The Rules of Padel

• Padel is a racket sport which is played in doubles only.
• It can be played indoors or outdoors.
• Players are enclosed in an area measuring 10 by 20 metres with transparent walls and wire mesh fencing in places.
• The two teams are separated by a tennis net and the court is marked out with lines and service boxes.
• Walls around the court mean that the ball can bounce in unexpected directions to spice up the game!

Points:

• Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis.
• Six games are needed to win a set and the team which wins two sets wins the game.
• A game is scored exactly the same as in tennis, i.e. 15/0, 30/0, 40/0, advantage, deuce, etc.
• If a set reaches a 6/6 draw, there is a tie-breaker as in tennis.

Serve:

• A game is started by serving diagonally as in tennis, with two serve attempts allowed (first and second service).
• The server must be behind the service line.
• The returner may stand wherever they like on the court, diagonally opposite the server.
• The server first bounces the ball then hits it below waist level.
• The ball must bounce in the service box opposite before being hit by the returner.
• If the ball does not bounce in the box, it is a fault.
• If it bounces in the box and hits the wire mesh fencing before crossing the service line (on the returner's side), it is also a fault.
• If the ball hits the net and bounces in the box it is a let. If it touches the wire mesh fencing before the second bounce, it is a fault.

Play:

• Once the ball is in play, all balls which cross the net must first bounce on the ground on the opponent's side before hitting a wall.
• Players may hit a ball as a volley.
• Players may hit the ball after it has bounced on a wall to send it back to the opponent's side.
• Just as in tennis, the ball may only bounce once in your side, and it may only be hit once.
• You may smash the ball hard so that it goes out after it bounces!
• But the opposing team may run to try and hit it back into play.
• This type of point is particularly exciting!