Padel Rules 2026: Official Changes, Scoring & Serve Guide
Official rules · Updated June 2026
Padel is a doubles racket sport played on an enclosed 20m × 10m court with glass and mesh walls that are part of live play. Scoring follows tennis (15/30/40/game), the serve is underarm with two attempts, and the walls mean points last longer than in tennis. The 2026 FIP rule updates introduced the Star Point system, tightened serve rules (the ball must not cross any court line before contact), made the racket safety cord mandatory under pain of losing the point, and added minor equipment changes. This guide covers everything: the court, the rules, how a real point plays out, the 2026 changes, and how to handle the situations that cause the most disputes.
Brand new to padel? Our complete beginner’s guide covers everything you need for your first session — the rules make more sense once you’ve played.
The padel court: dimensions and layout
Understanding the court is the foundation for understanding the rules. Padel is governed internationally by the FIP (International Padel Federation) and in the UK by the LTA.
| Element | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Court length | 20 metres |
| Court width | 10 metres |
| Net height (centre) | 88 cm |
| Net height (sides/posts) | 92 cm |
| Service line distance from net | 6.95 metres each side |
| Back glass wall height | 4 metres |
| Side walls (glass section) | Up to 3 metres high |
| Side walls (mesh above glass) | Above 3 metres |
Key rule that confuses tennis players: lines on the court are only relevant during the serve. During a rally, the court boundaries are defined by the walls and net — not by any painted line. A ball landing outside the service box line during a rally is still in play, as long as it bounced inside the court before reaching the wall.
How a padel point actually plays out
Server stands behind the service line, bounces the ball, and strikes it underarm below waist height, diagonally into the opponent’s service box. Two attempts. If the ball clips the net and lands correctly, it’s a let — serve again on the same attempt.
The receiver must let the serve bounce in the service box before returning it. Volleying the serve is an automatic point loss. The ball may have rebounded off the back glass after bouncing — this is legal and the receiver must still play it.
Both pairs play the ball over the net, allowing one bounce maximum on their side before hitting. From now on there are no line calls — only the walls, net and double-bounce decide the point. Players typically move toward the net to take an attacking position.
A hard shot lands deep and bounces off the back glass. The defending pair can play the ball back off their own glass — a key defensive skill. The ball is still live as long as it hasn’t bounced twice on the court surface.
The point ends when: the ball bounces twice; a player hits into the net or out through an opening before it bounces; the ball hits a player’s body; or a player touches the net. Score is called.
In 2026, LTA Grade 1 & 2 competitions use Star Point — a three-stage system where two normal advantage points are played before a Golden Point is triggered. Most social clubs use straight Golden Point: one deciding point, receiving team chooses which player returns and on which side. Always confirm the format before the first game.
Padel scoring: how it works
Padel uses identical scoring to tennis.
- Points: 15, 30, 40, game. First to reach 40 and win the next point wins the game, provided they lead by two. If both reach 40 it is deuce.
- Deuce: Depends on the format in use. Traditional scoring requires two consecutive points. Star Point (Grade 1 & 2) uses a three-stage system. Golden Point (social standard) uses one deciding point.
- Sets: First to six games wins the set (must lead by two). A tiebreak to seven points is played at 6–6.
- Match: Best of three sets. If the match reaches one set all, most UK club formats play a super tiebreak to 10 points (win by two) instead of a full third set.
Who serves first: decided by 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. The server alternates service boxes after each point, starting from the right — identical to tennis.
Padel serve rules (full)
The serve is where most beginners make mistakes. It is completely different from a tennis serve.
- The serve must be underarm — no overhead serves are permitted at any level
- The server bounces the ball on the ground and strikes it below waist height
- The serve must travel diagonally into the opponent’s service box
- Like tennis, the server gets two attempts — a fault on the first serve means a second serve; a fault on the second serve loses the point
- After bouncing in the service box, the ball may rebound off the back glass — this is legal
- If the serve bounces and then hits the metal fence, it is a fault
- If the ball clips the net and lands correctly, it is a let and replayed on the same attempt
- The server’s feet must stay behind the service line throughout — at least one foot on the ground at the moment of contact
The 2026 serve rule change: no crossing lines before contact
The most significant serve clarification in the 2026 FIP rules. The ball must not cross any court line — including the service line and the centre line — in the air before the moment of contact with the racket. This applies even where the line is imaginary (extended beyond its physical marking).
