Padel Rules Explained: The Complete UK Guide for 2026
Padel is one of the easiest racket sports to pick up. The rules are straightforward, the court is small enough that you never feel lost, and most of what you need to know can be learned in ten minutes before your first session.
This guide covers everything: the basic rules, how scoring works, the serving rules, how the walls work, what counts as a fault, and the 2026 FIP rule changes that apply in the UK. Whether you are stepping onto a padel court for the first time or brushing up before a competitive match, everything you need is here for the fastest growing sport!
The basics: what is padel and how does it work?
Padel is a doubles sport. You always play two against two - there is no singles format at club level. Matches are played on an enclosed court roughly one third the size of a tennis court, surrounded by glass walls and metal mesh fencing. The walls are part of the game - you can play the ball off them, which is what makes padel tactically different from any other racket sport.
The scoring system is identical to tennis. The gameplay feels like a cross between tennis and squash. Most people who have played tennis find padel immediately familiar and most people who have never played either pick it up within their first session.
Padel in the UK is governed by the LTA, which follows the rules set by the International Padel Federation (FIP). The rules you learn here apply at every UK club and in FIP-sanctioned competitions worldwide.
The padel court
Understanding the court is essential before anything else.
Dimensions: 20 metres long by 10 metres wide. The net divides the court into two equal halves. Service lines run parallel to the net at 6.95 metres from it on each side, creating service boxes on both sides of the net.
The net: 88 centimetres high at the centre, 92 centimetres at the posts.
The walls: Glass panels at the back rise to 4 metres high. The side walls are typically a combination of glass at the bottom (up to 3 metres) and metal mesh above. The walls are in play - you can use them to your advantage.
Lines: Lines are only relevant during the serve. During general play, the lines have no significance - only the walls and net define the boundaries.
Padel scoring: how it works
Padel uses identical scoring to tennis. If you know tennis scoring, you know padel scoring.
Points within a game: 15, 30, 40, game. Both teams start at 0 (love). First team to reach 40 and win the next point wins the game, provided they lead by two points. If both teams reach 40, this is deuce.
Deuce and advantage: From deuce, one team must win two consecutive points to win the game. The team that wins the first point from deuce has advantage. If they win the next point, they win the game. If they lose it, the score returns to deuce.
Games within a set: First team to six games wins the set, provided they lead by two games. If the set reaches 6-6, a tiebreak is played. The first team to reach seven points with a two-point lead wins the tiebreak and the set.
Match format: Matches are typically best of three sets. If the match reaches one set all, a super tiebreak is played instead of a full third set. The super tiebreak is first to ten points with a two-point lead.
The Golden Point: In social and club play across the UK, many venues use the Golden Point (also called sudden death) at deuce instead of advantage scoring. This means the score goes directly to a winner-takes-all single point at deuce rather than playing out full advantage scoring. The receiving team chooses which player receives the serve on the Golden Point. Check with your venue or opponent before starting to agree which format you are using.
The 2026 Star Point rule
From January 2026, the FIP implemented the Star Point system at Grade 1 and 2 competitions in the UK. This is a hybrid between advantage scoring and the Golden Point.
At deuce, the sequence works as follows: the first deuce is played as a normal advantage point. If the team with advantage wins, the game ends. If they lose, it returns to a second deuce. The second deuce is played as another advantage point. If the score reaches a third deuce, that point becomes a sudden death Golden Point.
This rule applies at LTA Grade 1 and 2 tournaments. For Grade 3 to 5 competitions and social play, the Star Point is optional and many venues continue using either full advantage scoring or the Golden Point. If you are playing competitive padel in the UK, check the competition rules before your match.
Serving rules in padel
The padel serve is the rule beginners get wrong most often. It is completely different to tennis and worth understanding clearly before your first session.
How to serve
Underarm only. The serve in padel must be underarm. Overarm serving is not permitted at any level.
Ball must bounce first. The server must let the ball bounce on the ground before striking it. You cannot serve out of the air.
Contact below waist height. The ball must be struck at or below the level of the server's waist. Striking the ball above waist height is a fault.
