Section 1: Introduction
History and Origins
Padel was invented in 1969 in Acapulco, Mexico, by Enrique Corcuera, who adapted his squash court by adding walls and lowering the net to create a new racquet sport that could be played in his backyard. Corcuera's friend, Spanish businessman Alfonso de Hohenlohe, brought the sport to Marbella, Spain, in the 1970s, where it rapidly gained popularity. From Spain, padel spread throughout Latin America, particularly to Argentina, which became a global epicenter for the sport. Today, padel is played in over 90 countries on every inhabited continent.
Global Growth
Padel is widely regarded as the fastest-growing racquet sport in the world. Spain alone has over 6 million regular players and more than 20,000 courts. Argentina has a similarly massive player base and deep competitive tradition. The sport has experienced explosive growth in Europe since 2015, with countries including Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom seeing rapid increases in court construction and player participation. Professional tours — the World Padel Tour (WPT) and the Premier Padel circuit (FIP-backed) — have elevated the sport's visibility internationally.
Governing Body
The International Padel Federation (FIP), known in Spanish as the Federación Internacional de Pádel, is the global governing body for padel. Founded in 1991 in Madrid, Spain, FIP is responsible for establishing the official rules of padel, organizing the Padel World Championships, overseeing the Premier Padel professional tour, and coordinating the development of the sport through its member federations. FIP currently comprises more than 60 member national federations. Padel is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is pursuing inclusion in the Olympic Games program.
Objective of the Game
Padel is played exclusively as a doubles sport (two players per side) on an enclosed court surrounded by glass walls and metallic mesh. The objective is to win points by hitting the ball over the net such that the opposing pair cannot return it before it bounces twice on their side of the court. The walls are in play — players may hit the ball off the walls after it has bounced on the ground, similar to squash, creating a unique tactical dimension not found in tennis or other racquet sports.
Source Document
All rules referenced in this document are based on the FIP Official Rules of Padel (2024 Edition, as amended), which govern all FIP-sanctioned competitions, including the Padel World Championships, Premier Padel tour, and affiliated member federation events.
Section 2: Equipment
The Padel Racket (Rule 2)
Unlike tennis or badminton, the padel racket has no strings. It is a solid, perforated frame. FIP specifications include:
- The racket shall have a maximum overall length of 45.5 cm (17.91 in), a maximum width of 26 cm (10.24 in), and a maximum thickness of 38 mm (1.50 in).
- The hitting surface must be flat, smooth, and perforated with a pattern of circular holes. Each hole must have a diameter of between 9 mm and 13 mm. The distribution of holes must cover the central area of the face.
- The racket core is typically made of EVA foam or polyethylene foam, while the face is constructed of fiberglass, carbon fiber, or a composite blend. Higher-end rackets use multi-layer carbon for increased stiffness and control.
- The racket must have a wrist strap (cord) that is securely attached and must be worn around the wrist during play to prevent the racket from being inadvertently released.
- The total weight of rackets typically ranges between 340 g and 395 g, though there is no official weight restriction.
The Ball (Rule 3)
Padel uses a pressurized rubber ball that is similar in appearance to a tennis ball but has slightly lower pressure and bounce characteristics. FIP specifications require:
- The ball must be a sphere with a uniform outer surface in white or yellow.
- The diameter must be between 6.35 cm and 6.77 cm (2.50–2.67 in).
- The weight must be between 56 g and 59.4 g (1.975–2.095 oz).
- The bounce, when dropped from a height of 2.54 m onto a firm surface, must be between 135 cm and 147 cm.
- The internal pressure must be between 4.6 kg/cm² and 5.2 kg/cm² at sea level and 20°C.
- Only FIP-approved balls may be used in sanctioned competition. New balls must be provided for each match.
Attire and Accessories
Players must wear appropriate sports attire, including athletic shoes with non-marking soles suitable for the court surface. Clothing must not contain offensive imagery or messaging. Protective eyewear is recommended but not mandatory under current FIP rules. Players may wear headbands, wristbands, and caps provided they do not interfere with play or safety.
