Out of Court Play

Out-of-court play is one of padel’s most spectacular and unique rules. It allows players to chase a ball that has left the court through the open gate or side sections and play it back into the court from outside.

When Does the Ball Leave the Court?

A padel court has open sections on the sides — the access gates and, in some court configurations, open zones along the side walls. The ball can exit through these openings after bouncing on the court floor.

Not all courts allow out-of-court play. For it to be permitted, the court must have 2 access points on each side and a safety corridor outside each access gate of at least (see court access for full dimensions):

• 3 metres wide (4 metres recommended)
• 4 metres long
• 3 metres high (clearance)

2026 rule change: The 2021 rules required a minimum safety corridor width of only 2 metres. The January 2026 revision increased this to 3 metres (with 4 metres recommended). The change was driven by player safety — at high levels of play, players chasing balls outside the court can be moving at significant speed and need more space to decelerate without hitting walls or obstacles.

The Rule

If the ball exits through an open section after bouncing on the court:

1. The player may follow the ball outside the court to play it
2. The ball must be returned over the net and land in the opponent’s court
3. There is no limit on how far outside the court the player can go
4. The player may re-enter the court through any opening

Important Conditions

• The ball must have bounced on the floor inside the court before exiting — a ball that goes over the wall or fence without bouncing first is out
• The ball may only bounce once before the player plays it (the normal double-bounce rule still applies)
• The player cannot take an excessive amount of time — the 20-second rule between points still applies

Strategic Use

Out-of-court play is most commonly seen when:

• A lob clears the back wall or travels over an open side section
• A high-bouncing ball off the back glass exits through the gate gap

Defending teams use out-of-court play to extend seemingly impossible rallies. Opponents can use aggressive lobs and angles to push defenders beyond the court boundaries.

When the Ball Is Out

The ball is out (point lost) if it:

• Goes over or through the wall or fence without passing through an open section
• Bounces twice before the player can play it — whether inside or outside the court
• Is played back but does not land in the opponent’s court after crossing the net

See also: ball in play for the full rules on what keeps the ball live during a rally.