Padel (FIP) — Official Rules

The court is a rectangle 10 m wide by 20 m long (interior measurements) with a 0.5% tolerance. It is divided in half by a net. On either side of and parallel to the net, at a distance of 6.95 m, are the service lines. The area between the net and the service lines is divided by a perpendicular central service line that extends at least 20 cm beyond the service line. All lines are 5 cm wide, preferably white or black for contrast. Minimum free height must be 6 m (8 m suggested for new facilities).

The court is completely enclosed. The ends have a total height of 4 m: the first 3 m is wall (glass, brick or other solid/transparent material) and the last 1 m is metallic fence. The sides (Variant 2, crystal) have a 3 m high by 4 m long wall at each end zone, with metallic mesh completing the enclosure up to 4 m at the extremes. The metallic fence is made of soldered rhomboids with diagonal holes between 5 cm and 7.08 cm. Walls must give a uniform bounce and be a uniform colour clearly different from the floor.

The net is 10 m long, 0.88 m high at the centre and rising to 0.92 m at the ends (tolerance 0.005 m). It is suspended by a metal cable held by two lateral posts of maximum height 1.05 m, and capped by a white strip 5.0–6.3 cm wide. The net must fully fill the space between the posts and the court surface with no gaps, and must be made of a synthetic-fibre mesh narrow enough that the ball cannot pass through.

To permit out-of-court play, each side of the court must have 2 access points. There must be no obstacles outside the court within an area of no less than 3 m wide (4 m recommended), 4 m long on each side and a minimum 3 m high. The accesses must be cushioned on their lateral, upper and net-post sides with shock-absorbing material at least 2 cm thick. If light poles fall within the safety area, out-of-court play is not permitted.

The ball is a rubber sphere with a uniform surface in white, yellow or other colours that clearly contrast with the court surface (the colour restriction was relaxed in 2026). Diameter 6.35–6.77 cm, weight 56.0–59.4 g, and a bounce of 135–145 cm when dropped from 2.54 m onto a hard surface. Internal pressure must be 4.6–5.2 kg per 2.54 cm². At altitudes above 1000 m, a reduced-bounce ball may be used (bounce between 121.92 cm and 135 cm).

The racket has a head and a handle. Handle maximum length 20 cm; the head plus handle (total length) may not exceed 45.5 cm; head maximum width 26 cm, maximum thickness 38 mm. The hitting surface is perforated by cylindrical holes 9–13 mm in the centre area. The racket must carry a non-elastic wrist cord of maximum length 35 cm fixed to the handle, and its use is obligatory as protection against accidents. The racket may not have any device that communicates or gives instructions during play.

Points are called 15, 30, 40, game; the server's score is announced first and "love" denotes 0. If each pair reaches three points it is deuce; the next point won is advantage, and winning the following point wins the game. If the advantaging pair loses the next point the score returns to deuce, and so on until one pair wins two consecutive points. A pair must win 6 games with a 2-game margin to take the set (at 5-5 they play to 7-5); at 6-6 a tie-break is played.

The Star Point is the flagship 2026 system, used in official FIP competitions (Premier Padel adopts it from the Riyadh P1 on 9 February 2026). Within a game, advantage scoring applies but only through three deuces: deuce 1 → advantage 1 → deuce 2 → advantage 2 → deuce 3. If the score returns to deuce a third time, a single deciding Star Point is played; the receiving pair chooses the side (right or left) to receive and cannot swap positions, and the pair that wins the Star Point wins the game. In mixed matches the receiver of the deciding point must be the same sex as the server.

The "no advantage" or Golden Point option. Points are called love, 15, 30, 40, game. When both pairs reach three points (deuce), a single deciding Golden Point is played: the receiving pair chooses to receive on the right or left and cannot change positions, and the pair that wins it wins the game. In mixed matches the receiver of the deciding point must be the same sex as the server.