Section 3: Playing Area
Court Dimensions (Rule 1)
The padel court is a rectangle measuring 20 meters long by 10 meters wide (65.62 ft × 32.81 ft), enclosed on all sides by walls and fencing. The court is divided into two equal halves by a net. Each half is further divided into two service boxes by a central service line that runs perpendicular to the net.
The Walls and Enclosures
The enclosed nature of the padel court is the sport's most distinctive architectural feature:
- Back walls: Each end of the court has a glass wall 4 meters (13.12 ft) high spanning the full 10-meter width. The back wall is entirely glass (tempered safety glass, typically 10–12 mm thick) to allow spectator visibility.
- Side walls: The side walls are a combination of glass and metallic mesh. The first 3 meters from the back wall on each side are glass, 4 meters high. The remaining side wall extends forward as metallic mesh fencing, 3 meters high, stepping down in some configurations.
- Metallic mesh: The mesh fencing above the glass and along portions of the side walls rises to a height of 3 meters (9.84 ft) above the court surface. The mesh opening must be between 5 cm × 5 cm and 7.08 cm × 7.08 cm.
- There are two access openings on each side of the court, each at least 0.82 m wide and no more than 1.00 m wide, through which players enter and exit the court.
The Net (Rule 1)
- The net divides the court into two equal halves and is 10 meters long (the full width of the court).
- The net height is 88 cm (34.65 in) at the center and 92 cm (36.22 in) at the posts.
- The net posts are positioned outside the court at each side, and the net must be tensioned uniformly across its width.
Service Lines and Markings
- The service line on each side is located 6.95 meters (22.80 ft) from the net, running parallel to it across the full 10-meter width.
- The central service line runs from the net to the service line, dividing each half into two service boxes.
- All lines are 5 cm (2 in) wide and must contrast with the court surface color.
- The court surface may be concrete, synthetic resin, artificial turf, or carpet. The most common professional surface is artificial turf with sand infill in blue or green.
Section 4: Players & Officials
Doubles Only
Padel is played exclusively as a doubles sport — two players per side, for a total of four players on court. There is no official singles format in FIP-sanctioned competition. This fundamental rule distinguishes padel from most other racquet sports and is central to the game's strategic identity.
Player Positions
Each pair typically organizes themselves with one player on the drive side (right side, also called the forehand side or "derecha") and one player on the backhand side (left side, also called the "revés"). However, players are free to position themselves anywhere on their half of the court during a rally. Tactical positioning often involves one player at the net and one at the back, or both players moving forward together to control the net position.
Serving Order and Rotation
At the start of each set, each pair decides which player will serve first. The serving order alternates between the four players throughout the set. Once established, the serving order must be maintained for the entire set but may be changed at the start of a new set. Within a game, the server alternates service courts, beginning from the right-hand side on the first point.
Chair Umpire and Officials
In professional and sanctioned tournament play, matches are officiated by a chair umpire who sits in an elevated position at the net post. The chair umpire is responsible for calling the score, ruling on disputed calls, enforcing the rules, and managing player conduct. Additional officials may include a net cord judge (to detect let serves), service judges, and a tournament referee who oversees the entire event and handles appeals.
Player Conduct and Code of Conduct
Players must adhere to the FIP Code of Conduct at all times. This includes maintaining respect for opponents, officials, and spectators. Players must not engage in gamesmanship, deliberate time-wasting, or unsportsmanlike behavior. The chair umpire may issue warnings, point penalties, or game penalties for violations. Serious offenses may result in disqualification from the match or the tournament.
Section 5: Rules of Play
The Serve (Rules 4–5)
The serve must be made underhand. The server must bounce the ball on the ground and strike it at or below waist height. The specific rules are:
- The server must stand with both feet behind the service line, between the center service line and the side wall.
