PADEL RULES
Padel Rules 2026 — What Changed
5 min read
- 1. New Scoring Option: The Star Point
- 2. Serve Rule Changes
- 2a. Foot position: one foot, not both
- 2b. Ball trajectory: the ball cannot cross the line before contact
- 3. Dropping Your Racket Costs You the Point
- 4. Safety Zone Width Increased
- 5. Altitude Threshold for Different Balls Raised
- 6. Warm-Up Time Reduced
- Summary of Changes
The International Padel Federation (FIP) issued a revised rulebook effective 1 January 2026, adopted at the FIP General Meeting in Acapulco, Mexico on 28 November 2025. This page covers every meaningful change from the previous 2021 edition.
1. New Scoring Option: The Star Point
This is the headline change. The 2021 rulebook offered two scoring options at deuce: advantage mode and the golden point. The 2026 rulebook adds a third option between them — the Star Point.
How the Star Point works:
- At the first deuce (“Deuce 1”), advantage is played normally. If the leading pair loses the next point, the score moves to “Deuce 2”.
- At “Deuce 2”, advantage is played again. If the leading pair loses, it goes to “Deuce 3”.
- At “Deuce 3”, a single deciding point called the Star Point is played. The receiving pair chooses which side (left or right) to receive from, but cannot change positions to do so.
- The pair that wins the Star Point wins the game.
In mixed doubles, the receiver of the Star Point must be the same gender as the server.
The three scoring options are now: Option 1 (Advantage), Option 2 (Star Point), Option 3 (Golden Point). The format must be agreed before the match.
See The Star Point Rule Explained for a full breakdown with examples.
2. Serve Rule Changes
The serve rules were tightened in two important ways.
2a. Foot position: one foot, not both
In 2021, Rule 6 required the server to stand with both feet behind the service line before serving.
In 2026, this was changed to one foot behind the service line. The server must stand between the imaginary extension of the central service line and the side wall, with at least one foot behind the service line, and must remain in that position until the ball has been struck.
The 2026 rules also clarify foot faults more precisely: the server’s feet must not touch the service line, the imaginary extension of the central line, or the service reception box on their own side of the court before the ball is hit.
2b. Ball trajectory: the ball cannot cross the line before contact
This is the other new serve restriction. The 2026 rulebook (Rule 6.2) states:
“The ball may not cross the service line or the imaginary line until it is struck.”
In practice, this means the server must bounce the ball and make contact while the ball is still within their service box, on their side of the central line. A ball that drifts across the service line or the centre line imaginary extension before being hit is a fault.
This rule closes a technical loophole and was introduced to standardise the serve motion across all levels of play.
3. Dropping Your Racket Costs You the Point
This is a new addition to Rule 13 (Point Lost) that did not exist in the 2021 rules.
The 2026 rulebook adds:
“In the event that one of the players breaks their safety cord or drops their racket, the pair will immediately lose the point in dispute.”
The wrist safety cord is mandatory in padel — the racket must be attached to the player’s wrist at all times. If a player’s cord breaks or they drop their racket during a point, the point is over and awarded to the opposing pair. This applies to both players in a pair.
4. Safety Zone Width Increased
The minimum clear safety zone outside each end of the court was increased.
- 2021: no obstacles within an area of no less than 2 metres wide on either side
- 2026: no obstacles within an area of no less than 3 metres wide (4 metres recommended)
This affects court construction standards, not the game itself, but courts built to 2021 standards may not meet the 2026 specification.
5. Altitude Threshold for Different Balls Raised
The 2021 rules allowed a lower-bounce ball for play at altitude above 500 metres above sea level.
The 2026 rules raise this threshold to 1,000 metres above sea level. At altitudes above 1,000 m, a ball with a slightly reduced bounce (between 121.92 cm and 135 cm when dropped from 2.54 m) may be used. Below 1,000 m, the standard ball applies.
6. Warm-Up Time Reduced
The 2021 rules required a mandatory 5-minute warm-up between players before a match.
The 2026 rules reduce this to a 3-minute courtesy rally. This is a minor procedural change but means match schedules can run slightly tighter.
The warm-up times allowed after a match suspension have also changed:
| Suspension duration | 2021 warm-up | 2026 warm-up |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 minutes | None | None |
| 5–20 minutes | 3 minutes | 1 minute |
| Over 20 minutes | 5 minutes | 3 minutes |
Summary of Changes
| Rule area | 2021 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring at deuce | Advantage or Golden Point | Advantage, Star Point, or Golden Point |
| Serve foot position | Both feet behind service line | One foot behind service line |
| Ball trajectory on serve | Not specified | Ball cannot cross service line before contact |
| Dropping racket | No penalty stated | Immediate loss of point |
| Safety zone width | 2 m minimum | 3 m minimum (4 m recommended) |
| Altitude ball threshold | Above 500 m | Above 1,000 m |
| Pre-match warm-up | 5 minutes | 3-minute courtesy rally |
The 2026 revision was adopted at the FIP General Meeting in Acapulco, Mexico on 28 November 2025 and came into effect on 1 January 2026.
For the full scoring rules, see Scoring System and Star Point Rule Explained. For complete serve rules, see Serve Rules.
