Padel Rules — The Complete Padel Rules Reference

Alternative Scoring Methods

FIP Rule 1 permits three official alternative scoring formats — the Mini Set (4 games), Match Tie-Break (7 points), and Super Match Tie-Break (10 points). All must be declared before the match.

Conduct & Discipline

Ball Abuse

Deliberately hitting a ball away, striking it dangerously, or destroying a ball during a match is a code violation under FIP rules. Penalties follow the standard progressive system.

Gameplay Rules

Ball in Play

FIP Rule 12 defines when the ball is in play, when it is out of play, and how wall rebounds and out-of-court situations affect the rally.

Padel Equipment

Ball Requirements

Padel balls must have a diameter between 6.35 and 6.77 cm, a weight between 56.0 and 59.4 grams, and an internal pressure of 4.6–5.2 kg per 2.54 cm².

Conduct & Discipline

Best Efforts Rule

FIP regulations require that players compete at full effort throughout a match. Failing to play to the best of one's ability — including deliberately losing points or sets — is a serious violation.

Scoring & Match Structure

Change of Balls

The FIP rules (Rule 17) allow for balls to be changed during a match at scheduled intervals. The timing must be agreed or announced before the match starts.

Scoring & Match Structure

Changes of Sides

Players change ends after the first game of each set, then after every two games, and at the end of each set. During a tie-break, ends are changed every six points.

Scoring & Match Structure

Choice of Sides and Service

Before a match, a coin toss or racket spin determines which team chooses to serve first or which end to start from. The losing team takes the remaining option.

Conduct & Discipline

Coaching Rules

In most FIP-sanctioned events, coaching from courtside is not permitted during points. Coaching is allowed only during changeovers and set breaks, and is subject to code of conduct penalties if abused.

Tournament Rules

Code of Conduct and Violations

Padel has a structured code of conduct with a three-stage penalty system — warning, warning with point penalty, warning with disqualification. Serious misconduct can result in immediate disqualification.

Court & Equipment

Court Access — Gates and Doors

FIP rules specify that court access openings are placed in the lateral (side) walls, not the end walls. Dimensions and placement requirements vary by configuration.

Court Dimensions

A padel court is 10m wide and 20m long, divided by a net in the middle. The court is enclosed by solid walls and metallic mesh.

Player Guidelines

Court Etiquette

Rules governing player behaviour during a match — including continuous play obligations, ball retrieval, and hindrance. Based on FIP regulations.

Court & Equipment

Court Illumination

FIP requires artificial light to be uniform and not cause visual difficulties for players. Light poles must be outside the court. For TV broadcasts, a minimum of 1000 lux vertical illumination is required.

Court & Equipment

Court Orientation

FIP guidelines recommend that padel courts be oriented north-south to minimise sun interference for players. This is a recommendation for outdoor courts, not an absolute rule.

Conduct & Discipline

Direct Disqualification

Certain offences result in immediate disqualification from a match without the standard warning progression. These include physical assault, extreme verbal abuse, threats against officials, and deliberate court damage.

Basic Rules

Faults and Lets

A fault is a failed serve that does not count as a let. Two consecutive faults on the same point result in a double fault and loss of the point. A let requires the serve to be replayed without penalty.

Court Dimensions

Glass Wall Height

The back glass walls of a padel court are 4 metres high — 3 metres of solid tempered glass topped with 1 metre of metallic mesh — and must comply with EN 12150-1 or equivalent safety standards.

Padel Equipment

Grip and Overgrip Rules

The FIP rules specify that the racket handle must be covered with a grip to prevent slippage. Overgrips are permitted and widely used at all levels.

Gameplay Rules

Interference

FIP Rule 11 covers interference — situations where an external disturbance or a player's own actions interrupt a point. Depending on the cause, the referee calls a let or awards the point.

Tournament Rules

Match Formats

Official padel matches are typically best-of-three sets. Tournaments may use a Golden Point, Super Tiebreak, or Mini-Set format to manage match duration. The standard tiebreak is first to 7 points.

Player Guidelines

Medical Timeout Rules

A player is entitled to one 3-minute medical timeout per match for injury treatment. Medical attention is given once per player and cannot be transferred to a partner.

Basic Rules

Mixed Doubles Rules

Mixed doubles padel follows the same general rules as standard doubles, with specific differences for the Golden Point deuce rule and service order by gender.