- The ball must be bounced on the ground (not tossed in the air) and struck below waist level.
- The serve must travel diagonally across the court, clearing the net and bouncing in the opponent's service box.
- After bouncing in the service box, the ball may hit the back glass wall or side wall and remain in play.
- If the served ball hits the net and lands in the correct service box, it is a let and the serve is replayed.
- If the served ball bounces in the service box and then hits the metallic mesh fencing (rather than glass), it is a fault.
- Each server has two attempts per point (first serve and second serve). Two consecutive faults result in loss of the point (double fault).
Ball in Play — Walls and Bounces
The use of walls is the defining tactical element of padel:
- After the ball bounces on the ground on the receiving side, it may rebound off any wall (back glass, side glass, or metallic mesh) and still be played by the receiving pair.
- Players may not hit the ball directly into a wall on their own side — the ball must always cross the net before touching any wall or the ground on the opponent's side.
- The ball may only bounce once on the ground on each side. If it bounces twice on the ground, the point is lost.
- A ball that hits the metallic mesh fencing directly (without bouncing on the ground first on the opponent's side) is out.
Playing Outside the Court
One of padel's most spectacular and unique rules is that players may leave the court through the side access doors to retrieve a ball that has gone over the glass walls after bouncing on their side. The ball remains in play as long as it has not bounced on the ground a second time. These "out-of-court" shots (known as "salidas" or "por fuera") are a hallmark of advanced and professional padel play.
Volleys
Players may hit the ball out of the air (volley) at any time during the rally, except on the return of serve — the receiving team must let the serve bounce before playing it. There is no non-volley zone in padel; players may volley from any position on the court, including directly at the net. Net play and volleys are central to padel strategy, and controlling the net position is widely considered the key to winning points.
Touching the Net
Players may not touch the net, net posts, or any part of the opponent's court while the ball is in play. Doing so results in loss of the point. A player may reach over the net to play a ball only if the ball has already crossed back to their side due to spin or wind — in practice, this rarely occurs in padel due to the enclosed court environment.
Section 6: Scoring
Scoring System
Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis:
- Points within a game are counted as 15, 30, 40, and game.
- When both pairs reach 40 (known as "deuce"), one pair must win two consecutive points to win the game. The first point after deuce is called "advantage" (ventaja). If the pair with advantage wins the next point, they win the game. If they lose it, the score returns to deuce.
- In some tournament formats, a golden point (punto de oro) may be used at deuce instead of advantage: the receiving pair chooses which side receives, and the next point decides the game.
Sets
A set is won by the first pair to win 6 games, provided they lead by at least 2 games. If the set reaches 6-6, a tiebreak is played. In the tiebreak, points are counted numerically (1, 2, 3, etc.), and the first pair to reach 7 points with a lead of at least 2 wins the tiebreak and the set. Players change ends every 6 points during the tiebreak.
Match Format
A match is the best of three sets. The pair that wins two sets first wins the match. In some tournament formats, a super tiebreak (first to 10 points, win by 2) may replace the full third set, as determined by the tournament regulations. Players change ends at the conclusion of every odd-numbered game (after games 1, 3, 5, etc.).
Changeovers
Players change ends at the end of the first, third, and every subsequent odd-numbered game of each set, as well as at the end of each set if the total number of games in that set is odd. During changeovers, players have a maximum of 90 seconds of rest. At the change of ends after the first game of each set, there is no rest — play resumes immediately.
Match Time and Delays
The server must serve within 25 seconds of the end of the previous point. Between the second and third sets, players may take a break of up to 10 minutes (in FIP-sanctioned events; some tours allow only 5 minutes). Medical timeouts and bathroom breaks are permitted under specific rules and at the discretion of the chair umpire.
Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Service Faults
- The ball does not land in the correct diagonal service box.
- The server strikes the ball above waist height.
- The server does not bounce the ball before striking it.