At 6-6 a tie-break is played; points are counted 0, 1, 2, 3, … The first pair to reach 7 points with a 2-point margin wins the tie-break, the game and the set 7-6; if necessary the tie-break continues until a 2-point margin is reached. The player whose turn it is serves the first point (one serve, from the right); thereafter players serve two consecutive points in the established order. Players change ends after every 6 points.

The match is the best of three sets — a pair must win two sets to win the match. By prior agreement, the deciding third set may be played without a tie-break (won by a 2-game margin).

Tournaments may use shortened formats: a mini-set to 4 games (2-game margin, tie-break at 4-4); a match tie-break to 7 points replacing the final set when sets are level (2-point margin); or a super tie-break to 10 points replacing the final set when sets are level (2-point margin).

Each pair stands on its own side of the net. The server puts the ball in play and the receiver is the player diagonally opposite. The receiver may stand anywhere on their side of the court, as may their partner and the server's partner.

The choice of ends, who serves first and who receives is decided by the toss of a coin. The winning pair may choose to serve or receive (the other pair then chooses the side), or choose the side (the other pair then chooses serve/receive), or ask the opponents to choose first.

Each pair decides at the start of a set which player serves first; the serve then alternates so that each of the four players serves a full game in rotation (A1, B1, A2, B2, …). The receiving pair likewise fixes who receives in the right and left boxes for the whole set. Players change sides after the 1st, 3rd and every subsequent odd game, and after every 6 points in a tie-break.

At the start of the serve the server must stand with one foot behind the service line, inside the service box between the imaginary central line and the side wall, and remain there until the ball is struck. The server bounces the ball on the ground within their box; the ball may not cross the service line (or its imaginary prolongation) until it is struck. The ball must be hit at or below waist height, and the player must have at least one foot in contact with the ground at the moment of impact (the previous "both feet" requirement was relaxed in 2026). The serve is hit diagonally over the net into the opposite service box.

If the first service is not valid, the server is allowed a second service. The first serve of a game is directed into the receiver's left box; after each point the side alternates. The server may not serve until the receiver is ready, but a "not ready" call cannot be made once an attempt to return has been made.

A serve is a fault if: the server infringes the execution rules (foot placement, ball crossing the line, waist height); the server misses the ball; the ball bounces outside the receiver's service box; the ball hits the server, the partner or anything worn or carried; the ball, after a correct bounce in the box, touches the metallic fence before the second bounce; or the ball bounces in the box and goes out directly through the gates of a court with no authorized out-of-court play. Two consecutive faults lose the point (double fault).

A serve is a "net" if the ball touches the net or posts and then lands correctly in the receiver's service box (without touching the metallic fence before the second bounce); the point continues with no penalty — on the first serve the whole point is replayed with two serves available, and on the second serve only the second serve is repeated. A "let" is also called if the serve is made when the receiver is not ready. There is no limit to consecutive lets.

The receiver must wait for the ball to bounce within their service box and hit it before it bounces a second time. If the ball hits a receiving player or their racket before it bounces, the point goes to the server.

The ball is in play from a valid service until a "let" is called or the point is decided. After bouncing once in the opponent's court the ball remains in play and may rebound off the walls, fence, net and posts; it must be returned before it bounces a second time. The mesh and frame in their entirety count as part of the fence.

A return is correct if, after being hit, the ball bounces directly into the opponent's court, or hits a wall in the player's own court first and then crosses into the opponent's court. After bouncing in the opponent's court the ball may then strike their walls or fence. The ball may not be played directly off the opponent's walls or fence before bouncing on their floor. A ball wedged in the wall corner (where wall meets ground) is a correct return.

A pair loses the point if: a player, racket or anything worn touches the net, posts, cable or the opponent's court while the ball is in play; the ball bounces twice before being returned; the ball is hit before crossing the net; a returned ball strikes the opponent's wall or fence before bouncing on their floor; a player hits the ball twice (double hit) or both partners hit it; a player jumps over the net; the ball is hit with a thrown racket; a player has a foot or part of the body out of the court (unless out-of-court play is authorized); the server commits two consecutive faults; or a player breaks their safety cord or drops their racket (immediate loss of the point in dispute — new in 2026).

