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Padel Rules
Quick guide to the essential rules of padel for new players
Welcome to Padel Play Guidelines!
These rules outline the fundamental aspects of playing padel, including serving, scoring, and general respect on the court.
How to Serve:
The server must stand behind the service line and hit the ball underhand.
The ball must bounce once on the ground, behind the service line, before hitting it.
The serve must land in the opponent's service box diagonally opposite to be valid.
A serve that hits the steel cage after bouncing, is out (a fault)
Players get a second serve; a double fault results in losing the point.
In Play:
During play the golden rule is that the ball must pass over the net and then bounce in the opponents half, before hitting any sides or back of the court.
A shot that hits any side or back of the court on the opponent's side before landing on the ground, is out.
You may volley the ball after (and only after) it has crossed the net (i.e. it doesn't have to bounce first)
A shot that hits the glass wall or the steel cage on the opponents' side after bouncing, is in
A shot that hits an obstacle such as the roof, is out
A ball that lands in the opponent's half and then exits the court (e.g. a smash), is in.
A shot that hits the glass wall (but not the steel cage) on your side and then lands in the opponent's half, is in.
In cases where it is difficult to tell if a ball landed in or out, the usual guide is that if it popped up, it hit the floor first, so it's in, but if it dropped down, it hit the wall first, so it's out. If in doubt, respect the call of the team on whose side the ball landed.
In case a stray object enters the court (e.g. ball from another court, or a ball falls out your pocket), play must be stopped immediately and a let is played. Safety first.
Scoring Points:
Points are scored as follows: 0, 15, 30, 40, and then game point, similar to tennis scoring..
After a second deuce (40-40), a golden point is played, with receiver choosing the side.
A match typically consists of sets, which you win by taking 6 games, with a margin of at least 2 games.
In case of a tie at 6-6, a tiebreak first to 7 (margin of at least 2) is played to determine the set winner.
Always announce the score before serving to maintain clarity
Padel matches are decided as best of 3 sets.
Respect on the Court:
Respect your opponents and teammates; sportsmanship is key.
Maintain a positive attitude, regardless of the score.
Avoid distractions and stay focused on the game.
Always respect the calls made by the opposition to keep the game going smoothly.
Full set of Padel rules:
The full set of Padel rules can be found the LTA website at the following link:
https://www.lta.org.uk/490bb5/siteassets/compete/padel/file/rules-of-padel.pdf
These guidelines serve to enhance your enjoyment of the game and ensure fair play.
Enjoy your time on the court, and play to the best of your ability!
Padel Rules
Padel Rules
Can walls be used?
Yes, after the ball reaches your side, you can hit it against the side or back glass walls on your side before returning, but if it hits the metal mesh fence first, it is out. Other than when serving, a ball that bounces on the opponents' side first and then hits the metal mesh fence is in.
Padel is usually played with four players, two on each side. Singles games are possible on smaller courts, but we do not have dedicated Singles courts at Admiral Park.
What about singles?
Must the ball bounce?
The service ball must bounce in the receiver's service box before hitting walls or being returned. After that the ball can be volleyed or bounce on the ground once (but never twice) before being returned. If your ball hits the side or back of the court on the opponents' side before bouncing, it's out.
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