Understanding the rules of padel tennis early on will allow you to fully enjoy this great game and improve to your full potential with proper practice.
Padel continues taking the racket sports world by storm with up to 250,000 new players every year, making it one of the fastest-growing sports at the moment.
We believe padel offers a very unique and exciting experience for players of all proficiency levels so it’s no surprise to see such a global peak of interest in the sport.
With this substantial surge of newcomers, it is important to emphasise the official rules and regulations surrounding the sport to make match-ups a fun yet competitive experience for all.
In today’s guide, we’re happy to be covering all of the official rules of padel tennis set by the IPF for the modern game so you can compete confidently and take your skills to the next level.
If you’re new to the sport, our Padel Tennis Guide for Beginners will help you get started on the right foot.
Padel Tennis Game Format
While padel is mostly played in doubles according to the competition rules of padel tennis, many enjoy the sport in a singles format as well. Either way, there’s no doubting the fast-paced, sociable, and exciting elements that this sport offers!
Differences Between Padel and Tennis
Most newcomers find padel to be a lot more accessible and easier to learn than tennis. We believe the padel court dimensions are a big reason for this.
A padel court is over 25% smaller than a tennis court, meaning there is a lot less physical demand when covering the court and playing the ball.
What makes padel so unique from a gameplay perspective is that you can play the ball off of the side and back walls (not the wire fencing). Unlike tennis, you also can’t serve with an overhand technique in padel.
The side and back walls massively open up the shot possibilities and therefore place a distinct but thrilling focus on technique, communication, timing, and reactions.
Who wouldn’t want to give this action-packed game a try, right?
The Rules of Padel Tennis
Padel rules are fairly simple to grasp and the dynamics of the game are very similar to that of tennis, with a few key differences.
The rules and regulations are set by the International Padel Federation (IPF).
Getting Started
Teams typically use a coin toss or racket spin to decide who serves and receives first and from which side of the court service will be initiated.
Serve Rules of Padel Tennis
All play begins with an underarm serve from the right-hand service court. When serving, you must have both feet behind your service line with at least one foot in contact with the ground at all times.
Serve diagonally across the court into the opponent’s service box opposite you so the ball bounces on the ground before hitting the side walls or back wall. Remember to keep your feet behind the service line with one foot on the ground during the entire movement of your serve.
When serving, allow the ball to bounce once on the ground just in front of you then play the ball at or below waist level using an underhand stroke. Once the ball bounces, you can take your serve.
The ball must bounce once in your opponent’s service box before hitting the side or back walls.
Servers have two attempts to deliver a valid serve. Serves should then be moved to the left of the court for the next point, then alternate for the rest of your service game.
Master the art of starting each point by understanding the padel serve rules in detail.
Serving Faults, Let’s and Out of Bounds
If the ball bounces in the service box of the opposing player diagonally from you and hits the side wall or back wall, it’s a valid serve and must be played by the opposing player.
If the ball bounces in the service box and then hits the wire fencing, it is considered a fault. Similarly, if the ball hits the net, lands in the service box and then hits the wire fencing, that’s also a fault.
If the ball hits the net, bounces in the service box and then against the side or back wall, it’s a let or net cord and a second serve should be taken.
An invalid serve will be called if you miss the ball while serving or if you run, walk, or jump at the point of service.
The ball will be considered out of bounds if it hits the wire fence or walls before bouncing on the opponent’s side of the court.
We know this may sound like a lot, but once you play a few matches, you’ll catch on quickly!
Ball in Play - How to Use the Walls
Once the ball bounces in the opponent’s court, it can be returned and a rally can begin. This is where the game gets really exciting!
Once in play, ball hits can come off of the back and side walls or be directly played into them for a return, similar to squash. The ball must be hit before it bounces twice on the ground.
Losing Padel Points
Points are lost if the ball bounces twice before being returned or if it strikes you or your teammate. Points will also be lost if the ball is classed as out-of-bounds.
How the Padel Points System Works - How to Win
When looking at the rules of padel tennis, the scoring system functions like that of traditional tennis. The first point is 15, the second 30, the third 40 and the fourth is the game point.
Matches are comprised of 3 sets with each set made up of six games. The team that wins two out of the three sets will be declared winners of the match.
In the case of a tie break at 40-40, a deuce will be declared where teams must win two consecutive points to be declared winners. Alternatively, a golden point (also called the gold point) can be used where the team that wins the subsequent point, wins the match.
