game, points go 15, 30, 40 and game. At 40-40, the organiser decides whether to play advantage, a golden point or the star point, which was added in 2026. A set is won by the pair that wins six games with a lead of at least two games. At 6-6, a tie-break is played. There’s more detail on the scoring page.
When do you change ends, and how much rest is there?
- You change ends after every odd-numbered game: the first, third, fifth and so on.
- In a tie-break, you change ends every six points.
- You get 20 seconds between points, 90 seconds at a change of ends and 120 seconds between sets.
- There is no rest after the first game of a set, or at a change of ends during a tie-break.
- In official competitions, the warm-up lasts 3 minutes.
- You may only eat and drink at a change of ends, not between points.
A player who goes over the time limit gets a warning first. The next time, a server loses their first serve, or a receiver loses the point.
What changed in the 2026 rules?
- The star point was added. It is one of three permitted ways to settle a game at 40-40.
- On the serve, it is enough to have one foot behind the service line at the moment of contact. Previously both feet had to be there.
- After the bounce, the server must not let the ball cross the service line or the extension of the centre line before hitting it.
- The warm-up was cut from five minutes to three.
- Going over the time allowed between points brings a warning, then a penalty.
- You may only eat and drink at a change of ends.
- The wrist strap must be non-elastic and no longer than 35 cm. If the racket slips out of your hand or the strap breaks, you lose the point.
- Holes near the edge of the racket can also be shapes other than round, up to 20 mm.
- The ball no longer has to be yellow or white.
- The safety zone for out-of-court play was widened to at least 3 metres.
Who decides disputed calls?
In official competitions, the referee decides, if one has been appointed. In casual games there is no referee, so the players sort things out between themselves. If you can’t agree, the point is often replayed. One point isn’t worth an argument.
Frequently asked questions
Can you serve overarm?
No. The serve is hit underarm after a bounce, and the ball must be at or below waist height at the moment of contact.
Can you hit the ball before it bounces?
Yes, except when returning serve. At the net you hit a lot of volleys, which are shots taken before the ball bounces.
Can the ball hit the wire mesh after it bounces?
Yes. Once the ball has bounced on your side, it can hit the glass or the mesh, and you can return it as long as it hasn’t bounced a second time. The serve is the exception: if a serve touches the wire mesh before its second bounce, it’s a fault.
What happens if the ball hits a player?
The player who is hit loses the point. The serve is the exception: if a serve hits the receiver or their partner before it bounces, the server wins the point.
Can you touch the net?
No. If you touch the net, the net posts or your opponents’ side during a point, you lose the point.