PADEL RULES
Ways to Win a Point
The FIP Rules of Padel (Rule 15) specify the situations in which a team is awarded a point. A team wins a point whenever their opponents commit a fault or a code violation penalty is applied against them.
Complete List — Ways to Win a Point (FIP Rules 13 & 15)
A team wins the point when the opposing team commits any fault covered in ways to lose a point, or when one of the following specific situations arises:
Unique Rule 15 Situations
These two situations are explicitly listed in FIP Rule 15 as point-winning outcomes:
- Ball exits through a hole in the metallic fence — if after bouncing in the opponent’s court the ball exits through a hole in the metallic fence or becomes lodged in the hole, the point is won by the hitting team
- Ball lodges on top of the wall — if after bouncing in the opponent’s court the ball gets stuck on the flat horizontal surface on top of the wall, the point is won by the hitting team
From Opponents’ Faults
- Opponents double fault — both serve attempts are faults
- Ball bounces twice on opponents’ side — the opponents fail to return before the second bounce
- Opponents’ shot into the net — the ball does not cross over
- Opponents’ shot out of court — the ball exits the enclosure permanently
- Opponents touch the net or opponent’s court — while the ball is in play
- Ball strikes an opponent — the ball in play touches an opponent’s body before bouncing
- Opponents double hit — one player strikes the ball twice with direction change
- Opponents’ cord breaks or racket is dropped — immediate point loss for that pair
- Deliberate interference by opponents — the referee awards the point
- Code violation point penalty — applied by the referee under the code of conduct
Winning Points Without Playing the Ball
It is worth noting that several ways to win a point require no action from the winning team — the opponents make an unforced error (double fault, ball into the net, ball out). These are as valid as a clean winner and are a key part of padel strategy, especially under the pressure of the back-wall game.
Summary Table
| Situation | Team awarded the point |
|---|---|
| Opponents double fault | Receiving team |
| Ball exits through hole in metallic fence | Hitting team |
| Ball lodges on top of wall | Hitting team |
| Ball bounces twice on opponents’ side | Hitting team |
| Opponents’ shot into net | Hitting team |
| Opponents’ shot out of court | Hitting team |
| Opponents touch net/opponent’s court | Non-touching team |
| Opponent’s body struck by ball | Hitting team |
| Opponents double hit (with direction change) | Other team |
| Opponents’ cord breaks or racket dropped | Other team |
| Opponents deliberately interfere | Affected team |
| Code violation point penalty against opponents | Affected team |