Padel 1 v 1 Rules
Singles padel can also be huge fun! You are required to play with more defined strokes and cover more ground during play, making it fast-paced and thrilling overall.
A singles padel court is usually 20m x 6m and still has a service line on either side with a centre line running under the net.
While there are no official national or international single padel competitions, there are some differences in padel 1 v 1 rules but they do tend to be mostly like the doubles rules in terms of gameplay.
The service line and service box will be smaller but still require the same service rules as doubles. Once in play, the game will function like a doubles match.
Singles padel is great for training and stroke improvement as you will need to be more precise and defined with your strokes and techniques.
Rules of Padel Tennis - Padel Strokes
There are two main types of padel strokes – underhand and overhand. These can come from a forehand or backhand stroke.
We recommend beginners first try to master their underhand strokes as these are essential to controlled and steady gameplay as well as service.
Serves must be underhand but thereafter, overhand shots are allowed. It is however frowned upon to go for “kill shots” with an overhand technique as these shots can be dangerous for other players.
A player can volley the ball anytime except for the serve.
With time, you will naturally find yourself experimenting with more advanced techniques like spin balls, lobs, and the notorious “bandeja” or tray shot but first, it’s important to master the basics.
Padel Tips and Tricks
Learn How to Play Off the Walls
In padel, it is key to learn how to master the use of the back and side walls. This will help you create more unique angles and unexpected shots.
Focus on Maintaining the Net Position
Positioning is crucial in padel tennis. Advanced players who know the rules of padel tennis will prioritise having more time at the net as the majority of points are won at the net position.
The net position is towards the front of your field of play, adjacent to the second post of the wire fencing. Shots from this position are hard to navigate and react to as they can be played with more variety versus shots from the back which are usually lob balls.
Forget Power
Padel is unlike tennis which requires more aggressive and powerful shots. Since padel courts are much smaller, focus on rather training with more consistent and defined shots as this will win you more games in the long run.
Play as a Team
It may sound redundant since padel is a doubles sport, but playing as a team is crucial to winning more matches. Because of the smaller playable area, padel requires teammates to communicate well and play to their strengths.
Padel Equipment
To play padel tennis, you will only need three pieces of basic equipment:
- Padel Racket – Smaller and thicker than a tennis racket, it features perforated faces that provide a large sweet spot for shots
- Padel Balls – They are marginally smaller than tennis balls and are also less pressurised, specifically designed for the sport and court
- Padel Shoes – It is best to wear a pair of non-marking shoes with good traction like shoes with Clay or AllCourt soles
Rules of Padel Tennis FAQs
How do you score in padel tennis?
The scoring system works identically to that of traditional tennis with the points being love, 15, 30, 40, deuce, and game. This makes it much easier for tennis players and newcomers to transition to padel.
How do you score a point in padel tennis?
Points are scored if your opponent fails to return the ball before it bounces twice in their court. Similarly, if your opponent’s ball doesn’t first bounce in your court before hitting the side or ball walls, they will concede a point.
Can you hit the ball off the wall in padel tennis?
Once the ball has bounced in your field of play and then hits a side or back wall, you must return the ball before it bounces again. You can also play the ball directly into the walls to create unique returns and wicked angles for your opponents to counter.
Can you hit the ball twice in padel tennis?
The rules of paddle tennis don’t allow for players to hit the ball twice, much like traditional tennis. Once the ball is in play, players must successfully return balls in one shot which can be a volley, lob, underhand, or overhand stroke.
What happens if the ball hits me or my partner in padel?
If the ball comes into contact with you or your teammate during a game of padel, you will unfortunately lose a point.
What are the simple rules of padel tennis?
The most basic foundation of padel is that the ball must bounce on the ground before hitting the side or back walls. It will then have to be returned by the opponent, creating dynamic rallies.
What happens if you touch the net in padel?
If you come into contact with any part of the net, including the net posts, you will lose the point. Try to avoid touching the net with your racket or your feet to avoid conceding points.
The Rules of Padel Tennis in Conclusion
We hope this comprehensive guide has helped you better understand how to properly play this dynamic sport so you can take your game to the next level.
Whether you just want to meet up with some friends and get some game time in, or you’re looking to take the sport more seriously, understanding the rules and etiquette surrounding the game is pivotal to properly enjoying each session.
Now that you know all about the rules of padel tennis, we hope your next training sessions and matches are filled with more confidence and enjoyment!
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