Padel – rules of correct service
Every padel match starts with a serve. Correct performance of this activity requires meeting several conditions, including: in the rules of the International Padel Federation. The rules regarding service indicate that the player performing the service must be in the so-called box service. It is an element of the service field measuring approximately 5 by 3 meters, which is bordered at the front by the service line and at the back by the end wall of the padel court. The rules require that the match be started from the service box located on the right side of the court. Since the service court is uniform, when taking a place to start a padel game, you should follow the location of the central line, which is perpendicular to the service line.
After the service shot, which must be made below the hip line, the ball must cross the net separating the players and hit the service court located on the opposite side of the padel court. However, the ball cannot hit the metal fence near the net. Each subsequent serve during the match is performed alternately from the left and right sides of the service court. During the serve, at least one of the player’s feet must touch the surface of the court. It is forbidden to walk, run or jump while serving the ball. Before the opening stroke of a padel game, you should also make sure that the player receiving the ball is ready to play.
Breaking the rules of padel described in the previous paragraph is treated as a service error. If two mistakes are made in a row, the pair loses a point and the ball goes to the opponents. A service error is also considered to be a situation in which the ball touches the server or any object belonging to him, apart from the paddle racket. The rules consider it an error to hit the ball if it first reaches the opponents’ service court and then touches a metal part of the fence or if the ball leaves the court through the wicket.
Padla rules for receiving service
The player receiving the serve must wait until the ball bounces in the service area of the padel court. The rules of the game only then allow you to hit the ball. This must be done before the ball touches the court surface a second time. However, if the ball touches any of the players or their rackets before contacting the court, the serving pair scores a point.
Before the first game of padel begins, the receiving team decides which player will receive the serve first in all games until the end of the set. In turn, during the game, receiving the served ball takes place alternately. If the order of receiving the serve changes during the match or tie-break, the game of padel should continue in the new order until the end of the game or tie-break. However, in the next game, the order of receiving the serve established at the beginning of the match should be restored.
Padel – rules for repeating the serve and the service net
The rules of padel allow repetition of the serve. This occurs when the served ball touches the net separating the players or the post, if this object is in the playing zone, and then falls in the service court of the pair receiving the serve. However, the replay only takes place if the served ball does not touch the metal fence before bouncing off the surface of the padel court again. The rules require that the serve be repeated also if the ball, after contacting the net or post, touches any of the players receiving the serve. If the service net occurs during the first service, this action should be repeated. In the case of another net during the second serve, the play is repeated again, but the player is then entitled to only one more shot.
Rules of padel regarding repetition of action and disruptions
The game for a point may be repeated in certain cases. This happens, for example, when the padel ball is damaged during the game. The action is also repeated when a foreign element that does not belong to the court or the game enters the court. If the players notice a situation that would require the action to be repeated, they should immediately inform the referee. If the padel game continues, it will not be possible to raise an objection later. However, if the players report a situation that, in their opinion, requires a replay and the referee finds it groundless, the reporting pair will lose a point.
During a padel match, a player’s behavior that intentionally or unintentionally impedes the play of his opponents is considered as interference. The referee decides on the classification of disruptions. If an action is deemed unintentional, the action is repeated. However, if the referee considers the interference in play to be intentional, the pair loses a point.
Ball in play
The opponents hit the padel ball alternately. The ball is in play from the moment the serve is correctly performed until one of the pairs announces that a point has been scored. When the ball bounces off the court on the side of one of the pairs, it remains in play until it hits the other side. Please note that the ball cannot bounce a second time from the court surface on the same side. The following are considered parts of the court taking part in the game: internal parts of the fence, including the metal mesh fencing the court, the net between the playing fields,
as well as posts supporting the nets – if they are present in a given structure. In turn, the mesh and frames are considered parts of the fence (this needs to be checked, because it seems illogical to me, but this is what it is written on the pages indicated in the sources)
Padel – point loss rules
A point is lost in the following circumstances:
- players, their rackets or any item of clothing touches the net, its supporting post, the string line or any part of the opponents’ court while the ball is in play,
- the ball touches the court again before the pass to the other side is made,
- the ball hit crosses the fence line above it or through the wicket,
- a player hits the ball that has not yet crossed the net line,
- the player will return the ball directly or by bouncing the ball off the walls on his or her side of the court, and the ball will then hit the fence on the opponents’ side of the court without any prior contact with the court,
- the player will return the ball directly or after bouncing off the walls on his side of the court, and then the ball will bounce off the net or the supporting post,
- the ball is hit twice by a player,
- the ball after bouncing touches a player, partner or anything belonging to them,
- the ball, after being hit by opponents, touches anything belonging to the player, except the paddle racket,
- after being hit by a player, the ball touches the metal fence or any part of the court on his side,
- the ball is hit with a racket that was thrown by the player,
- a player jumps over the net while the ball is in play,
- players hit the ball consecutively or simultaneously because it can only be hit by one player,
- one or both feet of the player hitting the ball are outside the court – in the case of playing on an unauthorized corner outside the fence,
- the player commits two consecutive service errors,
- if the ball, after bouncing correctly from the court surface, goes beyond the back fence, a point is awarded. However, if the ball, after bouncing correctly from the court, goes beyond the fence above the side wall or through the gate, a point is awarded only after the second contact of the ball with elements not belonging to the court,
Padel – rules of proper reception
Return is considered valid in the following cases:
- after being hit, the ball is volleyed back by the opponent,
- after hitting the ball, it touches the court on the opponents’ side or first hits the glass wall and then touches the court surface,
- the ball touches the opponents’ court and then hits the fence or court walls,
- due to the force and direction of the shot, the ball will bounce off the court on the opponents’ side and then fly out of the court area or hit the ceiling, lighting or other element not belonging to the court,
- the ball hits the net or the post supporting it and then touches the opponents’ side of the court,
- during the game, the ball touches an object on the opponents’ side of the court, e.g. another ball,
- the played ball hits the opponents’ side of the court, then touches any part of the court and finally returns to the serving player’s side,
- the so-called pushing the ball, but only if the player does not hit it twice. A properly performed ball push should consist of only one smooth movement,
- the ball will bounce on the opponents’ side in the very corner, i.e. where the walls and the court meet. This move is popularly called the egg.
Padel rules for scoring a point
A point may be scored in the following circumstances:
- after bouncing off the opponents’ side of the court, the ball will fly through the fence or get stuck in it,
- after hitting the opponents’ side of the court, the ball will get stuck on the flat upper part of the fence.
Off-court rules
Play off the court is allowed only if the court and its immediate surroundings meet the requirements set out in the regulations of the International Padel Federation.
Padel – rules for changing balls
Balls are changed during the match according to the rules specified by the tournament organizer, who is obliged to inform the players about the following issues:
- type of balls used for the game,
- name of the ball manufacturer,
- ball exchange rules – if any.
Balls are exchanged after a fixed and odd number of games. According to padel rules, a warm-up is counted as two games, and a tie-break as one game. However, it is not allowed to exchange balls at the beginning of the tie-break. In this case, the action is performed only in the second game of the next set. Changing balls is also allowed at the beginning of a new set.