Feet position. The server must stand behind the service line throughout the serve. Neither foot may touch or cross the service line. At least one foot must remain in contact with the ground at the moment of contact - jumping serves are not permitted.
Direction. The serve is always diagonal, as in tennis. When serving from the right side of the court, the ball must land in the opponent's right service box. When serving from the left, it must land in the opponent's left service box.
Into the service box. The serve must land in the correct service box. If it lands outside the service box or in the wrong box, it is a fault.
Walls after the bounce. If the serve lands correctly in the service box and then hits the back or side wall, it is a valid serve and the receiver must play it. If the ball hits the wire fence before landing in the service box, it is a fault.
Two serves
Like tennis, the server gets two attempts. A fault on the first serve means a second serve. A fault on the second serve means the point is lost.
Let
If the ball clips the net and lands correctly in the service box, it is a let and the serve is replayed. This applies to both first and second serves.
2026 serving rule change
The FIP introduced a significant serving rule change in January 2026. Previously, some players served by tossing the ball slightly forward before striking it, allowing the ball to cross the service line or centre line in the air before contact. This is now explicitly prohibited.
The ball may not cross any court line before the moment of contact with the racket. If the ball crosses the service line or centre line in the air before being struck, it is a fault regardless of where it lands. This rule change is designed to standardise the serve across all levels of competition.
In practice at club level, this change mainly affects players who had developed an unorthodox tossing action. For most players serving with a clean, downward bounce-and-strike action, nothing changes.
Switching sides when serving
The server alternates service boxes after each point, starting from the right. This is identical to tennis.
Who serves first
The team that serves first in the match is decided by a coin toss or mutual agreement. Service alternates between teams at the end of each game, and between partners within a team at the end of each set.
Playing the ball: the rules in play
The walls
This is the rule that makes padel unique and takes the most getting used to.
Your own side: You may play the ball off the walls on your own side of the court at any time during a rally. If the ball is heading toward the back wall, you can let it bounce and then come off the wall and play it. You can also play it before it hits the wall. Knowing when to take the ball off the wall and when to intercept it is one of the core tactical skills of padel.
Opponent's side: The ball must bounce on the opponent's side of the court before hitting their walls. If you hit the ball and it goes directly into the opponent's wall without bouncing on the court floor first, the shot is out and your opponents win the point.
Net then wall: You cannot hit the ball directly into the net supports or posts. The ball must travel over or around the net.
The bounce rule
You must play the ball before it bounces twice on your side of the court. Letting the ball bounce twice is a point lost. One bounce before you play the ball is permitted - you do not have to volley.
Volleys
You may volley at any time during a rally except when returning the serve. The return of serve cannot be taken out of the air - the ball must bounce first before the receiver plays it.
Out of court play
In some high-level venues with adequate space outside the court, a player may exit through the side doors to retrieve a ball that has bounced in the court and then gone through the opening in the fence. If you return the ball successfully from outside the court, the rally continues. This rule is rarely applicable at most UK club venues as it requires a minimum safety zone of two metres outside the doors.
Hitting the ball outside the court lines
If your shot hits the wire fence or walls before the ball lands in the opponent's court, the shot is out. The ball must clear the net and land in the court before touching any structure.
The ball hitting a player
If the ball strikes a player or their clothing before it bounces twice, the team that was struck loses the point. This applies whether the ball strikes the player who played the previous shot or their partner.
Common faults and rule violations
Double bounce: Letting the ball bounce twice before playing it - point lost.
Ball into the fence: Hitting the ball directly into the wire fence on the opponent's side without it bouncing first - point lost.
Net cord into fence: Ball hits the net, clips over, then hits the wire fence directly without bouncing - this depends on whether it then bounces on the correct side. If it bounces in the correct court first, play continues. If it hits the fence without bouncing, it is out.
Service fault: Ball lands outside the service box, hits the fence before the service box, contact made above waist height, feet cross the service line, overarm serve - all are faults.
Obstruction: Deliberately obstructing an opponent's shot or distracting them during the serve is a fault.
Double hit: Hitting the ball twice in one stroke is a fault.