In practice: players who toss the ball slightly forward or sideways before contact need to adjust to a straight vertical drop-and-strike. This is actively enforced at LTA Grade 1 and 2 competitions. At Grade 3–5 and social play it is best practice and the standard to aim for, though not always called.
Simple test: drop the ball straight down from waist height and hit it before it crosses in front of the service line or centre line. If you’re doing that, you’re compliant. For most players with a clean bounce-and-strike action, nothing changes in practice.
The basic rules of padel
Format
Padel is always played in doubles — two players against two. There is no standard singles format at club level.
How the walls work
The walls are the most important thing to understand. The core principle: the ball must bounce on the court surface before touching the walls. After that first bounce, the ball can rebound off any glass or mesh wall and still be in play.
- Ball hits wall before bounce: out
- Ball bounces, then hits wall: still in play — return it
- Ball bounces, goes over the wall through an opening: at some venues, players may legally exit the court to retrieve it
You cannot volley directly off the wall — the ball must hit the court surface first.
Lines: only relevant at the serve
In tennis, a ball outside a line is always out. In padel, lines only define the court during the serve. During a rally, a ball that bounces anywhere within the enclosed court walls is in play. The walls are the boundary. This is the rule that catches tennis players most often.
What changed in the padel rules for 2026?
1. Star Point after deuce (mandatory LTA Grade 1 & 2)
The most visible change at competitive level. See the full Star Point section below.
2. Serve imaginary lines rule
Ball must not cross any court line — service line or centre line — before contact. Covered in full in the serve section above.
3. Racket safety cord: automatic point loss
From 2026 it is a hard rule at all FIP-sanctioned events: if the cord breaks or detaches during a point, the player automatically loses that point. Check your cord before serving.
4. Racket peripheral holes
Peripheral holes in the racket face can now be non-circular, provided diameter does not exceed 20mm. Affects manufacturing, not club players.
5. Pace of play
The 2026 rules guidance encourages shorter time between points and fewer delays at changeovers.
6. Ball colour flexibility
Any clearly contrasting ball colour is now permitted. Yellow remains the standard.
Star Point scoring: exactly how it works
Mandatory at LTA Grade 1 and 2 competitions from January 2026. A three-stage hybrid between traditional advantage scoring and Golden Point, based on the LTA’s 2026 Referee and Organiser Guide.
| Stage | What happens | Outcome if won | Outcome if lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deuce 1 | Normal advantage point | Pair with advantage wins the game | Score returns to deuce |
| Deuce 2 | Normal advantage point again | Pair with advantage wins the game | Score returns to deuce |
| Deuce 3 | Sudden-death Golden Point | One point decides — game over | N/A — point must be won by someone |
At the Golden Point (Deuce 3), the receiving team chooses which player receives the serve and on which side of the court. This is a tactical decision — teams typically put their stronger returner on the side that most exposes the server.
Grade 3–5 and social play: Star Point is optional. Many clubs use straight Golden Point at the very first deuce — one deciding point, receiving team chooses player and side. Others use traditional full advantage scoring. Always confirm your club’s deuce format before the first game. It avoids the most common on-court dispute in UK padel.
Common padel faults
| Situation | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Serve struck above waist height | Fault |
| Ball crosses service or centre line in air before contact on serve | Fault (2026 rule) |
| Serve hits metal fence after bouncing in box | Fault |
| Server steps on or over service line before striking | Fault |
| Fault on first serve | Second serve — one more attempt |
| Fault on second serve | Point lost |
| Ball hits glass before bouncing on court | Out |
| Ball bounces twice before being returned | Point lost |
| Player or racket touches the net while ball is live | Point lost |
| Ball returned before it crosses the net | Point lost |
| Volley played directly off the wall without ball bouncing first | Point lost |
| Racket safety cord breaks or detaches during play | Point lost (2026 rule) |
The 45 rule and egg rule explained
What is the 45 rule in padel?
A way to judge a corner bounce where the ball lands at the join between court surface and glass. The question is whether the ball hit the floor first or the glass first.
If the ball rebounds upwards at roughly 45 degrees or more: floor first — ball is in play. If it rebounds low, flat or forward: glass first — ball is out.