Where the court meets the safety-area conditions, players may leave the court to play a ball that has bounced correctly and exited through a door or over a side wall, then return it into the opponent's court. The point is lost if the ball goes out over the end wall, or if (over a side wall or through the door) it bounces a second time or touches any element unrelated to the court. Above 0.92 m the vertical post in the doorway is a neutral zone any of the four players may touch.

There is an obligatory 3-minute courtesy rally between the players before the match. A player not on court ready to play 10 minutes after the official start time is awarded a walk-over loss (except for force majeure).

Play must be continuous. A maximum of 20 seconds is allowed between points. A maximum of 90 seconds is granted for changing sides, except after the first game of each set and during a tie-break, when play is continuous; in a tie-break 20 seconds is allowed for the change of sides. A maximum rest of 120 seconds is granted at the end of each set. Each timing starts when the previous point finishes and ends when the next serve begins.

If a match is suspended (rain, light, accident), on restart the players have a warm-up according to the suspension length: up to 5 minutes — no warm-up; 5–20 minutes — 1-minute warm-up; over 20 minutes — 3-minute warm-up. The match resumes exactly where it stopped (game, score, server, ends and order of serve). For a light suspension, play should stop at an even number of games so both pairs resume on the same side.

For an injury or treatable medical condition a player is granted one 3-minute treatment break, repeatable in the following two changes of side within the regulation time; medical attention is given only once per player per condition and cannot be transferred to the partner. For accidents not arising from play (fainting, allergic reaction, dizziness, respiratory crisis) the referee may grant medical time not exceeding 15 minutes. A limited number of restroom/clothing-change breaks may be announced before the match.

A point is replayed as a "let" if the ball splits during play, a foreign element enters the court, a ground object is displaced into play, or any unexpected interruption unconnected to the players occurs. A player must claim a let immediately, before play continues, or lose the right; the umpire decides if it is appropriate.

Interference is when a player, deliberately or involuntarily, distracts an opponent during a shot. Deliberate interference awards the point to the opponent; involuntary interference results in a let and the point is replayed. A second involuntary interference by the same pair is penalized with loss of the point.

Organizers announce the ball brand, number (2 or 3) and change policy in advance. Balls may be changed after an odd number of games (warm-up counts as two games and a tie-break as one), or at the start of a set; no ball change occurs at the start of a tie-break (it is delayed to the second game of the next set). A lost or damaged ball is replaced immediately — within the first two games after a change, with a new ball; afterwards, with a used ball of similar wear.

Players must behave courteously at all times. Offences include audible and visible obscenities, ball abuse, racket or equipment abuse, verbal and physical abuse or aggression, lack of best efforts, and unsportsmanlike conduct. Coaches are likewise bound, and sanctions against a coach may be added to those of the players.

Conduct violations are sanctioned on a three-step ladder: (a) first infraction — Warning; (b) second infraction — Warning with point loss; (c) third infraction — Warning with disqualification. (This is the padel ladder — it does not include a separate "game penalty" or fourth step.) Coaches face: first infraction — warning; second — expulsion from the match. Violations by both partners and an accredited coach are cumulative when due to instructions.

Exceeding the permitted times follows a separate ladder: (a) first violation — warning for a time violation; (b) repeat — the server loses the first serve, a non-server loses a point; (c) subsequent violations — loss of successive points as determined by the referee. For serious or repeated delay or related unsportsmanlike conduct, the referee may impose additional penalties including loss of games or disqualification under the Disciplinary Code.

For a very serious infraction (grave physical or verbal aggression) the umpire may impose immediate disqualification. A disqualified player loses the match and may not continue in the competition; a disqualified coach, captain or other player must withdraw from the tournament.