Court Dimensions

Net

The net height is 88cm (34.65 in) in the middle and rises to 92cm (36.22 in) at the sides with a maximum tolerance of 5mm (0.2 in).

Basic Rules

Out of Court Play

In courts equipped for it, a ball that exits through the open side sections can be chased and played back from outside the court. The returned ball must still cross the net and land in the opponent's court.

Padel Equipment

Padel Racket Specifications

Official padel rackets must not exceed 45.5 cm in length, 26 cm in width, and 38 mm in thickness. The hitting surface must be perforated.

Padel Equipment

Padel Shoes and Footwear Requirements

FIP rules require players to wear shoes with non-marking soles. Cleated or spiked shoes that damage the court surface are prohibited.

Conduct & Discipline

Penalties and Table of Sanctions

The FIP penalty system follows a three-stage ladder: warning, warning with point penalty, and warning with disqualification. The full table of violations and their standard sanctions is listed here.

Conduct & Discipline

Player Identification

Players competing in FIP-sanctioned events must carry valid identification and be registered with the relevant federation. Failure to meet ID requirements may result in withdrawal from the draw.

Basic Rules

Player Rotation and Changeovers

Players change ends after the first game of each set and then every two games. During a tie-break, sides are changed after every 6 points. Service order is maintained through all changeovers.

Court Dimensions

Playing Surface

The padel court surface must be uniformly flat with a maximum deviation of 3mm per 3 metres in any direction, and must ensure regular ball bounce and avoid water accumulation.

Gameplay Rules

Ways to Lose a Point

FIP Rule 13 lists all the situations in which a team loses a point — from double bounces and net faults to body contact with the ball and deliberate interference.

Gameplay Rules

Ways to Win a Point

FIP Rule 15 covers the ways a team wins a point in padel — from forcing a double bounce to winners, net faults by opponents, and code violation penalties awarded by the referee.

Gameplay Rules

Position of Players

FIP Rule 3 specifies where players must stand during the serve and during general play. Players must remain within the court and may not change position to deceive opponents during the serve.

Conduct & Discipline

Prize Ceremony Conduct

Players competing in FIP-sanctioned events are required to attend post-match and end-of-tournament prize ceremonies. Failure to attend without a valid reason is a disciplinary matter.

Player Guidelines

Proper Attire

FIP regulations require non-marking footwear and appropriate sports clothing. Professional events have additional branding and sponsor requirements.

Conduct & Discipline

Racket and Equipment Abuse

Throwing or smashing a racket, damaging court fixtures, or deliberately destroying equipment during a match is a code violation. Penalties follow the standard progressive system and can escalate to disqualification.

Gameplay Rules

Return of Serve

The receiver must return the ball after it bounces once in the service box. The ball must cross the net and land anywhere in the opponents' half. The receiver's partner may not intercept the serve.

Basic Rules

Scoring System

The padel scoring system follows tennis conventions: 15, 30, 40, and game. A set is won when a team wins 6 games with a minimum two-game difference.

Basic Rules

Serve Rules

The serve in padel must be underhand, below waist height, with the ball bounced first in the server's half. The server gets two attempts and must serve diagonally into the opposite service box.

Court Dimensions

Service Box Size

Each service box extends 6.95 metres from the net and is 5 metres wide. The server stands between the service line and the back wall and must serve diagonally into the opposite service box.

Basic Rules

Service Order

Teams decide who serves first by toss. Partners must maintain the same service order throughout a set. The order can be changed at the start of each new set.

Court Dimensions

Side Wall Configuration

Padel side walls follow one of two official FIP variants combining solid panels and metallic mesh at different heights depending on the section of the court.

Scoring & Match Structure

Tie-Break Rules

A standard tie-break is played at 6 games all in any set. The match tie-break (played to 10 points) decides the third set in most professional and club formats.

Tournament Rules

Timings

Players have a maximum of 20 seconds between points, 90 seconds for side changes, and 120 seconds between sets.

Basic Rules

Wall Play

Players can use all walls during play. A ball may be hit directly into your own side walls and still be valid — it just needs to ultimately land in the opponent's court without bouncing twice on the ground.

Player Guidelines

Wrist Strap Rules

A safety wrist strap attached to the racket handle is mandatory in official padel play. It must be worn at all times during a match to prevent the racket from flying loose.