PADEL RULES
Basic Rules

Service Order

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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