Padel Rules
Everything you need to know to play padel by the rules. Scoring, serving, the golden point, faults, lets, tiebreaks, court zones, and all the details that make padel different from tennis.
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Padel rules in 60 seconds
Core Rules & Scoring
The basics every new player needs to know before stepping on court.
Padel Rules: How the Game Works
Padel rules are simple to learn. Played in doubles on an enclosed court, the game uses tennis scoring and allows the ball to bounce off walls after hitting the ground.
Read guidePadel Scoring Explained
Padel scoring is identical to tennis: 15, 30, 40, game, with deuce and advantage. Matches are best of three sets, each won at 6 games with a tiebreak at 6-6.
Read guideThe Golden Point: Padel's Sudden Death Rule
The golden point is the sudden death point played at deuce (40-40). One team serves, and the receiving team chooses which side to return from. The team that wins the point wins the game — no advantage.
Read guidePadel Match Format: Sets, Tiebreaks & Tournament Variations
Standard padel matches are best of three sets, each won at 6 games with a tiebreak at 6-6. Many amateur tournaments use shorter formats — knowing what to expect prevents surprises.
Read guideThe Padel Tiebreak and Supertiebreak Explained
The padel tiebreak is played at 6-6 in a set, to 7 points. The supertiebreak (to 10 points) often replaces the third set in amateur matches. Here's exactly how both formats work.
Read guideServing Rules
Padel's underarm serve has its own rules and fault conditions.
How to Serve in Padel
The padel serve must be underhand, struck at or below waist height. It goes diagonally and must land in the opposite service box. Despite being underhand, a well-placed serve can put opponents under pressure.
Read guidePadel Faults: What Causes a Fault & Double Fault
A fault in padel is an invalid serve. Two faults on the same point result in a double fault and the point goes to the receiving pair. Knowing what triggers a fault prevents costly errors.
Read guidePadel Service Box: Dimensions & Rules
The padel service box is the target area the serve must land in. Understanding its dimensions and position — and what happens when serves land near the walls — prevents common rule errors.
Read guideThe Let in Padel: When Points Are Replayed
A let in padel means the point is replayed. Lets are called on serves that clip the net and land correctly, external interference during play, or when both teams agree the point should be replayed.
Read guideCourt Rules & Layout
Understanding court zones, net height, surface types, and line calls.
Padel Court Dimensions & Layout
A padel court is 20m long by 10m wide, enclosed by walls of glass and metal mesh. Understanding the court layout helps you read the game and use the walls to your advantage.
Read guideThe Padel Net: Height, Width & Key Rules
The padel net is 10 metres wide, 88 cm high at the posts, and 92 cm high at the centre. Understanding net dimensions helps with serving, volley angles, and trajectory on passing shots.
Read guidePadel Court Surface: Artificial Turf, Concrete & Indoor Options
Most outdoor padel courts use artificial grass with sand infill. Indoor courts vary — some use the same surface, others use concrete or rubber. The surface affects footwear choice and ball bounce.
Read guidePadel Court Zones: Where to Stand and Why
Padel's 20m court has three key zones: the net zone (attacking), the transition zone (dangerous middle ground), and the baseline zone (defensive). Knowing which zone to occupy changes how you play every point.
Read guideHow to Call Lines in Padel
In recreational padel without referees, players call lines on their own side. The golden rule is: if you're unsure, give the benefit of the doubt to your opponents.
Read guideMatch Formats & Variants
Doubles, singles, mixed doubles, and tournament formats.
Can You Play Padel Singles?
Padel is designed for doubles and almost never played as singles. The court is too wide for one player to cover, and the rules don't officially support a singles format. Here's why.
Read guideMixed Doubles in Padel: Rules and Tactics
Mixed doubles padel (one man and one woman per pair) is a popular recreational and competitive format. It uses the same rules as standard padel but creates specific tactical dynamics around positioning and shot selection.
Read guideOutdoor vs Indoor Padel: Key Differences
Outdoor padel is the original format — weather-dependent but great in good conditions. Indoor padel offers year-round play. The two formats differ in lighting, court conditions, noise, and atmosphere.
Read guideWhen Play Is Suspended in Padel: Rules and Protocol
Play can be suspended in padel for weather (rain, lightning), court issues, or darkness on outdoor courts. Understanding the protocol — when to stop, who calls it, and how to resume — prevents disputes.
Read guidePadel Rules FAQs
What is the golden point in padel?
When a game reaches 40-40, one deciding 'golden point' is played — the winner takes the game. The receiving pair chooses which player receives. This replaces the traditional advantage/deuce system used in tennis and is now standard in virtually all padel play.
Can the ball hit the walls in padel?
Yes — and this is what makes padel unique. After bouncing once on your side, the ball can rebound off the back glass or side walls and remain in play. You can return shots off the walls too. The ball cannot bounce twice on the court before you hit it.
How does the serve work in padel?
The serve must be underarm and struck at or below waist height. The server bounces the ball and hits it into the diagonally opposite service box. Two attempts are allowed. The ball cannot hit the side or back glass before landing in the service box.
How is padel scored?
Padel uses tennis scoring: 0 (love), 15, 30, 40, game. Games are won first to 6 (with 2-game lead or 7-6 via tiebreak). Matches are best of 3 sets. The key difference from tennis: deuce/advantage is replaced by the golden point at 40-40.
Is padel always played as doubles?
Almost always. While the official rules technically allow singles, padel is designed for four players and the glass walls make singles extremely defensive and physically demanding. Courts, scoring, and tactics are all built around doubles play.
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