- The server has one or both feet on or across the service line at the moment of contact.
- The served ball bounces in the correct box but then hits the metallic mesh (not glass) — this is a fault.
- The server misses the ball entirely when attempting to strike it (a "whiff" counts as a fault).
Double Bounce Violation
If the ball bounces twice on the ground on one side of the court before being returned, the point is awarded to the opposing pair. This is the most common way points end in padel. Players must reach the ball before the second bounce, even if the ball rebounds off the walls.
Net and Wall Violations
- A player touches the net, net posts, or net cable while the ball is in play — loss of point.
- A player reaches over the net to strike the ball before it has crossed to their side — loss of point.
- A player hits the ball directly into a wall on their own side of the court — loss of point.
- The ball strikes a player or their clothing before bouncing on the ground — loss of point to the player struck (unless the ball was clearly going out).
Code Violations and Penalties
The FIP Code of Conduct provides a graduated penalty system for behavioral violations:
- First offense: Verbal warning from the chair umpire.
- Second offense: Point penalty — one point awarded to the opposing pair.
- Third offense: Game penalty — one game awarded to the opposing pair.
- Fourth offense or severe misconduct: Default (disqualification from the match).
Violations include racket abuse (throwing or smashing the racket), verbal abuse directed at opponents, officials, or spectators, deliberate ball abuse (hitting the ball out of the court in anger), coaching violations (receiving instructions from outside the court during play), and deliberate time-wasting.
Hindrance and Interference
If a player is hindered by an external factor beyond the players' control (such as a ball from another court, an animal on court, or a spectator interference), the chair umpire may call a let and replay the point. Deliberate hindrance by a player results in loss of the point.
Section 8: Safety Considerations
Glass Wall Safety Standards
All glass panels used in padel court construction must be tempered safety glass (also known as toughened glass), typically 10 mm or 12 mm thick. Tempered glass is designed to shatter into small, granular pieces rather than sharp shards in the event of breakage, significantly reducing the risk of injury. Glass panels must be regularly inspected for chips, cracks, or structural weaknesses. Courts must comply with local building codes and FIP structural standards.
Court Enclosure and Access
The enclosed court design provides inherent safety benefits — balls are contained within the playing area, reducing the risk of balls striking spectators. Access doors must open outward (away from the playing area) and must not protrude into the court when closed. Door latches must be flush-mounted to prevent player injuries from contact during play. The metallic mesh must be securely fastened and free of sharp edges, protruding wires, or structural damage.
Playing Surface
The court surface must provide consistent traction and cushioning. Artificial turf courts must be properly maintained with appropriate sand infill levels to prevent excessive sliding or abrupt stops. Worn or damaged turf sections must be repaired promptly. Indoor courts must have adequate drainage if exposed to moisture. The surface must be level and free of irregularities that could cause tripping.
Wrist Strap Requirement
All padel rackets must be equipped with a wrist strap, and players must wear the strap during play. This is a mandatory safety rule — if a player is found playing without the wrist strap, the chair umpire will stop play and require the player to attach and use it. The strap prevents the racket from being released accidentally and potentially striking another player, which is especially important given the enclosed court environment and close proximity of all four players.
Protective Eyewear
While not currently mandatory under FIP rules, protective sports eyewear is strongly recommended for all players. The small court dimensions and fast-paced nature of padel mean that players are in close proximity and balls can travel at high speeds, particularly during smashes and volleys. Several national federations and junior programs have adopted mandatory eyewear policies.
Weather and Environmental Considerations
Outdoor padel courts are subject to environmental conditions. Play should be suspended during rain (wet surfaces become dangerously slippery), thunderstorms (glass and metallic structures pose lightning risks), and extreme heat. Court operators should monitor surface temperature, as artificial turf can become extremely hot in direct sunlight. Adequate lighting is required for evening play — a minimum of 400 lux at court level for recreational play and 750 lux for televised events.
