Padel rules: serve, walls and scoring in two minutes.
The essential rules for a first match, with the current FIP rulebook as the authority.
The core principle
The ball may bounce once on each side. On the opponent's side it must hit the floor before glass or fence. On your side it may rebound from the wall after the bounce and still be returned.
- 1 bounce
- allowed on each side
- waist or lower
- serve contact height
- 15 · 30 · 40
- traditional scoring
How the serve works
Stand behind the service line, bounce the ball once and strike it at or below waist height into the diagonal service box.
After the correct floor bounce the serve may reach the glass, but a serve that then touches the metal fence is a fault. A first and second serve are available.
When the walls are live
During a rally an opponent's ball may touch glass or fence after its bounce. You may also return the ball off your own glass after it has bounced.
A direct shot into the opponent's wall before bouncing on their side is out. Your shot may touch your own glass first and then land correctly across the net.
- Second floor bounce on your side: point lost
- Ball touches either partner: point lost
- Correct net-cord serve: let and replay
- Racket wrist strap must be used
Scoring and sets
Traditional scoring is 15, 30, 40 and game; a set normally reaches six games with a two-game margin and a tie-break at 6:6. Approved competition formats may vary, so an event's published rules also matter.
Try it on court
Put the theory into practice. Find a padel club in Austria or check current court availability.
Complete rules
This court-side summary does not replace the current FIP document or a tournament's published format.
Editorially reviewed on 1 August 2026