The official rules of padel

Padel is played exclusively as doubles — two against two on a fully enclosed 10 × 20 m court. What makes it special: the walls are part of the game. After bouncing in your own half, the ball may rebound off the wall and be played on.

Scoring works as in tennis (15, 30, 40, game), played with depressurized balls and stringless rackets. The rules are set by the International Padel Federation (FIP); the German version of the basic rules is maintained by the German Padel Federation (DPV).

A game is scored 15 – 30 – 40 – game. For the score of 40:40 ("deuce"), the official FIP rulebook has recognized three equally valid variants since January 1, 2026 (Rule 1, options 1–3):

The Star Point was unanimously approved by the FIP General Assembly on November 28, 2025 and applies on the professional tour (Premier Padel, CUPRA FIP Tour) from 2026. Golden Point and classic advantage remain officially permitted — which variant is played is decided by the organizer in advance.

• A set is won by the first team to reach 6 games with a 2-game lead. At 5:5, play continues to 7:5.
• At 6:6 a tie-break follows: the first team to 7 points with a 2-point lead wins (otherwise play continues, e.g. 9:7). The set is recorded as 7:6.
• In the tie-break, the first player serves 1 point from the right, then each player serves 2 points in turn. Ends are changed every 6 points.

A match is won by the team that takes 2 out of 3 sets (best of 3). The FIP rulebook also explicitly permits these variants, to be announced in advance ("Alternative Score Methods"):

• Match tie-break instead of a third set: at 1:1 in sets, a tie-break to 7 or a super tie-break to 10 decides (each with a 2-point lead).
• Short sets to 4 games: a set is won at 4 games with a 2-game lead, tie-break at 4:4.
• Third set without a tie-break ("advantage set"): only if agreed in advance.

• The serve is played underarm: the ball must first bounce behind the service line and may be struck no higher than waist height.
• At least one foot stays on the ground at the moment of contact; the service line must not be touched.
• The serve is played diagonally into the opposite service box; the ball must bounce there.
• There are two attempts (first and second serve).
• If the ball bounces correctly in the box and then touches the wire fence, the serve is a fault. If it touches the net and lands in the box, it is replayed ("let").

• Walls in play: if the ball bounces in the opponents’ half and then rebounds off the wall or fence, it stays in play and may be returned.
• Using your own wall: you may play the ball against your own wall so that it flies back over the net.
• Directly into the wall = point lost: if your shot hits the opponents’ wall or fence without bouncing in their half first, the point is lost.
• The point is also lost if: the ball bounces twice in your own half, you touch the net or the opponents’ half, or you hit the ball into your own fence.
• The point is won outright: if, after bouncing in the opponents’ half, the ball escapes through a hole in the fence or comes to rest on top of the wall.
• A "let" (replay) is called, among other cases, when the ball breaks during the rally or something foreign enters the court.

Americano and Mexicano are popular club and event formats with rally scoring (every rally = 1 point, play to e.g. 16, 21, 24 or 32 points). They are not part of the official FIP rulebook — they are community conventions that vary slightly from club to club. How they work is explained on our page Tournament formats.

• World governing body: International Padel Federation (FIP) — rulebook and official documents at padelfip.com/documents.
• Germany: German Padel Federation (DPV) — basic rules in German.
• Spain: Federación Española de Pádel — Reglamentos (incl. the Spanish version of the FIP rules).
• Great Britain: LTA Padel — rules & getting started.