Padel Rules Explained: Scoring, Serving, Walls and Faults (UK 2026)

Quick answer: The padel rules are simple. You serve underarm after letting the ball bounce, hitting it below waist height into the diagonal service box. Points are scored exactly like tennis (15, 30, 40, game), and the ball can rebound off the glass and mesh after it has bounced on the floor. You lose the point if the ball bounces twice, hits the net, or hits a wall before bouncing in the opponents' court.

If you are new to the sport, the padel rules can look chaotic from the outside: four players, a glass box and a ball flying off the walls. In reality you can learn everything below in about ten minutes. We cover the serve, the walls, scoring, faults, the court and the kit rules, then point you to a few in-stock picks at Central Sports if you want to get started.

Padel Serve Rules: What Makes a Serve Illegal?

The serve is where most beginners pick up their first fault, so learn it properly. The serve is always underarm. You let the ball bounce once on the floor behind the service line, then hit it at or below waist height. At least one foot must stay on the ground behind the service line, and you must not step on it.

You serve diagonally, into the service box opposite you, as in tennis. If the ball clips the net and lands in the correct box, it is a let and you replay the serve. You get two attempts; miss both and the point goes to your opponents. A serve is also a fault if it bounces in the box and then hits the cage or mesh before the receiver plays it. Servers alternate sides after every point, and each of the four players serves a full game in turn.

Padel Rules for the Walls: Can You Hit Off the Glass and the Fence?

Yes, and this is what makes padel different. The golden rule is that a shot must cross the net and bounce on the opponents' floor before it touches any wall. If it hits their glass or fence without bouncing first, you lose the point.

Once the ball has bounced on your side, it can rebound off your back or side walls and you can still return it. The same goes for the metal fence: if the ball bounces once and then comes off the cage, the shot is in play. You may also hit the ball before it bounces (a volley), except on the serve return, where the ball must bounce first. Only one floor bounce is allowed on your side; after two, the point is lost. If you want to compare this with tennis, see our padel vs tennis guide.

Padel Scoring Explained: Points, Games and Sets

Padel scoring is the same as tennis. Points run 15, 30, 40, game, and at 40-40 you play deuce and advantage. Six games win a set with a two-game margin, and if a set reaches 6-6, a tiebreak decides it: first to seven points with a two-point lead. Matches are normally the best of three sets, and teams change ends after every odd-numbered game.

Many UK clubs use the golden point for social play. At 40-40 there is no advantage: one sudden-death point decides the game, and the receiving pair choose which player receives it. Ask at the desk before you book, because formats vary between venues and competitions. That keeps games quick and your court hour on schedule.

How You Lose a Point in Padel: The Common Faults

Beyond the serve and wall rules, you lose the point if the ball bounces twice on your side, hits the net and stays on your side, or hits you or your partner (including your clothing or racket). You also lose the point if you touch the net, hit the metal frame or posts, or hit the ball out of the court over the walls without it bouncing in first. Reaching over the net to hit the ball is not allowed either. Most rallies end on one of these, so knowing them will save you plenty of arguments on court.

Padel Court and Racket Rules: Size, Net and Kit

A padel court is 20 metres long by 10 metres wide, enclosed by glass and mesh. The net is 88cm high in the centre and 92cm at the posts. Rackets are solid and stringless with drilled holes, and rules cap them at 45.5cm long, so a tennis racket will not do. Rackets carry a wrist strap for safety, and the ball is a slightly lower-pressure version of a tennis ball, which is why padel balls are not the same as tennis balls.

For your first game you only need a racket, balls and non-marking shoes. A round-head racket is the most forgiving choice; our padel racket shapes guide explains why, and our best padel rackets for beginners guide goes deeper on weight and balance. Or start with beginner padel rackets.

Top Picks from Central Sports

All of these are in stock at centralsports.co.uk and suit someone learning the rules on court. Browse the full shop or the collections for more.

• Adidas Match Light 2026 Padel Racket (£58.50): light and easy to swing, the cheapest sensible way into the sport.
• Wilson Optix V1 Padel Racket (£60.00): a forgiving round head with a generous sweet spot for mishits.
• BullPadel Open Control Padel Racket (£64.00): a control-focused frame from one of padel's best-known brands.
• Wilson Padel x3 Ball (£4.20): proper padel pressure, so rallies behave the way the rules expect.
• Wilson Hurakn Lite Padel Shoe Men (£58.50): a non-marking sole built for sand-dressed courts.
• Wilson Optix XP Padel Kit Box (£79.00): racket and balls in one box if you want a single purchase.

Want to see the full range? Browse our padel balls and padel shoes.

Padel Rules FAQ

Can you hit the ball off your side wall first in padel?

After the ball has bounced on your side, yes, you can let it rebound off your side or back wall and then return it. A shot you hit must bounce in the opponents' court before it touches their walls.

Can you hit the ball off the fence in padel?

Yes. If the ball bounces once on your side and then comes off the fence or mesh, it is still in play. A serve that hits the fence after its bounce is a fault, and any ball that hits the fence before bouncing is out.

What makes a padel serve illegal?

A serve is illegal if you hit it above waist height, hit it without letting it bounce first, serve overarm, step on or over the service line, land it outside the diagonal service box, or let it hit the fence after bouncing. Two faults in a row lose the point.

Is padel for older people?

It is for everyone. The smaller court and underarm serve reduce the running load compared with tennis, so players in their twenties and their sixties often share the same court.

What are the padel rules for beginners in the UK?

Serve underarm, score like tennis, let the ball bounce once before using the walls, and play doubles on a 20m by 10m court. Clubs often play golden point, so check the format when you book.

Learn the Padel Rules, Then Get on Court

The padel rules take ten minutes to learn and one session to enjoy. Book a court, borrow or buy a forgiving racket, and use the walls. When you are ready to buy, the padel range at Central Sports has rackets, balls, shoes and bags, with advice from a team that plays the sport.