What is the egg rule in padel?
Another name for the same difficult corner bounce. Apply the same logic: upward rebound = floor first = in play. Low or skidding rebound = glass first = out. In friendly play, replaying the point is fairest when both sides are genuinely unsure.
Padel rules vs tennis rules: the key differences
| Padel | Tennis | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Doubles only | Singles or doubles |
| Serve | Underarm, two attempts, no crossing lines before contact | Overhead or underarm, two attempts |
| Walls | In play after bounce | No walls |
| Lines during play | Irrelevant — walls define the boundary | Always define the court boundary |
| Scoring | Identical (15/30/40/game) | Identical |
| Deuce | Star Point (Grade 1&2) / Golden Point (social standard) | Advantage scoring standard |
| Third set | Super tiebreak to 10 (most UK clubs) | Full third set (or match tiebreak) |
- Padel rules explained simply — 20 real match examples
- 15 padel rules questions beginners always ask
- Padel vs tennis: full comparison
- Padel levels explained
- Complete beginner’s guide — start here
Now you know the rules — look the part
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Frequently asked questions
What are the basic rules of padel?
Padel is always doubles on a 20m × 10m enclosed court with glass walls in play after the ball bounces. The serve is underarm with two attempts. Scoring follows tennis (15/30/40). Lines only matter during the serve — during play, walls and net define the boundaries.
How many serves do you get in padel?
Two — the same as tennis. A fault on the first serve means a second serve. A fault on the second serve loses the point. If the ball clips the net and lands correctly in the service box on either serve, it is a let and replayed on that same attempt.
What are the new padel rules for 2026?
Four main changes: (1) Star Point deciding-point format mandatory at LTA Grade 1 and 2 events; (2) serve rule tightened — ball must not cross any court line in the air before contact; (3) racket safety cord is now a hard rule — cord breaks = automatic point loss; (4) peripheral racket holes can be non-circular up to 20mm. Pace-of-play expectations also increased.
How does scoring work in padel?
Identical to tennis: 15, 30, 40, game. First to six games wins a set (tiebreak at 6–6). Best of three sets wins the match. If the match reaches one set all, most UK clubs play a super tiebreak to 10 points instead of a full third set. At deuce, most 2026 UK competitions use Star Point or Golden Point rather than full advantage scoring.
What is Star Point in padel?
A three-stage deciding-point format mandatory at LTA Grade 1 and 2 competitions from 2026. Deuce 1: normal advantage point — win the next point and game won, lose it and back to deuce. Deuce 2: normal advantage point again on the same terms. Deuce 3: sudden-death Golden Point — the receiving team chooses which player receives and on which side of the court. Social clubs typically use straight Golden Point at the first deuce instead.
What is the difference between Star Point and Golden Point?
Golden Point is a single sudden-death deciding point played at deuce. Star Point is a three-stage format: two normal advantage points first, with the Golden Point only triggered if both those points fail to resolve the game (i.e. at the third deuce). Star Point is mandatory at LTA Grade 1 and 2 events. Golden Point is the social standard at most UK clubs.
What is the 2026 padel serve rule change?
The ball must not cross any court line — including both the service line and the centre line — in the air before the moment of contact with the racket. This applies to the imaginary extension of those lines too. Players must drop the ball vertically rather than tossing it forward. Actively enforced at LTA Grade 1 and 2 competitions.
Do lines matter during a padel rally?
No. Lines on the court only define the boundaries during the serve. During a rally, the court is defined entirely by the walls and net. A ball that lands beyond the service box line during a rally is still in play, as long as it bounced within the walled court.
What is the racket cord rule in padel 2026?
From 2026, the wrist safety cord is a hard rule at all FIP-sanctioned events. If the cord breaks or detaches during a point, the player automatically loses that point. Check your cord before serving.
Is Golden Point still used in padel?
Yes, widely. Most social clubs use straight Golden Point (one deciding point at the first deuce, receiving team chooses player and side). At LTA Grade 1 and 2 competitions, Golden Point is the final stage of Star Point — reached only after two normal advantage points failed to resolve the game.
What is the egg rule in padel?
A corner bounce where the ball lands at the join between court and glass. Ball rebounds up = floor first = in play. Ball rebounds low or flat = glass first = out. In friendly play, replay the point when both sides are unsure.