Official Padel Rules Explained: Scoring, Serving, Court Dimensions & Wall Play

Official Padel Rules: Everything You Need to Know

Understanding the rules of padel is essential whether you are a complete beginner or transitioning from another racket sport. This comprehensive guide covers all official padel rules including scoring, serving, court dimensions, wall play, equipment requirements, and common faults.

The Court

A standard padel court measures 20 meters long by 10 meters wide (approximately 66 by 33 feet), enclosed by walls and glass panels. The back walls are solid up to 3 meters high, with an additional 1 meter of metallic mesh above. Side walls extend 3 meters from the back wall with 2 meters of glass followed by metallic mesh above. The net height is 88 centimeters at the center and 92 centimeters at the posts, slightly lower than a tennis net. The court is divided into service boxes by a central service line.

Equipment Requirements

Padel requires specific equipment that differs from tennis and other racket sports. The padel racket must be solid with no strings, made of composite materials with a perforated hitting surface. Official regulations limit racket length to 45.5 centimeters, width to 26 centimeters, and thickness to 38 millimeters. The racket must have a safety cord attached to the wrist.

Padel balls look similar to tennis balls but have slightly less internal pressure, typically between 4.6 and 5.2 kg per square centimeter at sea level. This lower pressure produces a slower bounce that suits the enclosed court. Players should wear court-specific shoes with herringbone or omni-directional soles that provide grip without damaging the artificial turf surface. Running shoes or tennis shoes with aggressive treads are not recommended as they can damage the court surface and increase injury risk.

Scoring System

Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis: points progress 15, 30, 40, then game. At deuce (40-40), a team must win by two clear points unless the golden point rule applies, where the receiving team chooses which side receives the deciding point. Sets are won by the first team to reach 6 games with a 2-game lead. If the score reaches 6-6, a tiebreak is played to 7 points with a 2-point lead required. Matches are typically best of 3 sets in most tournaments.

Serving Rules

The serve in padel must be hit underhand. The server bounces the ball behind the service line and strikes it at or below waist height. The serve must land in the diagonally opposite service box. If the ball hits the net and lands in the correct box, it is a let and the serve is replayed. Each server gets two attempts per point. A foot fault occurs if the server steps on or over the service line before making contact. The ball may bounce off the back wall after landing in the service box, but if it touches the metallic mesh or side wall fence before bouncing it is considered a fault.

Wall Play Rules

Wall play is what makes padel unique. After the ball bounces on the ground on your side, it may hit any combination of walls and you can still play it, as long as it has not bounced on the ground a second time. You can even run outside the court through the side openings to retrieve a ball that has bounced off the back wall and over the side fence. The ball must always bounce on the ground on the opponents side before hitting a wall. A shot that hits the wall directly without bouncing first on the ground is out, except when playing a volley at the net where the ball goes directly into the opponents court.

Common Faults and Lets

A fault occurs when the ball bounces twice on your side, when you hit the ball into the net, when the ball lands outside the court boundaries, when you touch the net with your body or racket, or when you hit the ball before it crosses the net to your side. A let is called when the serve clips the net but lands in the correct service box, when play is interrupted by an external factor, or when a ball from another court enters the playing area. Players cannot reach over the net to hit the ball, though the racket may cross the net on the follow-through after contact.

Doubles-Specific Rules

Padel is always played as doubles. Each team of two players alternates serves within each set. Partners can stand anywhere on their side of the court during play. Communication and positioning between partners is crucial. The serving order established at the beginning of each set must be maintained throughout that set but can change between sets. Either player on the receiving team can return the serve.

Getting Started

The best way to learn padel rules is by playing. Find a padel court near you and book a session. Most facilities offer beginner clinics that cover the basic rules and techniques in a fun group setting.