Padel rules & 2026 FIP changes — the complete guide
Padel borrows its scoring from tennis but its court from something else entirely — four walls, two cages, and a service box that's smaller than you'd expect. The rules are simple enough to pick up in a session; the edge cases take longer. This is the complete reference: what you need to play, what casual players routinely get wrong, the calls that decide close matches, and the FIP rule changes that took effect on January 1, 2026.
Table of contents
The court
A padel court is 20 m long, 10 m wide, divided by a net roughly the same height as tennis. All four sides are enclosed — two end walls (solid glass or concrete) and two side walls that transition into metal mesh. The service box is 6.95 m from the net and split by a centre line.
Scoring
Identical to tennis: 15, 30, 40, game. Deuce at 40–40. Advantage to the winning side, or back to deuce if the other wins the next point. Six games wins a set; you need two sets to win a match. Most recreational play uses 'Golden Point' at deuce — next point wins the game.
The serve
Serves are underhand. You bounce the ball once behind the service line, then strike it at or below waist height into the opponent's diagonal service box. Two chances per point. The serve must bounce in the service box before hitting any wall. If the serve clips the net and lands in, it's a let — replay the point.
Walls in play
After the ball crosses the net, it can hit any wall and still be in play. The defining rule: it must bounce on the ground first, then can bounce off walls freely. You can play a ball off your own back wall after it has crossed the net, travelled past you, and bounced behind you — a huge part of advanced padel.
Out of play
A ball hits your own court's wall or ceiling before crossing the net? Lost point. A ball hits any object outside the court (light, net post, ceiling)? Lost point. A volley that goes straight into a wall without bouncing first (from your side, after receiving a hit)? Lost point.
Volleys and smashes
Any ball is volleyable after it crosses the net, except the serve — the return of serve must bounce first. Smashes can be hit directly out of the court ('por tres' — through the opening at the top corner) and the point is still yours if it clears cleanly.
Common edge cases
The ball clips the net during a rally and lands in: play on. The ball hits the net post and bounces in: out. The ball brushes your clothing or racket during a swing: lost point. The ball passes your ear between bounces: in play as long as it eventually bounces inside your court. Double-hits on the same swing: lost point. A coach shouting from the side: allowed in recreational play, restricted in tournament play.
2026 FIP rule changes
On January 1, 2026, the FIP introduced the most significant rule changes in years. The headline additions: (1) STAR POINT — a new tiebreaker format at 40-40, applied after repeated deuces in the same game; tournaments choose between Classic Golden Point and STAR POINT so check your rules before play. (2) Service trajectory — the ball must not cross the service line (or its imaginary extension) before contact; the change clarifies arbitration without affecting most amateur serves. (3) Timing enforcement — the existing 20-second between-points rule is now actively penalised; tactical delays earn warnings and point penalties in tournament play. (4) Warm-up reduced from 5 minutes to 3 — arrive ready. (5) 120-second hard cap on rest between sets. (6) Mandatory 5-minute heat break between sets in extreme heat conditions. (7) No eating or drinking between regular points — changeovers only. The court, racket, ball, and basic scoring system are all unchanged.
Key takeaways
- Scoring is tennis scoring. 15, 30, 40, game.
- Serves are underhand, below waist, and must bounce in the diagonal service box.
- Walls are in play after the ball bounces on the ground once.
- A ball hitting your side's wall before crossing the net loses the point.
- Volleys are legal except on serve returns.
- 2026 FIP changes: STAR POINT scoring, tighter timing enforcement, 3-minute warm-up.
Questions
Is padel scored like tennis?
Yes. 15, 30, 40, game. Deuce at 40–40. Sets are first to six games. Many recreational matches use Golden Point (first point after deuce wins the game). The 2026 FIP rules also introduced the STAR POINT option — check which format your tournament uses.
Can you volley the serve in padel?
No. The return of serve must bounce once before being struck. Every subsequent shot in the rally can be volleyed.
Can the ball hit the wall before the ground?
Only after it has crossed the net. On your side, the ball must bounce on the ground first — then it can hit any wall. A ball that hits your wall before bouncing is a lost point.
What's 'por tres' in padel?
A smash hit hard enough to bounce on the opponent's side and fly out of the court through the gap between the fence and the glass. Legal — and the point is yours.
What changed in padel rules in 2026?
The FIP introduced STAR POINT (new tiebreaker format), codified service trajectory restrictions, tightened the 20-second between-points rule, cut warm-up time from 5 to 3 minutes, capped set rest at 120 seconds, added a mandatory heat break, and prohibited eating between regular points. Court, ball, racket, and core scoring are unchanged.
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