Short answer: padel is played in doubles on an enclosed court, with an underarm serve, tennis scoring, and walls that you can use after the ball bounces. The ball must bounce once on the ground in your opponents’ half before it touches their walls. After that bounce, it can come off the glass and still be played. Learn that one idea and you understand most of padel.
Here are the rules of padel in plain English, based on the official rules of the International Padel Federation (FIP), plus the variations you will often meet at club level.
The court and the players
- Court: 10 m x 20 m, divided by a net, enclosed by glass walls at the back and glass or mesh on the sides.
- Players: four, in two teams of two. (You can play with two; see can you play padel singles?)
- Equipment: solid, perforated padel rackets and pressurised balls similar to tennis balls with slightly lower pressure.
How the serve works
- The server stands behind the service line, between the centre line and the side wall.
- They bounce the ball on the ground behind the service line and hit it at or below waist height.
- The serve must go diagonally into the opponents’ service box.
- The server has two attempts, as in tennis.
- After bouncing in the box, the serve may hit the glass and is still good. If it hits the mesh fence after bouncing, it is a fault.
- If the serve touches the net and lands in the correct box, it is a let and is replayed, unless it then hits the mesh.
- The receiver must let the serve bounce before returning it.
How scoring works
Padel uses the same scoring as tennis:
- Points: 15, 30, 40, game.
- Deuce: at 40-40, a team needs two points in a row to win the game, unless the golden point is used.
- Golden point: many clubs and tournaments play a single deciding point at 40-40, with the receiving team choosing which side to receive from. It keeps games moving.
- Sets: first to six games, with a two-game lead. At 6-6, a tie-break is usually played.
- Match: usually best of three sets.
The walls: what is allowed
| Situation | Legal? |
|---|---|
| Ball bounces on your side, then hits your glass, then you return it | Yes |
| You hit the ball into your own wall so it rebounds over the net | Yes |
| Your shot hits the opponents’ wall or fence before bouncing on their ground | No, you lose the point |
| Ball bounces on your side and hits the mesh, then you return it | Yes, if you reach it before it bounces again |
| Ball bounces twice on your side | No, you lose the point |
Playing off the back glass is the skill that takes beginners the longest. The secret is patience: let the ball pass you, turn, and hit it as it comes back off the wall. Read more in how to start playing padel.
Common ways to lose a point
- The ball bounces twice on your side.
- Your shot hits the opponents’ walls or fence before bouncing on their side.
- Your shot lands outside the court or hits the roof or lights.
- The ball hits you or your partner.
- You or your racket touch the net while the ball is in play.
- You hit the ball before it has crossed to your side of the net.
- You hit the ball twice, or both partners hit it.
Winning shots off the walls
If the ball bounces in the opponents’ half and then leaves the court, for example over the walls or through a door, it is usually your point. At some venues and in professional play, players are allowed to run out of the court to return those balls, but in most club games, a ball that bounces out of the court is a winner.
How long is a padel match?
A best-of-three-sets match usually takes around 60 to 90 minutes at club level, which is why most courts are booked in 60 or 90 minute slots.
Padel rules quick reference
| Rule | In short |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 v 2 |
| Serve | Underarm, after a bounce, at or below waist height, diagonal |
| Serve attempts | Two |
| Scoring | Tennis scoring, often with a golden point at 40-40 |
| Walls | Playable after the ball bounces on your side |
| Volleys | Allowed, except on the return of serve |
Frequently asked questions
Can you hit the ball off the wall in padel?
Yes. Once the ball has bounced on your side, you can play it after it hits your walls. You can also hit it into your own walls to send it back over the net.
Can you volley the serve in padel?
No. The receiver must let the serve bounce first.
Is padel scored like tennis?
Yes: 15, 30, 40, game, with sets to six. Many clubs use a golden point at deuce.
What happens if the ball hits the fence?
During a rally, a ball that bounces on your side and then hits the mesh can still be played. On a serve, hitting the mesh after the bounce is a fault.
Do padel and pickleball have the same rules?
No. They differ in the court, walls, ball, scoring and serve. See padel vs pickleball rules: the key differences.
Now go and play
Rules make sense fastest on court. Bring three friends, a forgiving racket and an open mind about the walls. Every moné racket is 100% carbon with a teardrop shape and medium EVA core, made to make your first games feel easy. Explore the collection and play beautifully.
