1. Position of players


Padel is played only in doubles (men’s doubles, women’s doubles, or mixed doubles). Each team positions itself on one side of the net. No player can be outside the court at the start of a point. The receiving player can stand anywhere in their half, as can their partner who is not receiving the service. The server’s partner can also position themselves anywhere in their own half. Only the server must be located behind the baseline, to the left or right of the center line (see paragraph relating to service).

2. Choice of side and service

The choice of side of the court and the choice to serve or receive during the first game are determined by a draw. The team that wins the draw can choose between:

• Serving or returning (in which case, the opposing team will choose the side).
• Choosing a side (in which case, the opposing team will choose between serving or receiving).
• Leaving the choice to their opponents.

3. Scoring

The score calculation is the same as in tennis (15, 30, 40, game, set, match). The returners cannot change positions to receive this decisive point. The team that wins the decisive point wins the game. In the case of mixed doubles, the returner must be of the same sex as the server.

4. Regulatory time limits

• Start of the game: Each team has a maximum of 10 minutes after the scheduled time to appear on the court. After this period, the team for which at least one player is missing will be declared forfeited.

• Warm-up and/or Rest time: The warm-up with opponents is mandatory and lasts 5 minutes. Play must be continuous. There will be no interruption between two services. A maximum of 20 seconds of rest is allowed between two points. A maximum of 90 seconds of rest can be taken at each change of ends (except after the 1st game of each set, where only 20 seconds will be granted). Two minutes of rest are allowed at the end of each set.

• Interruptions during a game: If a game is interrupted (rain, technical incident…), the following warm-up times will apply:

  • Up to 5 minutes of interruption: no warm-up

  • From 6 to 20 minutes of interruption: 3 minutes of warm-up

  • More than 20 minutes of interruption: 5 minutes of warm-up.

  • Play will resume exactly where it stopped: same score, same server, same side for each team.

  • Injury time limit: 3 minutes are granted to each player for medical care. A player can benefit from two additional treatments during the next two changes of ends, but the treatments must be carried out within the time allotted for the change of ends (regulatory 90 seconds). Medical care is counted per player, and a player can under no circumstances “give” their regulatory care to their partner.

5. Change of ends

Changes of ends occur when the sum of the games played during the set is odd. At the end of the set, if the sum of the games is odd: change ends. If the sum of the games is even, the players remain on the same side for the first game of the next set; they will change ends after the first game of the set. During a tie-break, players change ends every 6 points. If an error has been made in the order of end changes, the correct order will be restored as soon as the error is discovered. If the error is discovered after a first fault service, the point will be replayed and the server will therefore have two services.

6. The service

As in tennis, the server must serve into the diagonally opposite box. The ball must first bounce in the opponent’s service box before it can be returned. It should be noted that a ball can potentially bounce twice in the service box, in which case the point will be won by the server. Once the ball is hit, it must not touch any part of its own half of the court (floor, walls, etc.) before bouncing in the opponent’s half. To start the point, both of the server’s feet must be behind the service line (baseline, parallel to the net), between the imaginary extension of the center line and the side glass. The server must therefore under no circumstances touch the service line, nor the imaginary center line with either of their feet. At the moment of the strike, the server must have at least one foot on the ground. The service must be performed “underhand,” at waist height or below the waist, and after a bounce. The bounce must be made in the server’s half of the court and must be behind the baseline (a service is called a fault if the server completely misses the ball while trying to hit it). After the first bounce in the opponent’s service box, the ball must not touch the mesh part, otherwise the ball will be counted as a fault. Two attempts are possible; if both are incorrect, the point goes to the opponent. If the ball touches the net (or one of the posts supporting the net) then crosses the net falling into the correct opposite service box, the ball is a let and must be replayed (unless, after a let service, the ball bounces in the correct box then touches the mesh, in which case the service will be considered a fault). If the ball touches the net (or one of the posts supporting the net) then crosses the net falling into the correct opposite service box and passes through the door opening before the second bounce, the service is considered a let. If the returner is not ready when the server hits their service, the point is to be replayed. The server remains the same during a game. The receiver, as well as the teammates of the server and the returner, can place themselves where they wish in their respective halves. The team serving in the first game chooses which player will be the first server. For the next game, the order will be the same for the opposing team. The order of servers must remain identical until the end of the set. This order can change at the start of each set for each team. The returner of the first point of the set will return all services played in that diagonal throughout that same set. The same applies to the second returner in the other diagonal. This order can only be modified at the start of each set. If an error is made in the order of servers, this error must be corrected as soon as it is discovered and the correct player must then resume the service, the acquired score remaining established. If the error is only discovered after a game has ended, the inversion of servers will remain in effect and this new order will be used until the end of the set (same principle if the error is discovered during a tie-break).

7. Repetition of a point

The point must be replayed in the following cases:

• If the ball bursts during a rally.
• If an element external to the game invades the playing surface during a rally.
• In the event of an unforeseen situation that interrupts the game.

8. Interférence

Interference with the game is considered to be when a player commits an action, intentional or unintentional, that harms their opponent. Two cases are possible:

• If the player committing the interference wins the point, it is replayed.
• If the player who is the victim of the interference wins the point, the point is not replayed.

9. The bounce

Except for the service and service return, a ball can be taken on the volley. It is only allowed one bounce on the ground. During the rally, after a bounce on the ground, the ball can touch any other surface, except the ground of its own half. Thus, the door handle, the mesh, and the walls are an integral part of the court. The second bounce on the ground results in the loss of the point. However, after crossing the net (a ball can touch the net tape or even a net post then fall into the opponent’s half), any ball touching a surface other than the ground first is considered a fault (unless an opposing player intercepts the ball on the volley). A ball can be played outside the court only if no second bounce on the ground has been made. A player who retrieves a ball outside the court can return it directly into the net on the opponents’ side. There is a winning point if, after a bounce in the opponent’s half, the ball returns to its own half and touches the ground, without having been previously touched by an opponent.

10. Missing point

A team will lose the point:

• If one of the two players, their racket, or any object belonging to them touches the net or its posts while the ball is in play;

• If the ball bounces twice in their half;

• If the ball is hit in the opponent’s half before crossing the net;

• If a player hits the ball twice;

• If a player jumps over the net;

• If both players touch the ball (even once) before it passes to the other side of the court;

• If the ball touches a player or an object of their equipment;

• If a player throws their racket to touch the ball (wearing the wrist strap is mandatory);

• If the server commits a fault on the second service. However, the point will be validated if the ball bounces in the corner of the opponent’s court by simultaneously touching the ground and one or more walls (or glass).

11. The balls

Each game is played with a minimum of 3 new balls (except for certain tournament categories where new balls are not mandatory for certain games, which will be specified in advance). Classification matches must necessarily be played with new balls. There will be no ball change between sets.