How to play Padel

Padel is new to New Zealand and so it’s no surprise that you may need some help with the rules. If that’s the case, we’ve got you sorted. Read the rules of Padel below:

Format

Padel is always played in doubles, with two players per team. Matches can be men’s, women’s, or mixed doubles.

Court and Walls

  • The lines on the court are only relevant during the serve.

  • Once the ball is in play, it can bounce anywhere on the opponent’s side, but not directly into the walls—this is considered out.

  • Players can use the walls on their own side of the court to return the ball.

  • The ball is officially in play once the serve has been returned.

Scoring

  • A point is won when the opposing team fails to return the ball within the court boundaries, hits the ball out, or commits a fault.

  • Padel follows the same scoring system as tennis: 15-30-40, deuce, advantage, game, set, and match.

  • If both teams reach 40-40 (deuce), one team must win two consecutive points to take the game.

  • A set is won by the first team to reach six games with a two-game lead. If the score is 6-6, a tie-break is played.

  • Matches are best of three sets.

  • In professional play, the "golden point" rule applies at deuce, where the next point determines the winner of the game.

Serve

  • The racket safety strap must be secured around the wrist.

  • A coin flip decides serve/receive or court sides.

  • The serving team chooses the first server, and the serving order remains fixed for the set.

  • In mixed doubles, the returner must be the same gender as the server.

  • Servers alternate every game, and teams switch sides after the 1st, 3rd, and every subsequent odd-numbered game.

  • Each player gets two serve attempts.

  • The serve must be underhand, with the ball bouncing once before being struck at or below waist height.

  • The server must stand behind the service line and serve diagonally.

  • The returner must let the serve bounce before returning it; volleys are not allowed on the serve.

  • If the ball hits the net and lands outside the opponent’s service box, it is a fault.

  • If the serve hits the net but lands correctly in the service box, it is a let and must be replayed.

  • A serve hitting the side or back glass is valid, but hitting the wire fence is a fault.

Ball in Play

  • The ball is in play after the returner’s shot.

  • The ball can only bounce once per side.

  • Players can hit the ball before or after it touches their side's walls but cannot hit it directly off the wire fence.

  • Volleys (hitting the ball before it bounces) are allowed except on the serve.

  • The ball can touch the net or net posts and still be in play if it lands in the opponent’s court.

  • If the ball directly hits the fence or glass wall without bouncing, it is out.

  • Touching the net with the racket, clothes, or body results in losing the point.

  • If the ball hits an opponent before bouncing, the point is lost.

  • If the ball hits the corner between the turf and glass, it is considered in play if it bounces at an angle greater than 45 degrees. If the bounce is lower, it is out.

  • Players switch sides when the total number of games played in a set is odd (1, 3, 5, etc.)