Racket leaving the hand: If the racket leaves the player's hand and strikes the ball, the point is lost.
Equipment rules
Racket: Padel rackets must be solid (no strings), perforated with holes, and no longer than 45.5cm in total length. The handle is attached and the hitting surface is solid. Any racket available from a mainstream padel retailer will be compliant.
Ball: Padel balls look similar to tennis balls but are slightly less pressurised, with a lower bounce. Using standard tennis balls is not permitted in official competition and is not recommended for club play as the bounce is too high for the court dimensions.
Footwear: Non-marking court shoes are required at most UK venues. Tennis shoes or padel-specific shoes are suitable. Running shoes are not recommended as they do not provide adequate lateral support and will mark most indoor court surfaces.
Padel rules vs tennis: the key differences
If you are coming from tennis, here is a quick summary of what is different:
| Rule | Padel | Tennis |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Doubles only | Singles and doubles |
| Serve | Underarm, ball bounces first | Overarm, no bounce |
| Walls | In play | Not in play |
| Lines in play | Serve only | Always |
| Court size | 20m x 10m | 23.77m x 10.97m |
| Volleys | Anytime except return of serve | Anytime |
| Out of court play | Allowed at some venues | Not permitted |
| Scoring | Identical to tennis | 15, 30, 40, game |
Rules for social play in the UK
Most padel in the UK is social rather than competitive. Here are a few conventions that apply at club level but are not in the official rulebook:
Calling the score: In social play without a referee, it is the server's responsibility to call the score clearly before each point.
Disputed points: If there is a genuine dispute about whether a ball was in or out, the point is replayed. If only one team believes the ball was out and the other is uncertain, the point goes to the team whose shot is being disputed.
Let calls: Either team may call a let if something interrupts play (a ball rolling onto court from another game, for example). Let calls should be made immediately, not after the point has been played out.
Warm up: Standard practice is three to five minutes of warm up before starting a match. Both teams should warm up the serve and a few baseline rallies before starting competitive play.
Where to play padel in the UK
With over 1,000 courts now open across the UK, there has never been a better time to find a court near you. Use our padel court finder to locate your nearest venue by postcode across all 325 registered UK padel venues.
New to the sport and not sure what racket to buy? See our best padel rackets UK guide for recommendations at every level and budget.
Planning a social session? Our free padel tournament calculator generates Americano, Mexicano and King of the Court schedules for 4 to 32 players in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the basic rules of padel? Padel is a doubles sport played on an enclosed court with glass walls. The scoring is the same as tennis. The serve is underarm with the ball bouncing first. The ball can be played off the walls on your own side. Lines are only relevant during the serve.
How does serving work in padel? The server must let the ball bounce, then strike it underarm at or below waist height. The serve is diagonal into the opponent's service box. If the ball lands correctly and then hits the back wall, it is a valid serve. Two serves are allowed, as in tennis.
Can the ball hit the wall in padel? Yes. You can play the ball off the walls on your own side of the court at any time during a rally. The ball must bounce on the opponent's court before hitting their walls, otherwise the shot is out.
What is the Golden Point in padel? The Golden Point is a sudden death point played at deuce (40-40) instead of advantage scoring. The receiving team chooses which player receives the serve. Many UK clubs use this to keep social sessions moving at pace.
What is the difference between padel and tennis rules? The main differences are: padel is always doubles, the serve is underarm with the ball bouncing first, the glass walls are in play, and lines only matter during the serve. The scoring system is identical.
What is the 2026 padel serve rule change? From January 2026, the FIP ruled that the ball cannot cross any court line in the air before the moment of contact on the serve. This means the ball must not travel beyond the service line or centre line before being struck. This rule applies in LTA Grade 1 and 2 competitions in the UK.
How long does a padel match last? A typical best of three sets padel match takes between 60 and 90 minutes at club level. Using the Golden Point at deuce rather than full advantage scoring reduces match length by 10 to 15 minutes on average.
Do you have to let the ball bounce in padel? Not always. You can volley the ball at any point during a rally except when returning the serve. The return of serve must be played after the ball bounces.
