Padel rules: how scoring, serving and rallies work

How does a padel rally work?

Padel is normally played as doubles: two players on each team. After a valid serve, the teams take turns hitting the ball. A team may use either player for its shot, but only one player may hit the ball on each return.

The ball may bounce once on your side before you return it. After it has bounced in your court, it can rebound from the glass wall or metal mesh and remain playable, as long as you hit it before its second bounce. You can also volley the ball before it touches the ground, except when returning a serve.

For a legal return, send the ball over the net so that it first lands in the opponents’ court. Their walls or mesh may then be involved in the rally. A ball that hits a wall or fence on the opponents’ side before it bounces on their court is out.

Padel serve rules: underarm, bounce and service boxes

Every point starts with an underarm serve. Stand behind the service line, bounce the ball on the ground in your service area, and strike it at or below waist height while at least one foot is touching the ground. Do not touch the service line before hitting the ball.

Serve diagonally into the opposite service box. The first serve of a game goes to one diagonal box; the next point is served to the other, alternating sides. The ball must land in the correct box, including on its boundary lines. The serving pair takes turns serving in the order set for that set.

Each point gives the server up to two serves. If the first serve is a fault, the server gets a second attempt. Two consecutive service faults lose the point. A serve that touches the net and then lands in the correct service box without touching the metal mesh before its second bounce is a let and is replayed.

The receiver must let the serve bounce in the service box before returning it; a serve cannot be volleyed.

Padel scoring: 15, 30, 40 and game

Standard padel scoring within a game follows tennis scoring. The first point is 15, the second is 30, the third is 40, and the next point normally wins the game. The score is announced with the serving team’s score first.

FIP rules describe three scoring formats: advantage, Star Point and golden point. Event organisers select the format; check which one applies before the match. The difference is what happens at deuce.

What is deuce in padel? Advantage, Star Point and golden point

Advantage scoring

At deuce, one pair must win two points in a row. The first point gives that pair advantage. If they win the next point, they win the game; if they lose it, the score returns to deuce.

Star Point scoring

Under the FIP Star Point format, the game uses advantage for two deuce cycles. If neither pair closes the game after those advantages, one deciding Star Point is played. The receiving pair chooses which side receives the serve; the receiving players keep their positions for that point.

Golden Point (no-ad) scoring

At the first deuce, a single deciding point is played instead of advantage. The receiving pair chooses the side from which to receive and cannot switch positions for that point. The pair that wins it takes the game.

In mixed doubles under the FIP rules, the player of the same sex as the server receives a deciding Star Point or golden point. Local events may announce different conditions.

Padel tie-break rules at 6–6

In the standard set format, a tie-break is played when the games reach 6–6. Tie-break points are counted as 0, 1, 2, 3 and so on. The first pair to reach seven points with a lead of at least two wins the tie-break and the set. If the score reaches 6–6 in the tie-break, play continues until one pair leads by two.

The player whose turn it is to serve starts the tie-break with one point from the right side. The opposing pair then serves two points, starting from the left, and service continues in pairs of points in the established order. Players change ends after every six points.

How many games and sets do you need to win in padel?

In the standard set, the first pair to win six games with a lead of at least two wins the set. At 5–5, the set can be won 7–5. At 6–6, a tie-break normally decides it, producing a 7–6 set score.

A standard match is best of three sets: the first pair to win two sets wins the match. The FIP rules also allow formats announced in advance, such as a final set without a tie-break, a mini-set to four games, or a match tie-break instead of the final set. Always check the competition format.

When is a padel point won or lost?

You win the point when the opponents cannot make a legal return. Common examples include:

• The ball bounces twice on the opponents’ side before they return it.
• The opponents hit the ball into the net, or it lands outside the court without a valid playable rebound.
• The ball hits an opponent or their equipment before landing in their court.
• A player or their racket touches the net, net posts, or the opponents’ court while the ball is in play.
• A team hits the ball twice, or both partners hit it one after the other.
• The server makes two consecutive faults.

Walls are part of padel play, but their order matters: an opponent-side wall or fence can be used after the ball has first bounced in that court. If you are unsure about a disputed ball, follow the umpire’s decision in organised play.