PADEL RULES
Service Order
2 min read
Service order in padel is carefully regulated to ensure fairness and consistency throughout a match.
Deciding Who Serves First
Before the match begins, a coin toss or racket spin determines which team serves first. The winning team may choose to:
- Serve first
- Receive first
- Choose which end of the court to start from (in which case the other team chooses serve/receive)
See choice of sides and service for the full toss procedure including the option to defer.
Service Rotation Within a Team
Both players on a team take turns serving. The team must maintain the same service order throughout the entire set.
- Player A serves, then the opposing team serves, then Player B serves, then the opposing team serves — cycling through all four players
- Partners alternate serves every time it is their team’s turn to serve
Starting a New Set
At the beginning of each new set, teams may choose to:
- Change the service order (i.e., the partner who did not start serving in the previous set can start in the new one)
- Keep the same order
Changing Sides (Changeovers)
Players change ends:
- After the first game of each set
- After every two games thereafter
- At the start of a tie-break, and then after every 6 points
During changeovers the service order remains unchanged — the next server in the rotation serves the first point after the changeover. See changes of sides for the full end-change rules and tie-break rules for service order within a tie-break.
Service Order Violations
If a player serves out of turn:
- If caught before the next point begins: the correct server takes over; points played with the wrong server stand
- If caught during or after a point: points already played stand and the correct order resumes immediately
Key Rules
- The server’s partner may stand anywhere on their side of the court
- The receiving team may position themselves anywhere on their side
- The receiving team decides which player receives the first serve in each game; that arrangement is maintained for the entire game (the partner receives on the other side)
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What Happens When the Ball Goes Out of the Court in Padel?
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